| If you are trying to find some good long shot bets at | | | | puts an apprentice on it, they win at a 25% rate. That |
| the horse races, you're not alone. If you play the | | | | is a spot play. If you see such a horse going off at 3-1, |
| horses long enough you'll realize that long shots are | | | | it isn't a good bet. At that price it is simply a break |
| where the money is, but also very difficult to spot. | | | | even bet. The horses win one out of four races and |
| There are plenty of long shots that race every day. | | | | you will collect $8 for every $8 invested. |
| The problem is that if you bet all of them you will go | | | | If you see such a horse at 10-1, it is a fantastic bet. But |
| broke very quickly, because most of them deserve to | | | | before you go rushing to the window, there is |
| be long shots and have very little chance of winning. | | | | something else you must know. Does that trainer bet |
| Have you ever really studied long shots, though? Have | | | | his or her own horses or does someone else, either an |
| you taken the time to keep records of the long shots | | | | owner or some other insider who knows when the |
| that win at the tracks you play? Just keeping the past | | | | horse is well placed or not worth a bet? |
| performances and the results for each race can be a | | | | You have to be aware of betting stables and |
| great way to develop your own longshot system. | | | | non-betting stables. Betting stables would never let |
| The thing that you must understand about horse racing | | | | such a horse go off at 10-1 if it had such a great |
| handicapping, if you are going to really make money | | | | chance of wining. They would bet it down to the point |
| betting on horses, is that the same situations repeat | | | | where they were making a profit, but they realize they |
| over and over again. Handicapping is simply a matter | | | | can really pour the money on and make a bigger profit |
| of spotting those situations, call them spot plays if you | | | | by betting more. They might let it go to post at 5-1, |
| like. But obviously there is more to making money than | | | | realizing there is still an excellent margin. |
| just spotting those situations. You also need to know | | | | So along with knowing your spot plays, especially |
| when the crowd has undervalued one. | | | | those based on trainer moves, you have to know |
| You need to get fair value odds on the bet or it just | | | | what odds are good and when the deal is just too |
| isn't worth it. The odds that will make you a profit are | | | | good to be true. Don't forget, just because a horse is a |
| based on how often those spot plays win. Let's say | | | | long shot, it doesn't mean that no one with inside |
| that you have noticed that when a certain trainer | | | | information doesn't know that it has a good chance of |
| claims a horse and loses with it at the same class | | | | winning. |
| level in its first race for the barn, then moves it up and | | | | |