Learn One Horse Racing Handicapping Factor at a Time and Succeed at Horse Race Betting

Author: Bill Peterson


What are the keys to successful horse race betting? Many people would say, being able to handicap a horse race. Others would say it is simply a matter of managing money properly. There are also people who would argue that the only way to succeed at horse racing is to know someone on the inside.

Read on or watch the following video..

While each of these arguments has some validity, I think the best way to succeed when you bet on horses is to be able to handicap a horse race and put a fair value on each horse. Then, to shop for the best bet on the odds board. Finally, you must budget your money so that you don't get wiped out by a losing streak and do show a profit from your bets.

As for the luck, it is a basic ingredient in every life recipe. The only way to have it is to try to do something and see which way it falls. Sometimes you'll have good luck and other times, bad luck. I can tell you this however, it you don't try, you can't win. Also, when it comes to luck, aligning yourself, or partnering with successful people, like winning trainers and jockeys, is the best way to attract luck to yourself.

The handicapping factors that you must master in order to win at the horse races are...

1. Speed
2. Class
3. Pace
4. Form
5. Jockey and Trainer, also known as connections

The best way to learn each one of these is to focus on one at a time. Keep notes, so you will be able to chart your progress. Learn from your mistakes.

For example, start with one race track and keep accurate speed figures for horses in their last three races. Separate them by the class of the race. After a month or so you will know how important speed is, and how big an advantage in speed a horse needs to win10% of the time, 20% of the time, etc. After you have a good feeling for how speed figures in handicapping, move on to class. Use the purse of the horse's last three races to determine its class. Once again, keep accurate notes and you will know how class affects the results.

At this point you will know more than 90% of the people at the race track. They are the people you are competing against. If you don't believe it, just walk around and ask people in the crowd how big a factor speed and class are and listen to the explanations and answers you get. After a while, you'll be wishing you'd brought a shovel and had worn your hip boots.

As you master each factor you will see how the edge that a horse has computes into dollars in the pools. Then you will be able to spot a value bet. For instance, if you know class is more important than speed and yet a speed horse is over bet (this happens a lot) then you will know that a bet on the class horse is a good bargain. That is how you make money at horse race betting.
About the Author...
If you want to learn how a horse owner and insider handicaps just go to http://williewins.homestead.com/truecb.html and get the truth. Bill Peterson is a former horse race owner and professional handicapper. To see all Bill's horse racing material go to Horse Racing Handicapping videos and Articles, Bill's handicapping articles and videos.

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Should You Buy a Horse Racing Betting System Or Try to Teach Yourself How to Handicap

By Bill Peterson

I've been teaching people how to handicap horse races for years and one of the questions I often hear is, "Why should I have someone teach me how to handicap horse races?" That is a fair question and the answer is that I can help you to learn faster than if you try to discover all the things I have learned over the years. I don't have all the answers and I don't have an automatic system that makes pots of money, but I do know some things about horse racing that you may not know.

If you are trying to learn how to handicap and make money at the races, you have probably already discovered how difficult it is. You may be wondering if it will ever be easy. I can tell you from past experience that it never gets easy. The world keeps changing and what worked five years ago may not work today.

A great example of that is speed figures. Years ago, when they were unknown to all but a few mathematical geniuses, just working out speed figures and using them to spot winners was enough to make a profit. Now speed figs are common knowledge and you can no longer make money just betting the horse with the highest speed figures.

As I said earlier, things keep changing. There are trends that come and go and you have to be aware of them. One of the best ways is to keep notes, but before you start taking notes, you have to know what it is you're supposed to be watching, That is something you can figure out on your own or learn. If you buy a horse racing betting system, it should teach you some of the important factors in horse racing and how to use them in a meaningful way to pick more winners.

But let me warn you ahead of time, there are a lot of systems you can buy. Some are good and others are worthless. You have to be realistic in what you expect and realize that while someone can teach you horse racing factors and ways to look at races you may not have thought of, no one can make you a successful horse racing handicapper. That is something you alone can do and it takes hard work. How you go about doing it is completely up to you. You can try to teach yourself everything, or learn what you can from other people and then apply it in your own unique way.

If you want to learn how a horse owner and insider handicaps just go to http://williewins.homestead.com/truecb.html and get the truth. Bill Peterson is a former horse race owner and professional handicapper. To see all Bill's horse racing material go to Horse Racing Handicapping, Bill's handicapping store.

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Why Buy a Horse Racing Handicapping System When There Are Free Picks Online?

By Bill Peterson

You may have noticed that lately the internet is full of people who are giving away free horse racing picks. Isn't it a wonderful world? People are willing to tell you who will win a race or even many races and all you have to do is bet on those horses and get rich. If you believe that you are probably still waiting for the Easter Bunny and leave cookies and milk out on Christmas Eve.

Let's get real here. When you go to the race track and bet on horse races you are betting against the other people. You are trying to take their money away from them and they are trying to take yours. Does that sound more realistic? No one is really going to give you enough winners to make a profit and just remember, if they publish their picks on the internet for free, there will be a lot of desperate people who will bet on the horses and drive the odds and payoffs down.

