Former DRF handicapper Litfin dies at age of 64

Dave Litfin, one of the most widely respected Thoroughbred racing handicappers and columnists for more than three decades, died Thursday in Saratoga after a battle with cancer. He was 64.

With an even keel, dry wit, and smart opinion, Liftin was Daily Racing Form’s lead handicapper in New York from 1991-2016. Since then, he wrote handicapping columns for Blood-Horse and worked as a chart caller/handicapper for Equibase, most recently in South Florida.

Litfin began his career in racing as a call taker with DRF in 1982 until the fall of 1984 when he joined the New York Racing Association’s publicity department. After four years at NYRA, Litfin served brief stints handicapping for Racing Action and the New York Daily News before returning to the Form in 1990. He became the lead New York handicapper in the spring of 1991.

In addition to writing a twice-weekly column for the Form, “Handicapper’s Corner,” Liftin authored two books: “Expert Handicapping: Winning Insights into Betting Thoroughbreds,” and “Real-Life Handicapping: An Eclectic Horseplayer’s Year at the Track.”

Litfin also was a contributor to the Form’s popular “Champions” book.

In a 2008 interview with Mike McAdam, of Schenectady’s Daily Gazette, Litfin said the first bet he ever made was a place wager on 1972 Preakness runner-up No Le Hace ($5.40).

“Then I got spoiled,” Litfin told McAdam. “OTB was just opening up in the city, and that’s where I lived. They weren’t too strict about the under-18 betting rule, and it was still a big-time sport then. It was just captivating watching Secretariat and Ruffian and Affirmed and Alydar.”

Litfin is survived by his wife, Robin, with whom he would have celebrated 40 years of marriage on Nov. 28; daughters Addy and Marne; son, Sam; and daughter-in-law Maggie.

The family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations be made in Liftin’s name to Old Friends, which has equine retirement facilities in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., and Lexington, Ky.

A celebration of Litfin’s life will be planned for a future date.