Derby Wars???

[senator L]

Appreciate you sharing your knowledge

Do you think it would be easier to win on Horse Tourneys
or are they the same level of handicapper?

[fantini33]

You will find a lot of the same players on both sites. Lots of really sharp players, lots of intermediate players, some newcomers. If you have good opinions you will be fine at either place. The other sites seem to have more big contests which require you to submit all picks ahead of time, while Derbywars offers more play as you go type games. (IMO there are pros and cons to both) Derbywars offers the most $$$ games of the sites (I'm 90% sure of this) Horsetourneys offers more NHC spots throughout the year. I think Derbywars only awarded 11 spots this year as opposed to over a hundred at some sites. I would expect that number to grow significantly for the 2016 NHC.

I have enjoyed the majority of my success at Derbywars but I would like to think that is mainly because I focus most of my play there, not that another site may be more difficult to win at.

[senator L]

Thanks Ed! What would be the best way to rate one's level
of skill? Money, wins and how much would you equate betting
in terms of your handicapping skill (they seem to co-relate)
sorry not the greatest with words lol

[senator L]

Also, wondering how long it takes you to handicap
10 races thanks!
I asked Andy Beyer he said 4 hours he was also doing
some extra breeding research though

[fantini33]

Originally Posted by senator L

Also, wondering how long it takes you to handicap
10 races thanks!
I asked Andy Beyer he said 4 hours he was also doing
some extra breeding research though

I usually give a kind of breeze through, Race 10 through Race 1....if its a circuit I am familiar with....takes maybe 45 minutes. Unfamiliar tracks take much longer. I wish I could dedicate more time to it but my family is patient enough with me as it is, so I prefer not to push it. That is usually enough to sort of set up an idea of what sort of things I would like to focus on within a given card.

There are a lot of variables to this though (tournament play vs regular play) (track vs track) Knowing your own strengths and weaknesses as a horseplayer can help you to understanding where you should focus more of your attention. Tracking your bets, tracks played, etc.

My advice would be to take advantage of any resources that you can get your hands on. Formulator, Timeform pace ratings and projector, thorograph, HTR. These tools certainly simplify the handicapping process.

[senator L]

Thanks again for your time Ed, knock em dead
this weekend

[dellinger63]

As a player who loves 'action' I was sold based on this thread and mainly Fantini's posts.

Just opened an account and would like to add that with the initial deposit of $25, they add $10 more as well as give you 1,000 points. I think it was $20 added for $100 and $30 for $200 (all gave 1,000 points). Look forward to playing soon though not today as Dell63.

[fantini33]

Originally Posted by senator L

Thanks Ed! What would be the best way to rate one's level
of skill? Money, wins and how much would you equate betting
in terms of your handicapping skill (they seem to co-relate)
sorry not the greatest with words lol

I think that rating the skill level of a handicapper is entirely different than rating the skill level of a horseplayer. I have friends that I have learned tons of handicapping from over the years that rarely make money because they simply don not know how to wager on their opinions.

If you are getting paid for your opinions then I guess wins are okay. If you are like most of us schlubs your opinions need to make you or whats the point.... Would you rather hit 6 out of 9 races and lose $5 for the day or be right twice and turn a profit? Easy answer.

Most people I know dedicate 20 minutes to going through a race and then figure out how to wager that opinion on the way to the window. I try my best to split that time evenly. Learning how to maximize your profit when correct and minimize your losses when not is critical to your long term success. After reading Crists "Exotic Wagering" book I immediately noticed a difference in my play. Having a correct opinion, just like the guy beside you, wagering the same amount, just like the guy beside you, but collecting more money than the guy beside you, that's when you know you can have some success at this game.