Horse Racing Handicapping Lessons For Long Term Success

There is an old saying that goes, "You can beat the races for a day, but no one can beat them for a lifetime." I disagree, but will admit that for many people, this saying is true. It may be true for many, but not all, and that is why it would be more accurate to say, "Most people can beat the races for a day, but not for a lifetime."

If you are trying to make money betting on horse races, you must ask yourself, "Do I want to be one of the few, or just another one of the many?"

Here is what I have observed after many years of attending the races. Betting on a horse race for profit is a contest between you and all the other people who bet on the same race. In recent years, horse racing handicapping contests have become increasingly popular, but let's face it, ever since the first two people bet against each other as to whose horse was fastest, every horse race has been a handicapping contest.

Since you are entering a contest against those other people, common sense tells you that you must be better prepared than they are in order to win. In almost any contest, the person who prepares the most has the edge, the same is true of handicapping horses. The man or woman who races into the race track at the last minute, buys a program and scans it, and rushes up to the window to place a bet, is not a serious handicapper and is bound to lose. Oh sure, he or she may win today or tomorrow, but over time, the last minute, slipshod method always fails. If you want to win, study and prepare to win with a good horse racing system.

While I love the intellectual sport of handicapping, I have to admit that a good gambler will beat a good handicapper in the long run. The reason is that good gamblers, I mean the kind who succeed with their wagers and ventures, practice good money management and only bet when they have the edge. If you want to succeed at handicapping, and by that I mean show a profit, you must become a wise gambler and learn to spot good bets and bad bets and only wager when you have the edge. It isn't enough to pick the winner of the race, you must do so when it will benefit you.

If that sounds confusing, what I mean is that picking the winner of a race half the time is only good if the average winner that you pick pays more than double what you bet. If you spent $1 per race and hit on 50% of your wagers, it would cost you $2 to cash a winning ticket. Obviously, that winning ticket must pay at least $2 for you to break even. If you are playing the horses and trying to make money here is a two part question you should be able to answer right away, "What is your winning percentage and what is the average winning ticket you cash?'

Admittedly, these few truths are simple ones, but it is amazing how many people who really want to make money betting on horse races, haven't figured these things out, yet. If you are trying to make a living handicapping horse races, think about them and apply them to what you are doing right now. It will make a big improvement in your success rate and your ROI.



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