One of the most popular sports these days has to be baseball. Baseball is popular both on the pitch and in the betting office as it is for fantasy baseball, which also wracks up quite the crowd.

Of all of the teams at play in MLB, there are several that exceed the rankings in popularity. The New York Mets are one of the teams that excels in its fanbase, but, let’s take a moment to talk about who they are and their history!

Who Are The New York Mets?

The Mets are an American pro baseball team that is based in the NYC borough of Queens. They compete in MLB in the Eastern division of the National League. The Mets and the Yankees are the two major league clubs that are NYC based.

One of baseball’s first expansion teams was the Mets as they were founded in 1962 to replace the departed NL teams; the Dodgers and the Giants.

In their inaugural season, the Mets posted a 40-120 record, which is the worst regular season record that has ever been seen in MLB.  The Mets also managed to qualify for the post-season ten times over and also managed to win the World Series on 2 occasions.

They managed to win 5 National League Pennants, with the most recent ones in 2000 and 2015, and also gained 6 total National League East division titles.

Their ownership changed in 2020, now under the ownership of Steve Cohen, a billionaire hedge fund manager, who purchased the team for $2.4 billion.

As 2022 came around, Forbes ranked the Mets as being the 6th most valuable MLB team, as they had a value of $2.650 billion.

When the 2022 regular season ended, the team had an overall win-loss record of 4,652 to 4,988 overall.

History Of The Franchise?

Every franchise has a history, and the Mets had a unique and interesting history, so let’s take a look.

Founding

After 1957, the Brooklyn Dodgers and Giants moved from NYC to California to become the Los Angeles Dodgers and the San Francisco Giants, which left NYC with no NL franchises, and only a single AL team, which was the New York Yankees.

The NL decided to expand, and add the New York Mets. They quickly took on the colors of the Giants and Dodgers, as blue and orange, which are also featured on the NYC flag.

In 1962, the Mets posted a 40-120 record, which was the biggest loss in a season since 1899. Then, later on, in the 1963 season they featured Willey, who was having a very good year, he pitched 4 shut-outs before he incurred an injury and ended up finishing with a 9-14 win-loss record.

At the beginning of their inception, they did not do so well, as you can see. However, eventually, things would improve for this team.

2nd Pennant In The 70s

In ‘73, the Mets managed to rally and go from 5th place to eventually win their division, despite only having a record of 82-79. They upset the favored Cincinnati Reds in NLCS and managed to push the defending World Series champions, the Oakland Athletics into a seventh game, however, they did end up losing the series.

1973 was the only NL East division title from ‘70 and ‘80 that the Phillies or Pirates did not win as well. However, in 1977 the Met’s star pitcher, Tom Seaver ended up being traded and the Mets fell to the bottom for some years.

1980s

In 1980, the Mets got sold to the Doubleday publishing company for $21.1 mil.

In the mid 80’s the franchise did turn around a bit, drafting Darryl Strawberry, a talented slugger, and then Dwight Gooden in 1985. They also gained Keith Hernandez in 1983, who was a former NL MVP and Gold Glove winner.

In ‘85 they also got Gary Carter and managed to win 98 games, but still missed the playoffs. However, in ‘86 they managed to win their division with a 108-54 record, which is one of the best in NL history!

They won an NLCS in 6 games as well, with the 6th game lasting 16 innings, which was the longest in playoff history until 2005. That year, they were only a single hit away from losing the World Series, before a series of miscues led to an error from Bill Buckner, which gave them a victory.

They finally won their second World Series title in 7 games that year! 

1990s Struggles

The ’90s saw a lot of struggles for the Mets, as they finished with a losing record for 6 seasons in a row from ‘91 to ‘96. They did not get to the postseason again until 1999.

Overall

After such a rollercoaster ride the Mets have changed their outlook for the latest MLB betting odds and had a new owner take them over in 2020. They have also seen more records being built up by newer players. Jacob deGrom set a new MLB record allowing 3 or fewer earned runs in 40 games consecutively.

We also saw a new single-season record broken by Jim Scott. So, there is more improvement, and we hope to see even more in the future.

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As May has come to a close it is time for our “Tipster of the Month” award.

This is where we look at the top tipsters – both those we have reviewed in the past and those we are currently reviewing – to see who’s performed most strongly over the last month.

It’s a chance to find out who is in form and has been giving the bookies a good hiding over the last month and to note any stand-out performances.

Now it’s time to look at the top tipsters from May.

The Sporting Month of May

May was a month of transition in the sporting world as the football season came towards an end in Europe, whilst the flat racing season got fully underway. 

There was also a feeling of déjà vu in the big European leagues as perennial winners PSG, Bayern Munich and Manchester City once again won their respective domestic leagues.

