Three Simple Horse Racing Truths and Angles

I don't mean to trivialize the difficulty of horse racing handicapping, but even though finding good horse racing bets may be difficult, there are a few angles that will help you to minimize losses and maximize profits, the goal of any good system. Since the business of picking winners can be so hard at times and we try to use every scrap of information to our advantage, we sometimes get overwhelmed in data and lose track of some very basic truths.

1. First of all, when you start to evaluate runners in a race, perhaps you should run through a little checklist the way pilots go through a checklist before they take off. At the top of that list, here is something you might want to check and double check. Is this a playable race? Not every race is worth wagering on and that is truth number one. There are some races, for whatever reason, that you should sit out.

Some handicappers call them chaos races. The problem is usually that there is no horse in the race that has ever accomplished what is being asked of it. Obviously, maiden races are chaos races, but they may still be playable if you can find a runner that has posted a par time equal to the average winning time or speed figure for maidens of that class. You'll want to avoid most chaos races unless you have a very good reason to bet one.

2. The second truth is that good money management will get you through times of bad handicapping but good handicapping won't get you through a run of poor money management. The one skill that every handicapper has to learn in order to make a profit betting on horses is how to manage a bank roll so that when you win you win big and when you lose losses are minimized. This has a lot to do with betting units and streaks. When you're on a losing streak your betting amounts should automatically adjust to minimize losses.

3. The third angle or truth is about those streaks we just mentioned. Don't chase your losses. If you've lost a packet and you're having a bad day, don't try increasing your bets in order to win back what you've lost. I anything reduce your wager amounts or quit and go home. The business of wagering on horse races is usually streaky and if you're on the skids, find another way to amuse yourself until it passes.

While it will take a lot more than three simple truths to beat the races, you will find that if you don't follow the advice above, you won't make a profit betting on horses.

If you want to learn how a horse owner and insider handicaps just go to http://horse-racing-handicapping.co/ and get the truth about betting on horses and winning. Bill Peterson is a former race horse owner and professional handicapper. To see all Bill's horse racing material go to Horse Racing Handicapping, Bill's handicapping store.

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The Top Three Horse Racing Handicapping Mistakes You Should Never Make

One of the biggest challenges that most people face when they handicap horse races and try to make a profit is overcoming the vig. In plain English, it is almost impossible to make a profit because you have to pay so much for the privilege of being able to make a bet on a horse race. Therefore, the profit margin does not allow for making even one mistake that can be avoided because that one mistake can mean the difference between success or failure.

While no one is perfect and we each will make the occasional blunder, making errors that could easily be avoided will not only bankrupt you, but also cause you unnecessary frustration and pain. Therefore, let's look at three mistakes that many horse players make.

First and foremost is the lack of planning. Think of a trip to the races or OTB as a financial campaign or even a war or battle, even if it is only a skirmish behind enemy lines. There is probably no other time in your life when you would spend money with little thought or planning and expect to make money, but that is exactly what many people do when they bet on horse races. While luck is a factor, for most it is fleeting and an unknown quantity, so plan and write it down and don't depend on luck.

When I say write it down, I mean write down how much money you start with and a reasonable total for how much you'd like to make for the day. Then write down the names of horses you are following or ones that you feel might be a good bet and write the reason down as well. Whether you win or lose, write down the outcome and whether you wagered on each one and the reasons. Keep your entire day's activities on one sheet of paper and after the day is over put it in a safe place. After you've accumulated a good collection of the daily sheets, review them. You may learn a lot including how to improve your horse racing betting.

Speaking of betting, do you sometimes bet on longshots? If you bet on horses in a wide range of odds, maybe a longshot here, a favorite there, perhaps a mid range odds horse now and then, bet the same amounts on each one. If a horse is worth a bet, it's worth a bet, and if it's worth a bet, in your opinion, then it could win. Granted longshots don't win as often, but when they do, they pay well. You may make as much on longshots as favorites, but you'll have to bet enough to make it pay.

Finally, don't spread yourself too thin. I started going to the races decades ago when you went to the race track and there was only the one track and races to bet on. There was no such thing as simulcasting. You played whatever was available at your local track. That usually meant that most people who attended regularly enough became experts when it came to knowledge of their local track. Can you say that you have enough knowledge of the players and biases and trends at any track to be considered an expert?

If you can't it is probably because, like many people in the age of simulcasting, you wager on many tracks and try to handicap them all. Consequently you become, "a jack of all tracks and master of none." Narrow down your focus and you may win more and lose less.

If you want to learn how a horse owner and insider handicaps just go to http://horse-racing-handicapping.co/ and get the truth about betting on horses and winning. Bill Peterson is a former race horse owner and professional handicapper. To see all Bill's horse racing material go to Horse Racing Handicapping, Bill's handicapping store.

View the original article here