| For people who are trying to make money by horse | | | | Many tracks now offer rolling doubles. |
| racing handicapping, the choice of a bet is almost as | | | | You have to ask yourself what the average bettor, |
| important as figuring out each horse's probability of | | | | looking at the program will pick. He or she will look at |
| winning. While we think of this business of making | | | | what the handicappers have picked and the |
| money when we handicap a horse race as a struggle | | | | selections at the bottom of the pages. Your best bet |
| to pick a winner, what we are really doing, if we are | | | | to make money, by keying on your horse in its race, |
| serious about making money, is picking a bet. There | | | | is to find a horse in another race that can be used in |
| is more than one factor to each bet. | | | | a multiple race bet with your horse. |
| First, of course, there is the actual horse(s) we will | | | | For instance, let's say you want to wheel your horse |
| be betting on. Next, though, is how to make the | | | | as the first leg of a pick three. In the second race it |
| most money when we do put our money in the | | | | looks like the selections at the bottom of the page |
| pools. Pools, payouts, probability, is what it is all about. | | | | pretty much agree with your handicapping so you |
| In most places, the win bet has the smallest takeout | | | | play those three horses as the second leg. But in the |
| by the track and the least amount of breakage. So in | | | | third leg, there is a horse that will go off at good |
| many cases, the win pool is the place where many | | | | odds, isn't picked on the program, but that you think |
| serious bettors invest their money. | | | | will win, or at least has a good chance of winning. |
| But if the horse you like to win the race is bet down | | | | That would be your horse for the third leg of the |
| below what you consider the fair value odds, how do | | | | bet. |
| you find value? You've spent time and effort | | | | Another way to make money of course, is by |
| handicapping a horse race and you'd like to get paid | | | | wheeling your favorite horse in a double. You need a |
| for that. There are many options available to you and | | | | race with no clear-cut favorites or no standout |
| some planning will help you to make the most of | | | | horses. In other words, you want a race that will |
| them. | | | | probably produce a double digit winner as the second |
| Firs of all, after you handicap the races, think ahead. | | | | leg in your double. If you can't find that situation, |
| If you have a horse that you think will win a race, | | | | then it is probably a good idea to pass the race. Even |
| but will go off at very short odds, look at the | | | | if the horse you like is almost a sure winner, settling |
| possibilities of multiple race wagers like a pick three, | | | | for less than fair odds is a one way trip to the poor |
| pick four, even a pick six. Don't forget doubles, too. | | | | house. |