If you want to make money betting on horses you have to work hard and smart. Every one who gets a good education pays for it, one way or another. That is why you should buy a horse racing handicapping system instead of trying to make money with freebies. If you were going to college or technical school, you would shop around first to find the right school for you. The same is true when you buy a horse racing handicapping system. You need one that suits your needs and personality.

What do I mean by a system that suits your personality? There are a lot of ways to wager on horse races and make a profit, but not every one of them will work for you. It depends on whether you want a lot of action or you are more laid back and want to play spot plays. Do you want to play exotics and try to hit big payoffs? Do you want to play winners and grind out a profit? How big is your bankroll and how steadily do you need to win?

These are all questions you should ask yourself before you buy any horse racing system. There are no shortcuts to success at the races. Everyone who eventually gets to the point where they are ahead has worked very hard to get there. If you want easy money I suggest you look elsewhere. On the other hand, if you are willing to apply yourself and have realistic expectations, then don't waste your time and money looking for someone who will help you out of the goodness of their hearts. Take control of your own life and learn how to picks winners for yourself.

If you want to learn how a horse owner and insider handicaps just go to http://williewins.homestead.com/truecb.html and get the truth. Bill Peterson is a former horse race owner and professional handicapper. To see all Bill's horse racing material go to Horse Racing Handicapping, Bill's handicapping store.

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Three Easy Steps to Horse Racing Handicapping Success

Author: Bill Peterson

Horse racing handicapping can be a lot of work and confusing if you don't do it in a systematic and orderly fashion. There are just three steps to horse racing handicapping success, but don't let that fool you. It doesn't mean it is easy to make money betting on horses. (Watch the video below or read on...)

You are competing with many people when you try to make a living handicapping races. Some of those people are very knowledgeable and skilled.

So this is really just an overview. If you want to go into it in more depth, I suggest you start by buying a good horse racing system and adapt it to suit your own needs as you learn how to handicap a race.

1. Step one is choosing the right source of information. Handicapping horse races
is a matter of comparing factors such as class, pace, speed, and connections (jockey and trainer). The past performances are where you will find this information. You can also use a program, but they usually do not list enough races or go into depth.

2. Comparing factors to rate each horse. When you compare speed, class, and the other factors, you create a hierarchy. The top class horse will be in position number one in the class column. The top speed horse will be in the top position for speed. I like to use their last three races, paying particular attention to horses who have done well in the last 30 days.

3. Once you have them arranged in order from the best to the worst, it is now time to price them. Place a fair odds value on each horse. For instance, a horse who has the highest class and second highest speed who finished well in a race two weeks ago is a horse with a very good chance of winning. IF you can get 2-1 odds or higher on such a horse, it is probably a good bet.

Shop around for value. The real trick to making money handicapping horse races is finding value bets. Value bets are horses who have a better chance of winning than their odds reflect. In other words, let's say the example of the horse we used above, the class horse with speed and recent form is going off at 2-1. We know from experience that they win almost half the time. That means out of 10 races the horse will win 4 times.

If it pays $6 each of those times, you collect a total of $24 in ten races, but a $2 bet in each of those races only equals a total of $20. Therefore, you will make a $4 profit for every $20 wagered. In other words, a 25% profit. In horse racing handicapping and betting, that is a good return.

These examples have been simplified and as I said before, it takes practice and a good system to beat the races, but if you keep these three steps in mind and work at it, it is not impossible.

If you want to learn how a horse owner and insider handicaps just go to http://williewins.homestead.com/truecb.html and get the truth. Bill Peterson is a former horse race owner and professional handicapper. To see all Bill's horse racing material go to Horse Racing Handicapping, Bill's handicapping store.



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Is There a Horse Racing Handicapping System for Sale That Really Works?

By Bill Peterson

The world is full of handicapping systems and people who will sell you a method to do almost anything. Since the internet came along it seems there are now people willing to teach you anything for a price. If you are trying to make money betting on horses, you may have asked yourself, "Is there a horse racing system for sale that really works?"

I'm not trying to be cute, but let me ask you this, what do you mean by, "Works?"

You see, there are thousands of horse racing handicapping methods for sale and some do help you to handicap a horse race and to pick more winners. But along with all the good ones, there are also a lot of duds out there. The quickest way to separate the wheat from the chaff, so to speak, is to look at what they promise you and also the guarantee they offer.

If they promise you a method of picking horses that is completely automatic and that makes money like a mint, you are probably being conned. As they say, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Who is going to sell you a method to make money that is ridiculously easy and automatic? They would just use it themselves and make a fortune. They usually have some wild story about why they are selling it.

The next problem with these horse racing handicapping systems for sale is that some have a good guarantee and others have a tricky guarantee. The best guarantee is a simple one. If you don't like it, ask for your money back. No questions asked, no forms to fill out, no hoops to jump through. Any other guarantee is worthless and instantly tells you that the horse racing system they are selling isn't very good.

