the mind of the handicapper....

[Downthestretch55]

Originally Posted by pgardn

2)solving a puzzle

Its all this for me. And its a puzzle that does not play fair. When you hit a horse that wins easily, and is a long shot, you found something few others did. That is very satisfying. But the patience required to allow those few moments to rise up are few and far between. So good luck to those that actually try to make money at this.

This is entertainment that you actually participate in. This not sitting back and watching a movie or reading a book. This sport involves predicting outcomes. And its an art and science mixture. The game is elusive and that makes it that much more interesting than other forms of entertainment. We have all seen the compulsives... but this is actually an intellectual game that does not play fairly. You can solve a problem in some other activity and you are done. This game does not end.

Pat,
I couldn't agree more. It really IS an art and a science.
Predicting outcomes, now there's the puzzle.
To me, it comes from something deeper than anything that is quantifiable, much more "human".
It's called hope.
It's exactly the same psychological motivation as to why people show up in church every Sunday.
The thing that intrigues me is that so many quest the same answers, despite different venues.

"Do I want to go to heaven? Or can I avoid going to Hell?"

To me, it continues to be very interesting.
When I find the answer to the puzzle, I'll let you know, but I don't expect that I'll find it in this life.
I also hope.
On a very basic level, that's what most of this is about. (HOPE)

DTS