Thursday, January 15, 2009

[clore1030]

Originally Posted by tfm

I think AQU, presently, is just about the most difficult track to handicap. There are so many BAD horses, with such bad form, that I only dabble. There are so many other better options out there.

I think there are two ways (among others) to go:

1) focus on a particular track and try to squeeze as many plays as you can out of each card

2) focus on many tracks and only play those races where a horse sticks out

I suck at 1; so I follow 2.

I should start paying attention to the Florida tracks, where there are at least some turf races and as you noted, a higher caliber of horses.

But it used to be that the Inner Dirt was most predictable, and there WAS a bias that could be counted on. Granted, when I say predictable, it doesn't mean that one couldn't get prices. Those came from distance switchers or horses stepping up, that had the ability to take advantage of the track's bias.

Some may say that said bias is non-existent, but as one who has played that oval since its first day, and even had a ticket on its first winner (a claimer named Rare Joel), I can safely say that I was able to make it work for me on the days it was there.

I just have to learn to adapt old principles now as they aren't as viable as they used to be.