Can you really make money in this game ?

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by Rudeboyelvis

I'd second the notion that you limit your focus to one track. get familiar with the jocks, trainers, horses. I find it give me an etherial feel especially when playing trainer/ J/T angles.

I also find that going to the paddock and looking at the horses will help you find a diamond in the rough or an underlay that may not seem to have his heart in it. Not every race by anymeans, but a couple-three times a day on average you can pick up some hints by watching the body language of the trainers giving instructions, and most importantly the horses themselves.

The last time I was at TBD I saw a horse that looked like he was ready to beat the world. 27-1 on the tote board seemed to disagree. a 10.00 win ticket proved the horse, not the board, was right..
Conversely on the same card, I witnessed a 6-5 favorite with a peculiar foot flight. Could have been the shoes, don't know, but I knew there was something amiss. Left him out of my exacta, with what turned out to be good reason - he came in third...

i ate up md racing for years-had that down to a tee--bad thing was, i wasn't able to bet. lol

just wish i had the time now that i had then.

I think you can come out ahead. You have to beat the take-out rate (~20%), and be 'better' than about 60% the handicappers out there.

Playing several tracks and betting every race at those tracks is tough. Being selective is important. Make your plays when you feel confident.

Also, don't drink. Consistently beating 60% of the handicappers sounds like a minor challenge, but many of those people are showing up at the track/OTB early in the afternoon, and they start drinking early. This is a near daily event for many of these people, and they generally are addicted to gambling and playing impaired. They are not playing with 'smart' money.

Of course, it is tough to be selective if you only go out to play the horses occasionally. I'm at the track 5-6 days a week, and I play maybe 4-8 races a week - usually at a track I'm familiar with the jockeys, trainers, and track biases.

I work at a track though, so all the races sort of blend together and being selective is fairly easy in that scenario.

[blackthroatedwind]

Originally Posted by Groundhog

I think you can come out ahead. You have to beat the take-out rate (~20%), and be 'better' than about 60% the handicappers out there.

Playing several tracks and betting every race at those tracks is tough. Being selective is important. Make your plays when you feel confident.

Also, don't drink. Consistently beating 60% of the handicappers sounds like a minor challenge, but many of those people are showing up at the track/OTB early in the afternoon, and they start drinking early. This is a near daily event for many of these people, and they generally are addicted to gambling and playing impaired. They are not playing with 'smart' money.

Of course, it is tough to be selective if you only go out to play the horses occasionally. I'm at the track 5-6 days a week, and I play maybe 4-8 races a week - usually at a track I'm familiar with the jockeys, trainers, and track biases.

I work at a track though, so all the races sort of blend together and being selective is fairly easy in that scenario.

I have to take exception to this.

The majority of the money in the pools at racetracks is bet by educated players, most of whom are not even at a racetrack, and almost none of these players are drinking.

That's all for now.

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

I have to take exception to this.

The majority of the money in the pools at racetracks is bet by educated players, most of whom are not even at a racetrack, and almost none of these players are drinking.

That's all for now.

...and your evidence for that would be????

[blackthroatedwind]

Originally Posted by Groundhog

...and your evidence for that would be????

Considering the charges in your initial post I would say you are probably the one who should be asked for " evidence ".

I have played seriously for a long time and I'm fairly well acquainted with many other serious players. None of them drink while playing.

Well I've worked at a number of tracks over the past 10 years, and was a horseplayer long before that. I've worked at tracks and OTB's in Virginia, Illinois, Minnesota, West Virginia, Idaho, California and Texas.

The common theme all these tracks and OTB's have are people showing up before noon, starting to drink, and drinking most of the day. They also play darn near every race.

The larger, 'professional' type players do not bet every pool, every race, every track so their money is not everywhere. The sober, astute, and restrained horseplayer is a rarity. You are lucky to know even a few of them.

On the other hand, you can find the drunken addicted gambler at nearly every track and OTB in good sized numbers.

