Tracks with free PDF programs

[Versajoe]

I'm just starting with harness racing. I'd like to make a few bets here and there, to test my handicapping abilities. I'm trying to stick to races that I feel very strongly about - and not making large bets. Therefore, buying a whole program is going to kill my profits.

I've attempted to find tracks that offer a full program for download online. These programs are the same basic program that you would typically buy at the track, with past results. They are more than just an entry list, but not as fancy as some more expensive offerings.

Here are the tracks that I've found so far that offer their programs for download:
Fraser Downs
Grand River Raceway
Mohawk
Rideau Carleton

Anyone know of other tracks?

[Ray2000]

The ADW sites like youbet and twin spires treat harness betters like something under the muck pile, not worthy of their promotions for free PP (as long as you bet at least 2 bucks) for thoroughbred and quarter horse racing.

I don't know of any USA tracks with free PP. The Illinois circuit Balmoral, Maywood and Hawthorne programs are available for $1 at:
https://www.horseracingprograms.com/horseracing/default.asp

However I've never used them and their security certificate is expired.

They are listed as a source at Balmoral website so it's probably safe.

http://www.balmoralpark.com/index.cfm

[wilderness]

There's an old thread on the same subject which many forum participants contributed to.

Most every Canadian Track (except the smaller Maritimes tracks) offer free programs through one method or another.
Windsor Raceway was the first harness racing track live on the internet in 1996 and has offered free programs from the get go (for itself and sister-tracks).

These pages may help, however I don't keep them current and they have not been updated in some while:

http://www.mi-harness.net/trks/Canadian.html
http://www.mi-harness.net/trks/Wagering.html

I don't know of any USA tracks with free PP

Batavia may be the only US exception that I'm aware of. (although you might check Buffalo and Saratoga for specials).
Batavia is owned by the NY-OTB and as a result of a political battle between the state of NY and the USTA sicne the 1930's, works outside the parameters of other contracts (i. e., USTA-Trackamster).

Cal X was giving them for a while (and you still may be able to sign for free email delivery) and then later the Cal Horseman's Association, however eventually they stumbled into the contractural wall.

[Versajoe]

Thanks for the tips. That was really helpful.

I'm still in search of a decent half mile track that offers free programs and has a low takeout.

Fraser is 5/8ths. Their takeout is 13.5% for WPS.
Windsor is 5/8ths with a 14.95% takeout.
Mohawk is 7/8ths with a 13.65% takeout.
(I'm not sure how provincial taxes affect USA based ADW accounts??)


Batavia is a half mile track with a takeout of 18%. I guess that's about as good as I have found for a half mile track with free programs.

Call me crazy, but I refuse to bet at places like Rideau Carleton, Woodstock and Grand River where the takeouts exceed 20%.

I believe all (or almost all) of these tracks are available via Connecticut OTB. Since I go to CT every couple of months, I thought that opening a phone account there might make sense.

For some tracks, it's next to impossible to figure out their takeout.

I'll have to brush up on handicapping the longer tracks. Right now, I am reading Ainslie's Complete Guide To Harness Racing. I'm in the middle, so I'm not sure how well it will deal with the longer tracks. It's an old book, but so far I am enjoying it. We shall see how useful it proves to be in the long run. If the book gives enough information on handicapping the longer tracks, then I'll probably go with one of the Canadian tracks listed above.

[wilderness]

There's been 2-3 threads on take-outs.
You'll need to do the comparisons.

[Versajoe]

There's been 2-3 threads on take-outs.
You'll need to do the comparisons.I checked them out. Looks like Fraser Downs, Mohawk, Batavia and Windsor are my best bets for tracks with free programs. Since I'm trying to work on the half mile tracks, I think I'll try Batavia.

I'll also brush up on my 5/8ths handicapping and give Fraser Downs and Mohawk a try.

Connecticut OTB has all of those tracks, so I'm very tempted to set up an account with them. (I'm in CT every couple of months.)

The only bummer about CT OTB is that there is no internet site. It's all phone wagering. Nonetheless, their track selection is very impressive.

[Tom]

Batavia opens in about two weeks.
I've been following Buffalo the last month to get ready for the move.
I go to Batvia in person - love that track.

[trying2win]

I'm still in search of a decent half mile track that offers free programs and has a low takeout.

Fraser is 5/8ths. Their takeout is 13.5% for WPS.
Windsor is 5/8ths with a 14.95% takeout.
Mohawk is 7/8ths with a 13.65% takeout.
(I'm not sure how provincial taxes affect USA based ADW accounts??)



VERSAJOE:

--I think you're dreaming if you believe the above takeouts for WPS are correct for the tracks you listed. Trust me, they are higher than that. But, then again you may have read takeout info at a website that didn't have all the extra provincial taxes, federal taxes, racing commission taxes added on yet.

--What I've done in the past if I couldn't find out the takeout info I wanted, is to send an email to the parimutuel manager or publicity director at the track I was interested in.

