Las Vegas casinos offer free Breeders’ Cup handicapping seminars

Handicappers looking for some help breaking down the Breeders’ Cup races Friday and Saturday at Churchill Downs can get some thoughts from the experts at free seminars at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, Station Casinos, South Point and Rampart Casino.

Thursday

South Point: It’s not a formal event, but South Point house handicapper Patrick McQuiggan of CashiersLine.com and Vic Stauffer, the voice of Oaklawn Park and a man who has worn many hats in the racing game, will join Review-Journal horse racing columnist Mike Brunker for the filming of the #RJhorseracing Breeders’ Cup handicapping special at 2 p.m. in the race book. You’re welcome to stop by to listen in and say “Hi,” or you can always watch online at reviewjournal.com/sports at your leisure.

The Cosmopolitan: A panel will discuss the basics of horse racing and discuss betting strategies in the Race & Sports book beginning at 1 p.m. T.C. Martin, FOX Sports radio host, will moderate and be joined by Brian Benowitz, senior vice president of gaming operations for the Cosmopolitan, longtime horse owner Jerry Benowitz and Jason Simbal, vice president of risk management with CG Technology. Should be a good event if you’re new to the sport.

Fiesta Henderson: Racing experts Jerry Jacovitz, creator of the Jerry J’s Power Page, and “Race Day Las Vegas” host Ralph Siraco will meet at 1 p.m. in the property’s race book. Attendees will receive gift bags and will be provided with “mini finger food.”

Friday

Boulder Station: Dave Valento of the Track Phantom analysis service and Richard Saber, GamingToday’s horse racing and sports handicapper, will share their thoughts on the races at 9 a.m. There will be free coffee and doughnuts.

Green Valley Ranch Resort: Nick Hines, race analyst for the TVG network, will offer interactive analysis during the Breeders’ Cup World Championships from 11:30 a.m.-5 p.m.

Rampart Casino: Southern California handicapping pro Bob Ike will join race and sports manager Duane Colucci to preview the races and answer questions from attendees at 6 p.m.

South Point: The casino’s Real McCoy handicapping seminar will be held at 6 p.m., when house handicapper Patrick McQuiggan will be joined by Southern California clocker and handicapper Toby Turrell, Jon Hardoon of the Ragozin sheets and Ralph Siraco in the race book.

Sunset Station: Chuck Esposito, race and sports director at Sunset Station, and Brian Blessing, host of Sports Book Radio and the Vegas Hockey Hotline, will lead a panel of racing experts at 6 p.m. Joining them will be Richard Eng from the Daily Racing Form, TV race and sports gaming analyst Hank Goldberg and Steve Davidowitz from Gaming Today and author of numerous handicapping books. Pizza and soft drinks will be served.

Texas Station: Jerry Jacovitz will host a seminar at 6 p.m.

Saturday

Green Valley Ranch Resort: TVG race analyst Nick Hines again will be on hand for the nine Breeders’ Cup races from 8 a.m.-6 p.m.

Mike Brunker’s horse racing column appears Friday. He can be reached at mbrunker@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-4656. Follow @mike_brunker on Twitter.