The Digest's "paper race," the daily Fractional Chart page is a projection of today's race using a representative race (chosen by our expert staff) from each horse's past performances. The Fractional Chart page has always been one of the publication's most popular features since it aids the handicapper in visualizing how today's heat will unfold, displaying likely frontrunners and projected early fractions, as well as the swiftest closers and projected final times. The par (average winning time for that class) for each race is also listed.

First-time Lasix users, supplemental entries and horses adding or removing blinkers are also noted on this page.

There are a myriad of uses for the Fractional Charting and in general, any horse charting within one second (five lengths) of the chart-topper should be considered capable of winning. In Maiden races, if no horse charts close to par time for the level, then that's the time to give the new faces (first-time starters) a second look. Handicappers that find themselves in a slump, might be wise to get back to the basics and a good way to do that is to only play horses that do very well in the Fractional Charting.

Are you not sure that you picked the right horses to win? Have you accurately identified the main threats on today’s card? Maybe you're new to this game and you need a quick and easy way to determine where to place your bets. The Digest's Quick Picks is a quick and easy way to sort this all out. We’ll show you who the contenders are and who the nags are.

The Quick Picks page offers an easy-to-read, one-page format that gives you the information you need to make quick decisions. The Digest analysts give you their “Top Choice” and “Main Threat” contenders. There is also a list of “Longshots” to keep your eye on, with brief betting strategies for the races that have been deemed exceptional wagering opportunities. Finally, you’ll get a suggested Pick Four Ticket with short-priced, vulnerable horses to “Bet Against.”

If you need that extra reassurance that you’ve made the right decisions or you don’t have the time to fully analyze the card, the Digest Quick Picks is the right product for you.

Since we began the Quick Picks Page, we've had the winner listed between 65% to 80% of the time for both No Cal and So Cal. The "Bet Againsts" have lost more than 60% of the time, usually go off at odds of 5/2 or less and are often the favorite.

The popular Consensus Page tabulates the selections of the Digest handicappers and various features and presents the outcome of those results in an easy-to-read 1-2-3 format. The day's "Best Bet", the top rated horse that has the biggest point margin over the second rated horse, is highlighted in bold type. The point values for the consensus box is as follows: 1st = 5pts, 2nd = 2pts, 3rd = 1pt.

This page is very helpful for players that didn't get a chance to do their own handicapping or wish to find horses to fill out a Pick-3, Pick-4 or possibly a Trifecta. The consensus best bet horse usually doesn't pay a lot, but tends to win at a high percentage. A handicapper can also find out the top three horses in the Charting and by Fire Numbers at a quick glance.

Each racing day, Mike Superstein provides his selections and comments, graded from top to bottom, for every horse on the card at all major Southern California racetracks. Also included are Best Bets, Longshots, and his Personal Morning Line. Superstein’s comments strive to guide the reader toward live longshots and away from vulnerable favorites.

Many people skip Maiden races because they are unsure of which horses are bred to win early or move forward when sent long. The same is true for turf races. But these are often key races in the Pick 6 or Pick 3 and can be costly to avoid. Lauren Stich's Pedigree Handicapping highlights 5 to 10 races around the country from a pedigree perspective.

More and more people are starting to catch on to Lauren's selections as she comes up with big priced winners. That's because she is using information that the majority of bettors don't know how to use or just don't have. Pick up Lauren's selections for a week or two and we may see you at the IRS window signing for a big ticket.

There are 3 levels (Basic, Enhanced, Premium) of Today's Racing Digest race sheets.  This is the Premium level race sheet for one individual race.  This Premium level race sheet includes the following:

Header: Lists the distance and conditions of the race, Digest race level, purse, average times for this level on an unbiased track, favorites win and in the money percentages.

Digest Exclusive Race Header: Includes, the horses entered in the race in order of post position including for each horse, today's fire number, weight, age/sex, recent Race Level, Race Competition Level, Comprehensive Performance Ratings, Total, Position Early in Race, Handicapping Factors, Equipment, Trouble, Best Previous Surface and Distance, Past Class, Average RCL and Last CPR.

Fractional Charting for the top 3 horses, Expected Times with 0 variant, Average times for mid-level races, Average Times for this Level.