The best system will help you to become a better handicapper by teaching you some things about picking winners that you didn't know. What really works when it comes to making money betting on horses is hard work and realistic expectations. I have been handicapping for decades and let me assure you, someone can teach you some very good things that become your tools for picking winners, but no one can show you how to instantly and automatically make a fortune at the track.

If you want to learn how a horse owner and insider handicaps just go to http://williewins.homestead.com/truecb.html and get the truth. Bill Peterson is a former horse race owner and professional handicapper. To see all Bill's horse racing material go to Horse Racing Handicapping, Bill's handicapping store.

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Relax in order to Handicap Horse Races Better Watch This...

One of the most important things a handicapper can do is to learn how to relax and unwind.  No matter how hard you work at handicapping horse races, at some point you have to stop and take a break.  I recommend that you learn how to meditate or at least go for walks outdoors and enjoy the benefits of nature.  If you can't do that, here is a relaxing video to watch....

Choosing the Right Horse Racing System For More Winners

Choosing the Right Horse Racing System For More Winners

By Bill Peterson

Many people wonder if they should try to learn how to handicap horse races using their own method or if they should just buy a horse racing system to improve their horse betting. The problem is that no system is going to automatically pick enough winners to make you rich (and remember you heard that from someone who sells systems). A good horse racing system will help you to become a much better handicapper and that is the real strength of any method you buy.

So the question isn't whether you should develop your own completely unique method of picking winners or go with someone else's system. The real question is which system can you buy that you can then customize to be your own unique method? You are an individual and have your own unique way of looking at life and the races. That is not a weakness, but a strength, but you have to know how to use it.

First of all, what kind of person are you? Do you want lots of fast action and many bets, or are you more laid back, would like to pick and choose best bets and can sit out races? That should determine which system is right for you. Do you want to play trifectas or other exotic bets, or are you strictly a win bettor? Once again, the answer will indicate which horse racing system is right for you.

I advise you to sit down and right down a few of the points I just mentioned and anything else that will help you to pick the right system. Then purchase a system from a reputable seller and study the method. Make small bets or start with paper bets until you understand it completely and learn how to use it. Only after watching it in action for many trial runs and understanding it completely should you then start to tweak it to suit your style.

The last step is the most important, but should only happen after you have completed the other steps. Then you will truly have your own unique horse racing system. The strength of the system will be that it works for you because you can fully understand it and it is adjusted to your personality. The best horse racing system in the world won't work for you if you are uncomfortable in it or have no faith in it.

One of the most important characteristics of any good horse player is confidence in the method that he or she is using and you will only achieve that with practice and understanding.

If you want to learn how a horse owner and insider handicaps just go to http://williewins.homestead.com/truecb.html and get the truth. Bill Peterson is a former horse race owner and professional handicapper. To see all Bill's horse racing material go to Horse Racing Handicapping, Bill's handicapping store.

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Cracking the Horse Racing Betting and Handicapping Nut

Cracking the Horse Racing Betting and Handicapping Nut

By Bill Peterson

Want to be a horse racing handicapper? Maybe you think that gambling for a living is easy, exciting, fun? That depends on your idea of fun and excitement, as for the easy, ain't nothing easy about handicapping horse races and picking winners that will make you a profit and pay your bills. There is a lot of truth in the old wheeze, "How do you make a small fortune betting on horses? Start with a big fortune."

Making enough money from your wagers to recoup the investment, as well as overcoming the vig. (the amount the track takes out), and then to pay yourself for your time and effort is what is called cracking the nut. Anyone who tells you that picking winners for a living isn't brain surgery is right, it's tougher. If you die on the operating table while the saw bones is working on your brain, the surgeon still gets paid. If your horse dies in the stretch and doesn't win, you don't get paid.

Tell your landlord that you don't have the money for the rent because Sparkplug got nipped at the wire and your next bet will be on Homeless Shelter in the 4th at Palooka Downs. That puts a lot of pressure on you as you look at your racing form and try to decide if that slight edge in speed that the 4 exhibited in its last race will overcome its lack of pace. Gee, Bill, you sure must have gotten out of bed on the wrong side or something. Who's a Mister Gloomy Gus this morning?

Okay, wise guy, don't believe me? Try it and see how long you have the opinion that betting on horses and making it pay is easy. I didn't say impossible, but I did say it isn't easy. Why does a guy who makes a living teaching people how to pick winners and who also runs a handicapping service start by trying to discourage potential customers?

For the same reason they tell you to look to your left and then your right on your first day of special forces training and then inform you that the guy you see on either side of you won't make it. If I had you all in a room I could do the same thing with my handicapping hopefuls, but I can't. I also don't want to teach you or sell you information and then have you tell me, you promised I could make a lot of money betting on horses. You might, but I didn't tell you that.

Cracking the nut is tough. It takes a special kind of person. If you don't make a fortune betting on horse races after giving it your best shot, don't feel bad. I can't play the cello and my dreams of being a rock star were quickly dashed when I picked up a guitar. I still sing in the shower and you can still be a recreational horse player.

