HANDICAPPING TIPS

MAIDEN RACES 9/5 MORNING ODDS WIN 55% ... IN THE MONEY 75%


ELIMINATE SPRINT GOING TO 1 1/16 mi OR GREATER UNLESS, I HAVE RANKED THE HORSE AS ONE OF THE TOP TWO, OR THE HORSE WAS THE ONLY HORSE WHO RAN A SPRINT THE LAST TIME OUT.

ELIMINATE IF HORSE DID NOT FINISH AT LEAST 5th LAST THREE TIMES OUT. KEEP THE HORSE IF RAN UP FRONT ANY PLACE IN HIS PAST PERFOMANCE CHART. KEEP THE HORSE IF ODDS ARE LESS THIS TIME COMPARED TO LAST RACE CLOSING ODDS.

ELIMINATE HORSE IF LENGTHS BEHIND ALL TRIP CALLS LAST RACE WAS 9 OR WORSE.

IF HORSE'S LAST ODDS WERE 10-1 OR WORSE LAST TIME OUT AND NOW DROPPING IN CLASS, PLUS RAN UP-FRONT ANY PLACE IN HIS PAST PERFORMANCE CHART, THEN KEEP THIS HORSE FOR A POSSIBLE LONG SHOT.

ELIMINATE ALL HORSES 20-1 ON THE OFFICIAL TRACK PROGRAM. KEEP THE HORSE IF UNDER 20-1 ON THE TRACK'S PROGRAM AND MOVED PAST 20-1.

Watch for hot jockeys or trainers who are doing particularly well. A hot jockey sometimes will get the choice of top mounts, and a rider usually will go with the horse most likely to win. Check the standings in the Official Program.

Notice how jockeys and trainers pair up. Some trainers will invariably use a certain jockey when they have promising runners. Look for the favorite jockey IN THE RACE NOT AT THE TRACK.

Professional handicappers often will seek out the race in which a horse is far superior to his or her competitors then they will bet that horse, this is a way to telling you not to bet on every races. Choose a race type or distance you are good at Claiming, Allowance etc. What I am saying is handicappers who do make a living at the track do not bet every race and ether should you.

Speed ratings can be a good guide to the potential mismatch. Read the comments at the end of the past performance lines. They sometimes will indicate when a horse ran into many problems during the course of a race but nonetheless closed with a flourish.

Figure out how the track is playing. Veteran handicappers will often watch the early races to see if a pattern is developing in the races. In the first races, they may notice that front runners are winning the sprint races, my E TAG and stretch runners are prevailing in the longer races, This would be my L TAG.

Check the workouts. Although too much attention can be given to the workouts, a very fast workout may indicate that a horse is coming to FORM, this is my ^ TAG and a slow workout can be a precursor of trouble. "Bullet or my ^ TAG" works are the fastest at a specific distance on a given day Note: MY PAR FIG.

Look for equipment changes. Adding blinkers to a horse's equipment can help. I am not too big on this myself but others think it is wise to check this out, keep in mind however I am not at the track you are, my picks are good but you can make them better by seeing what's going on etc. and choose the best horse from my picks based on what you have seen and your personal understanding of your favorite track, or may be I handicapped a horse you are watching for.

Keep in mind the the best Trainer, Jockey, Horse often do not win. You need to watch out for the back door horse and that is where I come in to help you find those horses.

Barn changes should be considered. A claimer moving from a modest stable to a successful one will be worth consideration. Horses often will respond to the change in surroundings, and other factors - such as a change in feeding or in horse-shoeing - may result in a rapid turnaround.

Give preference to winners. Choose a horse that has won before.

Avoid betting on a horse that has just moved up in class.

Look for value odds as much as likely winners. If you keep looking for them, you will learn to spot them fairly quickly.

Look for a horse that has a fair chance of winning and is not overly backed. This is usually a good value bet in the long run. On odds of say, 9/1, you need to win once in nine attempts to break even. Anything more is net profit.

When the track is slow or heavy, give preference to fast starters. Slow, muddy and heavy track conditions usually favor the horse that takes an early lead.

