| The following information is the result of many years | | | | of human blood, mustang blood and whiskey flowing |
| of horse racing handicapping. It's still just one man's | | | | through his veins. He couldn't have stayed away from |
| opinion about horse racing and should be taken as just | | | | horse racing if you held a gun to his head. There is a |
| one viewpoint. It isn't gospel and nothing here is cast in | | | | photograph of me when I was just a toddler. I am |
| stone. Things keep changing and horse racing changes, | | | | sitting on a pony on my grandfather's farm while the |
| sometimes horse racing changes for the good and | | | | folks are eating their breakfast outside. I guess there is |
| sometimes for the bad, but it is always changing and | | | | horse racing and horses in my blood, too. That is how I |
| yet, some things about handicapping horse races | | | | became a horse racing handicapper and why one |
| remain the same. | | | | way or another I have been handicapping horse races |
| Here are a few things that have changed horse racing | | | | for years. |
| handicapping... | | | | You would think that someone with so much horsy |
| 1. Pari-mutuel wagering. At one time people used to get | | | | -i-ness about him would be a whiz at handicapping |
| fixed odds and bet with bookies or perhaps the track. | | | | horse races, but I still have my ups and downs. I have |
| That meant a person could shop for the best odds. | | | | supported myself at it at times and had my winning |
| Think about that a minute the next time you spend | | | | years, but because it is constantly changing you have |
| hours handicapping a horse race only to have a horse | | | | to keep learning and be willing to change. Handicapping |
| you've chosen go off at such a short price you decide | | | | horse races is seldom easy but if you get good |
| to pass the race. | | | | enough at it, it is rewarding. You're probably saying to |
| 2. Another change has been speed handicapping. | | | | yourself, "My goodness, man, get to the tips, share the |
| Horse race handicapping was a lot different back in | | | | secret of handicapping with me." |
| the days before speed handicapping. When speed | | | | Here is the biggest secret in horse racing handicapping; |
| handicapping with reliable figures first came upon the | | | | there is no secret to handicapping. Knowing that is |
| racing scene, the ones with the figures were cleaning | | | | probably the most important key to being a successful |
| up, but now things have come full circle so a horse | | | | handicapper. There is no golden formula, nothing works |
| with a good figure gets bet down to such low odds | | | | all the time at every track. Mr. and Ms. horse racing |
| you have to wonder why anyone even bothers with | | | | handicapper here is your goal, find a way to make |
| speed handicapping anymore. Part of the speed | | | | money handicapping horse races that suits you and |
| handicapping equation is computers. The information | | | | your style, the kind of person you are. There are many |
| age has provided so much information to horse racing | | | | ways to arrive at the goal of making money off horse |
| handicappers that it takes a PhD. to digest and use all | | | | races, but each of us is on a quest to find his or her |
| the information. Is this progress? | | | | own way. I can't tell you individually what will work for |
| 3. Simulcasting has brought more racing to more | | | | you. |
| people than ever before. If the local track is soggy, no | | | | I can tell you this, whether you become a speed |
| problem, just find a track in the simulcast schedule and | | | | capper, sight capper, tote board watcher, or a |
| bet that track. And yet, with all the new advances like | | | | combination of all of these or find another way, the |
| simulcasting and more information for horse racing | | | | systems and information you will find on these pages |
| handicappers, the handles are shrinking or just holding | | | | will bring you a lot closer to your goal of making a |
| their own and gamblers are turning to casinos, lotteries | | | | profit at the track at horse racing handicapping. All the |
| and who knows what to satisfy their need for | | | | systems touch on one or more of these aspects. The |
| gambling. | | | | information in True Handicapping about watching |
| Does horse racing handicapping have a future or are | | | | trainers, workouts, and tote board action will put you |
| we the last of a dying breed? Where are the | | | | very close to the elusive 1% who actually show a |
| handicappers of the future? | | | | reasonable profit from their hard work at handicapping |
| This is a question that haunts many a track owner and | | | | horse races. |
| the answer isn't clear. Gambling like any human activity, | | | | As for my own way? I use a combination of |
| especially entertainments and pleasure, are cyclical. | | | | workouts, speed, trainers, breeding, track bias (models). |
| Horse Racing Handicapping will probably survive, but it | | | | It all starts with finding a horse that has already done |
| will see hard times and good times. Look at it this way, | | | | what it takes to win today's race. It is amazing how |
| people have been racing horses and betting on horse | | | | may low-priced favorites have never done what it |
| racing for centuries and yet, it is still here. | | | | takes to win today's race. When they fail and a |
| I can tell you from personal experience, some people | | | | proven horse wins, a great gasp goes up from the |
| have it in their blood when they're born and they can't | | | | crowd. I sometimes hear it on my way to the pay line. |
| avoid it. No matter where they are or what is | | | | If you want to be a good horse racing handicapper, |
| happening, horse racing will find them. Many of them | | | | read True handicapping and True Winning. No system |
| will become horse racing handicappers. | | | | you buy will ever make you rich, but you can learn |
| One of my first memories is of looking up under the | | | | from them and these systems are based on good |
| bottom rail of the fence at the old Narragansett Park | | | | sound principles that will move your handicapping up a |
| and watching the horses hooves thunder by. My | | | | few notches so you are in the upper percentile of |
| parents and grandfather had taken me to the track. | | | | handicappers. You can use them to find your way and |
| My grandfather was a horseman who'd homesteaded | | | | then join me in the pay line. |
| in Montana. I think there was probably an even mixture | | | | |