Timmypg Posted July 2, 2010 Share Posted July 2, 2010 A friend & I have been going to our local track (Pocono Downs) on Wednesday nights. We kill 2 hours+ for $20 if we have no winners. The winners part is why I'm posting. We know the basics about horse racing & we usually bet $1 exacta boxes but no matter what we do we lose. I've picked by jockey, favorites, names, times, everything. So my question is without spending hours researching is there a way to pick winners for these little races or is it just luck? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HowboutthemCowboys Posted July 2, 2010 Share Posted July 2, 2010 I'll post when I have more time timmy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HowboutthemCowboys Posted July 3, 2010 Share Posted July 3, 2010 I struggle at Pocono most of the time. I like to handicap trips; if a horse ( trotters) was first over or boxed/blocked and took money that race I usually play it next out. The pocono program only shows where a horse finished, there's no trip description. That pisses me off. When betting any horse race one of my favorite angles is when a horse is moving up in class off a loss ie: a horse runs in a 5,000 claimer and runs well but loses then moves to a 7500 claimer. Another good angle with trotters especially at a 2 lap track like pocono is to check the program and see what post the horse started from in his previous races. If you find one that had an outside post 3 or 4 times in a row and draws inside the night you're playing it can be a big help to the horse. I'm not a big bias guy but if you're there and see that the horses are coming from the back consistently to win that particular night I'll give a horse that has closed hard in recent races a 2nd look especially if the odds are nice. Look for overlays. If a horse is say 5-2 on the ML and is 8 or 9-1 at post time it's usually worth a bet . I used to play ex boxes all the time but not nearly as much anymore. Sometimes if I absolutely love a horse and he's a nice price I'll key it with all in the ex. Yeah it costs more but some of my biggest scores have come this way. Once in a while a 40 or 50-1 clunks up for second behind the horse that you love in that race. You never would have had him in your box b/c he looks like crap in the program and the ex is $500. This is really profitable in maiden races with big fields. If it was easy Timmy everyone would do it. One thing that has helped me over the years is to play a race, lose, then go back and look at the winner in the book and see if there may have been something there that I missed. I'll add more as it comes to mind. Hope this helps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Timmypg Posted July 3, 2010 Author Share Posted July 3, 2010 Thanks! I'll look at some of that stuff more next week. I know it's hard picking winners but I'm 0 for my last 2 weeks. It's not about money anymore it's principle! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wiegie Posted July 3, 2010 Share Posted July 3, 2010 Could we please get this thread moved to the Food and Beverage Forum? Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gilthorp Posted July 3, 2010 Share Posted July 3, 2010 Whether it's small change or nice races with a much bigger take, it's my opinion you have to pay attention. In your case, I would play the tote board, look for horses that have morning line odds made by the track and see what the public is doing. If you see value one way or the other, from the morning line trends, put money down. There is no shame is winning on the 9/5...but only if it's worth it. When you spot a longer odd horse that gets "overlooked" by the general public, it's sweet. If you are just casually playing, from the sounds of your investment, just play WPS...ISMHO. I've also become a big fan of visual handicapping and have done amazingly well at Belmont this year because of it...and I've never once played Pocono. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Timmypg Posted July 3, 2010 Author Share Posted July 3, 2010 Thanks! We live 20 minutes from Pocono so we run down & have fun for $20. It'd be more fun if we actually could win a race. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HowboutthemCowboys Posted July 3, 2010 Share Posted July 3, 2010 If you are just casually playing, from the sounds of your investment, just play WPS...ISMHO. ...and I've never once played Pocono. good info on the WPS. Pocono's a tough track to figure out, for me anyway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gilthorp Posted July 4, 2010 Share Posted July 4, 2010 good info on the WPS. Pocono's a tough track to figure out, for me anyway. I'm assuming Pocono is a sulky meet? Can't do harness here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HowboutthemCowboys Posted July 4, 2010 Share Posted July 4, 2010 I'm assuming Pocono is a sulky meet? Can't do harness here. it is and it's a 5/8ths track so it's all about the trip. You can't BET harness where you live? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Timmypg Posted July 4, 2010 Author Share Posted July 4, 2010 (edited) Any chance you guys will take a look at races between 3 & 10 & pick a few horses? If we win big we'll send you a cut. The program can be seen at Program or Program. TIA Edited July 4, 2010 by Timmypg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ramhock Posted July 4, 2010 Share Posted July 4, 2010 Box Pavia & Morrill in the 5th. Anyone go to the Hambo? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Timmypg Posted July 4, 2010 Author Share Posted July 4, 2010 Thanks but Morril isn't in the 5th. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gilthorp Posted July 4, 2010 Share Posted July 4, 2010 it is and it's a 5/8ths track so it's all about the trip. You can't BET harness where you live? No. I just can't do it. Won't do it. I stay far away from any harness racing. But, betting the tote is betting the tote. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HowboutthemCowboys Posted July 8, 2010 Share Posted July 8, 2010 any luck last night ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Timmypg Posted July 9, 2010 Author Share Posted July 9, 2010 My friend hit a $63 exacta & we had a few other winners. We rode some hot jockey's & top trainers & it worked out decent. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ramhock Posted July 14, 2010 Share Posted July 14, 2010 Drivers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
justin Posted July 20, 2010 Share Posted July 20, 2010 Have any of you been to Monmouth Park in NJ? I'm thinking of heading there sometime over the next month or so. May try for the Haskell on Aug 1. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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