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General Category => Harness Racing => Topic started by: Sweet on June 02, 2026, 04:00:36 PM

Title: When You Realize You Are A Gambling Loser
Post by: Sweet on June 02, 2026, 04:00:36 PM
Can't muster up a good one, a big tax hit in a long long time.

When you realize your enemies are right and you're not following the example of your winning friends....or any reasonable good advice.

Instincts, intuition, focus, stamina, waning badly, and making careless mistakes..and all you're resorted to is a fair talent scout.

Still not capitalize fully on that, or even lose, wagering unbalanced or just wrong. 

Like I said, I'm done, don't want to go on after this year, even Rocky makes the point he doesn't bet his own horses, a good example of being in as an owner, breeder and out as a gambler.

I don't know what insanity makes me still think I'll pull off a good six figure hail mary score...already almost half way through this disaster year, last too.

Looking at the SPA tomorrow, watch and root a couple friend's horses run, Fragment 4:10 PM at Buffalo 6th race...all tracks look FAST, FIRM!

Excitement almost gone, a virtually unachievable challenge - success, yet the death wish continues.

What a F'ING @sshole!  ;D
Title: Re: When You Realize You Are A Gambling Loser
Post by: dougie on June 02, 2026, 07:42:07 PM
I think you are jumping out of the "game" without looking at other ways to bet. I remember watching a guy named Scott McMannis, a pretty sharp horseplayer out of Chicago talk about why he and the few others have been successful gambling on throughbreds. He said the number one trait a successful horseplayer must have is discipline. They have to limit their wagers to "value" bets and NEVER bet "just to gamble". He said there were some weeks he sat at the track and made 2 or 3 bets out of 60 or so races. He said many times he made a great profit by hitting just 1 of those 3 races. Hitting 2 of the 3 made him a sweet profit.  His second trait was to study films of the races he is watching to bet. See the trip. Study the track conditions. And formulate the speed figures. And the third trait was the most important of them all. Money Management. He said that if you go with $200 to the track and bet 10 all 10 races, that's $20 a race. Instead pick two races you really like and bet $100 a race. He's a very sharp handicapper. I have been limiting my wagers and am up $3895 going into June. Not a fortune. But i'm happy I've made a profit so far this year. Just some food for thought my friend.
Title: Re: When You Realize You Are A Gambling Loser
Post by: Pacer 2 on June 02, 2026, 07:57:31 PM
I think you are jumping out of the "game" without looking at other ways to bet. I remember watching a guy named Scott McMannis, a pretty sharp horseplayer out of Chicago talk about why he and the few others have been successful gambling on throughbreds. He said the number one trait a successful horseplayer must have is discipline. They have to limit their wagers to "value" bets and NEVER bet "just to gamble". He said there were some weeks he sat at the track and made 2 or 3 bets out of 60 or so races. He said many times he made a great profit by hitting just 1 of those 3 races. Hitting 2 of the 3 made him a sweet profit.  His second trait was to study films of the races he is watching to bet. See the trip. Study the track conditions. And formulate the speed figures. And the third trait was the most important of them all. Money Management. He said that if you go with $200 to the track and bet 10 all 10 races, that's $20 a race. Instead pick two races you really like and bet $100 a race. He's a very sharp handicapper. I have been limiting my wagers and am up $3895 going into June. Not a fortune. But i'm happy I've made a profit so far this year. Just some food for thought my friend.

     I'm guessing that stupid peabrain didnt understand one word you said!   ngc3 ngc3 ngc3
Title: Re: When You Realize You Are A Gambling Loser
Post by: gogasgoboom on June 02, 2026, 08:02:46 PM
I think you are jumping out of the "game" without looking at other ways to bet. I remember watching a guy named Scott McMannis, a pretty sharp horseplayer out of Chicago talk about why he and the few others have been successful gambling on throughbreds. He said the number one trait a successful horseplayer must have is discipline. They have to limit their wagers to "value" bets and NEVER bet "just to gamble". He said there were some weeks he sat at the track and made 2 or 3 bets out of 60 or so races. He said many times he made a great profit by hitting just 1 of those 3 races. Hitting 2 of the 3 made him a sweet profit.  His second trait was to study films of the races he is watching to bet. See the trip. Study the track conditions. And formulate the speed figures. And the third trait was the most important of them all. Money Management. He said that if you go with $200 to the track and bet 10 all 10 races, that's $20 a race. Instead pick two races you really like and bet $100 a race. He's a very sharp handicapper. I have been limiting my wagers and am up $3895 going into June. Not a fortune. But i'm happy I've made a profit so far this year. Just some food for thought my friend.

