Bill Peterson

Bill Peterson (pen name) was born in 1953.

One of the most prolific writers on the subject of horse racing and handicapping, Bill has almost 1,700 horse racing articles to his credit. Most of them are available on the internet. He also writes under several other pen names on many subjects, though horse racing and the life of a horseplayer continue to be his favorites. He has over 50 years of experience at the race track.

Born in New England, he first attended the races with his grandfather who exercised horses and assisted in training. One of Bill's first memories is of standing at the fence and watching the horse's legs go by when he was just a toddler.

In his own words, "I heard all the people shouting and the thundering hooves going by and knew that something wonderful and exciting must be going on. I made up my mind that when I grew up I would get involved in whatever was going on. Years later I got my groom's license and eventually owned several horses.

"Those experiences have helped me with an inside look at horse racing and gambling. At times, I've managed to support myself with handicapping, but I caution anyone who is thinking about becoming a professional horse player to be prepared for a hard road. The rewards are great, but it's a lot of hard work and an uncertain future.

"I now divide my time between writing about horse racing, playing the horses, and sharing the lessons I've learned. If you handicap horse races and bet on them, you will soon find out it's a humbling experience. After 50 years at the track, I'm still learning. Like all handicappers who are honest, I admit I still have my ups and downs. I think the most important quality any horse racing writer should have is honesty. My short and to the point articles tell it like it is. The Horseplayer series will give other horseplayers an inside look into how I handicap and play the races on a regular basis.

"Because I've done it myself, I understand what my fellow horse players are going through and write for them. I wish someone could have told me some of these things when I was struggling, but now that I know, I'm willing to share what I've learned.

"I now spend my time between both coasts and follow the sun in the winter months. I am also now writing horse racing fiction."

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