Top 5 Derby horses at this point

[kentuckyrosesinmay]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

I'm an expert handicapper who freelances for DRF.

I know. I didn't know that you freelanced though. Cool

[blackthroatedwind]

Originally Posted by kentuckyrosesinmay

I know.

But of course you do....you know everything.

[kentuckyrosesinmay]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

you know everything.

No I don't. And I don't know what provoked this response. Are you going to answer any of my previous questions? Or answer this...do you at least agree with some of them?

[blackthroatedwind]

Originally Posted by kentuckyrosesinmay

No I don't. And I don't know what provoked this response. Are you going to answer any of my previous questions? Or answer this...do you at least agree with some of them?

Honestly? I think anyone that claims they make money by looking at horses physically is almost certainly lying. As my friend the wise guy says, and he is as strong an expert at the physical observation of horses as there is, " they still have to have the engine ". Could a very adept eye, along with astute handicapping skills, be an advantage? Yes, but the combination is extremely rare in this business. However, what isn't rare, are people that say they win....and don't.

I'm a believer in sticking to your strengths, and one of mine is NOT having any understanding of body language, so I ignore it. And, frankly, unless you know how a horse has looked in its past starts, its appearance on one day is irrelevent.

[kentuckyrosesinmay]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

Honestly? I think anyone that claims they make money by looking at horses physically is almost certainly lying. As my friend the wise guy says, and he is as strong an expert at the physical observation of horses as there is, " they still have to have the engine ". Could a very adept eye, along with astute handicapping skills, be an advantage? Yes, but the combination is extremely rare in this business. However, what isn't rare, are people that say they win....and don't.

I'm a believer in sticking to your strengths, and one of mine is NOT having any understanding of body language, so I ignore it. And, frankly, unless you know how a horse has looked in its past starts, its appearance on one day is irrelevent.

Well, I'm glad to be very well-acquainted with one if what you speak of is so rare. I really thought that more people could tell about these kinds of things, but they obviously can't. I guess that it is just one of those skills that you either possess from the get-go or you don't.

Obviously, we're talking about betting, but I do know a lot of people that make money off of looking at horses all of the time in other aspects of the horse industry.

I can somewhat agree with that statement. Usually, if I see a horse that I really like in the paddock or post parade based on those factors that I listed, I immediately go to the PPs and vice versa...if I see one in the PPs that I really like, I make sure that I get a good look at them in the paddock or post parade. When I look at a horse in a race, body language can be the breaking point, but it most certainly is not the total picture. I rely heavily on the race replays or the workouts from the two-year old sales too.

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

Honestly? I think anyone that claims they make money by looking at horses physically is almost certainly lying. As my friend the wise guy says, and he is as strong an expert at the physical observation of horses as there is, " they still have to have the engine ". Could a very adept eye, along with astute handicapping skills, be an advantage? Yes, but the combination is extremely rare in this business. However, what isn't rare, are people that say they win....and don't.

I'm a believer in sticking to your strengths, and one of mine is NOT having any understanding of body language, so I ignore it. And, frankly, unless you know how a horse has looked in its past starts, its appearance on one day is irrelevent.

I find this perfectly reasonable.

If one can somehow keep track of, and be willing to admit a strength or weakness in a certain area of playing horses, one will be more likely to find a winning pattern (or for most of us, a pattern in which we do not lose as much). I think its kind of funny because its like cheating in golf playing alone. Someone comes in a says they broke par but they can ignore that mulligan on that horrible chip. Or that putt they did over because it hit a small unseen stick. Its really not being honest with yourself, which I find bizarre even though it may be a widespread characteristic.