Handicapping + Day Job

[JustMissed]

I am very new to the game and already understand how difficult it is to pick finishers much less place the proper bets to make a profit. I hear that there are guys that make a living at this and was wondering if anyone here plays full-time and doesn't have to have a day job? If you don't mind sharing, I'd like to know how long you have been at this and when did you get to the point where you could make a living off the ponies? If you want to brag I'd love to hear what your best(and worst) year was?

Thanks

[so.cal.fan]

Just Missed:

Check back threads on this board, on the discussion forums.
The one's with hundreds of views and replies will surely address your question.
It will take you a day to read all through the posts, but you will learn some valuable facts. There are several different approaches here, and most are successful ones.
You will be able to make up your own mind on what you want to pursue.
Good luck to you.

:)

[JustMissed]

Thanks so.cal.fan:

I will take your advice. I started out playing win/place only and was doing pretty good, then I switched to exactas only(to make the big money) and got my head chopped off. I have gone back to 1-3 W/P bets and am slowly building my bankroll up. Saturday at FingerLakes, I hit 6 out of 9 races and three of those six were wins so I collected on the both bets. I was beginning to feel real good about myself when I realized that the reason I was doing better(better than playing the exactas that is), was because I was really now focused on selecting only one horse that I thought could come in first or second. It is probably just a mental thing.

I read an old post where guy said he only plays 80/20 on the win pool and exacta pool. At this early stage I tend to think he is very much correct. You should see the throw away tickets at my home track(Tampa). Those guys go nuts with the part wheel exacta bets and it sure looks like they are always one horse short.

Anyway, thanks again for your reply.

:)

[so.cal.fan]

Sounds like you're on the right track, Just Missed.
You are betting in New York- LOWER TAKEOUT. This is a good thing (my apologies and condolences to Martha Stewart-LOL)!
I too bet the straight pool. I just bet to win, but know people who bet as you do and do quite well.
Some of us, are like you and I, we tend to gravitate towards one horse. I know I do. I can't "spread the net"
My husband and I have been betting horses for over 40 years.
He is in the industry here in California.
We have had success with both Exacta (keys) using one strong horse and Win bets.
I have a friend who does fantastic (much better than us) betting triples, but he also bets to win and place like you. I have seen this man win 6 figure amounts during the course of a year here in Calif.
So you keep at it!
;)

[rrbauer]

1. Keep records.
2. Keep records.
3. Keep records.
4. Remember that it's a giant leap from showing a profit at the track to making a living at the track. They aren't the same as some of us have learned!

[socalsportsbook]

Day Job

I will second anything that's been said and add that you have to approach this is a job. If you are going to change careers which is really what you are talking about doing then do it right. Put aside some money and start to beg, borrow and steal anything that will advance your knowledge.

If you decided to be a plummer, you better boneup on plumbing. Just because your buddy is a plummer and makes twice as much as most handicappers, doe's not mean you would be a good plummer.

Most important thing to consider:
You won't make as much as you think OR as much as most handicappers TELL YOU they make.

You'll work harder and longer than you think.

The pressure can be overwhelming. Your personality and personal obligations, like food and rent come into play.

Some people just are not wired to do this for eating money.

When you go to the track or simo location you are going to work, not to have a few laughs with the boys and pound down a couple of brews. I know that would never cross your mind.

Prepare well. As Steve Young said about the NFL; "this is a NASTY game"!

Good Luck!!

[Derek2U]

Why would any1 wish to take an incredibly exciting Fun game and
turn it into some occupation? How boring can u get? Once you
enter that realm you run the risk of becoming some grunt geek
guy who steals bread from a restaurant table. Or worse, some
pathetically failed NW of 1 after like 25 attempts. In short,
to all aspirinG pros, get a job & treat racing like a hot date and
get all excited and score big.

[Triple Trio]

Originally posted by Derek2U
Why would any1 wish to take an incredibly exciting Fun game and turn it into some occupation? How boring can u get? Once you enter that realm you run the risk of becoming some grunt geek guy who steals bread from a restaurant table. Or worse, some pathetically failed NW of 1 after like 25 attempts. In short, to all aspirinG pros, get a job & treat racing like a hot date and
get all excited and score big.

How come there are professional footballers, basketball players, baseball players...or for that matter how come there are people who dare to think they can make a living by acting, singing, writing...

