(Although this page in a remnant of our previous Handicapping Service,
we have left it in place as it explains our Philosophy.)

Winning Philosophy 101
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Stop Whining and Start Winning

1. The quickest and surest way to lose money at the track is to bet every race. There are usually only a handful of races that are "bet-able" on every race card. Most Handicappers and professional horseplayers agree the secret to success at the track is "patience" & "discipline".
• Resist the urge to lay down your cash on any race in which your convictions on a certain horse are less than complete.
• A player who hopes to "win" at the track must bet on the few races than he can evaluate clearly and bet with confidence.
• If you absolutely cannot resist betting on every race, even though most of the entries are only a step out of the glue factory, then wager only the $2 minimum.

2. Always establish a "bankroll" when you go to the track. As an example, we'll use $200. Make sure this money is disposable income and not the "rent" or "food" money. Never bet more that 10% of the "bankroll" on any one race. If there is a horse that looks like a Best Bet, wager the $20 to Win. If the horse is merely a good bet because there are a couple other horses fairly close in class, speed and condition, you may want to bet $10 to Win and $10 to Place.
3. A "Best Bet" is a race in which one horse clearly exhibits superior class, speed and conditioning over all other horses entered.
4. A "Good Bet" is a race in which there is a one horse that appears to be a clear leader, but a couple other horses fairly close in class, speed and conditioning. In this case you would want to bet this horse to Win & Place.
• This way, if your horse comes in second, you will probably still receive enough of a return to break even or make a small profit. Don't let anyone fool you into thinking it is wrong to only break even or make a small profit. A small profit is far better than a total loss. Remember your goal is to leave the track with more money that you arrived with.

5. Don't be afraid to bet on the so-called "Chalks". If this horse is head and shoulders above the rest of the field and it is bet down to even money (1-1) or less (4-5); your return will be an 80%-100% (Example) A $20 Win bet on a 4-5 "Chalk" will return $36 or 80% on your investment. Just 2 or 3 of these will pretty well assure you a successful day at the track.
6. Never get carried away when you "really" like a horse and bet a large sum of money. Clearly keep in mind the difference between a Best Bet and merely a Good Bet. Stay the course and bet only a maximum of 10% of your initial bankroll.
7. Never "Parlay" your winnings from one race onto another. That is a sure ticket to failure. The money you win on any race should go straight into your pocket and stay there.
8. Many good handicappers will tell you to avoid the temptation of betting the "Exotics" i.e.; Exactas, Trifectas, Superfectas, Pick 4's, Pick 6's, etc. When you start boxing 3, 4 or 5 horses or wheeling 1 or 2 horses with most of the field, you will find you are using up a tremendous amount of cash and getting very little or nothing in return.
• Remember, to Box 4 horses in a $2 trifecta will cost you $48. This amounts to $480 for a 10 race card and it's very doubtful you would hit more than 2 of these and probably lose over $200 on this bet alone. If 3 of the betting favorites happen to come in, the payoff will probably be less that the amount wagered.

9. Many horseplayers occasionally mix booze and betting. The results of this mixture can be disastrous because your senses are dulled and your ability to make sound betting decisions is impaired.
10. Maiden races - As a general rule be very careful with this type of race, especially when most or all of the horses are first time starters. No matter who is picking a Maiden, first time starter to win, it is strictly a "guess" when there are no previous performances to base a selection on. There have been times when some of the betting favorites have refused to leave the gate when it opened. Always wager only a minimum if you must bet.