I always keep on learning how to bet.

[dougie]

I was reading an interesting post on one of the dozen or so horse blogs I love to follow. He talked about "sizing up a race" and why that makes some people more successful than other at betting horses. He talked about "running the race in your mind" considering what each horse has done in their previous starts. For Preakness 2026, he reasoned that the #1 Horse Taj Mahal would shoot out of the gate and go as far as he can go. He felt that that the speedster couldn't get the distance and would give it up at the top of the lane. He felt that the #14 Pretty Boy Micah would have to go to the lead if he had any chance, but would be cooked from that wide post. He reasoned that #10 Napoleon Solo, another speed horse with a great "speed rider" in Paco Lopez, would be up close early, relax the horse, and wait for the #1 to fold. Which is exactly what happened. He talked about bettors, LIKE ME, who bet horses with NO CHANCE looking to make a score. He talked about Laurel Park, a notorious speed favoring track, and lamenting how bettors "plunged" their cash on horses who had no chance. He reasoned that a closer might get into the tri or the super, but never get into this Preakness Winner Circle. So for all who hit the race and cashed, I tip my hat to you. Handicapping ain't easy. But I continue to learn from others. Even at my age. Good luck to all you gamblers, like me, chasing the big score.

[andrew]

my  comment back dougie knot meant negative. just wondering what the 'big score' amount is.
i hate to say, bur what the hayy,, my biggest score was a $20 exacta quick pick. i kid you knot. i was on a run, at least for me, so i put it in. northfield no less. probably 15 years ago. that exacta paid over $400 for a $2 wager. i collected over 4k. in my case, studying wasnt needed, just sheer luck, lol

[dougie]

my  comment back dougie knot meant negative. just wondering what the 'big score' amount is.
i hate to say, bur what the hayy,, my biggest score was a $20 exacta quick pick. i kid you knot. i was on a run, at least for me, so i put it in. northfield no less. probably 15 years ago. that exacta paid over $400 for a $2 wager. i collected over 4k. in my case, studying wasnt needed, just sheer luck, lol

A $20 Exacta that got you back over 4K is a "big score" to me. Probably most gamblers would agree. My biggest was on a horse I  owned that got me back $7800 on a $300 investment. In sheer numbers, you did better with a much smaller investment. Quick pick or not, that's a great hit.

[andrew]

again years back at our local otb branch,, a regular there won over 120k on the pic6 at the bigA. he was a heavy hitter so i dont know what he invested to get it. i do know he invested a lot more to try to duplicate it which he never did.

another story i have. i was basically a $20 wager win or exacta with a few $100 win bets thrown in. one night i have a lock, cant be beat. go to the track. now this trainer when he won his daughter was in the winners circle,, when he didnt win she was in the bleachers [she was HOT]. i get there and she is in the bleachers. say to myself,, NOW WHAT. so i put 20 to win on a 10-1 shot. bingo, collected $200. lol,, some angles are better than cappin. now of course i have plenty of stories that didnt work out,, but knda forget them,, lol

[talkstohisself]

here is my theory that I have losing or using for 40+ years win bets and exacta  bets if I like a long price horse a win bet a wheel for second in exacta  and use on top with horses that I like no tri no supers only bet pks when there is a nice carryover or on big days when pools are huge. showed profit one time in year 2024 when a a huge pk5 at Batavia for 41k that is my wagering claim to fame

[dougie]

here is my theory that I have losing or using for 40+ years win bets and exacta  bets if I like a long price horse a win bet a wheel for second in exacta  and use on top with horses that I like no tri no supers only bet pks when there is a nice carryover or on big days when pools are huge. showed profit one time in year 2024 when a a huge pk5 at Batavia for 41k that is my wagering claim to fame

A interesting betting angle. That 41K score is what dreams are made of. I knew someone who hit a pick 5 at Santa Anita for over 100G. He told me the score was life-changing for him.

[Checked Up]

A successful  gambler learns something new every trip to the windows,  if he or she is paying attention to what is happening around them. I find watching the win pictures being taken and always bet with the same teller to be beneficial. Especially when someone associated with the horse is a successful gambler. After the associated person wagers, my favorite teller will inform me if he used his horse or not and I adjust my wager in accordance with his. It's definitely important to leave some cash on the counter when you cash the ticket!

[andrew]

A successful  gambler learns something new every trip to the windows,  if he or she is paying attention to what is happening around them. I find watching the win pictures being taken and always bet with the same teller to be beneficial. Especially when someone associated with the horse is a successful gambler. After the associated person wagers, my favorite teller will inform me if he used his horse or not and I adjust my wager in accordance with his. It's definitely important to leave some cash on the counter when you cash the ticket!

agree 100%,, 'pay attention to what is happening around them'