Dave Bontempo

About the Author

Dave Bontempo is a writer for California Casinos, and has covered the horse racing and boxing industry extensively since the 1980s. He was an award-winning writer at the Press of Atlantic City. As a broadcaster, he has won the Sam Taub Award for Excellence in Boxing Broadcasting, issued by the Boxing Writers Association of America. He has called major fights for HBO, ESPN, Showtime, and other networks since the 1980s. He is in the New Jersey and Atlantic City Boxing Halls of Fame. Dave shifted gears to cover the emerging legalized sports-betting industry in 2018. He now serves as the go-to authority on horse race betting across multiple websites, including California Casinos.

2 Breeders' Cup berths on the line this weekend at Santa Anita Park

Two Breeders’ Cup Berths at Stake at Santa Anita Park This Weekend

October 6, 2022 | By: Dave Bontempo

The road to the Breeders’ Cup again passes through Santa Anita Park in another loaded California horse race betting weekend. The famed Southern California oval hosts a pair of “Win and You’re In” challenge events on Saturday, bringing the winner an all-expenses-paid erth in the Breeders’ Cup Nov. 4-5 at Keeneland in Lexington, Kentucky. Racing […]

Horse betting preview for first races at Santa Anita Park

Santa Anita Fall Horse Racing Meet Begins With Awesome Again Stakes

September 29, 2022 | By: Dave Bontempo

They’re approaching the gate for the 18-day horse betting fall meet at historic Santa Anita Park. And on Friday, they’re off. The famed Arcadia oval site of many historic Kentucky Derby prep races and host of the 2023 Breeders’ Cup will get a blazing start with 11 stakes races, seven of them graded, this weekend. […]

Los Alamitos Race Course offers huge handicapping contest this weekend

Los Alamitos Race Course Handicapping Contest Will Give Big Payout This Weekend

September 22, 2022 | By: Dave Bontempo

Los Alamitos Race Course has another day-night horse race betting doubleheader weekend, while Santa Anita Park waits on deck. California bettors have options to attend the live races or access them via the TVG app. The racetrack features another pair of $75,000 stakes races and a package of Saturday-Sunday twin bills of afternoon and evening racing. […]

Best races around North America for California simulcast horse bettors on Sept. 17

Best Horse Races Around North America for California Simulcast Bettors – Sept. 17

September 15, 2022 | By: Dave Bontempo

Yes, the classic Saratoga meet is concluded, but no, the horse-racing industry California simulcast bettors love won’t grow quiet. A pair of $1 million turf races on Saturday bear that out at Aqueduct and Woodbine racetracks. So does a blockbuster card at Churchill Downs in Louisville, and a $500,000 race at Monmouth Park in New […]

Previewing the opening horse betting weekend at Los Alamitos Race Course

Los Alamitos Horse Betting Meet Kicks Off This Weekend

September 15, 2022 | By: Dave Bontempo

Here’s a twin bill Ernie Banks would have appreciated. Los Alamitos Race Course, one of California’s four premier horse betting venues, summons the spirit of doubleheaders — a specialty item the Chicago Cubs legend loved — in a rare package of afternoon and evening racing Sept. 17-18 and Sept. 24-25. It’s the horse racing version […]

Kentucky Downs has the best races for CA simulcast horse bettors this weekend

Best Races Around North America for California Simulcast Horse Bettors – Sept. 10

September 8, 2022 | By: Dave Bontempo

California horse bettors, here’s one more Saturday turf spectacular for simulcast wagering. Kentucky Downs offers a loaded simulcast card starting at 8:30 a.m. Its 12-race card packs full fields, three $1 million races, and others close to that value. No race is under six figures. And the takeout percentage for win, place, and show is […]

Previewing the final horse betting weekend at Del Mar

Del Mar Meet Closes With a Loaded Weekend of Horse Betting Action

September 8, 2022 | By: Dave Bontempo

It’s time for the final horse betting weekend at Del Mar Racetrack, which has graced California horse racing fans with some incredible action the past couple months. Friday’s card includes the $125,000 I’m Smokin Stakes. A string of stakes races mark Saturday and closing day Sunday. The finale includes a mandatory payout of the 20-cent […]

What are the best California simulcast horse betting options on Sept. 3?

Best Races Around North America for California Simulcast Horse Bettors – Sept. 3

September 1, 2022 | By: Dave Bontempo

Talk about an abundance of riches. California horse betting enthusiasts have not one, or two, but three $1 million races to wager into on Saturday. The big one in California is the TVG Pacific Classic, live at Del Mar Racetrack. The East Coast version is the Jockey Gold Club Cup unfolding at Saratoga Race Course in […]

Flightline headlines TVG Pacific Classic at Del Mar

Horse Racing Sensation Flightline Leads TVG Pacific Classic Field at Del Mar

September 1, 2022 | By: Dave Bontempo

The Del Mar horse betting slate this weekend features the centerpiece of the entire meet at Del Mar Racetrack. On Saturday, the $1 Million TVG Pacific Classic will be run on the historic racetrack outside San Diego. The 32nd running of the Classic is the flagship event of the Del Mar meet, the biggest event of […]

The Travers Stakes headlines the best simulcast horse betting options in California this weekend

Best Races Around North America for California Simulcast Horse Bettors – Aug. 26-27

August 25, 2022 | By: Dave Bontempo

It’s a great weekend for California simulcast horse bettors. They can embrace an elite level of championship competition separate from what’s already being offered at Del Mar Racetrack. The biggest race of the industry, and indeed the whole summer, is the $1.25 million Travers Stakes, assembling the nation’s best 3-year-old thoroughbreds, on Saturday at Saratoga. […]