I'll let you in on a little secret, being a recreational handicapper and horse player is a lot more fun than being a professional horse player. The latter is a high pressure situation. The suicide rate is very high for gamblers, so is the divorce rate and let's not even talk about the health issues most will face. Therefore, my recommendation for the people who subscribe to my service or buy my information is to start out with reasonable expectations. Tell yourself you are going to do it as long as it is fun and see how far you get with it. For a few people, it will mean going all the way and becoming pros, for others it will mean becoming a good handicapper and having fun on occasional outings to the local race track or OTB. Others may find they just don't want to put in the effort and will stick with playing their lucky numbers.

Whatever you decide, as long as you're honest with yourself and don't do anything destructive, you've made the right choice. As for cracking the nut, leave that to a few of us crazies and the squirrels.

To learn how a handicapping service can help you, go to http://Petersonspicks.com and see how Bill Peterson, a former race horse owner and professional handicapper, can help you to have more winners. To see all Bill's horse racing material go to Horse Racing Handicapping, Bill's handicapping store.

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Can Computers Pick Horse Racing Winners and Make a Profit?

By Bill Peterson

Because I am a professional horse racing handicapper and use computers to help me to pick winners for my handicapping service, I am often asked if computers can pick winners. People want to know if there is software that they can use to pick horses that they will then bet to make money. While computers are very powerful, they do have their limitations and yet, as any one who has played chess against an advanced chess program can tell you, computers can do amazing things.

Some of the top suppliers of horse racing information, the companies that sell the forms and past performances, have sophisticated software that they let their customers use when the customers buy the data from them to download into the programs. Make no mistake, these companies invest a small fortune in this software and if any one on earth knows how to manipulate horse racing related data, it is those companies.

The software programs are based on historical studies and statistics. Statistics are powerful and very useful for predicting the future, but they are not infallible. I use two computer programs, I call c-1 and c-2. Each is set to rely on handicapping factors that have historically predicted winners. I then take the information from those programs and reprocess it and generate the final product, c-1 picks as well as key horses and fit and ready horses.

Last weekend for instance, my top c-1 horses made a flat bet profit on win bets, but that was only after I tweaked the initial results from c-1 with my own anecdotal information and methods. C-2, on the other hand, is strictly a computer generated result with no human input once the algorithm is set. It produced a flat bet exacta box profit at Saratoga Harness track on Friday, June 25th and also hit a $197 trifecta at Harrah's Chester Racetrack on the same night. While the $197 trifecta was impressive, on the same night, with human input as well as the c-1 program, c-1 chose the $325 trifecta in the second race at Harrah's Chester.

The points I am trying to make are that to the best of my knowledge, no computer program has produced a flat bet profit over a long period of time, though some do produce profits over short periods of time, and while computer programs often help to pick many winners, human beings, assisted by computer programs will out perform those straight computer picks. Therefore, I recommend you always use or own judgment or a good handicapping service that uses both computer generated picks as well as human experience.

To learn how a handicapping service can help you, go to http://Petersonspicks.com and see how Bill Peterson, a former race horse owner and professional handicapper, can help you to have more winners. To see all Bill's horse racing material go to Horse Racing Handicapping, Bill's handicapping store.

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Using Jockey Trainer Combinations to Find Winners When Horse Racing Handicapping

By Bill Peterson

A lot has been written and said about using jockey and trainer combinations or statistics to find good bets. Almost everyone who handicaps horse races knows that there are some teams of jockeys and trainers that win a lot of races, or so it seems.

But just how important is that fact when you are handicapping horse races? For instance, let's say you see a great pair like Jose Lezcano and Anthony Dutrow, a jockey trainer combo with a 73% in the money record at Monmouth Park. How big of a factor is that?

The question that you really have to ask yourself is this, how much of an impact is that publicly known information having upon the odds? That is what really matters. Many racing programs and past performances now show those statistics so it is common knowledge and many people will jump all over it, or so it seems.

An example is the third race at Monmouth on September 10th. It was a five horse race and the team of Lezcano/Dutrow were sending a 5 year old Gelding, Lemons of Love, to post at odds of 7-2. The morning line on Lemons of Love was 3-1, so even though the connections looked pretty hot and the track handicapper thought highly of the horse, it was going off a bit over morning line odds. This isn't exactly a huge red flag waving in our faces, but it does cause us to take another look and to consider it a good bet.

The favorite in the race, a 6 year old gelding, Mr. Umphrey, was being sent postward by another good combination, Eddie Castro and Richard Dutrow, Jr. They have a strike rate of 58% in the money. Comparing the two rates of 58% to 75% we find that Lezcano/Dutrow are in the money 25% more often. So just looking at that one statistic, it is obvious that flat betting the Lezcano/Dutrow team will give you a 25% advantage. But now, here is the real key to finding value, Mr. Umphrey has a morning line figure of 9-5, but actually went to post at even money.

I realize this is a very simplistic example and I am outlining a simple process to find value, but it does make you think, doesn't it? The connections are in the money 25% more often. The horse is going off above morning line odds in a short field race. If you didn't have a lot of time to handicap the race and could only use the toteboard, morning line, and jockey/trainer stats, which horse would you bet on? The obvious answer is Lemons of Love.

