What do you keep in your betting journal?

[guckers]

Who uses a betting journal and what do you document?

[Dave Schwartz]

Like a lot of my users, our system captures every horse in every race we bet. Not just the bets, but the ones we don't bet.

This allows us to run a "demographics report," which details the tracks, surfaces, distances, day of week, month of year, field size, age, track condition, etc.

We also have the capability of (say) capturing the races where we lost to a low-priced horse (or won with such a horse), filter those horses back into the system and measure what factors would have taken the horse up (or down) a notch or two.

In short, we capture EVERYTHING and, most important, we can get at the data in meaningful ways.

Such is the product called The HorseStreet Handicapper.


Regards,
Dave Schwartz

[johnhannibalsmith]

Originally Posted by guckers

Who uses a betting journal and what do you document?

I do some scribbling, but I rarely find myself actually decoding the scribbles later. More often than not, just the action of making the note on paper will etch it in the memory.

For horses I'm not familiar with (usually first time racing at the track), I try to keep some notes of paddock appearance and behavior as well as on-track impressions during post parade/warm-up. After a race or two, I can usually maintain the information on most horses without making a scribble. Something that looks like a stark contrast from the memory etching will get a note, as will suspicion of a pattern that may seem to be emerging so I don't misremember the "stage" of a suspected pattern.

If I spot a trip or effort (usually a negative connotation) from a rider that stands out, I usually mark it somewhere to help me remember. If a horse gets a perfect trip/ride and has no excuse for losing, but does so anyway, I want to remember that. A jock that is a bad fit for a horse, in my opinion, is one I usually try to make sure I remember - the horse that acts like he wants to get brave on the lead but keeps getting one of those "Boston Strangler" professionals - I want to remember that opinion when someone gets the mount that probably wasn't selected for his notoriety at forcing every horse to rate.

Betting patterns. A horse that takes action in a way that seems peculiar catches my interest. A single horse in the second leg taking up too much of an irregularly sized double pool would be of interest. A few like that - something that may pan out now, but may be better remembered on another day if it doesn't pan out for the interested party today. They don't always have the stomach to get run over twice. You'll hear plenty of stories of the guy that bet the hell out of his last time, but only bet a few hundred today when he won. Woe is him, but thanks for the tipoff and the better price today.

Just a few examples off the top of my head that may help me betting or otherwise and usually can't be found in a single source.

[windoor]

I practically wrote a book.

Every detail of what I have discovered over the last 40 years is in there in one form or another.

My thoughts on what it takes to beat this game, the eighteen factors that make up all of my spot plays. A detailed explanation of the "Seven" and what order they should be used in, my form cycle tests, some chapters on losing streaks and mental fortitude. Definitions of all the acronyms I use for the Key, Primary, and Secondary factor list. The numbers have hinges and the true meaning behind the phrase. A little drivel about philosophies and how to manage your faults. A lot of half finished ideas and projects.

One day, my wife will put it on E-Bay.

I wonder if anyone will bid on it?


Windoor

[maddog42]

Originally Posted by windoor

I practically wrote a book.

Every detail of what I have discovered over the last 40 years is in there in one form or another.

My thoughts on what it takes to beat this game, the eighteen factors that make up all of my spot plays. A detailed explanation of the "Seven" and what order they should be used in, my form cycle tests, some chapters on losing streaks and mental fortitude. Definitions of all the acronyms I use for the Key, Primary, and Secondary factor list. The numbers have hinges and the true meaning behind the phrase. A little drivel about philosophies and how to manage your faults. A lot of half finished ideas and projects.

One day, my wife will put it on E-Bay.

I wonder if anyone will bid on it?


Windoor

I have about a dozen spiral bound notebooks, filled with experiments, form cycle tests, 3rd fraction experiments, class drops and drivel. Most of them were unsuccessful, but you have to go down a lot of dead ends to come up with 1 good idea. I lost my Derby research from last year and it is still bugging me. I think someone stole it at the casino. Who steals a spiral notebook at a
casino racebook? Communists?!!!

[lamboguy]

i keep track of horse coming out of certain races. and i follow workouts on as many horses that haven't had their first career start. i find out whom the horses worked with, where the horses were positioned during the work, in front or behind horses getting dirt in their faces and see how they react during the work.
if thats not enough, i try to find out how much water the horse drank after the work and if the horse attacked their feed tubs, or if they didn't eat up.

[PhantomOnTour]

Originally Posted by lamboguy

i keep track of horse coming out of certain races. and i follow workouts on as many horses that haven't had their first career start. i find out whom the horses worked with, where the horses were positioned during the work, in front or behind horses getting dirt in their faces and see how they react during the work.
if thats not enough, i try to find out how much water the horse drank after the work and if the horse attacked their feed tubs, or if they didn't eat up.

