Delightfully British

We've kept the house stocked with plenty of tea and a decent helping of biscuits this week as the Handicapping Life has developed a fairly British theme. Well, better qualify that a bit -- a British Commonwealth theme. As most of you know, this week was the Royal Ascot -- a collection of impressive stakes races from across the Atlantic. And, while I normally don't pay much attention to the European horses, it was a wonderful diversion from your typical non-winners of two 6,250 claimers that populate the random Tuesday afternoon.

It was great racing, but even better, is the sense that racing is something in England. I've always despised the seedy, low-life reputation of American racing in the general public, and long for it to capture a bit of the cache that its splendor deserves. Perhaps, a greater focus on the true horseplayer, and less on the degenerate gambler, will help the game:

http://www.trackchampion.com/abrams_things.aspx

And, in keeping with the British theme, today is the Queen's Plate from Woodbine. A solid field, but two "American" invaders -- Wanna Runner and Sterwins -- are probably the best of the bunch. Watch out for Pipers Thunder, however -- nice win over the course against many of these, and a pedigree to go the distance to boot. Plus, I have my hesitations against Wanna Runner, but I had those at Sunland and Lone Star, too. I also always had hesitations about Flower Alley, but stop trying to beat him, and cashed a nice (and ridiculously foreseeable) exacta yesterday.

And, speaking of forseeability, I leave you with a question to ponder for next time: What is the more important factor in being a successful horseplayer -- Skill or Luck? Or, more specifically, the ability to see a race as clearly as possible, or the ability to admit that most clarity is false?

S.A.