| Handicapping a horse race is an intellectual | | | | the race. I have to confess that I can't always |
| challenge. It is as if the race track is a giant chess | | | | figure out which horse is most likely to win a race |
| board and we who would pick the winners using | | | | or what each horse's chances are. That is when I |
| our various handicapping strategies are the | | | | make the most important decision any |
| players. Just as there is more than one way to | | | | handicapper can make. I pass the race and move |
| win at chess, there is more than one way to win | | | | on to the next. |
| in horse racing handicapping. | | | | It happens every day from coast to coast and all |
| So the opinions and methods will often vary and | | | | over the world. Wherever horse racing is found |
| perhaps no two people handicap a horse race in | | | | you will find people handicapping horse races and |
| just the same way. But with all that said, there is | | | | then betting on the races without knowing what |
| one thing that all successful horse players have in | | | | odds are fair on a horse in order to come out |
| common. When I say horse players, I mean | | | | ahead financially. That is perfectly all right if all you |
| people who bet on horse races in order to make | | | | are doing is handicapping for fun and just trying to |
| a profit. They may use any method, from | | | | pick winners. That is what we call recreation and it |
| statistical analysis to old fashioned pace | | | | comes at a price. |
| handicapping, even spot plays. There is one thing | | | | You will pay for those winners, for the thrill of |
| that you must have in order to make a profit | | | | seeing your over bet horse win and even though |
| from your winning picks. You may pick a lot of | | | | you cash a ticket, in the long run you will lose |
| winners, but if you don't know this, you will | | | | money. You will lose money, but as I said, if all |
| inevitably fail. | | | | you want is a thrill, that's fine. On the other hand, |
| I am talking about fair value odds. When you | | | | if you want to make money betting on horses, |
| handicap a horse race you may not know what | | | | then you had better learn how to accurately |
| each horse's probability of winning and losing may | | | | judge each horse's chances of winning and be able |
| be. That is all right as long as you don't wager on | | | | to put a fair price on it. |