--From personal experience, I've found that the best results have come from betting on the MEADOWLANDS harness races. I prefer betting on the 7/8s to 1 mile harness ovals. I enjoy betting on the Chicago harness ciricuit tracks (even the 1/4 miler at MAYWOOD). But experiences at all the big harness ovals have not been positive. MOHAWK and HOOSIER PARK are :ThmbDown:, while CAL EXPO doesn't rate a thumbs up or thumbs down from me. I'm not a fan of betting on most 5/8 or 1/4 mile harness tracks either. In conclusion...know your track and what works there and what doesn't.

--Read all you can about harness race handicappping from knowledgeable authors such as Al Stanley, Igor Kusyshyn, and even Barry Meadow, who wrote the outstanding book entitled HARNESS RACE BETTING. Read Bob Pandolfo's columns and archived articles at the www.ustrotting.com (http://www.ustrotting.com/) site...Pandy gives harness handicappers some excellent advice. Do a search of harness handicapping advice here at PACE ADVANTAGE. There are many astute harness handicappers at this site. Consider investing in Pandy's HARNESS DIAMOND. It's an excellent tool for harness handicappers. I put aside some of Al Stanley's methods a few months ago, and since then have used the HARNESS DIAMOND software almost exclusively.

--Good luck in your harness handicapping ventures.


T2W

[Worst To First]

Here is my offering for your viewing pleasure

Trackmaster the exclusive provider for online .PDF programs for the USTA/SC offer a variety of FREE product at various times

http://www.trackmaster.com/cgi-bin/old_prodlist.cgi?tfp

Many Canadian tracks offer FREE Online .PDF versions of their programs incl

Charlottetown Driving Park, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island

Free Programs
http://www.harnessracingpei.com/racing/racing-programs/

Dresden Raceway, Dresden, Ontario

Free Programs
http://www.windsorraceway.com/programs.asp?qsTid=2

Exhibition Park Raceway, Saint John, New Brunswick

Free Programs
http://www.eprraceway.com/

Fraser Downs, Surrey B C

Free Programs
http://www.fraserdowns.com/content/racing/download_programs.shtml

Georgian Downs,

Free Programs
http://www.georgiandowns.com/cms/index.cfm?dsp=Main&IssueID=5

Grand River Raceway, Elora, Ontario

Free Programs
http://www.grandriverraceway.com/web/?page_id=24

Hanover Raceway, Hanover, Ontario

Free Programs
http://www.hanoverraceway.com/hanoverracewayprogram.pdf

Hiawatha Horse Park, Sarnia, Ontario

Free Programs
http://www.hiawathahorsepark.com/

Kawartha Downs

Free Programs
http://www.kawarthadowns.com/harness/webpages/Harnessprograms.php

Mohawk Raceway
Free Program
http://www.horseplayerinteractive.com/Racing/RaceInfo.aspx?Track=57&Race=5&SessionDate=2008-06-12

Rideau Carleton Raceway

Free Programs
http://www.rcr.net/main_pages/programs.html
http://www.rideaucarletonracewayslots.ca/racing_program.html (on-site http://www.rideaucarletonracewayslots.ca/ program link)

Summerside Raceway, Summerside, Prince Edward Island

Free Programs
http://www.harnessracingpei.com/racing/racing-programs/

Western Fair Raceway, London, Ontario

Free Programs
http://www.westernfair.com/race/programs.html

Windsor Raceway, Windsor, Ontario

Free Programs
http://www.windsorraceway.com/programs.asp?qsTid=1

Woodstock Raceway, Woodstock, Ontario

Free Programs
http://www.windsorraceway.com/programs.asp?qsTid=3

Up the road and over the bridge there are a few American tracks that also offer programs incl

Batavia Downs

Free Programs
http://www.batavia-downs.com/BataviaDowns/RaceStats/#

Buffalo Raceway

Free Programs
http://www.buffaloraceway.com/programs.php

The Meadowlands in conjunction with TVG offer FREE Friday Night PP's
http://www.tvg.com/Open/Information.aspx?section=Free%20PPs

Ocean Downs

Free Programs
http://www.oceandowns.com/hracing/programs1.html

There was
also a few tracks that either offered an E-mail delivered program
http://www.sacharness.com/default.asp

and
http://www.doverdowns.com
at one time offered a fax on-demand service for their programs

But I am unsure if either of the last two are still available

GOOD LUCK and Happy handicapping

[Zman179]

Ocean Downs no longer offers free programs. Up until recently, Plainridge offered programs...no more. Only Buffalo/Batavia offer free programs, but I'm sure the USTA will eventually stop them as well. I remember when Saratoga Harness was forced to give up their free programs because of the USTA's contract with TrackMaster.

[Tom]

Thanks for the links....got Batavia for opening day, 7/28 in time to study up with breakfast by the lake Sunday.

[Versajoe]

Thanks for those links!