Seminars available to help Breeders’ Cup bettors

The task of handicapping 14 Breeders’ Cup races, including a record 184 entries, can be difficult. Horses will be coming from many U.S. tracks and around the world to run Nov. 5 and 6 at Churchill Downs.

Las Vegas horseplayers will have access to a lot of information next week with free handicapping seminars around town. I suggest getting the Daily Racing Form Breeders’ Cup advance edition now to study the fields, then you can follow along with the handicappers at the seminars.

The fun begins Thursday with two seminars. Jerry Jacovitz of Jerry J’s Power Page will appear at Texas Station at 5:45 p.m. At 6 at Palace Station, Richie Saber of Gaming Today, Ralph Siraco of the “Race Day Las Vegas” radio show and Vic Viveo of Palace Station will offer their opinions.

On Friday, at the end of the first day of the Breeders’ Cup, there will be two more seminars. Dave Tuley of the Daily Racing Form and Dan Shapiro of Lucky’s will be at the Plaza at 5:45 p.m. The “Track Talk” radio crew of Gordon Jones, John Kelly and Patrick McQuiggan along with Mike Willman of Santa Anita Park will share their thoughts at 6 at Sam’s Town.

Two more seminars are scheduled for Saturday. Siraco and Jon Lindo of The Lindo Report will be at The Orleans’ Mardi Gras ballroom at 9 a.m. The South Point will offer a race-by-race, all-day seminar featuring Siraco and I in the 600-seat ballroom. The format will give us a chance to analyze the races as they happen and make adjustments accordingly.

For those who prefer action over words, the popular Pick the Ponies handicapping tournament at the Las Vegas Hilton will be Wednesday through Friday. The entry fee is $500.

■ PAULICK WALKS FOR CHARITY — Ray Paulick of the horse racing website paulickreport.com is walking the 85-mile trip from Lexington, Ky., to Louisville to raise money for the Breeders’ Cup Charities. To make a donation, go to the website.

■ TORRE SPEAKS — Retired baseball manager Joe Torre will be featured on “Inside Information” on HRTV at 9 p.m. Sunday.

Torre, who managed the New York Yankees to four World Series titles, is a horse owner and lover of the sport.

■ ZENYATTA TV — The great Zenyatta, undefeated in her 19 career starts, will be featured on “60 Minutes” on CBS on Sunday. The show will air at 7 p.m.

If this overlaps with your football watching, tape Zenyatta for later viewing.

Richard Eng’s horse racing column is published Friday in the Las Vegas Review-Journal. He can be reached at rich_eng@hotmail.com.