So true. You can beat a race but you can't beat the races.
I toss races to the extreme. No off tracks, no 2 year olds, no maidens. no trotters and sometimes no bottom claimers. Target certain classes and become an expert on them.
Title: Re: When You Realize You Are A Gambling Loser
Post by: andrew on June 02, 2026, 08:04:22 PM
i kinda understand trig. i dont wager anywhere close as i use to. result: i have more in my bank account. but i tell ya what, i wouldnt have given up those years for anything. excitement, fun times with fun people, splurging after a good score, late nights, some later than others lol.
look at it this way. its entertainment, go golfing, cost ya money, shoot a little pool, cost ya money, go to ballgame, cost ya a lot more money.
way i look at it, hundred years from now it isnt going to make one bit of difference how the world turns.
need a break away from it, cool. whatever you do in life, enjoy. i dont believe in reincarnation. do what makes ya happy
you said it the other day. we lived in the best of times, music, woman, weed, budweiser, lots of laughs, lots of fights. so we slow down now. as the saying goes. 'we did it our way'
Title: Re: When You Realize You Are A Gambling Loser
Post by: Bitter Truth on June 02, 2026, 08:09:45 PM
Well said Andrew. Especially like the parallel between horse betting and other entertainment expenses. tmbz1
Title: Re: When You Realize You Are A Gambling Loser
Post by: dougie on June 02, 2026, 08:18:06 PM
So true. You can beat a race but you can't beat the races.
I toss races to the extreme. No off tracks, no 2 year olds, no maidens. no trotters and sometimes no bottom claimers. Target certain classes and become an expert on them.
I have learned it late in life. LOL! I live in Maine so there aren't many racetracks around New England that offer good wagering opportunities. So I look to NY, Kentucky, and California. And I am doing better by limiting the bets.
Title: Re: When You Realize You Are A Gambling Loser
Post by: dougie on June 02, 2026, 08:22:25 PM
i kinda understand trig. i dont wager anywhere close as i use to. result: i have more in my bank account. but i tell ya what, i wouldnt have given up those years for anything. excitement, fun times with fun people, splurging after a good score, late nights, some later than others lol.
look at it this way. its entertainment, go golfing, cost ya money, shoot a little pool, cost ya money, go to ballgame, cost ya a lot more money.
way i look at it, hundred years from now it isnt going to make one bit of difference how the world turns.
need a break away from it, cool. whatever you do in life, enjoy. i dont believe in reincarnation. do what makes ya happy
you said it the other day. we lived in the best of times, music, woman, weed, budweiser, lots of laughs, lots of fights. so we slow down now. as the saying goes. 'we did it our way'
I agree those days were fun. Some big scores. Lots of days leaving the "Big A" with my head down. But the players and friends I made were the best part. The big dinners. The laughs. Great times. Yesterday, I did something I rarely do. Play a slot machine. I lost $400 in 20 minutes to that mechanical crook. LOL! No more. I'm sticking to my horses. LOL!
Title: Re: When You Realize You Are A Gambling Loser
Post by: Calhoun on June 02, 2026, 08:24:19 PM
So true. You can beat a race but you can't beat the races.
I toss races to the extreme. No off tracks, no 2 year olds, no maidens. no trotters and

sometimes no bottom claimers.

Target certain classes and become an expert on them.

Interesting.

When you decide yes/no on bottom claimers, how do you get there?
Title: Re: When You Realize You Are A Gambling Loser
Post by: Cashout on June 02, 2026, 08:25:27 PM
    When you realize that there’s no rebate big enough to put you into the plus column.   
Title: Re: When You Realize You Are A Gambling Loser
Post by: Sweet on June 02, 2026, 08:31:24 PM
     I'm guessing that stupid peabrain didnt understand one word you said!   ngc3 ngc3 ngc3
I think you are jumping out of the "game" without looking at other ways to bet. I remember watching a guy named Scott McMannis, a pretty sharp horseplayer out of Chicago talk about why he and the few others have been successful gambling on throughbreds. He said the number one trait a successful horseplayer must have is discipline. They have to limit their wagers to "value" bets and NEVER bet "just to gamble". He said there were some weeks he sat at the track and made 2 or 3 bets out of 60 or so races. He said many times he made a great profit by hitting just 1 of those 3 races. Hitting 2 of the 3 made him a sweet profit.  His second trait was to study films of the races he is watching to bet. See the trip. Study the track conditions. And formulate the speed figures. And the third trait was the most important of them all. Money Management. He said that if you go with $200 to the track and bet 10 all 10 races, that's $20 a race. Instead pick two races you really like and bet $100 a race. He's a very sharp handicapper. I have been limiting my wagers and am up $3895 going into June. Not a fortune. But i'm happy I've made a profit so far this year. Just some food for thought my friend.

