| There are several ways to go about playing the pick | | | | trying to do the same thing you are doing. |
| six and more than one way to make a profit. The | | | | Your job is not to beat the races, it is to beat those |
| problem for most players is that there are just too | | | | people. So you have to think of what they will do, |
| many horses in 6 races to play all the possibilities so | | | | which races they will figure correctly and then decide if |
| one or more horses manages to slip in and ruin your | | | | you are going for the easy bet or the tough one. If |
| chances of winning. But though it is named the pick 6, | | | | there are just too many tough races and no real |
| the pick six is not necessarily just about picking 6 | | | | standout horses, then your best bet is to go for the |
| winners. | | | | consolation pool. In order to do that, you can throw |
| I know what you're thinking, then why do they call it a | | | | away at least one race. |
| pick 6? They call it that because the persons) who do | | | | There will be a race where it is about impossible to |
| manage to select all six winners will get the top prize, | | | | pick a winner without playing almost every horse in the |
| but remember, there is also a consolation pool. So in | | | | race. That race is the one that will defeat the crowd |
| choosing your bets, you have to decide if you are | | | | because they will pour their money into it, playing as |
| going to focus on the consolation or the big win. I know | | | | many horses as possible and sacrificing close plays in |
| that sounds strange, but there are more ways to win | | | | other races. |
| than just going for the big prize. | | | | You only have to choose one horse in that race in |
| Horse racing handicapping is all about value if you are | | | | order to complete your ticket, so do it. Then, take the |
| serious about making money. So in order to figure out | | | | money you would have used chasing long shots in that |
| how you will structure your ticket, you have to decide | | | | race and spread it over horses that really do figure in |
| what kind of possibilities are offered and what you can | | | | other races. You are not trying to hit the whole six |
| afford. That usually means how many horses can you | | | | races. Sometimes, if you are lucky, you may do just |
| single on your ticket, how many races can be | | | | that, but on the other hand, since you have covered |
| handicapped, and how many races are anyone's | | | | the contenders in races that are logical, you will have a |
| guess. | | | | much better chance of hitting the consolation and |
| Once you've looked at the races, and I hope you give | | | | picking 4 or 5 winners on the ticket. |
| yourself plenty of time to do this, it is time to decide | | | | At the end of the day, it is better to walk out of the |
| how many races you can single and how many you | | | | track with the consolation money in your pocket than |
| can double, etc. Remember this, if you are a good | | | | no money at all. In some of those other races you will |
| handicapper, you are not the only one who will be | | | | have to choose between two horses that are both |
| choosing between the same horses and rating the | | | | good and closely matched, IF you use the money you |
| races the same. In other words, if you can't easily | | | | would have wasted on the tough race and play them |
| figure a race out, and you're a good handicapper, then | | | | both, you will win on at least one of them and save the |
| there will be many people with the same problem. | | | | ticket. That is how a real handicapper wins. |
| There will also be many people with a limited bankroll | | | | |