Eight ideas to break the depressions that harm horse racing

Sir Winston Churchill once said: “Success is the ability to go from one failure to another without losing your enthusiasm.” That thinking can be applied to any activity, including horse racing.

All great players in sports like golf, baseball, football, soccer, basketball, racing, or bowling to name a few have losing streaks. Horse players are no different. Here are eight ideas to help you get out of your disability blues.

1. Change of scenery. You’ve been going through past performance sheets for your favorite track, but you just can’t get a winning horse. Maybe it’s time to cool off by exploring a new location or track. Visit a different distraction-free off-track betting (OTB) lounge than your usual spot. Also, take a break from your usual track. If you like east coast tracks, switch to some west coast tracks.

2. The 10 CENT Superfecta. The second most popular bet in the world of horse racing is the Exacta. Take a look at the totalizer board on any given track and see the amount wagered on the Exact bet versus the Win bet. Most of the time, the total dollars wagered will be close for both of you. Switch to a 10 CENT Superfecta for all races on the card (provided one is offered). Bet only on this exotic bet. This will help exercise your handicapped mind and allow you to make some adjustments not only as you go through the card, but also on your next foray into the OTB.

3. Review your best handicap plays. Look at your past successes and see what you did well. Many times we forget about the small details that lead to success. Examine what worked in the past and apply it to your runs today. Make a top ten list of each successful bet and file the handicap sheets you used for future reference. Just as important a review the race just ended immediately. Find the angles you missed. Take mental notes or program notes to move forward towards future successes.

4. Go to Low Budget Bets. Yes, bring in a smaller bankroll until you can make up your handicap. Allocate just four dollars for each race and see how it goes.

5. Study hard. There is nothing better you can do than solid pre-race preparation. There’s no telling what races he’ll pass or emphasize before buying the track or simulcast show. The Daily Racing Form (drf.com) site offers a wealth of information, including the day’s tickets for all tracks.

6. Do not bet on all races. At a minimum, skip all other races to allow more time for your handicap. It’s very hard to get a good count in a race when you only have about twenty minutes between races. Allow yourself more time to review each horse’s past performances in a given race. Better yet, as part of your preparation, pick just two races for the day and be very careful when analyzing these races.

7. Featured running exercise. Browse featured racing at various tracks in various time zones. For example, take the eighth race of four different tracks in four different time zones and take your time at each of them. This drill will give you plenty of time to think hard about each individual race, but it will give you an enjoyable multi-track handicapping experience. Apply what you learn from each to future disability success.

8. Change the celebration beers. Yes, that is correct. As human beings we are creatures of habit. We have a tendency to stick to a brand that we like and trust. Perhaps making a small change can create a new perspective. Hey, if nothing else works, why not?

These are just a few ideas you can implement to make the necessary adjustments to get out of your disability depression. Changing things up a bit can help. At least it’s worth a try. Good luck on all your downsides.