Five steps to starting the new year at the horse races off right.

Resolve to have more fun at the races!

By C. Reid McLellan

If you are a horseplayer you might have already made some “resolutions” for this year. Here are five for you to consider for 2009.

Some time ago I had an insightful Cherokee female friend. She made me a choker necklace (amethyst beads and bone – purple and white, of course) that she told me was used to protect a warrior’s neck from a knife wound in battle. She told me, before I make a decision that might be life changing I should “recharge” the choker and wear it.

I followed her directions regarding the recharging one spring and made a decision that ultimately led me to move to Kentucky and devote my full time to teaching grooms, owners and trainers of racehorses.

Whether “facing the four winds” or looking at the full moon through the necklace invoked any wisdom from my ancestors, the serenity of the night and my ability to focus on my decision enabled me to make the necessary changes with confidence. Even though most of us don’t manage to keep our resolutions all year, taking time to focus on our horse playing can help us have more fun and perhaps even make a profit as a result of our efforts.

Hear the stories of some of the most famous race horses in history. Get AQHA’s Quarter Paths report, a full-color, instantly downloadable book that any racing enthusiast will enjoy.

One Horseplayer’s Resolve

1. I will throw away my losing tickets.. In fact, if you have a box of losers on the shelf in your office or garage, have a ceremony and burn them. If you happen to hit a signer, you will only be able to write off losses up to those winnings and the average horseplayer does not hit enough signers to worry the IRS. A big box of losing tickets just focuses attention on the fact that you made a lot of wagers that did not win. We want to focus on winning this year. (Addendum: Throw those losers in the trash can! Tossing them on the ground doesn’t make a statement, nor does it show the track that you are upset. Players who toss tickets on the floor just look like jerks or litterbugs!)
2. I will budget an amount with which to play. What is your play money? If you decide you can invest $100 at the races this weekend, then stop when you have spent that $100. If a race hits later on, remember that for next time, and allocate your money so that you have some left for later in the night. In future installments, we will talk about allotting different amounts to different wagers, but for now we are establishing our level.
3. I will pass at least one race each night. If you have absolutely no idea which horse to bet on, pass! If the race has only four or six evenly matched runners and the highest odds on the board are 9-2, pass! If the only horse you really like in the race is 1-5, pass! (Once you can pass one race a night, then go for two!)
4. I will bet the horse I think will win, even if its odds are less than 2-1. How many times have you really liked a horse only to bet on a different horse because your top pick’s odds were too low? Remember, the only horse that pays on a win bet is the horse that wins the race. In future installments, I’ll talk about exactas, trifectas, pick-3’s and superfectas and how we can make money on heavy favorites using those wagers. Until then, invoke resolution No. 3 before switching your wager to another horse just because the odds are better.
5. I will pick at least one horse race a night and bet only a win bet. Think about the times you picked a horse that won and paid $10 or more to win, and yet you didn’t cash a ticket because you only bet that horse in an exacta box or some other exotic bet. Remember the first article in this series? The win bet is the most consistent profit-producing bet at the racetrack.

Keeping resolutions to a manageable number is an important part of successfully keeping those resolutions. Even if you break every resolution on your first night at the races this year, you can always resolve to keep them the next time. That is one of the fun aspects of playing the races. There is always another racing day and we start with a clean slate. (We threw all those losers away, remember!)

As Executive Director of The Elite Program, C. Reid McLellan, Ph.D., organizes and teaches Groom, Owner and Trainer Elite classes around the country.

As owner and agent of Purple Power Equine Services, Reid helps people buy and sell race and show prospects and provides guidance and assistance with training, breeding and other equine services.

Stay on Track

Get the very latest updates on American Quarter Horse racing results, news and statistics! Subscribe to AQHA’s FREE Q-Racing e-newsletter today!