| While it is true that there are no sure things in life | | | | of true gambling as opposed to taking a calculated |
| and especially in horse racing, there are some | | | | risk and betting on a horse race. While the |
| things that just keep re-occurring and betting on | | | | favorite may well live up to its breeding or |
| them when they are available is one way to | | | | expectations and win the race, if it hasn't proven |
| make money betting on horse races. Some | | | | it can do it, then it is just too risky. |
| people say that the win bet is the best bet in | | | | But just betting against such favorites is not a |
| horse racing. Other people prefer an exotic, like | | | | great idea of itself, there is one other condition to |
| the pick six, for instance, because you only pay | | | | be met. When a favorite is a false favorite |
| breakage and a takeout on one bet but get a | | | | because it has never done what is being asked of |
| large pool based on many combinations. | | | | it, I also like to see a horse in the race that has |
| In my opinion, the best bet is one that has | | | | proven itself on the same surface and at the |
| proven successful and offers an edge that is | | | | same distance. These types will often win and |
| overlooked by the public. You could call it an | | | | surprise the betting public, but only if the public |
| overlay, though in this case it is hard to say just | | | | has overestimated the chances of the favorite |
| what fair odds may be because it varies | | | | based on a big race or speed figures in another |
| according to the size of the field and the merits | | | | race. |
| of the other horses. | | | | I have even seen horses made the favorite |
| There is one horse, however, that has to meet | | | | because they won a maiden race and had sold at |
| certain requirements in order for me to bet on | | | | auction for a large sum of money. If you want |
| what I consider the best bet. The first thing I | | | | to learn about risky investments, start buying |
| look for is a favorite that has never raced at the | | | | yearlings at huge prices. You would be surprised |
| distance, or on the surface that it is being asked | | | | at how many never make it to the races or who |
| to perform on today. An example would be a | | | | just turn out to be mediocre horses. Yet these |
| promising three year old that has raced well on | | | | horses are often favorites against less pricey |
| dirt before, but is now trying the grass for the | | | | horses who have won at the same conditions as |
| first time. Another example might be a horse | | | | today’s race. |
| that has won at the 6 furlong distance but never | | | | The moral of this story is to go with a proven |
| won at a mile or more and is racing in a route | | | | winner when the favorite is an unknown |
| today. | | | | quantity. You will find this situation repeated |
| Any favorite that is being asked to do something | | | | several times a week at most race tracks and |
| it hasn't proven that it can do is suspect, in my | | | | you will be amazed at how often the crowd |
| opinion. Betting on such an animal is my definition | | | | repeats the same mistakes. |