For anyone who used that simple bit of logic, the payoff on the winner, Lemons of Love, was
$9.40 3.80 3.20. Also, because Mr. Umphrey finished fourth, the exotics paid well for such a short field.

Whenever you are having trouble picking winners, remember this simple example, take a step back and look at the very basics and see if there isn't some obvious bit of information that can be coupled with one other bit of information to point you toward a good bet.

The most consistent horse racing systems have to have the basics and a handicapper must understand the basics. I have been around horse racing for 50 years including as an owner. Without the basics the rest is not going to do any good. If you want to learn how a horse owner and insider handicaps just go to http://williewins.homestead.com/truecb.html and get the truth.

Bill Peterson is a former horse race owner and professional handicapper. He comes from a horse race handicapping family and as he puts it, "Horse Racing is in my blood." To see all Bill's horse racing material go to http://williewins.homestead.com/handicappingstore.html Bill's handicapping store.

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What it Takes to Make a Profit and a Living From Horse Racing Handicapping

By Bill Peterson

Are you one of the many people who is trying to make a living or supplement your income with horse racing?

Every week I have people email me asking if it is really possible to make a profit from horse racing and whether they can make a living at handicapping races. I try to answer them honestly and it probably costs me many sales. On the other hand, over the years, it has helped me to develop a following of people who would rather hear the truth than a sales pitch.

I have had years when I made a profit from horse racing. It was work, but I kept good records and knew at the end of the year that I had indeed made money. So to answer the question, is it possible to make a profit from horse racing handicapping, the answer is, yes. But, that doesn't mean that you can do it, it only means that I did it. I like to tell people that I am not the sharpest tack in the box, so I believe that many other people can and probably do make a profit at the horse races.

But like I said, I don't know if you can do it, that depends on many factors. First of all, let me assure you, that if you are strapped for cash and trying to make money at the races, it will be some tough sledding. Risking money you can't afford to lose is almost certain to cause you more problems and is not a sound plan to solve your money problems. Scared money doesn't win.

On the other hand, if you can put aside a bankroll, school yourself with a few good systems and practice using them, then you may be able to show a profit. But, once again, there is a difference between making a profit and making a living. How much money do you need? How much money do you have to bankroll your handicapping project?

While things seldom work out as easily or cleanly in real life as they do on paper, I always advise people to sit down first and outline their goals, especially financial goals. The first question to be answered is, how much do you have in your bankroll? Secondly, how much do you want to make? Finally, how much will you have to wager per day, week, month, year, to achieve your goal with a 10% profit?

That 10% is arbitrary, I realize that, but it is a starting figure. If you can make 10% profit over the long haul from your bets at the horse races, you're doing good. If you can show a better profit ratio, my hat is off to you. So let's say you are extremely good at handicapping horse races and can make a profit of 20% on all your wagers over time.

To make a yearly figure of $10,000, hardly enough to support a person in the United States, unless you like the taste of cat food and don't mind keeping your belongings in a shopping cart, then you will have to make $50,000 worth of bets in a year to reach that goal of $10,000. You can plug in your own numbers, I am just trying to show the process that I recommend you use to decide how realistic your goals are.

My own recommendation is that you first find a good system and learn how to use it making small bets that you can afford. Once you have a good idea of what you can do, then sit down and make a plan on paper using a similar process.

The most consistent horse racing systems have to have the basics and a handicapper must understand the basics. I have been around horse racing for 50 years including as an owner. Without the basics the rest is not going to do any good. If you want to learn how a horse owner and insider handicaps just go to http://williewins.homestead.com/truecb.html and get the truth.

Bill Peterson is a former horse race owner and professional handicapper. He comes from a horse race handicapping family and as he puts it, "Horse Racing is in my blood." To see all Bill's horse racing material go to http://williewins.homestead.com/handicappingstore.html Bill's handicapping store.

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Which Kind of Horse Racing System Should I Use to Make a Consistent Profit

By Bill Peterson

Every day, millions of people around the world watch and bet on horse races to make a profit. That is the truth. We love it as a spectator sport, the thrill of watching the ups and downs of great horses like Big Brown and Curlin, but we also love the fact that if we do it right, we can make money betting on the sport of kings.

But like many things in life it takes a systematic approach. A good horse racing system can pay for itself many times over, once you've customized it a little to suit your taste and style. But there are so many kinds of systems out there, how do you know which one is right for you?

Let's break it down into two categories and two kinds of bets. Of course this is a very simplistic approach but I am going to use it to demonstrate the right thought process that you can use to find the right system from the thousands that are available.

The two major categories are...

1. Medium to short priced contenders
2. Long shots

The two major kinds of systems are...

1. Situational
2. Fundamental

Categories...
Using a system to find short to medium priced horses will give you lots of action because there are contenders in this group in almost any race. It will also usually mean shorter losing streaks because those horses win more often.

