Gene McLean
Gene McLean began his professional career in 1977 as a sportswriter and columnist for the Lexington Herald-Leader in Lexington, Ky., and was recognized as one of the state’s best writers, winning the prestigious “Sportswriter of the Year” honor in 1985. Now the President and Publisher of The Pressbox, McLean sets the vision for the site and still finds time to handicap races, interview trainers and keep his finger on the pulse of the industry, More About Gene.
Stories by Gene McLeanSanta Is Coming to Town, and To the Fair Grounds
From Ryan Martin, Fair Grounds Media Team: Bring the kids to Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots on Dec. 15 for an unforgettable afternoon of holiday fun with creative activities like cookie-decorating, ornament-making and face-painting! Holiday Family Day presented by Coca-Cola® runs from Noon to 4 p.m. in the Trackside Tent. You won’t find a […]
Wednesday’s Work Tab: Focus On the Peter Miller Band at Del Mar
(Peter Miller after Stormy Liberal won the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint / Photo by Holly M. Smith) Every day, we scour the work tabs at racetracks all over the country. We are looking for workouts that may be of interest and helpful to you — as both race fans and handicappers. Some of the horses […]
Tuesday’s Workouts That May Work Out For You: Focus On Winter Sunset, Conquest Tsunami, Way to Versailles
(Winter Sunset won on career debut at the Fair Grounds / Photo Courtesy of Hodges Photography & the Fair Grounds) Every day, we scour the work tabs at racetracks all over the country. We are looking for workouts that may be of interest and helpful to you — as both race fans and handicappers. Some […]
Cox Headlines List of Top Trainers at Fair Grounds
(Brad Cox leads the current Trainer Standings at the Fair Grounds / Photo Courtesy of Churchill Downs) Brad Cox has had a pretty remarkable 2018 year. His racing statistics are some of the best in the country. Some of his horses that he has the pleasure to train each day are some of the best […]
Workouts That May Work Out For You: Today’s Focus On Reride, Snapper Sinclair, Roadster, McKinzie
(Trainer Steve Asmussen conditions both Reride and Snapper Sinclair / Photo Courtesy of Keeneland) Every day, we scour the work tabs at racetracks all over the country. We are looking for workouts that may be of interest and helpful to you — as both race fans and handicappers. Some of the horses we will be […]
McLean’s Handicapping Statistics / Graham Cracking at the Fair Grounds
Day Results 9-5-1-4 2018 Overall 1873 699-666-828 Win % of Top Pick 37.32% Payoff % of Top 3 Picks Overall 39.03% Top Selection ITM / FG Nov-Mar 58-75 77.33% Top Selection Win / FG Nov-Mar 38-75 50.67% “Key Horses” @ FG Nov-Mar 18-12-5-0 66.67% Another good race day on Sunday at the beautiful Fair Grounds […]
A Handicapper’s Happy Ending to a Very Bad Day & a Very Sad Story
On Sunday, I posted my normal handicapping selections for the Fair Grounds. As always, I gave my horse selections, divided into groups of preference, and then added a few sentences about the horses that I like the most, and a few more about my betting strategy. People have asked me often how long it takes […]
McLean’s Selections For The Fair Grounds on Sunday, Dec. 9
Day Results 10-3-3-4 2018 Overall 1864 694-665-824 Win % of Top Pick 37.23% Payoff % of Top 3 Picks Overall 39.04% Top Selection ITM / FG Nov-Mar 51-66 77.27% Top Selection Win / FG Nov-Mar 33-66 50.00% “Key Horses” @ FG Nov-Mar 17-12-5-0 70.59% We caught a muddy track on Saturday’s Louisiana Champions Day down […]
So Long My Good Friend…Hope to See You in that Great Paddock in the Sky
(The bar at Owl Creek Country Club will be missing Ray Thompson…a fixture…a friend / Photo Courtesy of Owl Creek Country Club) I will tell you right now — without any doubt or hesitation — that the first person I ever met at the little Owl Creek Country Club in Anchorage, KY. is one of […]
McLean’s Selections on Saturday, Dec. 8 — LA Champions Day — at the Fair Grounds
