| Many people ask, "How much money can I make | | | | investors now consider 10% as a reasonable return on |
| betting on horse races?" While many people struggle | | | | their portfolio. |
| to make a profit from horse racing handicapping and | | | | How much you can make on horses will vary from |
| betting on horse races, few people have a realistic | | | | week to week, but your yearly average may be |
| idea of what can be expected and how much profit | | | | better than the stock return, but also much riskier. |
| can really be achieved. Horse players often talk about | | | | When it comes to horse handicappers, even the pros |
| R.O.I. or return on investment (ROI). Simply put, it is the | | | | have their ups and downs and you have to look at the |
| percentage of return above your initial investment. So | | | | long haul to get an accurate idea of what is |
| if you spend $100 on a win bet and get back $125 | | | | reasonable. For instance, the weekend of June 11th (I |
| your ROI is 25%. | | | | work in three day weekend blocks and send a |
| So how do you know what a good ROI is and what | | | | newsletter with the information for each three day |
| you can expect? First of all, when comparing | | | | block) my key horses made a profit of over 80% ROI. |
| investments, you must look at competing investments | | | | That is very high, but the next week the profit on the |
| and also take into account the amount of risk and | | | | same kinds of bets was way down. |
| work involved. Handicapping horse races is time | | | | In the most recent weekend, June 25th 2010 to June |
| consuming and therefore, you must pay yourself for | | | | 27th, 2010, my top picks made a flat bet profit on win |
| the time you spend handicapping. You can pay a | | | | bets for thoroughbred bettors of 22% ROI, while |
| professional such as myself, to do some of the | | | | bettors who played my top picks in harness races on |
| handicapping, which means you'll have to spend less of | | | | half mile and 5/8's mile tracks received 11% ROI. There |
| your own time, but in the end, you'll still have to spend | | | | are no guarantees in betting on horse races and it |
| some time researching and putting some thought into | | | | would be reckless of me to guarantee a profit or to |
| how you bet. | | | | try to predict how much profit to expect because of |
| If you buy stocks or make any other investment, you | | | | the volatility of the market. |
| have to do some research as well. You may have a | | | | Overall, however, it is safe to say that at times horse |
| broker who makes recommendations or a financial | | | | racing bettors may see a higher rate of return than |
| planner or analyst, but in the end, just as with the | | | | bettors in other markets, but they pay for that |
| people who pay me to handicap races for them, the | | | | possibility with a much higher risk. |
| ultimate decision will rest with the investor. Many stock | | | | |