Long shots are fewer and farther between because if they are a long shot, there is usually a very good reason, however, there are still some good long shot bets to be found.

Kinds...
Situational systems help you to find a particular situation in a race and then to bet the horse(s) who fills the conditions of the situation. They are often called spot plays and easily found with very little judgment or thought other than whether they meet the requirements of the system.

Fundamental systems give you the basics to compare all runners and then make decisions based on the properties that each contender exhibits. They require more independent thought and judgment on the pat of the user and therefore are more subject to error, but also more flexible and allow you to develop your own style.

Conclusions...
Given the basic criteria above, and I realize this is very simplistic, it is up to you to decide which kind of handicapping system you can work with. Do you require a lot of action? Do you want something to be automatic or do you want to be able to develop your own decision making skills? It really comes down to your own personality and knowing yourself and your strengths and weaknesses. The rest is just a matter of looking at the systems that are available and picking a good one.

The most consistent horse racing systems have to have the basics and a handicapper must understand the basics. I have been around horse racing for 50 years including as an owner. Without the basics the rest is not going to do any good. If you want to learn how a horse owner and insider handicaps just go to http://williewins.homestead.com/truecb.html and get the truth.

Bill Peterson is a former horse race owner and professional handicapper. He comes from a horse race handicapping family and as he puts it, "Horse Racing is in my blood." To see all Bill's horse racing material go to http://williewins.homestead.com/handicappingstore.html Bill's handicapping store.

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Horse Racing Betting System to Beat the Favorite and Have Lots of Action and Fun

By Bill Peterson

Many people have asked me if there is a way to beat the odds and win at horse racing without handicapping the races. It is hard enough to beat the races with a good methodology and knowledge of the horses so just winning by luck or with a betting system is pretty hard. But I will try to outline a simple way to help you to improve your chances, though there are no guarantees and this should just be considered for entertainment.

In other words, you probably won't get rich with this method, but maybe you'll come out a few bucks ahead or at least lose less in the long run and have some fun picking some winners without a lot of reading and book work. If you like action this is a good way to play a lot of races.

The whole idea of making a profit at the race track is to beat the crowd and consequently, the favorite of the crowd, since that is where most of the money is wagered. Favorites win about 30-35% of the time, so in about 2 out of 3 races the favorite loses and the crowd's money is distributed among the people who backed one of the other horses (obviously the one that won).

It might help you to know the odds of one of the other horses winning. The second favorite (the horse at the second lowest odds) usually wins about 20% of the time. The third favorite a little less and so forth. Of course it matters how many horses are entered in the race, but you get the idea. If you just randomly bet on the horse with the second lowest odds in every race in the course of enough races to make a statistically valid sample, you'll win about 20% of the time. But of course, as usual, between the track's takeout and breakage, you'll wind up losing in the end.

A lot of people know that the favorite wins about a third of the time, but did you know that the odds on the favorite determine just how likely it is in win? All favorites do not have an equal chance of winning. The lower the odds, the more likely a horse is to win. So a favorite at low odds of say, 3-5 is much more likely to win than a favorite at 5-2. My advice, therefore, is to beat the favorite that is less likely to win.

For instance, let's say there is a race with a favorite at 5-2, and the second favorite is at 7-2 and the third favorite is at 7-2 and the fourth favorite is at 9-2. The favorite in the race has less than a third of a chance of winning so one of those other horses is likely to win, right? A horse going off at 7-2 will pay a nice mutuel of $9 for every two dollars bet on that runner. A horse at 9-2 will pay $11. That means that of the next three horses in the race who have a chance to win, the lowest payoff is $9. You could make a $2 bet on each of those three horses and bet against the lukewarm favorite and have an excellent chance of winning. If one of the horses at 7-2 wins you'll get $9. You will have spent $6 to back the three horses so your profit is 50% above your costs for the bets. On top of that, you bet against a horse that has less than a 30% chance of winning!

Think about that, you get a 50% profit and the horse you are betting against is likely to lose. Obviously another horse you haven't bet on could win the race, but you have covered the most likely winners with your bet. The key to this betting strategy is to have more ways to win than to lose and betting on three horses with odds almost as good as the one horse you are betting against certainly tips the scales in your favor.

But there is more to it than that because you can tip the scales a little more in your favor. I recommend you go to an otb or racebook where there are many tracks being simulcast. Look at the odds boards and find races with a short field of six or seven horses or less where the favorite is going off at over 2-1 odds. Wait until it is almost post time and bet on the next two or three horses at the shortest odds to the favorite.

I want to stress that this is not a get rich quick scheme and not guaranteed to make money. It is meant for recreational betting and fun only. Try it on paper first if you like. But if you like a lot of action and don't want to spend hours handicapping, this method will have you cashing tickets all day, simply by reading the toteboard and knowing that the favorite is likely to lose. Not only that, but when you bet on a race you'll have several chances of winning in each race and you will have beat the crowd and the favorite. This is just one of the simpler ways that I have taught people to enjoy horseracing and how to use a good system to bet.

