a bad run

[dogfish]

glad to find this site!am a daily player mostly so.ca.,grinded out a small profit at h.p. meet since s.a started no matter what i do is wroung.handicapping is o.k. but am not betting when i should, betting when i should not.lost all confidence in my plays.been playing for 20 some years so know this will happen,but need to get back on track.have already reduced my bets,taken a day or two off,mostly bet win and have missed some nice winners.what do you do to get back on track?

[hurrikane]

I do absolutely nothing. Take the week off. Don't think, talk, look, or smell a horse. then come back and just watch for a while. this is not a game for weak confidence. I would back off until you have it back or be ready to have your metal tested.

[ranchwest]

Be patient, which, as you are noting, is difficult.

I've been through two tough periods in the past 6 months, one very recently.

At the end of last week, things started to shake out for me. Sunday I had 8 winners and a place on 10 races. As you might well imagine, percentage-wise that's about as well as I've ever done.

For now, go back and evaluate what you've done that was not successful and see what you might have done differently. Watch for similar situations. Beating what burned you before is a big psychological boost.

Hang in there, you'll hit 'em. Just don't force things, maintain your bankroll so you'll be ready when you start doing well again.

[keilan]

Dogfish -- keep detailed records and learn what you are doing right and what you are not. Therein lies your answer. This bit of advice will save you money and restore your confidence.

Good Luck

[Tom]

Welcome to the board. You will learn a lot from this bunch.
We have some sharpies hanging out here. Others welcome new posters <G>
Seriously, I know what you are going through. total abstenace for a week or so has helped me, then , when I go back, I play 2 or 3 horse show parlays for a couple of days, to kind of warm up the brain and get that winning feeling back. Cashing a ticket helps change a slump.

[Zaf]

I usually take a few days off, then go back to what I was doing before. The time off usually helps.

ZAFONIC

[GR1@HTR]

I get hammerd at the begining of each meet...So I try to stay away from them and focus on tracks that have been running for a while...IMHO there are more hidden trainer angles at the opening of the meet, horses deal w/ the stress of a new environment, and may not like the track. Just cause they run well at one track doesn't mean they will run well at another. DMR is a perfect example...I can't cap chit there till the end of the meet...Find another circut or wait another 45 to 60 days till you play SA.

[ernie simons]

You'll find a lot more knowledgable cappers here, no disrespect to Madjacks. These guys are top of the line, and glad to help.
I remember reading a while back that it wasn't a good idea to bet at any track the first two weeks or the last two days. The first two weeks for the reason GR1 mentioned, the last two days because the races are written to give the dogs one last shot.
Give it a few more days to even out at SA, you'll be back to hitting em, you'll see. In the mean time, relax. :cool:

[Zaf]

What about Gulfstream ? Do you usually jump right in or wait a few weeks to determine biases, hot shipping tracks, trainers , jocks etc. If you do not jump in right away how long do you wait?

ZAFONIC

[Fastracehorse]

Adjust some Beyers.

fffastt

[Doug]

FFFAST

In my opinion, sometimes you are just too funny.

I have no doubt you have some way of adjusting the Beyers that probably works for you, but the way you insert the idea here and there is humorous to me.

Doug

[CapperLou]

Dogfish:

Sounds to me like you have lost your confidence. As soon as one loses one's confidence--one is doomed.

That's because you will not bet properly--running scared etc. Does not matter whether you are playing blackjack or baccarat or horses.

Take some time off and regroup---then go back when you feel you believe in yourself again.

You must be fearless and disciplined or you don't have a chance in this game or in any casino game.

And---every trainer I've ever known has always said to give the track a couple of weeks to show it's "hand".

Gulfstream & SA would be in that situation now.

All the Best,

CapperLou

[freeneasy]

if your an everyday player but this is not your living and you have a now present job then dont just take a couple of days off, take a couple of months off, strictly. In the 20 years of your play has the game of racing ever taken a day off that you know of ? insert your answer here, _ _ , then it'll still be here when you get back. And if you do this you will more then likely be sending your system into sudden shock, and in that time, oh yeah you'll get the ol' urge, dont worry about that, its called addiction withdrawls, there aint gonna be no exemptions from that. But dont just sit around idle, get busy with things that will keep your mind constructively occupied. you'll find you have the time to do those things that you dont want to do but need to get done and youll feel good for having gotten gottn around to em. One less thing ( Tom Hanks, Forrest Gump). Read, run, jog, go bike riding, Q up the ol' barbie, practice your guitar, spank the wife, spank the monkey, just dont spank the dog, you get the idea. Winners ? Dont worry about the stinkn winners, we doun need no stinkn winners. Have fun to enjoy yourself. takes a little catchn on, but you'll get it

[dogfish]

thanks for the welcome,and the advice

ernie s.- i can see theirs lots to learn here from some very good cappers.

[Fastracehorse]

I never try and be funny.

I really take myself sohhhhhhhh seriously.

fffast

[Doug]

FFAST,

Sure you do.


Doug

[pic6vic]

Dogfish

I Mostly play So Cal. I know what you are going through. We have all been there.

I have a close friend (since 1979), that we talk about the races daily. We tell each other what we like and don't like and for the most part we get off of losers, because one of us has a strong opinion against that horse or race.

It is great to have someone to bounce your thoughts off daily, but it must be somenone's opinion you value. This boardis great, and can help, but you should have some people whose opinions you value.

[GR1@HTR]

Originally posted by zafonic
What about Gulfstream ? Do you usually jump right in or wait a few weeks to determine biases, hot shipping tracks, trainers , jocks etc. If you do not jump in right away how long do you wait?

ZAFONIC


Think GP and SAR are two of the exceptions...IMHO, fFor the most part all the horses there have good intent. They didn't ship down to the all mighty GP to prep for another race. In this situation I think it is best to identify w/ trainers are targeting a hot start down there and which shippers from certain tracks have a hidden class advantage over the rest. Personally I have a little delima to deal w/. I paper(no betting) handicapped the first 11 sprints for GP so far. The good is that my top choice won 6/11 for 55%. The bad is that my 2nd choice was 0/11. As odd as it may seem, I would feel more comfortable with at 32%ish and 23%ish ratio for top 2.

[Fastracehorse]

It's fffastt ( despite my speliing error ).

[ranchwest]

Originally posted by Doug
FFAST,

Sure you do.


Doug

Doug, it's lllast. C'mon, get in the program.

[hurrikane]

Doug,

looks like you need to adjust your 'F' s. :D

[Doug]

HURRICANE,

Yeah, but fast won't tell me how.

Doug

[Fastracehorse]

dddougg,

??

fffastt