So this is how you do this huh?

Can’t believe I figured it out … or perhaps I haven’t.

Anyways, decided to give this a try after commenting over at http://theaspiringhorseplayer.wordpress.com/ … I’m always looking to talk horses, whether it is about handicapping, tough beats, lack of uniform rules and regs ( that’s worth at-least a months worth of comments ), pedigrees, or predictions. I soon learned by accident that talking about the days racing card gave me an edge when I was betting later on. Who knows why, I guess it goes back to what studying for a high school or college test, when I always would score better when I would read or write the material as oppose to just listening to lessons by the teacher or professor.

 I am only 25 years old so some may wonder my qualifications for talking about such things … here they are.  My uncle owned and trained standardbreds ( pacers and trotters ) for quite a few years, he no longer does so, but stays involved by handicapping. I spent sometime on the backstretch at Garden State, Freehold and the Meadowlands with his horses. I have a few friends in the business, ranging from an assistant trainer for a prominent mid-Atlantic racing stable, a blacksmith that works for the leading barns at Philly Park as well as a few major barns that ship in, including one that won the Breeders Cup Classic a few years ago. I also have a longtime childhood friend that helps gather folks together to form partnerships that invest in thoroughbreds.

 My background in handicapping is probably considered brief as far as years spent learning go but I have dove in head first over the last 5 years. From studying trainers intentions, to keeping track bias information daily to keep track profiles from distance to distance on excel spreadsheets. I also have spent 3 years now making my own speed figures for periods of time for various tracks. Most of my handicapping background is based around the mid-Atlantic circuit. Maryland, Pennsylvania, Delaware, New York and the short Colonial Downs meet in Virginia. My strongest opinions and best handicapping is done on the Maryland/Delaware circuit.

 I’ve been lucky enough to associate myself with someone who invest ( I use invest because people tend to listen for one more sentence as oppose to the reaction when gambling is used ) on sports for a living, though most of his day as well as most of his income is spent betting horses. This same person also made his way through the back stretch ranks, starting as a hot walker and making it all the way up the ladder to the point in which he had his own stable as a private trainer.

 I made an attempt ( not really by choice ) to handicap for a means of income a 3 years ago and was actually successful during that short time ( only a few months ), however it is a stress like no other and while at the time it was exhilarating and also gratifying, it took the fun out of it also. That isn’t to say I wouldn’t love to give it another go with a much bigger bankroll and margin for error, but what they say about mixing business and pleasure has never been so glaringly true as it is when you start investing for your major means of income.

 All of the additional work and studies that it takes to gain an edge on your pari-mutuel competition isn’t a hobby at that point, it is work.

 This probably should have been an “About Me” page and it might be soon, but for now it is my first comment.

Tags: Handicapping, Horse Racing, Laurel Park, Philly Park, Playing Horses, Speed Figures, The Meadowlands