In Spain Barcelona continued the duopoly of La Liga by winning the title for the first time in four years, whilst in Italy Napoli broke the mould by capturing their first Scudetto in over 30 years. 

In the racing world, the month got off to a flying start with the Guineas meeting at Newmarket, where Chaldean won the 2,000 Guineas with the ageless Frankie Dettori on board whilst Mawj won the 1000 Guineas for trainer Saeed bin Suroor.

Tipster of the Month – May 2023

In terms of tipping, May saw some strong performances from both horse racing and football tipsters with plenty of profit made across the board. 

Let’s take a look at the best tipsters for the month of May. 

3. Banker Bets 

It is quite tough for football services to break into our list, as they tend to grind out small gains rather than have big winners like horse racing and golf services. 

However, this month a footy tipster has managed to break into the top 3 and that is Banker Bets.

Using a variety of strategies they produced some strong gains in May, with the four systems delivering the following results:-

• Over 1.5 Goals: 33 wins and 4 losses for 20.7% profit on starting bank and 11.19% ROI
• Over 2.5 Goals: 20 wins and 10 losses for 13.32% profit on starting bank and 22.2% ROI
• Favourites: 20 wins, 4 losses and 1 void for 7.2% profit on starting bank and 5.76% ROI
• Draws: 17 wins and 40 losses for 0.17% profit on starting bank and 0.29% ROI

That’s really good consistency and continues the momentum shown in previous months.

As we say it’s tough for footy services to break through so with these results, Banker Bets is well worthy of a place on our Tipster of the Month awards. 

2. King of the Picks

Taking the number two spot for the month is a horse racing service we are currently reviewing, King of the Picks.

With the flat season getting going in earnest it was a perfect time for them to show their mettle and that is exactly what it did in May, racking up an impressive 28 points profit. 

There were some big winners throughout the month, including Bielsa at 12/1, Urban Sprawl at 12/1, Great State at 8/1 and plenty more at decent prices. 

We have come to expect high quality from the King of the Picks service and that is what they have delivered. Congratulations to them on racking up some very healthy profits in May.

1. The Bookies Enemy

The winner of out Tipster of the Month for May is a service that passed a review here at HBR back in 2018 and has delivering superb results for a while now and that is horse racing tipster The Bookies Enemy.

With an excellent 364 points profit made since August 2022 and nine profitable months out of the last ten, they have been relentless in their pursuit of profit. 

May was no exception either with another 48 points profit made for the month, which would be £1200 profit at £25 per point stakes.

That included winners at 16/1, 11/1, & 8/1 and many more at a range of prices that kept the profits rolling in throughout the month. 

A formidable effort then that hit the bookies where it hurts and earned The Bookies Enemy our Tipster of the Month awards for May. 

You can check out The Bookies Enemy for yourself here.

Humanity first tamed the horse 6000 years ago. Since then, we’ve been watching athletes race horses, whether in direct competition or chariot racing.

Horse races have been popular throughout human history. However, in the 1800s, when the Victorian age rekindled the horse racing spark, the sport became an international sensation.

Today, horse racing is one of the most popular sports in the world. Watched by fans from all around the globe, the sport is especially popular in England, Ireland, the United States of America, France, the United Arab Emirates, and Japan.

However, most countries have notable horse racing competitions. So, in this article, we would like to briefly discuss some of the most notable things about horse racing, and give you a quick rundown on the sport.

Betting on Horse Races

Horse racing’s success mainly stems from its popularity as a betting sport. Most bookies cover the biggest events regarding horse races, place odds on the top equestrian athletes, and discuss their pairings with jockeys. Unsurprisingly, horse racing is also popular with online bettors.

For those who don’t know, online sportsbooks have reached a whole new level of success in 2023. They cover all of the greatest athletic competitions, and there are many that entirely focus on horse racing. On top of that, most online bookies offer excellent bonuses, promotions, and more, as seen on this page. So, if you have an interest in betting, check out the link provided.

Most Notable Horse Racing Events

There are several, notable, and beloved horse racing events in 2023. Most fans of horse racing will undoubtedly know of the Kentucky Derby.

The jewel on top the Triple Crown, the Kentucky Derby is one of the United States’ most notable sports events. Horses from all over the country come to compete for the title of greatest. The Kentucky Derby has been the stomping ground for some of the greatest equestrian athletes in history, including the Secretariat.

The Royal Ascot is another incredibly popular and widely watched event in horse racing. Held annually in the English town of Ascot, the event is much more than just a horse race. There is a gala, a fashion show, a cocktail party and more.

Famous for being attended by the British Royal Family, the Royal Ascot will very likely remain one of England’s, and the World’s, most popular sporting events.

