horses
horses
Lot's of ways to win at horses, almost none work. If you know the "jockey's race" and a jockey it is a lock. I did very well betting the dogmeat races looking for a little class, and often a horse that is shortening up that race or the race before. Never bet a horse that is lengthening his distance for the first time. They win, but maybe one time in a hundred.
Knowing the horses, jockeys, and trainers does increase your odds of winning. However, as a former horse owner that had many friends that were horse owners, I knew many jockeys and trainers that were constantly broke because they bet the nags. The fact that they didn't win when they lived at the track every day was a big hint that I took to heart.
If you really want to go to the track and try to win, get the form the day before. Pick the three races that look the most promising, maybe two alternates. Only bet three races! Learn what a horse looks like when it is ready to go. You also have to know the condition it was in when it ran previous races or this means little. If the horse you like looks like it is in racing shape that day and isn't going off a heavy favorite, bet it across. Only when two or three horses are clearly the class of the field do I go with an exacta playing them both ways or boxing them. Usually a no hoper sneaks in and cleans out that money regardless. The folks on the inside collect big, everyone else was a chump.
One final tip. Most of the big time trainers and owners use runners to place their bets if they bet at the track so seeing them at the window doesn't lower the odds. Many bookies lay off bets at the track too, themselves or more commonly using runners. Knowing who these runners are and jumping in line behind them can pay big.
You won't have much time left for one-pocket if you play the ponies with even the faintest hope of success, a lot of hours involved. I'm well ahead lifetime, but it is because I plunged far deeper than I should have once when I was drunk and a longshot that I had let someone talk me out of betting three months before romped home in the mud. Yet another thing you have to know, how each horse runs on various tracks and in various conditions. After you know all of this, if you bet quarterhorses, all can be won or lost in the quarter second after the gates pop open. A slip, stumble, or awkward jockey and even the best are toast.
I loved the horses themselves but with off track betting all around me I haven't bet a dime off track or in the last twenty-five years since I have been outside the daily loop.
Hu
(edit: Sorry to bring this to the top. I lurk here occasionally but rarely post. I didn't notice the thread was months old!)