Pick 4 Budgets

[Thunder Gulch]

I usually try to single one race and play three slots on the others, so $81 would be typical...of course, it varies greatly from $40 up to $200. Anything over that, and I'm looking for other ways to get in a race other than P-4

Here is why the Pick 4 is my favorite play. I hit last Fridays late pick 4 at Hollywood for 2500 x 2. I played a 72 dollar ticket and a 24 dollar ticket and hit them both. The odds of the horses were not that great except for one race. It was 5/2, 9-1,5/2, 5-1. Anyone else hit this one. I thought it might pay 1000 but 2500!

Anyway, thanks for everyone's input.

[ArlJim78]

Originally Posted by pk4playa

Here is why the Pick 4 is my favorite play. I hit last Fridays late pick 4 at Hollywood for 2500 x 2. I played a 72 dollar ticket and a 24 dollar ticket and hit them both. The odds of the horses were not that great except for one race. It was 5/2, 9-1,5/2, 5-1. Anyone else hit this one. I thought it might pay 1000 but 2500!

Anyway, thanks for everyone's input.

I didn't play that one but I know from experience how well you can be rewarded even for just avoiding the favorite in a couple of the races. That's why I love the PK4. Many people won't go past 3-4 deep on any race, so if you can catch one of those, the reward is handsome.

Originally Posted by pk4playa

Here is why the Pick 4 is my favorite play. I hit last Fridays late pick 4 at Hollywood for 2500 x 2. I played a 72 dollar ticket and a 24 dollar ticket and hit them both. The odds of the horses were not that great except for one race. It was 5/2, 9-1,5/2, 5-1. Anyone else hit this one. I thought it might pay 1000 but 2500!

Anyway, thanks for everyone's input.

You should set your budget based on the risk v reward factor. I have no problem betting $200 on a pick 4 at any track. But if you find two singles, heck single them and go all and all. Construction of the ticket is much more important that the budget. For example, if I like 6 horses in a 9 horse field, I will select ALL. Why take a risk on one of the 3 I dont like coming in. Construction of ticket outweighs the budget.

[ArlJim78]

Originally Posted by eurobounce

You should set your budget based on the risk v reward factor. I have no problem betting $200 on a pick 4 at any track. But if you find two singles, heck single them and go all and all. Construction of the ticket is much more important that the budget. For example, if I like 6 horses in a 9 horse field, I will select ALL. Why take a risk on one of the 3 I dont like coming in. Construction of ticket outweighs the budget.

VERY VERY TRUE!

Originally Posted by eurobounce

You should set your budget based on the risk v reward factor. I have no problem betting $200 on a pick 4 at any track. But if you find two singles, heck single them and go all and all. Construction of the ticket is much more important that the budget. For example, if I like 6 horses in a 9 horse field, I will select ALL. Why take a risk on one of the 3 I dont like coming in. Construction of ticket outweighs the budget.

Great point!!

[Gander]

I have a friend who is so good he bets $100 straight pick 4's. There are days where he only has 3 singles out of 4, and wants to use 2 horses in one race, so he has to spend $200. I've seen this guy hit a pick 4 that paid $165 having $200 straight on it. His name is Ted. We call him Teddy K Shagbark after an old harness horse.

[Suffolk Shippers]

I range anywhere from $40-$200, usually. If I really like it, I can go to $400.
Someone said they spend a hundred or few hundred on the Hollywood pick 4's and I gotta say, thats nuts, they rarely pay. Better of using that money elsewhere.

If you are gonna do a Hollywood pick 4, pay a small ticket, like $16 and maybe punch it a few times, hope you get a little above the chalk.

Originally Posted by Suffolk Shippers

I range anywhere from $40-$200, usually. If I really like it, I can go to $400.
Someone said they spend a hundred or few hundred on the Hollywood pick 4's and I gotta say, thats nuts, they rarely pay. Better of using that money elsewhere.

If you are gonna do a Hollywood pick 4, pay a small ticket, like $16 and maybe punch it a few times, hope you get a little above the chalk.

I've been playing Hollywood since they started simalcasting. I know the track jockeys and trainers so I feel the most comfortable their. In the last month I've hit for 2500, 1100, 890, 500+ twice. Yeah, sometimes they do pay small but you can usually tell when that will be so I play a smaller ticket and hit it a couple of times.