That's the type of info the general public doesn't have

[Shelby]

Originally Posted by lamboguy

i keep track of horse coming out of certain races. and i follow workouts on as many horses that haven't had their first career start. i find out whom the horses worked with, where the horses were positioned during the work, in front or behind horses getting dirt in their faces and see how they react during the work.
if thats not enough, i try to find out how much water the horse drank after the work and if the horse attacked their feed tubs, or if they didn't eat up.

Is it bad if the horse drinks a lot of water afterwards?

[lamboguy]

Originally Posted by Shelby

Is it bad if the horse drinks a lot of water afterwards?

if they drink to much, it would mean that they are not yet at peak fitness. a half tub is usually about what you want to see. some horses don't get that much out of their works, and get a lot when they run a race.

there is a lot more to this though, knowing how much water they drink and how fast they go does not totally equate to picking the winner in the afternoon. the reactions to other horses and the way they handle the rail are pretty important. some horses are afraid of the rail, and those are the type that usually cannot win from inside post positions and need to draw the outside to get their best run.

[Dan Montilion]

Originally Posted by guckers

Who uses a betting journal and what do you document?

If you mean what do I note in my wagering log. Date, track, Sprint, route, surface, age, sex, Msw, Mcl, conditioned claimers, open claimers, Alw, Stake/hcp of the race. For the specific horse I note the trainer. All categories will allow one to find strengths and weakness. However, the trainer portion of this exercise has been the best for myself for over 20 years. There are simply some barns that I am in tune with and others that have me confused to the point I avoid them.

[Shelby]

Originally Posted by lamboguy

if they drink to much, it would mean that they are not yet at peak fitness. a half tub is usually about what you want to see. some horses don't get that much out of their works, and get a lot when they run a race.

there is a lot more to this though, knowing how much water they drink and how fast they go does not totally equate to picking the winner in the afternoon. the reactions to other horses and the way they handle the rail are pretty important. some horses are afraid of the rail, and those are the type that usually cannot win from inside post positions and need to draw the outside to get their best run.

Interesting. I learn something new here every day

I've noticed a couple of horses that are running at Oaklawn that are afraid of the shadows from the grandstand as they near the finish line. One went way way wide.

[tbwinner]

I need to start getting better.

Right now I have it separated by track, types of bets, and daily P/L. But the only way I keep track of the 1st two is if I'm betting via ADW. On the other days, which are the majority of my days, at the track I only track daily P/L as well as any notes on memorable trips(good/bad notes), rides, odd occurrences.

I do the same as johnhannibalsmith, I rarely find myself going back through it except the raw numbers. I mainly jot it down to make a mental note of what happened that day.

[horses4courses]

For years, I kept an annual diary in my jacket pocket tracking bets on a daily basis.
My bets were all in cash in those days, through race books here in Lake Tahoe.
I've always been a small player, betting within my means with a family to raise.
You have to know where you stand, though, or the game is pointless.
In the past ten years, I have had six winning ones, and four losers.
The winnings outweigh the losses, and last year should have been a winner but for a crappy last quarter.


As I changed over to in-home computer play (the past 5 years), I initially kept track of bets in my computer.
I found it easier, though, to revert back to a pen and paper binder process, which I got back to last year.

I generally have 5-8 different play situations that I track individually.
They change throughout the year with different meets.
Occasionally, one goes south for a while, so I ease off on it.
That is rare, though, as events tend to even out over time.

TwinSpires lists a breakdown of tracks and bet types for your wagering.
I have found that useful, and missed it when I bet for a while with Xpressbet.

The list I keep in my binder is simple.
A monthly breakdown of all deposits and withdrawals from ADWs, and a daily listing of any cash bets I might make.
I keep a tally of my play categories, and their current progress.

The first quarter this year I made a whopping $126 on my action....woohoo!
Plus, I have $46 in future wagers on the KY Derby.
I'll never get rich playing horses (unless I hit it big at the HPWS), and I realize that.
It's a slightly profitable past time for me that I'll always enjoy.

Good luck!

[Dave Schwartz]

One day, my wife will put it on E-Bay.

I wonder if anyone will bid on it?

Windoor,

I can tell you that I would be interested in a copy.

I make it a point to listen to everyone who says they are doing well and sounds like a well-grounded handicapper. (That describes you.)

If that necessitates spending a little money, so be it. Simply the cost of doing business and staying ahead of the curve.

You just let me know when it is available and I will consider the purchase.


Regards,
Dave Schwartz

[thaskalos]

Originally Posted by Dave Schwartz

Windoor,

I can tell you that I would be interested in a copy.

I make it a point to listen to everyone who says they are doing well and sounds like a well-grounded handicapper. (That describes you.)

If that necessitates spending a little money, so be it. Simply the cost of doing business and staying ahead of the curve.

You just let me know when it is available and I will consider the purchase.


Regards,
Dave Schwartz

I had the exact same thought, Dave...

But I don't see the sense in getting into a bidding duel...

Why not allow one to pick this up as inexpensively as possible...and then he can share a photocopy with the other.