Race Analysis: This is where the Digest staff handicapper will detail his analysis of each particular race. He'll point out contenders and why he likes or dislikes certain horses in that race. He also might point out how the race will be run (pace scenario) and how that will effect the contenders.

Experienced handicappers and beginners can benefit from reading the Race Analysis. The experienced player can look for things he might have overlooked or use it as a sounding board for his own selections. Beginning players get an easy to read analysis for the race and then can form their own selection or go along with the writer's top choice(s).

Notes/Stats Each horse entered in today's race is listed in post position order including, jockey/trainer stats, breeding stats, trainer stats, trip notes, workouts, and the last 10 FIRE #'s.

The Data Lines: Each horse's last six past performance lines are listed here, along with such important information as Track Bias, Pace and Final Time Ratings. The Digest Data Lines include our exclusive pace and final time ratings that have been adjusted to reflect today's race. This makes it easy to compare the past performances of each individual horse.  

Horse Comments:  This is where a Digest Analyst will provide any inside information regarding this horse to give you the edge you need to determine if this race is a good fit with this horse or if he/she is a "throwout'.

To lean more about how to read and use Today's Racing Digest go to http://www.todaysracingdigest.com/tutorial/

The WCHR is packed with fantastic information each and every day. Questions typically addressed in our report include, "Is this work pattern typical for this trainer?" Is this a healthy drop for this horse, and why?" "Is the ban on steroids affecting one trainer more than another?" and so much more!

In addition, Our EXCLUSIVE WCHR appraisal information, allows us to let Members know, PRECISELY what type of field a runner faced last time out. For example, a horse may exit a $20,000 claimer, but our appraisals from that race show the field was actuallt full of $8,000 runners, meaning, the horse exits a race closer to an $8,000 claimer, NOT a $20,000 race, INVALUABLE information!

The WCHR is a great read as well, giving you a fresh, new perspective on handicapping, each and every day.

Check it out for yourself, you'll be glad you did!

The Better-Than-Looked (BTL) list highlights horses that would have been competitive in their most recent starts were it not for trouble, poor racing luck and/or a strong track bias. Trouble-free, exceptional performances are also noted for future "keys" in exotic wagering.

The Better-Than-Looked is available in Today's Racing Digest on a weekly basis highlighting BTL horses from the previous week and on a daily basis when horses on the BTL list are entered to race.

The horses on the Better Than Looked List or BTL list often are overlooked by the average bettor and are overlays or offer value for your wagering dollar.

Tim Osterman, handicapper and former Thoroughbred owner, grades each claim on a letter scale while also offering commentary as to the horse's prospects for the new barn.

Claim Horses in Today is a daily feature for those horses entered in their first starts off the claim. It is a popular feature among owners and trainers, while handicappers may want to upgrade or downgrade a first off a claim horse's chances based on Tim's expert commentary or grade.

Today's Racing Digest Analyst Jon Shonk gives out his Power Plays from California and from out of state all in one Selection Sheet.

Each issue includes selections, betting strategies and comments on each Power Play race with at least four plays a day.

Each Selection Sheet will be available the previous day of the card for $5.00.

Our team of analysts and experts give you their assessment primarily on the physical aspects of a few key horses in today's races.  Some of the comments include how did the horse look in the paddock and is the horse looking better or worse.  How did the horse appear physically in the race?  Noting any changes in key horses fitness or physical appearance.

Today's Racing Digest Analyst Jon Shonk offers his selections for the Preakness Stakes card. The 2-page sheet includes selections, betting strategies and comments on key races.

Today's Racing Digest Analyst Jon Shonk selects at least four plays per sheet which may include races from No Cal, So Cal and out of state. Races from California can be selected from any of the races while the out of state races will be selected from the last four races of the card.

Each Power Play sheet costs $5.00 and will be available the previous day.

Toby Callet tears it up in Kentucky. He has a full card analysis and four betting strategies for Derby Day at Churchill Downs.

Full analysis of the So Cal Pick-6 races on carryover days, showing where to single and where to spread, along with a suggested Pick-6 play not to exceed $100.

If your looking for information for previous races, look no further. The Digest's Fractional Times and Summations displays the distance, class, track conditions, Race Competition Level (RCL), purse, Comprehensive Performance Rating (CPR), morning line and actual odds of the winner, the winner's running style, the first three finishers, and whether or not the race was fast, slow or average for each race.

