having a terrible year, thinking of giving it up

[formula_2002]

Originally Posted by Mdnspecialist

Confidence has nothing to do with it. A days profit can be determined by just one bet. That was my one bet for the day. $12 was a gift. No reason to continue for the day. This is something I didn't do years ago. Now, I can walk away after a big win, DQ or string of losses. Not going to make bad decisions and chase. We've all been there, don't act like you haven't.

mathematical confidence. "you can't leave home without it"

[Mdnspecialist]

Originally Posted by formula_2002

mathematical confidence. "you can't leave home without it"

Ok, whatever you say.

[JustRalph]

Originally Posted by Tom

I've resorted to 0% and there is no stress at all!

If you are funded enough to ride out the long run, why would you bother with this stupid game, go out and spend the money, have fun.

Brilliant!

The only time I play the horses anymore is when I’m on vacation somewhere that makes it easy……..and I don’t get many vacations nowadays

But you make a great point. As I head into my mid 60’s I’m finding pleasure in many different areas that playing the horses kept me away from ten years ago.

I went into work this morning at 4:45a with my wife. Getting ready for opening at 9a. Just got home about 7:30a.

Sitting on the back patio watching my dogs play in the backyard, listening to the horses neighing behind us (quarter horse farm backs up to my new house, with no neighbors) reading the news on my iPad and dropping in here. My health is better, feel good, and couldn’t imagine ruining the day studying pps’s

There’s a motorcycle in the garage that needs a workout and about a million other things that I can do that would be much more rewarding than playing what this crappy game has become.

[Parkview_Pirate]

Originally Posted by JustRalph

...There’s a motorcycle in the garage that needs a workout and about a million other things that I can do that would be much more rewarding than playing what this crappy game has become.

Yeah, I hear you. The quality of racing has really dropped off over the last couple of years, relative to its decline from the mid 1990s. The pandemic has really squeezed things, and I don't see any catalyst to turn it around. I've found new life in some of my other hobbies like motorcycling, firearms, reading and golf. Racing takes up a lot of time, even when just playing a single circuit.

But I didn't imagine the drop off being so quick this year, after stumbling through the first couple of years of the pandemic. Now, a "good" card is two or three decent races, and a great card is five or six. In the mid 1980s, a NYRA or California weekend card almost always had 7 or 8 good races on a 9 or 10 race card. The last couple of weekends has been lean, only finding four or five races spread across six circuits and three days that looked decent enough to handicap. Sad.

I don't regret not renewing my NHC tour card for 2022, though maybe later this year things will improve.

[cato]

No one is underfunded.

You/they/I/etc., overbet

[Inner Dirt]

Originally Posted by JustRalph

Brilliant!

The only time I play the horses anymore is when I’m on vacation somewhere that makes it easy……..and I don’t get many vacations nowadays

But you make a great point. As I head into my mid 60’s I’m finding pleasure in many different areas that playing the horses kept me away from ten years ago.

I went into work this morning at 4:45a with my wife. Getting ready for opening at 9a. Just got home about 7:30a.

Sitting on the back patio watching my dogs play in the backyard, listening to the horses neighing behind us (quarter horse farm backs up to my new house, with no neighbors) reading the news on my iPad and dropping in here. My health is better, feel good, and couldn’t imagine ruining the day studying pps’s

There’s a motorcycle in the garage that needs a workout and about a million other things that I can do that would be much more rewarding than playing what this crappy game has become.

Good read, maybe we should start a thread of all the things gambling, especially horses have altered our lives compared to NORMAL people.
Here is one of mine. Wedding night I was 26, bride was 21. Honeymoon to Vegas taking along best man and maid of honor.


Had great success trying out card counting at Blackjack for first time.
Kept handing $100 bills to wife and bridesmaid to waste on slots. I am the man! Wife wants to get rooms, mind you this is 1986, gave her $500, she says I want you to go with me, I said one more hour.


Well, my friend whose advances toward the bridesmaid were not reciprocated and tapped out asked me where the girls were.
I told him maybe they finally started winning something, they stopped hitting me up for money. I gave him $200 and told him to make it last.


Friend comes back, tells me the girls are sleeping in the car. I now realize
I have spent well over 24 hours playing cards. I don't require much sleep.
To say they are pissed and ganging up on me is an understatement.