And finally, we head on over to the Middle East, in order to take a look at the UAE Derby. A flat horse race stretching over a distance of 1.900 meters, the UAE Derby usually takes place at the end of March. Known for its extraordinarily rich purse, which currently sits at $2.5 million, the UAE Derby is one of the biggest events in horse racing.

Conclusion

Whether you love it or find it unappealing, horse racing undoubtedly remains a popular event around the world. We hope this article has helped those who want to know more about the sport, as it certainly has been growing in popularity in the past couple of years.

Many people adore playing online casino games. Poker is one of the most popular card games of all time. Though a player’s success in this game is heavily reliant upon luck, skill and strategy will also play a major role. 

If you adore poker, here are ten terrific facts that may surprise you:

1. It Used To Be Played With Just 20 Cards 

Famously, poker is played with a 52-card deck. However, when the game was first devised, it was played with just 20 cards. It was not until the early 1800s that the game incorporated the entire 52-card deck. 

To play this game, 5 cards would be given to 4 different players. As a result, the winner would be the player with the best hand of cards.

2. The Exact Origins Of Poker Are Not Known 

It is not entirely known when and where poker originates from. Many people believe that our modern understanding of poker comes from the United States. It is believed to have been started during the early stages of the 19th century. 

Many historians believe that the game may have come from China during the 10th century. It may have been inspired by a game during this period that combined dominoes with a card game. 

Alternatively, it may have derived from “As-Nas”. As-Nas is a card game that comes from Persia. It is believed to have started during the 16th or 17th century. 

The truth is that it is simply impossible to firmly state the origins of poker. 

3. The Royal Flush Is The Best Hand

The royal flush is inarguably the best poker hand. This game-winning hand is formed of a Ten, Jack, Queen, King, and Ace of the same suit. 

The odds of getting a royal flush are 649,739-to-1. The probability of getting this hand is 0.000154%. Consequently, it is the rarest hand in the game. 

4. The World Series of Poker Was First Televised In 1973

The World Series of Poker (WSOP) is a tournament that has been around since 1970. After the emergence of this tournament, the desire to watch poker tournaments on television increased.

Therefore, the first WSOP tournament to be televised occurred in 1973. This tournament was broadcasted by CBS Sports. Today, these tournaments are regularly televised. 

5. Johnny Chan Had A Good Luck Orange

Johnny Chan is a professional poker player, who has won several World Series of Poker competitions.

One of the quirky facts about this player is that Chan would always bring an orange with him for extra luck. This orange would be placed next to his load of chips. 

Originally, the orange served a practical purpose, but it has since become a good luck charm. It was originally used to cover up the smell of his cigarettes. 

6. Online Poker Started In 1998

Nowadays, online poker is a popular game. The online version of this game has now been around for a relatively long time. 

The first ever game of online poker was first played on the 1st of January 1998. This game was hosted by Planet Poker. This game quickly took off and became increasingly popular.

7. Players Often Give Away Their Hand Through Body Language

When playing this high-stakes game, people are told to maintain a “poker face”. Essentially, this means that they should attempt to conceal their emotions so that the other players are unable to tell what cards they have. 

As humans, we unconsciously and consciously communicate with our bodies. Most people will have a visible tell, which is a signal or gesture that indicates the quality of their hand. 

In particular, you should pay attention to the microexpressions in the face to tell what your opponents are thinking when they look at the cards. 

8. The Longest Poker Game Lasted For 8 Years

Did you know that the longest game of poker lasted for a massive 8 years? This game continued from 1881 to 1889. This game of poker was played constantly, lasting 24 hours per day and 7 days a week. 

This infamous game occurred at the iconic Bird Cage Theatre. The game featured several noteworthy poker players, such as Doc Holiday, George Hearst, and Diamond Jim Brady. 

Roughly $10 million was exchanged through this grueling game of poker. 

9. There Was Once A Fifth Suit

Alongside the four traditional suits of hearts, diamonds, aces, and spades, it was once proposed that another suit be introduced to the game. This card deck would be made with green eagles. 

This suggestion was made during the 1930s. Though the majority of card manufacturers still use the four traditional sets, it is possible to find five-set packs. 

10. Justin Bonomo Is One Of The Best Players Of All Time

Many poker players have experienced massive success in the game. Justin Bonomo is one of the most successful poker players of all time. Dubbed ZeeJustin, Bonomo is known for his participation in live tournaments. Through these tournaments, he has made an impressive $57,283,047. 

Final Thoughts

You might think that you know everything about poker. But, as this list demonstrates, there are plenty of fascinating facts related to the world of poker that few people know. Hopefully, this lust has taught you something new.