adwplayingfool
02-11-2014, 08:45 PM
I'm a 28 year old player who has never been in a major live Handicapping contest. I have been playing since I was fairly young and have had mixed results. As far as "betting" goes I have had some huge hits but always end up behind the eight ball at the end of the year. I think chasing and poor money management coupled with the obvious large takeout with no real rebates in Virginia always gets me in the end. As far as contests go I am fairly steady but "untested". Though I generally have not been a consistent contest player choosing rather to just bet live money I have won a contest on ezhorseplay (colonial downs state run contracted adw), advanced in contests like BTH on xpressbet, played and scored in derby wars contests and the final year youbet was independent I came in second place in their derby day or BC day (can't remember) hit every show bet on a card contest hitting 11 of 12 races with only one person going 12/12 and taking down the entire 50k prize (Horse I had came in fourth just short after leading and fading in the stretch, stung pretty bad). Last year I decided I wanted to attack contests more heavily but I got busy with life. I just realized I had a shot still to qualify for the HPWS at the end of March this year. From what I see my best bet is to try and do so through Horseplayersqualify. My questions are:
1. Are there any better ways to try to qualify just over a month out?
2. Is the major live tourney experience worth pressing hard to qualify these next few weeks or should I take some more time and try to qualify for NHC or HPWS next year earlier on?
3. Should I manage to qualify is there anything I should know about the contest before going, main difference between being on location as opposed to online?
All though I generally haven't played contests as a 99% cash player and never have at a live venue I fair decent when I fire online. I don't know if this is because money management is not a factor in most contests with set amount bets or if I naturally play prices that I consider value as opposed to chalk which seems to be a major piece of the puzzle... or maybe even that when I lose a few races I start "chasing" with legit longshots which also seems neccesary in these contests.? Any ideas/advice from the braintrust on this aspect of the game will be appreciated for a less experienced younger guy in the game.
1. Are there any better ways to try to qualify just over a month out?
2. Is the major live tourney experience worth pressing hard to qualify these next few weeks or should I take some more time and try to qualify for NHC or HPWS next year earlier on?
3. Should I manage to qualify is there anything I should know about the contest before going, main difference between being on location as opposed to online?
All though I generally haven't played contests as a 99% cash player and never have at a live venue I fair decent when I fire online. I don't know if this is because money management is not a factor in most contests with set amount bets or if I naturally play prices that I consider value as opposed to chalk which seems to be a major piece of the puzzle... or maybe even that when I lose a few races I start "chasing" with legit longshots which also seems neccesary in these contests.? Any ideas/advice from the braintrust on this aspect of the game will be appreciated for a less experienced younger guy in the game.