[SentToStud]

Originally Posted by Groundhog

Well I've worked at a number of tracks over the past 10 years, and was a horseplayer long before that. I've worked at tracks and OTB's in Virginia, Illinois, Minnesota, West Virginia, Idaho, California and Texas.

The common theme all these tracks and OTB's have are people showing up before noon, starting to drink, and drinking most of the day. They also play darn near every race.

The larger, 'professional' type players do not bet every pool, every race, every track so their money is not everywhere. The sober, astute, and restrained horseplayer is a rarity. You are lucky to know even a few of them.

On the other hand, you can find the drunken addicted gambler at nearly every track and OTB in good sized numbers.

G-Hog,

While I agree that the typical otb bunch is a fairly sodden crew, I don't believe they account for very much of the handle on an overall basis. I also believe there is only fairly modest large, "educated" wagering done on-track. When I look at a weekday card at Gulf, Aqueduct, etc,... and see there are 3000 people on track accounting for $2 million in handle, I assume there are probably 200-300 people wagering over $200/race and probably 10 times that many wagering less than $10 per race on the on-track races.

Personally, I believe the biggest wagerers are the internet players as well as some Vegas-based handicappers. Just my opinion.

[blackthroatedwind]

Originally Posted by Pillow Pants

Thank you.....I really am an idiot!

Originally Posted by Pillow Pants

Dude, I'm far from a troll. I merely stated my opinion and tried to have a civil discussion.

Try to be just a little less judgemental, Jesus.

[blackthroatedwind]

Originally Posted by Groundhog

Dude, I'm far from a troll. I merely stated my opinion and tried to have a civil discussion.

Try to be just a little less judgemental, Jesus.

I would say it is your posts in this thread that are pretty judgemental.

You just started posting here. Look around, it's a pretty good place, and there are a lot of posters here who are very knowledgable about racing. I'm sure a number of them will have some things to say about your allegations by morning.

Many of them, in fact, aren't as out of it as I am.

Originally Posted by Groundhog

Dude, I'm far from a troll. I merely stated my opinion and tried to have a civil discussion.

Try to be just a little less judgemental, Jesus.

Cut me some slack...i'm drunk and betting Australian racing.

[Bigsmc]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

I have to take exception to this.

The majority of the money in the pools at racetracks is bet by educated players, most of whom are not even at a racetrack, and almost none of these players are drinking.

That's all for now.

Agree 100%.

The "addicted" gamblers playing "impaired" as Groundhog stated, do not make a dent in the pool.

[Cajungator26]

Originally Posted by Groundhog

I think you can come out ahead. You have to beat the take-out rate (~20%), and be 'better' than about 60% the handicappers out there.

Playing several tracks and betting every race at those tracks is tough. Being selective is important. Make your plays when you feel confident.

Also, don't drink. Consistently beating 60% of the handicappers sounds like a minor challenge, but many of those people are showing up at the track/OTB early in the afternoon, and they start drinking early. This is a near daily event for many of these people, and they generally are addicted to gambling and playing impaired. They are not playing with 'smart' money.

Of course, it is tough to be selective if you only go out to play the horses occasionally. I'm at the track 5-6 days a week, and I play maybe 4-8 races a week - usually at a track I'm familiar with the jockeys, trainers, and track biases.

I work at a track though, so all the races sort of blend together and being selective is fairly easy in that scenario.

Oops.

[westcoastinvader]

Also, don't drink. Consistently beating 60% of the handicappers sounds like a minor challenge, but many of those people are showing up at the track/OTB early in the afternoon, and they start drinking early. This is a near daily event for many of these people, and they generally are addicted to gambling and playing impaired. They are not playing with 'smart' money.



If I'm going with my "playing smart" plays, but then decide to hang around and play some fun "action" plays just because I don't get to go the the track or OTB that often, I just reduce my bets for the "action" plays.

And I drink on those reduced bet "action" plays. But don't add much to the pools.

I will say I have caught many a nice tri or super on an alcohol induced $36 to $60 "action" play when I had the "house's $$."

Friends don't let friends drink and bet bigger than they should.