| If you are seriously trying to make money at horse | | | | Are you losing money that should be paying important |
| racing handicapping and betting on horse races, you | | | | bills, like your rent or mortgage? If so, then in my |
| may be wondering how long it will take to finally make | | | | opinion, it's quitting time. Secondly, what impact is your |
| a steady income. After half a century of watching | | | | gambling having on your family and loved ones? Ooh, |
| horse races and many years of betting and | | | | that's a tough one isn't it? I used the "g" word and got |
| handicapping, I have learned a few things about the | | | | personal. The truth is, no matter how much we love |
| game. While my experiences and opinions may not | | | | this business of horse racing handicapping, our family |
| apply to everyone, I believe they are pretty good and | | | | and loved ones are more important. If not, then you |
| a guide for many horse players. | | | | can forsake your family and hit the skids and play the |
| First of all, though you may be ahead for a long time, | | | | ponies, but don't be surprised if you wake up some |
| you can never relax and think that you have beaten | | | | day and realize you've made a terrible mistake and |
| this game. It is an ongoing struggle and you are only as | | | | wind up sitting in a meeting of a 12 step program. |
| good as your last bet. You may have a profitable | | | | If you are even asking the question if you should call |
| week, month, even a whole year that turns out right, | | | | the fee 800 number to GA, then it is time to do it and |
| but the next day, month, year may be a stinker. | | | | get some facts. But like I said, that is a personal |
| Sometimes, you will be clicking and your bets making | | | | decision no one can make for you. On the other hand, |
| you money and then suddenly, it is as if someone | | | | even if you are playing the ponies with money you can |
| threw a switch and the same things that worked | | | | afford and only making small bets, still taking care of |
| before now fail and you start watching your profits | | | | your family and obligations, you can call yourself a pro |
| and bankroll slowly fade away. That is the roller | | | | when your bets are making money. Just consider it a |
| coaster ride of betting on horse races and if you can't | | | | part time avocation instead of a full time job. |
| take it, you better find another game. It happens to all | | | | The point is, your bets should be within your budget |
| of us, from old grinders like me who slog along making | | | | and if there is no money in your budget for betting right |
| a buck here and there, to the big hitters who toss | | | | now, just make paper bets. You would be surprised, |
| around huge sums of money. | | | | but there are pros who have done that. At some point |
| Walk around a race track, from the cheap seats in the | | | | in their lives some horse players had to take some |
| grandstand to the high rollers in the club house, and | | | | time off, either because they were tapped out or it |
| you'll see it in their eyes, the joy of winning and the | | | | was taking over their lives. Some of them made paper |
| agony of losing. I'm not trying to discourage you, just | | | | bets, just to keep learning and when they were in a |
| telling it like it is so you have the truth and information | | | | better financial position, they started making money |
| you need to make a good decision. Now make a | | | | bets again. |
| special note of this so you won't be let down later. This | | | | So to wrap this up, it is always a struggle to make |
| is one of the most important things you'll ever learn | | | | money betting on horses and no matter how good |
| about being a handicapper, there is never a time when | | | | you get at it, there will be times when you will go on |
| you can say, "Okay, now I'm a pro and I don't have to | | | | losing streaks and wonder if you should quit. To be a |
| worry about making it any more." | | | | successful human, which is much more important than |
| That just doesn't happen. So if you are betting on | | | | being a successful handicapper, you have to take care |
| horses and wondering if you should quit because you | | | | of family and loved ones first and remember that |
| are losing money, no one can tell you when it is time to | | | | there is a whole universe out there beyond the limits of |
| call it quits, that is something you have to decide for | | | | the race track. It's okay to enjoy horse racing |
| yourself. There are, however, a few things you might | | | | handicapping and to try to make a profit at it as long |
| want to consider. First of all, what impact is your horse | | | | as you don't lose the whole world over it. |
| playing having on the rest of your life? | | | | |