Help a Beginner Out

**cecil127** · 05-05-11, 05:10 PM

check out Money Line Express's thread and his picks. food for thought if nothing else.
and oh, if you had any kind of luck at yonkers this T-bred race will be a walk in the park

that place is tough....

**DanL32** · 05-05-11, 05:50 PM

I appreciate the response cecil. To be completely honest, both times that I visited Yonkers I won my first play, both exacta boxes. Played with house money both nights

.... But considering that its a "tough" place to win, I guess that could mean I suck also!

**DanL32** · 05-05-11, 06:02 PM

6:26:06 pm

Hollywood Park
Race #6 $1.00 Trifecta (8 / 5 / 1)

Ticket Total‎

1.00

62.00

63.00

Player Total‎

62.00

WOOO just won an exacta at Hollywood Park...only put down a buck though haha. Gonna quit now til the derby and end on top.

**Dark Horse** · 05-05-11, 06:17 PM

Don't get me wrong. I love horses as well. But if you're brandnew I would recommend to stay away. There is not a single sport that requires more knowledge than horse racing. And the takeout is just too high. I have read a lot of books on horse racing, but the best cappers all seem to be working in another capacity, such as for DRF, within the industry. That should tell you all you need to know. The lack of profitability also explains why they don't mind sharing their secrets by writing books. That said, the simplest way to approach horses is betting on quarter horses. An all-out sprint to the finish line. This avoids the entire study of strategy within a race. Another pretty straightforward way is to learn to read the tote board, and use nothing else. I have never bet on another sport that either made me feel like a total genius or complete fool.

**DanL32** · 05-05-11, 06:36 PM

Darkhorse--thanks for your insight. I love the culture in thoroughbred racing enough to throw a few bucks here and there for fun, but I tend to agree that I should look to make anything. I'm just trying to gauge if a respectable handicapper would laugh at my bets or say "eh hes got a shot at it."

I'm definitely taking it slow--hopefully I'll be able to enjoy a few highs on the way and not discourage myself enough to never wanna come back. I'll be sticking to college football as my moneymaker---precite it bro.

**AbeFroman** · 05-05-11, 07:58 PM

One thing you'll find with horse racing, Dan, is that unlike sports betting, there are going to be very few times where someone says your nuts for betting this horse or that horse. There are so many variables, angles, and the like that the only time anyone is going to scratch their head in complete disagreement is when you play a very long shot horse that is in a race, say, to get work after a long layoff for example. A horse that on paper has a lot of viable reasons for it not to hit the board. There's a reason that 6 horse is 70/1 in a seven horse field. Do they come in sometimes? Sure. But not often.

One of the things I've noticed about new horse players, especially on this board, is that they tend to think a skill/interest/idea within sports betting will transfer over to the ponies, and that just isn't the case. My best advice would be to pick a circuit or track, whether it be the closest to you or one from your hometown, etc., whatever the reason, and play that until you feel comfortable capping. The Kentucky Derby is just like the college football championship game or the Super Bowl; just because it's the biggest race of the year doesn't mean you should up your amount of units or play more than normal.

Sorry for getting windy.

**mrginandtonic** · 05-05-11, 08:51 PM

Originally posted by DanL32

6:26:06 pm

Hollywood Park
Race #6 $1.00 Trifecta (8 / 5 / 1)

Ticket Total‎

1.00

62.00

63.00

Player Total‎

62.00

WOOO just won an exacta at Hollywood Park...only put down a buck though haha. Gonna quit now til the derby and end on top.

Congrats on ur win!

now, are you sure that you are a beginner?

. I kinda like ur derby picks. U sure u r not a pro in disguise?

**TonyP** · 05-05-11, 10:23 PM

never bet first time starters on the rail

**BGboothA** · 05-05-11, 10:34 PM

Originally posted by TonyP

never bet first time starters on the rail

**DanL32** · 05-05-11, 11:09 PM

Abe---I really appreciate it man. I'll definitely pick a track and start trying to get comfortable for a while.
Ginandtonic--Thanks a lot haha. I'm sure my reasoning on that pick would've driven a few pro's mad...
Tony--I'll definitely keep an eye on that

**goblue24** · 05-05-11, 11:19 PM

It sounds like you are looking for optimal betting strategies to maximize your profits? As a newbie myself, I recently came across this site and a few helpful articles. Specifically how to optimally bet exactas and pick 3's. Now I just need to get better at handicapping races and picking winners to put these strategies to work.

http://www.predictem.com/horse/exacta.php

**dochall2u** · 05-06-11, 04:19 AM

New to the site and only thing i can add to this thread is this:there is a old saying in the commonwealth of kentucky[but not limited to KY]that you can beat a race but you will never beat the races.You try whole cards betting/not good odds.My buddies will go to simulcasts and have multiple track wagering,and will be running window to window like they are nuts.Never a good end result.good luck to everyone and enjoy the Oaks/Derby.I'm about 15 minutes from Churchill and the insanity.