| If you are like most people, you will have good days | | | | the problem is that there are so many longshots, you |
| and bad days betting on horses. Horse racing | | | | just don't know which ones to back. |
| handicapping is an art and not a science and that may | | | | Looking at the purses for the week of February 15, |
| be why we seem to have good days and bad days. | | | | 2010 to February 21, 2010, at Aqueduct, it is easy to |
| The more consistent you are, the better your chances | | | | see why I struggle on Fridays. Monday was a holiday |
| of making money on the races. Therefore, figuring out | | | | and therefore had a bigger crowd than you usually get |
| which races to bet on or even which days to bet on | | | | on a weekday. In order to treat that crowd right, |
| races, is important. | | | | Aqueduct had some good races with a high average |
| In my own case, I noticed that Fridays were particularly | | | | purse around $37,900. On top of that, there were only |
| bad days for me to try to make any money on the | | | | three claiming races. Three favorites won that day |
| races. One of my favorite tracks is Aqueduct in New | | | | and not one favorite finished out of the money. |
| York. I have played it for years and really enjoy the | | | | Looking at the races on Wednesday, the 17th, the |
| racing there. Overall, I think that they give you good | | | | average purse in the 9 races that day was only |
| races that are run pretty straight. But I still have bad | | | | $28,830. Though 4 favorites did manage to win that |
| days betting on the races there so I did a little research | | | | day, 3 favorites finished off the board completely. |
| and have found out why I lose on some days and do | | | | Looking at Thursday the 18th, the average purse was |
| better on other days. | | | | $23,660 and there were 7 claiming races on the card. |
| If you use past performances to handicap a horse | | | | Once again, three favorites did manage to win, but |
| race you know that you need horses to be consistent | | | | three others ran out of the money. |
| in order to make money. In other words, if a horse | | | | You may argue that favorites running out of the |
| shows that it is in good form and can run 6 furlongs in | | | | money produces an opportunity to make money for a |
| 1:10 flat, you need to rely on that when making your | | | | good handicapper, but when races are cheap and |
| decisions. Handicapping relies on consistency for the | | | | favorites run out of the money, it is also an indication |
| most part. | | | | that the horses are inconsistent and that presents |
| I have found there is a direct correlation between the | | | | many problems for a handicapper. |
| purse and type of race and the consistency of the | | | | If you are not great at horse racing handicapping and |
| runners. In cheap claiming races, for instance, it is hard | | | | want to try to make some money betting on horses, |
| for the horses to remain consistent because many of | | | | the best advice is to stick with the most consistent |
| them are dealing with injuries or have other problems, | | | | races. A good way to determine which races might |
| such as little ability. So unless you are good at | | | | be the most consistent is to look at the purses on the |
| foretelling which horses will improve and which ones | | | | days when you want to put a little flutter on the races. |
| will regress, handicapping cheap claiming races or other | | | | The higher the purses and fewer claiming races, the |
| cheap races is difficult. They produce more longshot | | | | better your chances of finding a horse that will run true |
| winners, and while that produces some hefty mutuels, | | | | to form. |