This year’s National Horseplayers Champion, David Harrison is this week’s The Player’s Edge Guest. Before he stops by the show, the newly crowned king of horse racing handicapping shares his story of how we went form overwhelmed by past performance sheets to holding the big check! Plus, he lets us in on some of his tournament winning techniques!
When David joins the crew for The Player’s Edge, he’ll put his handicapping toolbox to work for some of this weekend’s biggest races at Tampa Bay Downs.
Race 7 – $225,000 Hillsborough Stakes
Race 9 – $200,000 Florida Oaks
Race 11 – $400,000 Tampa Bay Derby
Q&A with David Harrison
David Harrison at the National Handicapping Championships
HRT: Tell us how you were introduced to horse racing?
David Harrison: My first experience was at the Belmont Stakes in 1977 when SEATTLE SLEW won the Triple Crown. I was hooked after that. I give a lot of credit to Harvey Pack who did the Paddock Club at Belmont for getting me to better understand how to handicap horses.
HRT: What were your thoughts the first time you looked at a Daily Racing Form?
David Harrison: I was overwhelmed and basically taught myself how to interpret the data but had quite a long learning curve.
HRT: Who taught you to use the Daily Racing Form and what techniques did you learn then that you still use today?
David Harrison: I learned that class was a big factor and that the biggest drop in racing was from a MSW to a maiden claimer. Also, first time off claim by certain trainers moving up in class.
HRT: You are a real estate appraiser. In what ways does your day job help with your handicapping?
David Harrison: I’m very analytical by nature, handicapping is similar to solving a market value determination of what the most probable value of a property would be, trying to determine how the race will unfold – pace etc. and the most likely result.
HRT: You say that you are a speed player, explain what that means to you.
David Harrison: I tend to look for races with lone speed or little pace, where I think I may have an advantage beating a vulnerable favorite with a lack of speed. Also, dirt races over the past few years tend to favor speed over closers and many tracks can be speed favoring on certain days.
HRT: What is your favorite bet and why?
David Harrison: WIN baby win bets and Daily Doubles. My typical play would be a win bet with an exacta box, Will sometimes play horizontal wagers pick 4, 5s & 6s when I think I have at least one or two singles or if races get washed off turf. Will play Trifectas but prefer not to wheel.
HRT: What do you do when you have a bad day handicapping?
David Harrison: I have a beefeaters & tonic – LOL
HRT: How did you hear about the National Handicapping Contest?
David Harrison: It was Introduced to me on At the Races with Steve Byk.
HRT: How long did it take you to qualify for the first time?
David Harrison: I first joined the tour in 2011 and only played on-track tourneys for years- maybe 5-6 a year. I first qualified by winning the NYRA Wood challenge in 2017 for 2018 NHC.
HRT: What tips can you share to help others qualify?
David Harrison: Don’t be afraid to use longshots especially in online pick & pray contests. Never use odds-on favorites, try to pick a price horse to finish second in the Win/Place formats as quite often the place price is more than the W/P of the favorite.
HRT: Once you are in Vegas for the National Championship, what’s the relationship like with the other players?
David Harrison: It actually depends on the table that you’re at, but in the three years I qualified I made friends that I still keep in touch with.
HRT: Describe the feeling when you realized you won the Championship?
David Harrison: Just an ultimate satisfaction, joy, elation combined with appreciation for the NTRA allowing me to accomplish such a feat. Amazing! Then total exhaustion by the end of night.
HRT: Share the story on why you played LET ME FINISH.
David Harrison: Yeah, total hunch play. I allow myself 1 hunch play or “crazy horse” a day in every tourney. All three scored for me at the NHC this year!
HRT: Since we knew the answer before asking, did you have to pay a wife tax?
David Harrison: It’s only going to cost me a couple night stay in a 5-star oceanfront hotel in Santa Monica to celebrate our 40th anniversary in April.
HRT: In what ways has life changed since winning?
David Harrison: Actually, it’s back to reality at work but getting media opportunities that I truly enjoy and appreciate doing.
HRT: Aside from horse racing, what else do you do for fun?
David Harrison: Deep Sea fishing, golf, NHL hockey, running, beaching.
HRT: Thanks, and hope to see you in Vegas!
David Harrison: Sure Rich, maybe I’ll be interviewing you next year!
