Eight ideas to break horse racing handicap drops

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

All the great players in sports like golf, baseball, soccer, football, basketball, running, or bowling, to name a few, have recessions. Riders are no different. Here are eight ideas to help you get out of the depression of your disability.

1. Change of scenery. You’ve been working hard on the last performance sheets for your favorite track, but you can’t get a score on a winning horse. Maybe it’s time to freshen up by exploring a new place or track. Visit a different off-track betting (OTB) lounge without distractions in your usual place. Also, take a break from your usual track. If you’re big on the east coast slopes, switch to some west coast slopes.

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

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

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

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

6. Don’t bet on every race. At the very least, skip any other races to give yourself more time for your handicap. It is very difficult to get a good score in a race when you only have about twenty minutes between races to handicap. Allow yourself more time to review the past performances of each horse in a given race. Better yet, as part of your preparation, choose only two races for the day and be very careful when analyzing these races.

7. Outstanding running exercise. Examine the featured race on multiple tracks in multiple time zones. For example, take the eighth race of four different tracks in four different time zones and take your time to handicap each one. This drill will give you plenty of time to think hard about each individual run, but it will give you a nice multi-lane handicap experience. Apply what you learn from each for future disability success.

8. Swap the celebratory beers. Yes, that is correct. As human beings, we are creatures of habit. We have a tendency to stick with 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 that you can implement to make the necessary adjustments to get out of your depression. Changing things a bit can help. At least it’s worth a try. Good luck on all your disabilities.