The most consistent horse racing systems have to have the basics and a handicapper must understand the basics. I have been around horse racing for 50 years including as an owner. Without the basics the rest is not going to do any good. If you want to learn how a horse owner and insider handicaps just go to http://williewins.homestead.com/truecb.html and get the truth.

Bill Peterson is a former horse race owner and professional handicapper. He comes from a horse race handicapping family and as he puts it, "Horse Racing is in my blood." To see all Bill's horse racing material go to http://williewins.homestead.com/handicappingstore.html, Bill's handicapping store.

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Horse Racing Handicapping Using Paths and Speed Points

By Bill Peterson

Here is an interesting angle to consider in your horse racing handicapping that you may have never thought of before. In harness racing, especially on half mile tracks, when a horse is denied the rail and forced to race in the two path or "second over," it has to race much farther than the horses running on the rail and it usually means the race is lost for that one.

Thoroughbreds also race in different paths and that can mean the difference between winning and losing. Some services provide information on track biases and where the first three finishers of most races run, in other words whether they are on the rail, in the second path, or third path, etc. While being outside of the rail path means less in thoroughbred racing, it is still important, more so in some races at certain distances and at certain tracks.

First it is a good idea to know where most runners score from at each distance at the track(s) you usually play. Once you know that information, the next thing is to try to determine where each horse in a race will run. For instance, in a long race that starts near the turn, many times the outside post positions rarely win because horses get hung out wide going into the turn. Only horses that start incredibly slowly and therefore wind up easily slipping over to the rail behind the pack, or horses with blinding early speed that shoot over to the rail ahead of the pack, have a chance of getting on the rail path, which we all know is the shortest distance to the winners circle.

But how do you know which part of the track your horse will run on? How do you know which path it will be able to get to and score from? The answer is, no one knows for sure and it is hard to calculate, but not impossible to have a rough idea. The most important part is, when you're trying to pick winners at the horse track, finding a horse that may run into traffic problems during the race and avoiding that scenario can greatly improve your horse racing handicapping.

The way to do that is to read each horse's speed points and fractional times and try to determine where each runner will be at each stage of the race. For instance, if there are three horses who figure to run right behind the leader, and you like the horse with the outside post position of the three, then you can probably figure the other two horses will be between your horse and the rail. In other words, it will run from the three path.

That isn't so bad as long as there will only be two horses in front of it, but if you like a horse but figure it will be kept off the rail and have to contend with a wall of horses in front of it, then you are depending upon some racing luck and the jockey finding an opening as they turn into the stretch. Many times, these runners encounter problems and wind up finishing in the money but missing the win. The larger the field the more tactical speed becomes important.

Try handicapping a few races and figuring which path each horse will be in and which ones will encounter problems or have to take up in the stretch or turn and you may be amazed at how good you are at spotting trouble and avoiding those bets. Avoid a few bad bets a day and you will find you are soon making a profit from the horse races.

Here is an interesting angle to consider in your horse racing handicapping that you may have never thought of before. In harness racing, especially on half mile tracks, when a horse is denied the rail and forced to race in the two path or "second over," it has to race much farther than the horses running on the rail and it usually means the race is lost for that one.

Thoroughbreds also race in different paths and that can mean the difference between winning and losing. Some services provide information on track biases and where the first three finishers of most races run, in other words whether they are on the rail, in the second path, or third path, etc. While being outside of the rail path means less in thoroughbred racing, it is still important, more so in some races at certain distances and at certain tracks.

First it is a good idea to know where most runners score from at each distance at the track(s) you usually play. Once you know that information, the next thing is to try to determine where each horse in a race will run. For instance, in a long race that starts near the turn, many times the outside post positions rarely win because horses get hung out wide going into the turn. Only horses that start incredibly slowly and therefore wind up easily slipping over to the rail behind the pack, or horses with blinding early speed that shoot over to the rail ahead of the pack, have a chance of getting on the rail path, which we all know is the shortest distance to the winners circle.

But how do you know which part of the track your horse will run on? How do you know which path it will be able to get to and score from? The answer is, no one knows for sure and it is hard to calculate, but not impossible to have a rough idea. The most important part is, when you're trying to pick winners at the horse track, finding a horse that may run into traffic problems during the race and avoiding that scenario can greatly improve your horse racing handicapping.

The way to do that is to read each horse's speed points and fractional times and try to determine where each runner will be at each stage of the race. For instance, if there are three horses who figure to run right behind the leader, and you like the horse with the outside post position of the three, then you can probably figure the other two horses will be between your horse and the rail. In other words, it will run from the three path.

That isn't so bad as long as there will only be two horses in front of it, but if you like a horse and figure it will be kept off the rail and have to contend with a wall of horses in front of it, then you are depending upon some racing luck and the jockey finding an opening as they turn into the stretch. Many times, these runners encounter problems and wind up finishing in the money but missing the win. The larger the field the more tactical speed becomes important.

Try handicapping a few races and figuring which path each horse will be in and which ones will encounter problems or have to take up in the stretch or turn and you may be amazed at how good you are at spotting trouble and avoiding those bets. Avoid a few bad bets a day and you will find you are soon making a profit from the horse races.