I love Dougie... ngc3

I understood he says I should take cues from a man whose last name ends in sounding like "anus"  ngc3

Thanks Dougie, and great job with the year to date scores!  ;D

- "peabrain"  ngc3
Title: Re: When You Realize You Are A Gambling Loser
Post by: Sweet on June 02, 2026, 08:36:55 PM
Well said Andrew. Especially like the parallel between horse betting and other entertainment expenses. tmbz1
i kinda understand trig. i dont wager anywhere close as i use to. result: i have more in my bank account. but i tell ya what, i wouldnt have given up those years for anything. excitement, fun times with fun people, splurging after a good score, late nights, some later than others lol.
look at it this way. its entertainment, go golfing, cost ya money, shoot a little pool, cost ya money, go to ballgame, cost ya a lot more money.
way i look at it, hundred years from now it isnt going to make one bit of difference how the world turns.
need a break away from it, cool. whatever you do in life, enjoy. i dont believe in reincarnation. do what makes ya happy
you said it the other day. we lived in the best of times, music, woman, weed, budweiser, lots of laughs, lots of fights. so we slow down now. as the saying goes. 'we did it our way'

True true true...when it's fun, and it has until...

Under the same interpretation I could pay a dominatrix even less to cause more pain than now, I ain't though  ngc3
Title: Re: When You Realize You Are A Gambling Loser
Post by: gogasgoboom on June 02, 2026, 08:45:24 PM
Interesting.

When you decide yes/no on bottom claimers, how do you get there?

Track by track mostly. Here in Ontario London and Flamboro don't run in the summer. The claimers that can move on to Grand River or Mohawk and hold their own are one thing, the claimers that end up at Hiawatha, Clinton and Dresden are something else.
Title: Re: When You Realize You Are A Gambling Loser
Post by: JT on June 02, 2026, 08:46:12 PM
All really good points except of course from Poser 2.
Gogasboom..absolu tely got to toss races.. don't bet unless your 100% confident. Also what you said about beating races plural. I've learned and this speaks to Dougie's first post, you will never be able to nickel and dime them to death. The house always wins in the long run for any type of gambling. When playing baccarat I skip tons of hands and then load up on when I am confident of an outcome.

Dougie.. it takes alot of discipline to pick your spots. You do that very well. It's hard to do that trackside or in the comfort of your living room...and yes the bigger the pools means better payouts like you said Kentucky,NY and California. That is why I focus primarily on the runners now. Bigger pools .Also I absolutely watch past races before putting a pick 5 ticket together.

Andrew.. yes gambling is a form of entertainment, we still live in good times and I still partake in some of the items you mentioned at the end of your post ngc3

Trigger..I hear ya man, when mired in a bad losing streak it wears on you. It starts to become not fun or funny anymore. It takes alot of discipline to quit anything that is a big part of ones life. I got faith you will accomplish anything you put your mind to.
Only thing I will add is a 5 or 6 figure score is so rare.. like once in a lifetime or never rare. I have never landed either, I've come close as you and others on here know..but close doesn't count. That is why the pick 5's are my primary focus. As said earlier its impossible to nickel and dime them to death. Keep your head up man tmbz1

Title: Re: When You Realize You Are A Gambling Loser
Post by: dougie on June 02, 2026, 09:00:51 PM
I love Dougie... ngc3

I understood he says I should take cues from a man whose last name ends in sounding like "anus"  ngc3

Thanks Dougie, and great job with the year to date scores!  ;D

- "peabrain"  ngc3
Love you too my friend. Keep on trying!
Title: Re: When You Realize You Are A Gambling Loser
Post by: Sweet on June 02, 2026, 09:01:45 PM

I got faith you will accomplish anything you put your mind to.


And I have all the faith in you and it's been a thrill and honor for being part of your shared with group, root you on and see the great stuff you predicted, great strategies you deployed and successes.