A straight bet is simple, manageable and not too difficult to win. Play it but always weigh up the odds. Avoid favorites and long shots (shippers) too.

Be selective - don't bet on anything or everything.

When betting straight, Always cover your bet, Example: $5.00 Win $15.00 Show if the odds are high enough to break even if horse shows or play Win / Place, Place / Show getting back something is better then nothing.

If you are going to use my picks, I do pick allot of Win / Place horses. Check out my results of any month.

If a horse is heavily backed just a few minutes before the start of the race and his odds are sharply reduced, bet on it. This is a strong indication that somebody has reliable favorable information about the horse that nobody else is aware of.

The horses to look out for in Lightweight Handicap Races are those whose overall form shows that they are capable of winning, regardless of the class of race in which they compete.

Two or more wins in the form shown in newspapers are often indication of a possible big win by a low weight. An added bonus is they usually start at big prices.

When making selections, always give preference to a horse that ran recently. (unless you are using my picks I look for other things to keep them) A horse that has not raced for several weeks may have suffered some set backs like an injury or an illness. No matter how good his form was if it is not recent, chances are the horse will not win.

Give an extra point to an experienced jockey on longer distance races (over a mile). A jockey's ability assumes greater importance as the distance increases.

In general Apprentices are capable to break a horse fast, which is very good in sprint races, and the majority of their wins are usually accomplished under such circumstances. However, in route races ( distance of longer than 1-1/8 miles) Apprentices usually do not fare as well. This is not necessarily because they are lacking in basic ability, because they are lacking in the experience needed to properly gauge the pace of a race. An experienced jockey can enable a front-running sprinter to perform as well in route races.

It is best not to replay your winnings, at least not immediately. If you want to be in control, you must put back in your pocket some or most of what you have won.

Do your homework before signing up to an online sports book.

Four important things you should look for in a sports book:

1. Are they members of a known Gambling Association?

2. How quick do they pay out?

2. How accessible is their customer service?

4. What happens when there is a dispute?

B E T T I N G - S T R A T E G I E S

(WIN) At odds of 2-1 or higher, bet to win.

(PLACE) At odds below 2-1, bet to place, but not to show.

UNDERLAY

An underlay is a over bet horse. NEVER BET ON UNDERLAYS!!

OVERLAY

Odds higher than they should be, based on horse's chances of winning. Basically an overlay is an under bet horse. ALWAYS BET ON OVERLAYS YOU THINK HAVE A GOOD CHANCE TO WIN!!

NOTE: Anytime you like an overlay and underlay, or a good-price horse and low-price horse in the same race, bet the overlay.

THREE DO'S AND DON'TS IN EXACTA BETTING.

The important point about Exacta wagering (betting horses will finish one-two in the exact order you bet them) is to use positive strategies that will pay off better the more frequently you play.

THE DON'TS

1. Don't bet favorites below 2-1 on top.

2. Don't box pairs of long shots, which means horses at 11-1 or higher. Instead

bet both horses to win.

3. Don't bet baseballs, taking 3 horses and betting every possible combination

to come one-two, total of 6 combinations.

Note: If you bet a low-price favorite on top, do not use the second and third betting choices on the bottom. If my choices have them go with the higher odds of my picks.

THE DO'S

1. Do bet the favorites on the bottom.

2. Do box pairs of medium-priced horses, such as 8-1 with 6-6.

3. Do bet long shots on top of favorites, but also bet on the longs shot to win.

4. Do make sure you have a two to one ratio with the of what picks your are using.

HOW TO WAGER ON MY SLECTIONS

If odds are 5/2, 3-1, 7/2, 4-1, 9/2, 5-1, and 6-1, wager to WIN and PLACE. For every WIN unit ($1 bet) bet three units to place. ~~~ NO SHOW WAGERS ~~~

If odds are 7-1, 8-1, 9-1, 10-1, 11-1 and 12-1, wager to WIN, PLACE and SHOW. For every WIN unit wager three place units and three show units.

When odds are 13-1 and higher wager two units to place and five units to show for every win unit bet.

Sincerely ... Kep, "The Handicapper"