If you want to have an edge over the competition, get the information you need to succeed with the Digest's Fractional Times and Summations.

The Weekly Better-Than-Looked (BTL) list highlights horses that would have been competitive in their most recent starts were it not for trouble, poor racing luck and/or a strong track bias. Trouble-free, exceptional performances are also noted for future "keys" in exotic wagering.

The Better-Than-Looked is available in Today's Racing Digest on a weekly basis highlighting BTL horses from the previous week and on a daily basis when horses on the BTL list are entered to race.

The horses on the Better Than Looked List or BTL list often are overlooked by the average bettor and are overlays or offer value for your wagering dollar.

The Digest staff offers its analysis of selected horses for various handicapping reasons; Perhaps the pace didn't set up well for a certain runner last out or maybe the jock moved too soon. Whatever the reason for a poor or exceptional performance, the Digest will attempt to point it out and pass it along to the handicapper.

This feature is used to give an explanation and rate recent claims. It will tell you the horse, the date and price the horse was claimed for, the previous trainer and trainer it was claimed by, a comment about the horse and the grade (A thru F) of the claim.

This is all the opinion of esteemed handicapper Tim Osterman and can be a useful tool for recently claimed horses for their next start.

At the bottom of each column is historical data on how each running style has fared at that distance and surface. Data is either from the current meet, year or longer in an effort to have enough races to be statistically significant. These stats are helpful to determine if a horse’s normal running style fit’s the winning profile for the distance/surface.

100% Betting Line: All any handicapper can do is determine what he feels each horse’s chances of winning is, then look for overlays. Because 15% is taken out of each wager the Tote Board displays odds at 115%. You must be 15% better than the public to win in the long run, making a betting line allows you to bet overlays without the gut wrenching experience of “I picked this horse, but I don’t like his odds…but if I don’t bet I’ll be upset.” The betting line makes it easy, if the horse is below your odds it isn’t worth a straight bet, but may be used in exotics with other overlays.

At the bottom of each column is historical data on how each running style has fared at that distance and surface. Data is either from the current meet, year or longer in an effort to have enough races to be statistically significant. These stats are helpful to determine if a horse’s normal running style fit’s the winning profile for the distance/surface.

Every race day Today's Racing Digest gives you a free race analysis for one race for each track we cover.

Each Race is analyzed on an individual basis by our staff of handicappers, and can be divided into four main parts:

Race Header: Lists the horses in post position order, provides a numerical analysis of each runner, and sets the conditions of each race.

Race Analysis and Fractional Chart Order of Finish: This is where the Digest staff handicapper will detail his analysis of each particular race. He'll point out contenders and why he likes or dislikes certain horses in that race. He also might point out how the race will be run (pace scenario) and how that will effect the contenders.

Experienced handicappers and beginners can benefit from reading the Race Analysis. The experienced player can look for things he might have overlooked or use it as a sounding board for his own selections. Beginning players get an easy to read analysis for the race and then can form their own selection or go along with the writer's top choice(s).

The top three finishers (and ties) in the Fractional Charting, are also located in this section.

Comments /Works: Each horse's individual analysis is found here, along with such important features as the jocky/trainer stats, the FIRE number, the horse's breeding, trip and drouble notes by our on-track observer, and each horse's works.

The Data Lines: Each horse's last six past performance lines are listed here, along with such important information as Track Bias, Pace and Final Time Ratings. The Digest Data Lines include our exclusive pace and final time ratings that have been adjusted to reflect today's race. This makes it easy to compare the past performances of each individual horse.

The Money Play is a free feature found on Today's Racing Digest website. Each day the Digest staff selects a race(s) we think is worth betting, taking into account all pertinent handicapping factors, with value a leading consideration. The Digest is one of very few publications that keeps account of its bankroll for the public to view as well as the results of the last play.

We try to mix up our plays (win bets, Exactas, Trifectas, Doubles and Pick-3's or4's). Some players aren't sure how much a Trifecta or a Pick-4 using multiple horses will cost, so we make these plays with the cost of the bet listed to give our less experienced players a general idea of cost and possibly a chance to make a big score.

This is a free race from the daily WCHR report.