Let's just say some of the excitement for me and my exploits have turned in a more serious, dire direction...and I think my approach is going to show that!

Will it work, I dunno  ngc3  But I'm going to bare down and start implementing examples set and advisement, and whatever else my brain conjures to 180 this mess into success!  ;D
Title: Re: When You Realize You Are A Gambling Loser
Post by: SRP22 on June 02, 2026, 09:02:46 PM
McMannis was the real deal back in his era. He was an economics professor.
He was like a rock sitting on his wallet for days. I don't know how he handled gimmicks but his straight bets were 1 unit to win and 2 units to place.
If for some reason his horse finished 2nd a $3 place price would bring him even and if it was going to pay less than $3 you shouldn't be betting it anyway.
His " numpers" had a flaw but back then you could get away with it.
In today's era it would be bringing a butter knife to a gun fight.

There was another pro in that era selling his "numpbers" but he was much more under the radar.
Title: Re: When You Realize You Are A Gambling Loser
Post by: dougie on June 02, 2026, 09:10:11 PM
McMannis was the real deal back in his era. He was an economics professor.
He was like a rock sitting on his wallet for days. I don't know how he handled gimmicks but his straight bets were 1 unit to win and 2 units to place.
If for some reason his horse finished 2nd a $3 place price would bring him even and if it was going to pay less than $3 you shouldn't be betting it anyway.
His " numpers" had a flaw but back then you could get away with it.
In today's era it would be bringing a butter knife to a gun fight.

There was another pro in that era selling his "numpbers" but he was much more under the radar.
SRP22, i'm glad I'm not the only one who heard of him. I do know he and a few followers consistently made money listening to how he wagers. I have tried to "sit on my wallet" but I do fail once in awhile. But when I do limit my wagers, as he advised, I seem to be doing a lot better. Less action for sure! But better profits. 
Title: Re: When You Realize You Are A Gambling Loser
Post by: SRP22 on June 02, 2026, 09:19:27 PM
It was called Professors Speed Service.
He would mail you updates on what " numpber" the winner ran for each race of each racing day.
Title: Re: When You Realize You Are A Gambling Loser
Post by: Bitter Truth on June 02, 2026, 09:24:12 PM
My mom used to like to buy the tip sheet from the guy by the turnstiles at Scioto.
She did better when she bet numbers. She had some pretty good luck at times.
Title: Re: When You Realize You Are A Gambling Loser
Post by: rainman2 on June 02, 2026, 09:29:33 PM
Look at many of the individuals here on plop!
More than likely quite a few broke degenerative gamblers here!

Has anyone ever known a gambling loser?

I have and they can’t even admit to this.
Title: Re: When You Realize You Are A Gambling Loser
Post by: dougie on June 02, 2026, 09:38:49 PM
My mom used to like to buy the tip sheet from the guy by the turnstiles at Scioto.
She did better when she bet numbers. She had some pretty good luck at times.
When I used to go to the races at Aqueduct, they used to sell the "Green Sheet" and the "Clocker Lawton" sheet. I think they were $2 each. They sold a lot in those days. I don't remember ever buying one, but a buddy of mine hit a 4G tri from the Green Sheet. He had to run around to find a "10 percenter" to cash it for him. LOL!
Title: Re: When You Realize You Are A Gambling Loser
Post by: dougie on June 02, 2026, 09:40:48 PM
It was called Professors Speed Service.
He would mail you updates on what " numpber" the winner ran for each race of each racing day.
I wonder if he's still around. I heard he was a fixture at the Illionis throughbred tracks for many years.
Title: Re: When You Realize You Are A Gambling Loser
Post by: Kole Hanover on June 02, 2026, 09:54:02 PM

 So, you're saying you aren't going throw as much shit as you can at the wall & hopefully some sticks?

 Always found it funny, the guys who bet every race & then wonder why they dwindled their bankroll all night.
Title: Re: When You Realize You Are A Gambling Loser
Post by: Sweet on June 02, 2026, 10:11:01 PM
So, you're saying you aren't going throw as much shit as you can at the wall & hopefully some sticks?

 Always found it funny, the guys who bet every race & then wonder why they dwindled their bankroll all night.

I don't go driving around in an RV with my family and stay in a campgrounds, brag only about my success and never dare speak about a failure, attack someone who goes after racing cheats and animal abusers, and knowingly race a lame horse.   ngc3

That's be all you, 100%  ngc3

But I will give you props, you came into my self confessed loser thread, and topped me  ngc3



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