Day Results 10-5-4-6 2018 Overall 1854 691-662-820 Win % of Top Pick 37.27% Payoff % of Top 3 Picks Overall 39.07% Top Selection ITM / FG Nov-Mar 43-56 76.79% Top Selection Win / FG Nov-Mar 30-56 53.57% “Key Horses” @ FG Nov-Mar 14-10-4-0 71.43% Another great day at the Fair Grounds on Friday. Have I […]
Santa Is Coming to Town, and To the Fair Grounds
From Ryan Martin, Fair Grounds Media Team: Bring the kids to Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots on Dec. 15 for an unforgettable afternoon of holiday fun with creative activities like cookie-decorating, ornament-making and face-painting! Holiday Family Day presented by Coca-Cola® runs from Noon to 4 p.m. in the Trackside Tent. You won’t find a […]
Wednesday’s Work Tab: Focus On the Peter Miller Band at Del Mar
(Peter Miller after Stormy Liberal won the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint / Photo by Holly M. Smith) Every day, we scour the work tabs at racetracks all over the country. We are looking for workouts that may be of interest and helpful to you — as both race fans and handicappers. Some of the horses […]
Tuesday’s Workouts That May Work Out For You: Focus On Winter Sunset, Conquest Tsunami, Way to Versailles
(Winter Sunset won on career debut at the Fair Grounds / Photo Courtesy of Hodges Photography & the Fair Grounds) Every day, we scour the work tabs at racetracks all over the country. We are looking for workouts that may be of interest and helpful to you — as both race fans and handicappers. Some […]
Cox Headlines List of Top Trainers at Fair Grounds
(Brad Cox leads the current Trainer Standings at the Fair Grounds / Photo Courtesy of Churchill Downs) Brad Cox has had a pretty remarkable 2018 year. His racing statistics are some of the best in the country. Some of his horses that he has the pleasure to train each day are some of the best […]
Workouts That May Work Out For You: Today’s Focus On Reride, Snapper Sinclair, Roadster, McKinzie
(Trainer Steve Asmussen conditions both Reride and Snapper Sinclair / Photo Courtesy of Keeneland) Every day, we scour the work tabs at racetracks all over the country. We are looking for workouts that may be of interest and helpful to you — as both race fans and handicappers. Some of the horses we will be […]
McLean’s Handicapping Statistics / Graham Cracking at the Fair Grounds
Day Results 9-5-1-4 2018 Overall 1873 699-666-828 Win % of Top Pick 37.32% Payoff % of Top 3 Picks Overall 39.03% Top Selection ITM / FG Nov-Mar 58-75 77.33% Top Selection Win / FG Nov-Mar 38-75 50.67% “Key Horses” @ FG Nov-Mar 18-12-5-0 66.67% Another good race day on Sunday at the beautiful Fair Grounds […]
A Handicapper’s Happy Ending to a Very Bad Day & a Very Sad Story
On Sunday, I posted my normal handicapping selections for the Fair Grounds. As always, I gave my horse selections, divided into groups of preference, and then added a few sentences about the horses that I like the most, and a few more about my betting strategy. People have asked me often how long it takes […]
McLean’s Selections For The Fair Grounds on Sunday, Dec. 9
Day Results 10-3-3-4 2018 Overall 1864 694-665-824 Win % of Top Pick 37.23% Payoff % of Top 3 Picks Overall 39.04% Top Selection ITM / FG Nov-Mar 51-66 77.27% Top Selection Win / FG Nov-Mar 33-66 50.00% “Key Horses” @ FG Nov-Mar 17-12-5-0 70.59% We caught a muddy track on Saturday’s Louisiana Champions Day down […]
So Long My Good Friend…Hope to See You in that Great Paddock in the Sky
(The bar at Owl Creek Country Club will be missing Ray Thompson…a fixture…a friend / Photo Courtesy of Owl Creek Country Club) I will tell you right now — without any doubt or hesitation — that the first person I ever met at the little Owl Creek Country Club in Anchorage, KY. is one of […]
McLean’s Selections on Saturday, Dec. 8 — LA Champions Day — at the Fair Grounds
Day Results 10-5-4-6 2018 Overall 1854 691-662-820 Win % of Top Pick 37.27% Payoff % of Top 3 Picks Overall 39.07% Top Selection ITM / FG Nov-Mar 43-56 76.79% Top Selection Win / FG Nov-Mar 30-56 53.57% “Key Horses” @ FG Nov-Mar 14-10-4-0 71.43% Another great day at the Fair Grounds on Friday. Have I […]
