Taking Your Game to New Heights

by Ed Meyer

posted on March 2, 2023 in Blogroll, General Discussion, Handicapping, Horse Racing, WinningPonies.com | Comments Off on Taking Your Game to New Heights

We all want positive results, but sometimes we can’t find a winner without a search warrant. But I digress. – We need to do some soul-searching and check our ego at the door. To achieve a new sense of who we are as gamblers is a trip down the rabbit hole at times. Without further delay, here we go!

Sometimes we need a break. Yep, have a coffee break from gambling. This allows you to realign who we are and make needed adjustments. The time away is good for the noggin. You settle in and watch the races without making a wager. Think of it as a “scouting mission” and pay close attention to the little things. “How’s the track playing? Is the rail dead as fried chicken, or is it the conveyor belt to the winner’s circle? – Who is hot in the jock’s room, and are there any new trainers to be aware of?” – All good info, and without the distraction of making bets you can watch with an unbiased eye. Give it a try and see for yourself. I would advise a sabbatical of three weeks or more.

Once back in the game, you’ll want to employ your new powers. Patience, money management, and a knowledge of the tracks you are playing. – Nothing like being prepared.

Sometimes the breakaway is self-awareness or imposed by lack of funds. Either way, take advantage of the time down. – Clearing the fog will make you hungry again to tear into a new day of racing. I’m on a journey as we speak because the Triple Crown is right around the corner. I am seeing things that may have eluded me when I had a $20 bet on the hook which may have skewed my perspective. – Just in the past few days; the Japanese runners are coming fully loaded to compete on the world stage, and a runner from the Rebel Stakes caught my eye and showed a degree of maturity not seen this early. More to come in the coming weeks.

Narrow your focus and set your sights. Just because a track has a graded race doesn’t warrant a bet. No tap dancing from track to track just to have action. Keep your cool and narrow your sights to where your strength is located. – By eliminating races just to have action can make your bankroll work for you. It’s a tough game turning a profit, but elimination is key to getting your average where you want it to be at the end of the day.

Taking time down is key. – After the World Series, the players get some downtime before heading back to rehab or starting the long road of training. Gamblers need the same time. It’s a mental game we are playing and it is paramount that we are in tip-top condition to make it happen. After a long meeting, there used to be some downtime before the horses would ship to the next track. Sometimes it was a week or more, and sometimes it could go a month. With the simulcast explosion long ago, players have so much action it can be tough to stay disciplined. Just take a breath and stay involved, but no wagering. The time will allow you to put your finger on what we’ve been doing wrong.

I know great handicappers and bad bettors just as lucky players who have no idea of why they bet. But when you take the time and meld the two. You’ve found the keys to winning.