| The first time I went to a horse track I was a kid and | | | | race model works for each distance and surface. |
| things were a lot different than they are now, or so it | | | | Handicap the races and create your own morning line. |
| seems at first glance. For one thing, there were no | | | | After you get the scratches, make adjustments to |
| synthetic tracks back then. Horses raced on dirt and | | | | that morning line to reflect any changes. Then sit and |
| mud and slop and knowing which ones could handle | | | | watch the tote board odds and the pools and amounts |
| the off track was a valuable piece of information. The | | | | and pay attention to how the money is distributed. |
| public had their choice of the Telegraph or Form and | | | | Compare the odds on the horses and while you're at it, |
| most local newspapers carried information about | | | | watch the horses themselves and make notes about |
| horse racing, too. | | | | their condition and the jockey's and trainer's body |
| The television hadn't made a great impact on the public | | | | language. Are you starting to see how much work this |
| and finding good entertainment, live entertainment, was | | | | is? |
| still a good way to enjoy an afternoon. Most small | | | | It can be a lot of fun, because you are playing |
| towns had a ball field where local teams played and | | | | detective, but it is still work. That is why I suggest you |
| there was usually a race track, too. | | | | focus on a track and one or two kinds of races, so |
| While insiders often had more information than the | | | | you won't spread yourself too thin. Keep comparing |
| general public, it was possible to make a profit at the | | | | the actual tote board odds with your morning line and |
| track with your handicapping. One of the reasons for | | | | look for good value bets. If you are using a system to |
| that was that the takeout was much lower back then. | | | | handicap the horses, that will help to come up with |
| One of the problems with handicapping now is that | | | | your own accurate morning line. Your morning line is |
| you have to overcome a very large "Vig.". | | | | absolutely essential because it is how you determine if |
| Some people think that because there is more | | | | a bet is a good value and your job, as a horse racing |
| information available to horse racing handicappers now | | | | handicapper, is to find good value bets. |
| that it is easier to handicap a race and to make a | | | | If you have placed low odds on a horse because it |
| profit picking winners, but such is not the case. If | | | | looked good on paper, but looks bad in the post |
| everyone has access to the same information and | | | | parade, adjust your odds accordingly. Keep notes. I |
| tools, why would one person have an advantage? | | | | can't stress that enough, this is how you will learn and |
| That is all that picking winners for profit has ever | | | | grow as a handicapper and the only way you will |
| required, an advantage. It is a delicate balancing act | | | | succeed. Finally, place small affordable bets at first as |
| between being able to determine who is likely to win | | | | you grow as a handicapper. Consider yourself an |
| and how much is a good price. As I have handicapped | | | | apprentice and keep honing your skills. There will be |
| over the years, I've seen the margin for profit | | | | time enough for big bets when you are truly an expert. |
| stretched to the limit. It is still possible, but not any | | | | There are a lot of people trying to make a living by |
| easier than it ever was before to make money from | | | | betting on horse races and most of them are failing. |
| horse racing handicapping. | | | | As times get tougher, more will try. They'll try fancy |
| What you must do to be successful as a horse racing | | | | software programs and fill their minds with so much |
| handicapper in the twenty first century is to practice | | | | information they will have to buy a bigger hat. They will |
| and pay attention. Your mind and ability to work and | | | | continually buy new systems that promise to |
| stay focused are the most valuable tools and that | | | | automatically pick winners and they will be disappointed |
| hasn't changed since time began. While it is true that | | | | by them. But very few will do what I have just |
| there is more information available, you just can't | | | | suggested to you and therefore, if you take my |
| process it all and though a computer can crunch large | | | | advice, you will have a much better chance to |
| figures, when it comes to day to day handicapping and | | | | succeed. |
| making a profit on bets, no computer has ever done | | | | There are no guarantees, but read over my |
| that except the one between your ears. | | | | suggestions again and you will see that they make |
| So how do you practice and learn as a handicapper? | | | | more sense than all the modern gadgets and get rich |
| First, don't try to play every kind of race or every | | | | quick systems that are for sale today. You and your |
| track. Focus on tracks or a track that you can get | | | | mind and your experience are the tools that you must |
| good information about and become an expert on that | | | | learn to use and succeed with, and that hasn't |
| track. Get to know about the trainers and their habits | | | | changed since the first horse race thousands of years |
| and the jockeys, too. Learn about biases and what | | | | ago. |