For astute handicappers, that was a sign that the colt was rounding into top form.

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Political handicappers Stuart Rothenberg and Charlie Cook both rate the open seat as safe for Republicans.

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But these days there is room for relatively high handicappers (like me) who are neither famous nor corner-office executives.

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Political handicappers make it sound as if demography is destiny when it comes to which policies and candidates people support.

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But despite the dire predictions, the handicappers and media experts who forecast a Chavez loss and potential ensuing chaos were wrong.

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Some fake clubs may play decently well for high-handicappers, others less so.

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Leading professionals play from the tees furthest from the hole, while higher handicappers can opt to hit their first shot from much closer.

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" Early handicappers had bet heavily on veteran Julie Christie, a previous Oscar winner who played a woman falling victim to Alzheimer's in "Away from Her.

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Their courses are plenty challenging for the experts but tend to be easier for newcomers and high-handicappers to negotiate, as compared with the lusher, more heavily bunkered, penal-style courses that their elders in the competition are often known for.

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"People can now sit on their couch and watch -- and bet -- on races, eliminating the need to go to the track or even to a wagering facility, " said Bob Mieszerski, long one of America's top turf writers and handicappers who is now director of publicity at California's Hollywood Park.

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