By Michael Valiante
Here is a question. In the last 33 years have you been either at Delaware Park or any OTB in the United States? If your answer is yes then you are probably familiar with the work of Rich Glazier. That is because for much of that time period Rich has been the Delaware Park paddock host for the live crowd and simulcast viewers. In addition he hosts the nightly replay show seen on cable television and most importantly, he has been a sounding board for the fans. His favorite thing to do at the track is to be able to rectify a problem.
Rich was a horse racing fan prior to beginning his career at Delaware Park. Like many Delawareans, he got started in handicapping by going to Brandywine Raceway, a local harness track. After years of being exclusive to the trotters, he went to Delaware Park a few times and found the different distances, the different surfaces and more than eight horses in a race much more challenging and soon became solely a thoroughbred fan. It was about 1966 when he became a serious follower of racing.
As a fan he saw the great Kelso win the Diamond State Handicap, and Buckpasser (his favorite horse) win the Leonard Richards Stakes. As a paddock host, “I will never forget seeing Hard Spun come into the paddock for his debut. He just had a way about him, that he was the man. He went on to do some great things and is a top sire now. The best race I ever saw at Delaware Park was the 1977 Delaware Handicap with Our Mims beating Mississippi Mud by a nose.”
When asked to comment on the state of racing Rich said, “The tracks need to cooperate with each other better. For instance they run on top of each other and they schedule the same type of stakes races against each other.”
Rich also commented on some of his favorite simulcast hosts. “I respect them all because I know it is not as easy as it looks, but I particularly like Brad Thomas at Monmouth and Ron Nicoletti at Gulfstream. They do their homework and rather than just give picks, give in depth reasons for their selections.”
Like any good handicapper Rich is secure in his opinions. His specialty is turf handicapping. “I really do love turf racing for many reasons, but mostly because I have made studies of the breeding of turf horses and my records prove out that my ideas are profitable. Although there are many good books on handicapping, I have never seen a really good one on turf handicapping.”
Many viewers of his cable show play his daily turf bet of the day which he gives out using a toy horse that descends from the ceiling and goes by the name Bungee. Those bets are currently showing a positive ROI for the year.
Perhaps it his ability to think like a fan because he is one, or maybe it is his over 50 years of racing experience that make Rich such an asset to Delaware Park. Either way you could say that “there is only one” Rich Glazier.
Always check with Past the Wire for the latest horse racing news and more…..
