I suck at betting

[Srotagtbs]

I will admit that my betting is AWFUL. I consider myself a decent handicapper, but my betting/managing my bankroll BLOWS. I am well aware that becoming a better bettor involves losing and learning from those losses. My track to bet is Arlington, and I know from experience not to bet any 2 YO race at 4.5 Furlongs and any race that has a Frank Kirby running (he throws me for a loop with all his horses. I NEVER know how his horses will run). Also, set a limit, don't go overboard on any 1 race no matter how strong the opinion.

Anyone have any other advice, or guidelines, to help me correct my betting flaws?

[Vtexposfan]

Exacta boxes. Hedge it with a W/P on the one you really like.

[Vince P]

I will admit that my betting is AWFUL. I consider myself a decent handicapper, but my betting/managing my bankroll BLOWS. I am well aware that becoming a better bettor involves losing and learning from those losses. My track to bet is Arlington, and I know from experience not to bet any 2 YO race at 4.5 Furlongs and any race that has a Frank Kirby running (he throws me for a loop with all his horses. I NEVER know how his horses will run). Also, set a limit, don't go overboard on any 1 race no matter how strong the opinion.

Anyone have any other advice, or guidelines, to help me correct my betting flaws?

Have you ever considered getting to know jockeys and/or stewards on a first name basis?

Vince P

[Crazykid]

just go back to what you use to do in the old days when you were riding man o war. do all the jockies
before the race and they will give you the winners.

[Mr Purple]

do more dbls in a two by two format--4 or 8 bucks a double race --should at least have a profit day or two during the week-good luck

[Masterp]

One thing I like to do when things are not going perfectly or my bankroll has taken a hit, is a show parlay. They are fun, you have a high percentage of and if you hit a few, you are up to some decent size bets. And on big days when the pools are terrific, you can make some good money on a 3, 4 or 5 race parlay.

I usually start may show parlays at $40 or $50 and watch it grow.

[Joel]

I will admit that my betting is AWFUL. I consider myself a decent handicapper, but my betting/managing my bankroll BLOWS. I am well aware that becoming a better bettor involves losing and learning from those losses. My track to bet is Arlington, and I know from experience not to bet any 2 YO race at 4.5 Furlongs and any race that has a Frank Kirby running (he throws me for a loop with all his horses. I NEVER know how his horses will run). Also, set a limit, don't go overboard on any 1 race no matter how strong the opinion.

Anyone have any other advice, or guidelines, to help me correct my betting flaws?

I sucked at betting on horses, too..so I "discovered" Poker..a game I can actually win at..

[Friautz]

I'm also playing some Arlington and I'm doing not bad.
Play no cheap claimings, no maiden claimings and no races with many first time straters.
Races with one selection: win, win parlays,
Races with 2 selections: exbox or longshot to win
Races with 3 selections: tribox or longshot to win
The Arlington turf can be tricky after rain, I only bet when it's firm or good.

[Syncopate]

Being a win bettor, I like to use 1 unit ( or multiple ) to win & then 1 1/2 ( or multiple to place as insurance. So if I put $20 on a horse ( 8 win & 12 place ) & if it runs second, I'll at least get my money back & live to fight on another race. You can always make back profits. Once principal is gone, it's gone forever.

[Rail-man]

Unless you are extremely disciplined I think all players have a problem with Good Money-Mngt of their playing bankroll. Some things I've done in the past with success to improve my Money-Mngt are as follows below.

1st: Write Down All Bets before Playing, if a Bet is not written down then Dont Bet.

2nd: Decrease # of Bets but Increase Bankroll, this means less betting action & more profit when you Cash a Winning Ticket after careful pre-race handicapping, of course the 1st rule of writing all bets down still apply. A good rule of thumb is instead of making 10 bets with $100, make 5 bets with $200.

3rd: Watch Racing Replays for a week or two without betting, it will force you to become a trip handicapper without realizing it. When you notice a horse coming back to a race after noticing he/she had trouble in their last race, bet that horse. Also the very nature of watching race replays can gradually become addictive & often you will find yourself becoming more patient & betting less while still getting your action fix.