http://www.isnare.com/?s=author&a=Marla+Simpson Sports Marla Simpson Mon, 13 Apr 2009 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.isnare.com/?aid=369164&ca=Sports The countdown to the 2009 Kentucky Derby has begun. Since 1875, this celebrated race has captured the hearts of horse racing fans. Filled with excitement and anticipation, crowds will flood into Churchill Downs on May 2, 2009 for the 135th Kentucky Derby. There are many things that make the Derby th... Sports Marla Simpson Thu, 09 Apr 2009 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.isnare.com/?aid=367948&ca=Sports In California, the switch to synthetic surfaces for horse racing tracks is complete. The assessment of this change, however, is still underway. In the words of author and handicapper Andrew Beyer, “Polytrack is different -- profoundly different.” In his October 1, 2006 Washington Post article On Ne... Sports Marla Simpson Tue, 03 Mar 2009 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.isnare.com/?aid=353524&ca=Sports Michael Amo, Chairman of the Thoroughbred Racing Fan Association (also known as ThoroFan), is on a mission. As the leader of the nascent fan organization and longtime horse racing fan himself, he wants to preserve and enhance an industry he loves. Fan education is one of the key challenges he sees f... Sports Marla Simpson Thu, 04 Dec 2008 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.isnare.com/?aid=325393&ca=Sports The world of horse racing handicapping is a complex game with many variables. Most handicappers are aware of the importance of time- tested data on speed and past performances. What most handicappers do not know is that a new kind of data has become available. This data, generated through a process...