Sir Winston Churchill once said: “Success is the ability to go from one failure to another without losing enthusiasm.” That thought can be applied to any activity, including horse racing.
All the great players in sports like golf, baseball, football, soccer, basketball, running, or bowling, to name a few, have losing streaks. Horse players are no different. Here are eight ideas to help you snap out of your disability slump.
1. Change of scenery. You’ve been going through the past performance sheets for your favorite track, but you just can’t come up with a winning horse. Maybe it’s time to freshen up by exploring a new place or track. Visit a different off-road betting (OTB) parlor free of distractions from your usual place. Also, take a breather from your usual track. If you like the tracks on the east coast, switch to some tracks on the west coast.
2. The Super Perfect 10 CENT. The second most popular bet in the world of horse racing is the Exact. Take a look at the tote board on any given track and see the amount wagered on the Exact bet versus the Win bet. Most of the time, the total dollars wagered will be close for both. Switch to a 10 CENT Superfecta for all runs on the card (as long as one is offered). Bet solely on this exotic bet. This will help you exercise your handicapped mind and allow you to make some adjustments not only as you progress through the card, but also on your next foray into the OTB.
3. Review your best handicap plays. Look at your past successes and see what you did well. Many times we forget about the small details that lead to success. Take a look at what worked in the past and apply it to your runs today. Make a top ten list of each successful bet and file the handicap sheets you used for future reference. Just as important review the race just ended immediately. Find the angles you missed. Take mental notes or program notes to move towards future successes.
4. Go to Low Budget Betting. Yeah, bring a smaller bankroll until you can get your handicap back. Allocate just four dollars for each race and you’ll see how it goes.
5. Study hard. There’s nothing better you can do than solid pre-race preparation. There is no word on which races he will pass or emphasize before purchasing the track or simulcast show. The Daily Racing Form site (drf.com) offers a wealth of information, including today’s entries for all tracks.
6. Don’t bet on every race. At the very least, skip all other races to allow more time for your handicap. It’s very difficult to get a good tally in a race when you only have about twenty minutes between races. Allow yourself more time to review the past performances of each horse in a given race. Better yet, as part of your preparation, choose only two races for the day, and be very careful when analyzing these races.
7. Featured running exercise. Browse the featured race at various tracks in various time zones. For example, take the eighth race of four different tracks in four different time zones and time yourself on each of them. This drill will give you plenty of time to think hard about each individual race, but it will give you a nice multitrack handicap experience. Apply what you learn from each to future disability success.
8. Switch up the celebratory beers. Yes, that is correct. As human beings we are creatures of habit. We have a tendency to stick with a brand we like and trust. Perhaps making a small change can create a new perspective. Hey, if nothing else works, why not?
These are just a few ideas you can implement to make the necessary adjustments to get out of your disability slump. Changing things up a bit can help. At least it’s worth a try. Good luck on all your cons.