What the poster is trying to say is that pros are not gamblers because gambling relies strictly on luck. . . No professional horseplayer would consider themselves a gambler because they rely on edge and skill rather than randomness. . .

About six months ago, back when "He Who Must Not Be Named" (i.e., Oracle) was still here, I started a thread on a topic close to this one. Some interesting thoughts were expressed:

http://www.derbytrail.com/forums/showthread.php?t=7997

Most pros wouldn't. . . I can quote "Six Secrets of Successful Bettors" if you'd like. . .

I know of at least one and maybe two on this board that make a living at it. Obviously they don't wish to chime in. I think I could do it being very good with numbers, but I don't wish to spend 16 hours a day every day trying. You can't treat handicapping as a second job.

Without offending professionals, I think this debate is merely a matter of semantics.

Eric

What else could he/she have been saying?

rephrase, A professional horseplayer makes a living investing.

What is the difference between a stock trader (buying and selling shares in a company) and a professional horse player (buying shares in a horse for 1-2 minutes)?

WE all gamble, the professionals invest.

There is a difference between gambling and investing.

When I gamble, I am pissing money away for the juice and capping with 2mtp

When I invest, I carefully calculate my risk and plan out my attack, sometimes 3-4 days in advance.

Like today until Saturday night, it is investing time. I have 6 plays that I am dropping a dime on each of them. If I hit 3 of them I will be even, if I hit 5 of them I will turn 6k into about 16k....PARTY TIME HOSS, PARTY TIME

Jest wonderin'
 

Are day traders in the stock market investors or are they gamblers???

Me thinks they are at least partly gamblers...as imho is anyone who tries to make a living playing the ponies...

I've been cold lately, too - feel like I could "tri-box-all" an Australian field of 14 2-year-olds and still lose.

At first I wondered if it was only the three-year-old races (as they often take huge jump-ups in ability during the summer), but nah, it's everything. I'm still handicapping the same. It's not synthetic surfaces. Didn't go through a summer slump last year, so don't know, but yeah, I've noticed a difference in my bottom line ....

I think I'd have to push at least half a million through the windows a year, to make 100K

If I had a 1/2 million to push through the windows, I wouldnt need to bet the horses.:D

I'd pursue my dream of following the pro-golf tour year-round .... :p

following...or playing?