| While many people try to learn how to handicap horse | | | | off the board will give you the ability to start winning |
| races well enough to make a profit, many people | | | | with the flat win bet and once you have accomplished |
| never realize that goal. One of the problems is that it is | | | | that, you can move on to the more complicated |
| very difficult to do. Another part of the problem is that | | | | exotics. |
| there are so many bets available and so much | | | | The big mistake that a lot of would-be profitable |
| conflicting information. Some pundits will tell you that | | | | handicappers make is in jumping right into exotic |
| exotic bets are the best way to go if you want to | | | | betting, such as exactas and trifectas, before |
| make money betting on horses. Others say stick with | | | | understanding pace completely. Of course, there are |
| the basic win bet. | | | | many other factors that will affect your handicapping |
| The problem with trying to learn how to handicap is | | | | choices, such as recency, form, speed, jockey, etc., but |
| that there are so many factors that affect each horse | | | | pace is a good place to start to understand the |
| and handicapping for one bet isn't the same as | | | | mechanics of the race itself, and let's face it, that is |
| handicapping for another bet. For instance, if you are | | | | what this is all about. |
| playing a quinella wheel, you want to key on a horse | | | | Once you have mastered pace and can estimate the |
| that will be first or second. You need a key runner with | | | | probability of a horse winning, you can then start to |
| a high probability of at least placing. On the other hand, | | | | place a fair value on that horse. Money management |
| if you are playing a multiple leg bet that keys on | | | | and betting are very important because without them, |
| winners only, such as a pick six or pick three, you need | | | | you just won't make it. Though there is a lot to learn on |
| to pick horses with a high win probability, place just | | | | the subject, here are a few simple tips, first and |
| won't do. | | | | foremost, keep records so that you can chart your |
| I think the best way to learn how to handicap is to | | | | success and improvement. Secondly, bet small and in |
| learn how to pick winners and also to learn how to | | | | increments that are uniform. Adjust your bets |
| spot horses that will run second or third. Learning how | | | | according to the size of your bankroll. If you always |
| to use something like Brohammer pace figures will | | | | bet 5% of your bankroll and keep it strictly for win |
| really help you to understand how a race will shape up. | | | | bets, you will start building consistency and that is the |
| Understanding how a horse's running style and pace | | | | only thing that will get you and your bankroll through |
| will affect its chances of finishing first, second, third, or | | | | the long learning process. |