| You've spent all night handicapping the horse races | | | | betting opportunity. If for instance, you thought the 4 |
| and now you are ready to make some bets. Perhaps | | | | was a good horse in a race, but decided that there |
| you have chosen some horses that you think are | | | | was a bad pace scenario because of another horse, |
| going to have a real good chance of winning their race. | | | | the scratching of that other horse would suddenly |
| On the other hand, you may have made a morning line | | | | make a good wagering opportunity. |
| for each race that you have an interest in. The other | | | | The biggest change of all, obviously, is scratches. If you |
| alternative might be that you have identified some spot | | | | have a morning line based on 100% minus the takeout |
| plays. | | | | and then a horse is removed, you must make |
| Whatever method you have chosen to use, you | | | | mathematical adjustments to your line to compensate |
| should never look at those figures or choices as set in | | | | for this. Scratches can have an effect in the following |
| stone. Before every horse race you should always | | | | ways... |
| look at every possible factor that can change and | | | | A. Your choice is scratched, so no bet or bet your |
| then assess how it will change the probable outcome | | | | second choice if you have one. |
| of the race. For instance, you may have determined | | | | B. A horse is scratched that would have affected the |
| that the 3 is a good bet in a race only to see it | | | | pace of the race, it may make a better opportunity of |
| sweating excessively in the post parade. Therefore, | | | | a worse opportunity. |
| you decide not to bet on and you bet against it with | | | | C. A horse is scratched that the crowd would have |
| your second choice. If you hadn't spotted it, however, | | | | bet, but since it is now gone, they are over betting your |
| you might have made a bad bet. | | | | choice, making the odds prohibitive. |
| Whether it is a change in equipment, such as the | | | | As you can see, it is foolhardy to make up your mind |
| addition of lasix or a change on the shoe board, or a | | | | to bet on a horse until you get the final changes just |
| change in jockey, all these things must be taken into | | | | before post time. |
| consideration before deciding what constitutes a good | | | | |