The WCHR is packed with fantastic information each and every day. Questions typically addressed in our report include, "Is this work pattern typical for this trainer?" Is this a healthy drop for this horse, and why?" "Is the ban on steroids affecting one trainer more than another?" and so much more!

In addition, Our EXCLUSIVE WCHR appraisal information, allows us to let Members know, PRECISELY what type of field a runner faced last time out. For example, a horse may exit a $20,000 claimer, but our appraisals from that race show the field was actuallt full of $8,000 runners, meaning, the horse exits a race closer to an $8,000 claimer, NOT a $20,000 race, INVALUABLE information!

The WCHR is a great read as well, giving you a fresh, new perspective on handicapping, each and every day.

Check it out for yourself, you'll be glad you did!

Today’s Racing Digest has been educating horseplayers as to how to improve their handicapping skills with on-line seminars, on-track seminars, and guides such as “Learn to Handicap the Races”. This free guide lists what is important when handicapping the races! This six-page guide gives you a quick primer on what is important when handicapping horses and going to the track. The topics covered in this guide include Age, Running Styles, Speed Figures, Past Performances, Jockeys, Trainers, what to expect when going to the track for the first time, the six-step Digest approach, and more.

Hot and cold jockey and trainer combinations are listed by win percentage . The timeframe is a two-month period unless specified otherwise. This popular feature found in Today's Racing Digest will point to the Trainer/jockey combos that have been doing well lately or have had trouble winning together.

When you check this list you'll often see a trainer that is hot with a certain jockey, but cold with another. This may be an indication that he uses one jockey on his 'live' mounts, while he uses the other rider when his horse is just in for the excercise. Obviously, you can raise your win percenage by focusing your betting on hot trainers and jockeys, while avoiding those trainer/jockey combos that just aren't winning.

The same as the Hot and Cold Trainers 10 days except for a one-year time period.

Hot and cold trainers are listed by win percentage. The timeframe is a ten-day period unless specified otherwise. Every day in the Todays Racing Digest (space permitting), we print this popular feature. Hot trainers are those that usually win at over 15% with several starters, while Cold Trainers are those that win at less than 7%.

As you follow this feature over a period of time, you'll start to see many of the same trainers are always popping up as Hot or Cold. By restricting your play to horses by trainers that win at 15% or better and eliminating any horses (especially low-odds horses) from barns that win at 5% or lower, you will start winning at a higher percentage and will probably see an increase in your bottom line.

The same as the Hot and Cold Trainers 10 days except for a two-month time period.

Bob Ike will pick one of the races from Ike's Selection and Key Plays. If you like this you will want purchase his full card analysis

Tim will pick one of the races from his Daily Analysis from California. If you like this you will want purchase his full card analysis

Many people skip Maiden races because they are unsure of which horses are bred to win early or move forward when sent long. The same is true for turf races. But these are often key races in the Pick 6 or Pick 3 and can be costly to avoid. Lauren Stich's Pedigree Handicapping highlights 5 to 10 races around the country from a pedigree perspective.

More and more people are starting to catch on to Lauren's selections as she comes up with big priced winners. That's because she is using information that the majority of bettors don't know how to use or just don't have. Pick up Lauren's selections for a week or two and we may see you at the IRS window signing for a big ticket.

Toby will pick one of the races from his Key Plays and Selections. If you like this you will want purchase his full card analysis

For each race listed in Today's Racing Digest, the race appraisal section begins with Performance Of Favorites listed as FAVORITES: The specific track is noted and then a percentage and word description is noted for how favorites perform in that type of race. The first percentage is for favorites winning and the second percentage is for how often the favorite finishes in the money (1st, 2nd or 3rd).

You can use this information in you handicapping in several ways as it gives an indication of how well the betting public understands a certain type of race. When favorites do poorly, then it often illustrates a kind of race where classic handicapping approaches (ie top figures, strong recent form etc) are necessarily effective. In that instance, you might want to look for reasons to knock the favorite and find reasons why a less likely horse (bigger priced) might jump up and win. Races where the favorite does poorly are also good races to 'spread' (take several horses) in the Pick-3, Pick-4 or Pick-6. Conversely, races where the favorites do extremely well, it may be prudent to give the race favorite extra credit as it suggests the betting public seems to have a good handle on this kind of race.

The average for favorites per the Digest are as follows: Win = 32.6% - 33.9%, In The Money 66% - 67.9%