Thoughts from a Novice Handicapper, Volume 2

[GenuineRisk]

Originally Posted by GPK

If you could have heard the sadness in your voice when you called me after those last few races....

Its great your learning something every visit though hun.

Eh, frustration more than anything. I was so mad at myself for not looking again at the Form and reminding myself how sure I was of that last race... well, I hope the Eastern European man I talked to on the way out to the track was smarter than I was- I told him I liked the horse, so maybe he took my suggestion!

But yeah, college cost me a whole lotta $$$$ for my education. Why would learning to handicap be any different?

[GPK]

Originally Posted by GenuineRisk

Eh, frustration more than anything. I was so mad at myself for not looking again at the Form and reminding myself how sure I was of that last race... well, I hope the Eastern European man I talked to on the way out to the track was smarter than I was- I told him I liked the horse, so maybe he took my suggestion!

But yeah, college cost me a whole lotta $$$$ for my education. Why would learning to handicap be any different?

Very true....

you swing by the sight on the way home??

[GenuineRisk]

Originally Posted by GPK

Very true....

you swing by the sight on the way home??

Not yet- I have to do a sea lion narration with Jack Hanna at an event here at the zoo. I'll walk by it on my way from work to the gym and email you tonight.

[infield_line]

I know how you feel, and have wanted to kick myself when I did not box and an exacta came in with a combination that included a low price contender, but the reality is that many times when the favorite comes through, which they often do, you barely get your money back on a $12 box. A good number of legendary players, the late Dick Mitchell and Mark Cramer and others, point out that where you have several legit contenders, and assuming that the public is not absolutely correct........i.e., the favorite is going to win.........that you should only box the combinations that will really pay. Lots of stuff can happen, and you need to remember you get 6 $1 exacta boxes for the price of an underlayed $12 4 horse box. Don't get me wrong, sometimes I don't follow my advice, but I almost never include a 2-1 or less in an exacta box, I just pass or sometimes box 2 or 3 longer price horses and hope the favorite ends up taking a dump... If you feel that you have 4 real contenders and they are all paying more than 3-1, then I personally would box away. It it hits you should get your money back plus enough to make the risk worthwhile.

Find "Money Secrets at the Track" the standard for discussing betting value.

Others I'm sure will weigh in but that's my view.

Good luck, we've all had those days where we just said "damn...."

Chris

[2MinsToPost]

Jack Hanna, local guy made it big!

Originally Posted by GenuineRisk

Not yet- I have to do a sea lion narration with Jack Hanna at an event here at the zoo. I'll walk by it on my way from work to the gym and email you tonight.

[2MinsToPost]

You might consider this option which I have started to employ on occasion.

Pick up the form the day before and pick your spots, plays whatever you call them.

The next day you show up at the track get your scratches, make your necessary adjustments and then go the window and play the card. Now, you have all your tickets in your wallet/purse and are ready for the day. It will require patience and something to do between races.