The most consistent horse racing systems have to have the basics and a handicapper must understand the basics. I have been around horse racing for 50 years including as an owner. Without the basics the rest is not going to do any good. If you want to learn how a horse owner and insider handicaps just go to http://williewins.homestead.com/truecb.html and get the truth.

Bill Peterson is a former horse race owner and professional handicapper. He comes from a horse race handicapping family and as he puts it, "Horse Racing is in my blood." To see all Bill's horse racing material go to http://williewins.homestead.com/handicappingstore.html, Bill's handicapping store.

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Two Keys to Winning Long Shot Bets When Handicapping Horse Races

By Bill Peterson

Winning long shots is a great thrill and, of course, very profitable as long as you don't spend more money hitting the long shot than the bet pays. The key to making money off wagers on long priced horses is to do it selectively. Just wagering on a horse because it is a long shot won't result in long term profits.

So a few guidelines to eliminate bad bets and to find good ones will help to increase profits. In order to understand what makes a good longshot bet, let's look at the competition first.

Key #1. Large fields reduce your chances of winning due to racing luck, traffic problems, and unknown factors.

The more horses there are in a race, the greater the possibility that any horse you bet on, whether a favorite, longshot, or something in between, will run into traffic. You must also take into account racing luck. Racing luck means all those little intangible things, like stumbling, getting bumped, having to dodge a fallen horse, etc, that can happen when there are more horses in a race. Then there are the unknown factors. As you handicap a horse race you look at all the information available for each runner. Sometimes you might miss something or it just isn't in print, but is still a vital factor. The more horses, the more the chances of a bit of information slipping by you and costing you the win.

Key #2. Lightning does strikes twice, or the old "two thing."

The second key is about something happening twice. They say lightning never strikes the same place twice, but that isn't true. Actually lightning often strikes the same place twice because there was something, like an iron deposit in the ground, that made it strike in the first place, which is sort of why the old "two thing," works. I call it the two thing because I've noticed that if something happens once, it will often happen again.

Applying this key to longshots, if a horse has won at the distance, on the same surface, and the same level of competition before, I think it makes it a better wager. So one of the keys to finding a good long shot bet is to find a horse that has done what you are asking of it today. It is that simple. You will occasionally even find that the only horse in the field that has actually done all that is a long shot. Many favorites have never demonstrated the ability to win at the distance and level of competition, and yet people bet them down to short odds.

To sum it up, when looking for good longshot bets, two keys to winning are, 1. avoid large fields, and 2. look for a runner who has proven that it can succeed under similar conditions.

Longshots are the best bets when you know how to rate them with Bill's Longshot Rater at http://williewins.homestead.com - Bill has been around Horseracing for 50 years and knows how to spot a good bet and loves to teach others. He is a former horse race owner and professional handicapper. He comes from a horse race handicapping family and as he puts it, "Horse Racing is in my blood." To see all Bill's horse racing material go to http://williewins.homestead.com/handicappingstore.html - Bill's handicapping store.

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Horse Racing Tip Number 3, Using Weight As a Handicapping Factor When Picking Winners

By Bill Peterson

Weight as a handicapping factor is one of the most misunderstood tools a horse player can use when picking winning bets. The problem is that there are so many factors now available to people who are trying to make sense of the races.

Years ago, when punters were trying to pick a "good one," they had very little information available to them. They could read who the trainer and jockey was and perhaps whether the horse had won its last races, as well as how much weight the racing secretary had assigned to the runner, but there wasn't anywhere near as much horse data available as there in now.

For instance, there was no such thing as speed points or speed figures, or even track models. Therefore, weight was considered an important tool to find a winner. As more information became available, weight was forgotten as a handicapping tool.

One of the big problems is that no one ever really knew how much weight affected a horse's performance. The old saying is, "Enough weight will stop an elephant." But usually, the difference in weight that each runner will carry is only a matter of a few pounds. It just doesn't seem that important.

But I still look at the assigned weights and use that information. The way I use that information is to understand which horse fits the conditions of the race the best and also how the racing secretary handicapped the runners. Racing secretaries are experts at comparing horses and therefore, when they assign weights, they are letting you know what each horse's chances are of winning the race.

So the next time you handicap a race, look at the weights and read the conditions and see why each horse is carrying its assigned weight. Think of what the racing secretary is telling you about each horse. The racing secretary is really helping you to handicap the race and he or she is an expert well versed in each animal's running lines, don't pass up the chance to use that expertise to your own advantage.

The most consistent horse racing systems have to have the basics and a handicapper must understand the basics. I have been around horse racing for 50 years including as an owner. Without the basics the rest is not going to do any good. If you want to learn how a horse owner and insider handicaps just go to http://williewins.homestead.com/truecb.html and get the truth.

Bill Peterson is a former horse race owner and professional handicapper. He comes from a horse race handicapping family and as he puts it, "Horse Racing is in my blood." To see all Bill's horse racing material go to http://williewins.homestead.com/handicappingstore.html, Bill's handicapping store.

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