[Derek2U]

cause lots of peeps, ordinary ones like me & real important ones
too, pay lots to see or hear actors & singers & ballplayer guys and rock stars etc but who would ever pay to see a handicapper
in ActioN ... not me .... mAYB a few, just once, at some vegas
get together which is fun money spent ... but gambling for a
living takes many forms & i think its wiser to get some steady
paycheck to gamble and thats not what horse players get.
its like dumb to make racing a livelihood.

[socalsportsbook]

Problem is that most horse players are not fit for real work. Who the hell would hire us?

[karlskorner]

It's a huge sacrifice to give up your day job, mentally and physically, 99% will not or cannot do it, they are content in treating the business of horse racing as a hobby. Rather than "shotgun" throughout the country I strongly suggest concentrating on 1 track or circuit and learn everything you can about the trainers, jockey, horses and owners. Since you live in the Tampa area I would suggest Tampa and CRC, as some CRC horses ship to Tamp when GP opens and visa versa

As rrbauer suggests, records are a most important ingredient, whether on your computer, on paper or in your head. Results charts, trainer charts, jockey charts, daily wagering charts, all fit into the business of horse racing. Prepare yourself and family (if there is one) by having enough monies set aside to last for 6 months, because it will be a bumpy ride. There is a huge difference between handicapping as a hobby and earning a livilihood. All the "firewalls" are down and once you "step over" you are on you own and you will work harder than you ever have in the past.

That's the downside, since you have cashed some tickets you have found the upside and the best part is you don't have to peek over your cubicle to see who's watching and "nobody" can fire you. Go for it, you only get one chance.

Karl

[Derek2U]

hehe ... please dont send me your resume but i'd hire you anyways for your humor

[Dick Schmidt]

Just et al.,

Though handicapping for a living is a lot of work, it's not all bad. You get to sleep late, walk to work in your underwear, take a day off whenever you like, never have to kiss the boss's ass, live as a free man. Of course, you also have the freedom to fail, and no one to pick you up, but some of us like it. Sure beats putting on a suit and tie, commuting for an hour, doing drone work all day and then getting up to do it all over again tomorrow.

If this is what you want to do, and you have the skills to do it, go for it. Remember, never take investment (or handicapping) advice from someone with a job. Have fun.

Dick

[Triple Trio]

Originally posted by Derek2U
its like dumb to make racing a livelihood.

Tell that to some of the people I know who have made tens of millions dollars from racing. It's true that only an extremely small number of people can make that kind of claim, but then there are very few Tiger Woods and Tom Cruises in this world.

What determines if you can become a pro player or not is how good you are. It's naive to think that you can become a pro just because you've picked a few winners. OTOH, if your records (you've been keeping records, haven't you?) show that you've been able to win money on a consistent basis over a number of years, then it's not dumb to make racing a livelihood at all.

As to how much time it would take, I'd say becoming a pro player is more difficult than becoming an accountant. This is so because whereas a mediocre accountant can survive, a mediocre pro player cannot.

[Triple Trio]

Originally posted by Dick Schmidt
Remember, never take investment (or handicapping) advice from someone with a job.

Wiser words have not been spoken!

[karlskorner]

Dick:

I stole it from BC comics It read:

NEVER TAKE INVESTMENT ADVICE FROM SOMEONE WHO'S WORKING.

I don't mind the 7 miles I travel to the track, haven;t tried it in my underwear, but do wear shorts. Love the Clam Chowder, you know you have a bowl of soup when the spoon stands up straight.


Karl

[Tom]

Originally posted by Dick Schmidt
Just et al.,

Though handicapping for a living is a lot of work, it's not all bad. You get to sleep late, walk to work in your underwear.....
Dick

I DO hope you bet from home????
:eek: :eek: :eek: :eek:

[Zaf]

If I tried to make my living at this game I would probably grow to despise it. I enjoy the game very much. Most years I can break even. If I lose, well most people spend money for entertainment. I can go to the Track, Race Book etc. with no pressures. If I want to have a couple of brews with the boys I can. If it became a business, the fun would diminish. I go to the races to forget about business & relax. I do not need two businesses.

So thats the choice one has to make. I think you will find that those who earn a living off the races enjoy it less. Those individuals certainly have a lot more at stake.

ZAFONIC

[rrbauer]

I wouldn't tell this to just anyone....but, being on the west coast, there have been days when I've played the NYRA daily double in my Pee Jays. If I hit it, I get dressed and go to "work". If not, I go back to bed and catch a nap before the local action starts!

[JustRalph]

Why not do like me........Get a job where you can play from work.... it is a really nice situation to be in. I admit that sometimes I can't give the ponies all the attention that I should, but It makes the day go faster and so far this year I am way ahead and even got a nice raise.......best of both worlds.