Michael Todd Musings and Memories

Stroll down memory lane with Michael Todd. Between analyzing the horses, trainers and jockeys, America's Favorite Selective Handicapper will be sharing great racing stories with you from the last 40 years.

The Alphabet System This is one of the best racing stories relating to the alphabet system. I owned a horse called Sea to Sea. He was a bottom level maiden claimer. He had lost his first 3 races by double digit numbers. However, on a frigid day in February 1978 at Aqueduct. the trainer "thought he had a big shot" He was 20-1 on the morning line. I left work and drove like a maniac to Aqueduct to see the race and get a substantial bet down. I arrived with 3 minutes to Post time. The trainer had never won a race nor had the jockey.

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Ussery's Alley

Back in the mid 60's and early 70's Aqueduct was the only NY track that was open in NY other than Saratoga which had a 4 week meet. Belmont was closed and under renovation for almost a decade. There was a racetrack phenomenon.They called it Ussery's Alley.

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In about 1966 a college buddy and I went to Aqueduct. We handicapped a horse that ABSOLUTELY couldn't lose. We pooled our money and placed a $50 Win bet on him. He was coming off 3 consecutive victories by wide margins. We had never been so confident about a racehorse. Obviously others felt the same way,...

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Bobby Frankel was a young trainer on the NY circuit in the late 60's and early 70's. He claimed a horse named Barometer for something like $35,000.

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