Tammaro takes over as Keeneland's morning-line maker

Nick Tammaro, who is announcer and morning-line maker at Sam Houston Race Park as well as a contributor of handicapping content at TwinSpires, has added the morning line at Keeneland to his industry involvement.

Tammaro, 38, replaced Mike Battaglia, who had made the line at the Lexington racetrack since 1974. Battaglia is still the morning-line maker at the Churchill Downs Inc.-owned Kentucky properties of Turfway Park and Churchill Downs Racetrack.

"I’m honored to have the position of morning-line maker at Keeneland," Tammaro told Horse Racing Nation. "Each meet provides some of the greatest challenges in racing, and I’m beyond excited to participate."

Tammaro is very familiar with Keeneland racing, having won a handicapping contest there and placing in its Grade 1 Gamble. In addition to making the line at Sam Houston, Tammaro consulted with BetMakers on setting its fixed odds for Thoroughbred racing in New Jersey.

"At a place like Keeneland, the challenge is analyzing the shippers from various locales and how the public may approach them," Tammaro said. "I watched far more replays for opening day than I normally would, just to make sure I don’t miss something the public found."

Indeed, Tammaro was thrown in the deep end right off the rip with fields of 16, 14, and 13 to close out the 10-race opening day card Friday.