I’ve tried a lot of horse racing systems over the years. I do believe it is better to use some kind of system rather than just using the Gestalt method that some people prefer. Like they say, “Those who fail to plan, plan to fail.” I consider a system to pick winners a plan.
As horse racing systems go, there seem to be two basic types, those that factor in all the key elements of a race and then give each horse a score or some kind of number that shows the horse’s ability which the player then automatically bets, and those that rate a horse, but leave the final judgment up to the handicapper.
Now this is just my opinion, and I hope I don’t ruffle too many feathers, but it seems to me that the people who want an automatic system to pick the winner without any head scratching and thinking on their part, are being lazy and living in a dream world. As far as I know, there has never ever really been a horse racing system that automatically picks enough winners to make a profit. If anyone has one, my hats off to you, but so far, I haven’t seen it.
What I look for in any method of handicapping a race is something that will quantify the major factors so that I can then make an educated decision, or a system that points out information that the average person will never find. One of my methods is to follow workouts and then to bet a horse when I see the inside money is on the horse, and a certain trainer move. It isn’t an automatic bet, but it does pick winners at good prices because I see the inside money and that’s hard to spot.
In 50 years of watching races and many years of betting on them, I’ve never found any easy money by playing the ponies. Grinding out a profit as a horse player is not easy and you have to work for every nickel you get. On the other hand, the satisfaction of honing your ability and having a system that does help you to pick enough winners to make a profit, is a thrill that few others can beat.
If you are trying systems and looking for a way to make money betting on horses, be realistic and plan on having to work and develop the skill. In the long run, you will be glad you did, because once you become a good handicapper that skill is yours for a life time and you’ve earned it by paying your dues. It may never be easy, but it is satisfying and for those of us who love it, it gets us out of bed in the morning.
If you want to learn how a horse owner and insider handicaps just go to http://williewins.homestead.com/truecb.html and get the truth. Bill Peterson is a former horse race owner and professional handicapper. To see all Bill’s horse racing material go to Horse Racing Handicapping, Bill’s handicapping store.
