Picking tracks

Originally Posted by Mugwump

Quick question from a newbie: I've read that it may be best to concentrate your handicapping efforts on one or two tracks. There is no local track here, so I have to pick one out-of-state. How do you determine which tracks you want to focus on? What kind of criteria do you use to choose one track over another?

I think that what you've read is excellent, and probably first-hand from experience, advice. And I would take that advice. NY, Kentucky, or SoCal--all large circuits would be my first choice. And no, I don't think low-level claiming events are good for newbs. The lure of longshots is far too great, and you end up in the red from the git-go. It often takes a longtime, seasoned, astute handicapper with decades of experience to make money in those ranks.

The other thing I would be SURE to do in choosing my track--or two. Study charts-results of that track EVERYDAY. Print them out. Learn everything you can about its players, the jocks, the trainers, horses, etc. Watching race replays is good. Studying charts, when a newbie, can be more helpful though. Learn results on paper, then begin the business of learning how to watch races with the idea of learning what to watch for.

[pmayjr]

Math,
I did mis-speak a little bit. If it's like 2-3 minutes to post, I'm not gonna be in a rush to bet every track in front of me. But! I do look from 5-10 minutes to post. Why? You get a good indiciation of what the odds of the horse are gonna be. As opposed to morning line odds that can be way off and odds at 20 minutes to post that can fluctuate sverely in the minutes counting down to post.

Your point about missing all of the necessary info if you don't give yourself enough time to look is a good point, but my argument to that is- if I only have 5 minutes to look, it also forces me to make up my mind if I'm gonna bet the race. A lot of times, especially in wide-open races, I'll be in a conflict of who I wanna include in my bets. Who do I wanna put in? Who do I wanna leave out? If post time is coming up. It forces me to choose. This has been both a profitable and and costly decision for me. But that way I'm forced to choose instead of locking myself in a 20 minute headache trying to decide who I'm betting on.

[MaTH716]

Still, that is an enormous amount of information to compute in a 5-8 minute range. I would rather concentrate on less tracks and be able to compute the information more thoroughly, then do one of those rush job (which I have done many times) and then end up losing to an AE horse that I did not even know was in the race. I just think in a wide open race, I think you are being forced to make a hasty decision.

[pmayjr]

Maybe it's also how much you look at then. Without trying to dig myself in a hole here, I feel I can most of the time look at most/all of the relevant factors in a DRF, spening maybe 30 seconds on each horse. If it's a 12 horse field and there's like 5 minutes left, it probably means I'm not bettin it. But... seriously I do a skim job of all the horses first, putting an x by the ones I like, a question mark by the the ones I'm considering, and leaving it blank for the ones I don't like. Then I look at the corresponding odds, and give every horse a more thorough look.

Agree or disagree, my style works. I get paid plenty. I'm sure your style works too. Different strokes for different folks.

[2MinsToPost]

One thing that can't be deinied in my humble opinion is this -

Lots of money is bet at the second tier tracks from people that don't have a clue

I live 15 minutes from Beulah Park and am a regular their once a week, used to attend more Watch the money in these races (pools). You will see lots of cash hit a certain horse right when the race gets up, usually 19 or 18 mtp. I can promise you, having been a teller at this track and a "regular" for a while that what happens is the barn crew gets in the house and they unload. They will stroll to the window, throw down some $20's and chill with a beer.

That is why I enjoy betting Beulah, when I am in attendance. I love to watch the barn cats stroll to the window, play it off and then see the horses. I AM TELLING YOU - it is unreal how much you can make if ya just watch the horses in the post parade at one of these 2nd tracks. After I read an article by Donna Brothers last year about what to look for in a horse in the post parade, and applied it to my hometown track, I am on fire.

No offense to these hard working folks, but alot of the barn help at my home track don't fire on 8 cylinders, ya feel what I am saying. So, when they make their way to the windows, they are betting like their is no doubt their pony is the winner.

At Beulah, and I would assume several other 2nd tier tracks, it is ALL ABOUT the Trainer - Jock angle. Also, Beualh has a CRAZY TRACK BIAS 99% of the time that I have FINALLY figured out. A little before the first race you acan watch the track crew working the track and almost figure it out. Outside is good, rail is hot etc.. Love it. But, ya gotta be their to get it.

[2MinsToPost]

Since I am on a roll, let me also add this. I am only 10 minutes away from Scioto Downs, the Harness capital of Columbus . Early money in the pools is a GOOD SIGN in the Harness world in my opinion. I speak from my heart on this, the majority of harness races I bet I don't hardly look at the PP's. I look at the Driver - Trainer combo and a quick scan at the tracks this horse has been racing at.


I bet this exacta last night on that hunch and did well at The Meadowlands

2007-02-24 18:05:00 Bet* Meadowlands 9 Exacta $1.00 5+7+9/1+5+6+7+9 $12.00 $80.30

I was asleep when it ran, and checked the results just now. Using that angle.

Just my 2 cents

Try to understand how the trainer thinks ie is he setting a horse up for a race or is he using it to get it race fit. focus in on horses that like certain tracks tight bends usually suit forward running horses ,long straights suit sitters.
Focus on good jockeys for that track the better the jock is running the better the ride he is offered, The best jocks usually end up with the best rides as they make more money that way,
Hope this helps