How to win in Horse Racing

When I entered the field of helping others become self made millionaires, I never would have guessed that I would actually write about this subject. But, I see that it is a legitimate way of making a lot of money in a rather short period of time I will have to address it.

Years ago my brother told me that he came up with a system to make money at the track. He lived five minutes away from Del Mar Race Track in California and decided to come up with a system to supplement his income. Naturally, I thought it was foolish and did not think much of it until he began winning, and winning and winning.

I went to the track with him a few times and noticed the tellers putting their heads together when my brother showed up. They whispered, "watch this guy, he wins." I thought it was like a miracle. How could anyone actually consistently win when I had always heard that gambling is a losing game?

If you have intentions of winning money at the track, you really should know the history of every horse, jockey, trainer and owner. Besides all that, you should have a good mathematical mind. It's not easy. But I have heard several "professional" gamblers putting as much studying into their racing forms as law students put into trying to pass the bar.

My brother did not study as intensely as the typical high roller, he just lightly studied the racing form to get a "feel" for the overall picture. He made bets that followed a pattern such as, choosing the second favorite and betting it to show. This was the 'numbers game" he played. He had to often risk a lot of money in order to get a little, similar to what day traders go through. With seeing my brothers success I read some of Mike Goodman's advice that backed up my brothers gambling pattern.

If you are ready to get interested in working the horse racing game, do not ignore the Daily Double.

The Daily Double is an attractive mathematical presentation designed by race tracks to relieve the fan of more money by its sheer munificence. The impressive pay-offs compared to the normal mutual win on one horse is magnetic indeed.

To bet the Daily Double you must be armed for it. So take the following ammunition to wrap up in an old Racing form.

      On October 5, 1960, Shapter Rebel won the first race by a half length at Hollywood Park and paid $3.20. Town Byrd won the second race by a length and paid $10.40. Had you parlayed the two winners you would have won 16.60, but had you played those same two horses in the Daily Double your payoff would have been $38.00. That's why the Daily double is so popular.

Ninety percent of the time the Daily double gives you a better payoff than a straight parlay. That's why any method of play that concentrates on beating the Daily Double is very valuable. For example, the best handicappers among the regulars at Del mar buy a $2 ticket on the favorite in the first race, and with every horse in the second race. If there are ten horses entered in the second it costs them $20. Average payoff is $50. As you know favorites score in a little less than half of all races, so the boys cash in about 1 in every two days using this system. It negates the gambler's lament "Daily Double, Full of Trouble."

Starting from that basis I have several refinements on the above that ease the tension somewhat and also add pennies to the piggy bank.

First, I'd rather play the favorite in the second race because the first race usually consists of un tried horses and the form is poor. That means I play all the horses in the first race to the favorite in the second. If a good long-shot wins in the first race I'm really riding high. But to refine even further. In a first race there are always a few long shots that do not stand a chance of coming in. They are just running for the exercise. You need only look at the form and the odds to know this is true. By skipping them, you have less of an investment and just as good a chance of collecting.

Statistics and form tough are quite deceptive and you must make allowances for that. Many automobile clubs will tell you that there are more pedestrians killed crossing with the green light than on the red light. But they don't tell you that there are hundreds more times people crossing with the lights so your percentage is better crossing with the light.

So, it is with favorites. Sometimes the most heavily bet horse isn't really the favorite. I like the second favorites very often because the overlay is greater-they have overnight odds of 8-5 and end up 3 or 4 to 1. All this because the sheeple bet too much on a favorite because of the jockey, handicappers, or maybe even the color of the horse. When figuring the Daily Double it is always wise to examine the second favorite before plunging on the favorite.

Many of the gamblers who migrate with the stables from track to track look upon Daily doubles as bread and butter money even though the IRS put a cramp in their operations by ruling that "pool" winners of over $600 must give their names and address to officials. With Uncle Sam ready to share in their big winnings but disinterested in their losses, gamblers are reluctant to bet a lot on the Daily double unless they can "spread" their bets among syndicate members.