For those of you who bet or have bet horses.....

[dave nz]

On a regular basis, which has been more profitable for you horses or sports?

Don't need to go into the +/- (that is your business) just which has been better for you.

Have had a good period betting occasionally on horses the last few years and weighing up whether to do alot more.

Just trying to create a discussion on the subject.

[barryg]

Nothing is tougher to beat than the ponies -- I only know one guy who does it but he has a very large bankroll (he plays three and four-horse exacta and trifecta boxes and nothing else)...if you have a grand or so to take to the track or OTB each day you have a chance...

[Cali Roots]

I think sports is easier, but I actually have been more profitable at the ponies but only slightly. Although winning $4K at Del Mar a few weeks back helped. I hit 2 superfectas that day along with a quinilla and a trifecta. (The tri, qui, and the smaller super were all in 1 race).

Del Mar live though is a great experience! Trevor Denman is awesome at calling the races.

[ParrotHead]

Horse racing live is a better experience than watching sports you have money on.

Very limited in racing betting, but would like to hear from others

[smooth53_98]

My bread and butter is horse racing. The key, like in just about any other gambling, is discipline and money management. I make the bulk of my winnings each year on a handful of well selected guaranteed pools in Pick 4's and an occasional syndicated Pick 5 or 6. I keep myself interested by playing selective spot plays (similar to the ones I post here, but the actual play varies on scratches, weather, actual vs. my value odds, etc.) It is a labor of love - I can target 3-5 Pick 4's and/or a track for the weekend and find nothing I want to play or have it all figured the night before only to see it fall apart with scratches and changes.

I have streamlined my operation and use data files to do the first steps of my pace analysis and compute some rough speed and stamina figures I use in conjunction with spot plays and my own handicapping.

The other week I played the $.50 Guaranteed Pick 4 at Saratoga - went with 144 combinations ($144 on a one dollar bet - hit it for $1,836). Took a lesser shot at the AP guaranteed pool this past weekend - felt less confident, so took the .50 option on 144 combinations - missed the first leg... still up substantially for the year, but I do put a ton of effort in daily going over data, trying new angles/figures/approaches/etc....

[Sammy the Goose]

Horse betting requires a very stable mind.....or else you'll end up with a long face.

[bt33]

both are near impossible to make money at but I do better on select sports.

[dhunter]

betting on ponies is a crapshoot

[uva3021]

pedigree and reciprocal altruism

horses have a tendency to not beat a horse they've already beaten more than a few times, or more so than the other horse has beaten them