No amount of showing the wife the wad of $100 bills I still have and offering to split them with her gets me out of the dog house.


Drive home the whole 250 miles while everyone but me sleeps in the car.
The whole 5 years of marriage "the wedding night" was used as an excuse constantly for being a PITA.


I did a few other things when she tried to come between me and the horses. I actually ground out profits back in the day, and most of the time
did my handicapping getting by on 3 hours sleep and holding down a full time job. I was a mad dash away after work from the last three races at Santa Anita. My edge was doing my own Beyer figs well before they were published.


Wedding night was only one story, should we start a thread on them? I am sure others have something to share and where should it go?

[btexpress]

Picked up horse racing during Co Vid after 20 + years of sportbetting.

As much as I love horse racing, the handicapping and prep for a card is twice as tough as grinding $50 into $500 with a sportsbook over a weekend period.

This game is tougher then hell and I’ve noticed it’s sacred amongst the older crowd.

Nobody really wants to share intel or take a new kid under his wing.

I wish some folks on here would let me pick their brain and see a race from a few different angles.

Personally it’s the cocaine of sports betting for me.

Who’s got time for a 3 hour game. But maybe a family man like me gets in on a few races a day. But it’s always turns into more dont it. Every damn time.

Lastly I truly have respect for all of you here. Thank you for your posts, pick threads and tips.

[ranchwest]

Originally Posted by btexpress

Picked up horse racing during Co Vid after 20 + years of sportbetting.

As much as I love horse racing, the handicapping and prep for a card is twice as tough as grinding $50 into $500 with a sportsbook over a weekend period.

This game is tougher then hell and I’ve noticed it’s sacred amongst the older crowd.

Nobody really wants to share intel or take a new kid under his wing.

I wish some folks on here would let me pick their brain and see a race from a few different angles.

Personally it’s the cocaine of sports betting for me.

Who’s got time for a 3 hour game. But maybe a family man like me gets in on a few races a day. But it’s always turns into more dont it. Every damn time.

Lastly I truly have respect for all of you here. Thank you for your posts, pick threads and tips.

Are you using software? You really need a tutor in the software you are using or in handicapping directly from Past Performances. It might be cheaper to pay for professional tutoring than floating through trial and error. With some software, you might find some people to help you some for free.

[geroge.burns99]

Originally Posted by btexpress

Picked up horse racing during Co Vid after 20 + years of sportbetting.

As much as I love horse racing, the handicapping and prep for a card is twice as tough as grinding $50 into $500 with a sportsbook over a weekend period.

This game is tougher then hell and I’ve noticed it’s sacred amongst the older crowd.

Nobody really wants to share intel or take a new kid under his wing.

I wish some folks on here would let me pick their brain and see a race from a few different angles.

Personally it’s the cocaine of sports betting for me.

Who’s got time for a 3 hour game. But maybe a family man like me gets in on a few races a day. But it’s always turns into more dont it. Every damn time.

Lastly I truly have respect for all of you here. Thank you for your posts, pick threads and tips.

this is the key here.......

I learned actually at age 19 ....running to OTB for a co-worker

seeing everyone there screaming for their horses got to me....

after that , I went on a learning binge books books books ...then the PC came and it started another binge of forums....

if you cant get away from the daily life grind ....it will be really tough

[ranchwest]

Originally Posted by geroge.burns99

this is the key here.......

I learned actually at age 19 ....running to OTB for a co-worker

seeing everyone there screaming for their horses got to me....

after that , I went on a learning binge books books books ...then the PC came and it started another binge of forums....

if you cant get away from the daily life grind ....it will be really tough

One key is that he realizes he has a problem.

I have been handicapping for a LONG time. Sometimes successfully. Not always successfully.

I recently discussed my process with a mentor. I found that I didn't have a process. I would start my handicapping SOMEWHERE. Then, I would do SOMETHING. And, eventually I would conclude I was finished and exit the "process" SOMEWHERE.

So, I have better organized my process and it has made a huge difference.

It may be that something that simple might help him a lot. Or maybe he needs to learn a focus. But I believe significant improvement in handicapping can come in a short time.