Okay, so I’ve been trying to get better at picking winners at Parx, and let me tell you, it’s a rollercoaster. Some days I feel like a genius, other days… not so much. But I’ve been keeping track of my process, so I figured I’d share what I’ve been doing.
First thing I do is grab the daily racing program. I used to just kinda skim it, look at the names I recognized, maybe the odds. Big mistake! Now, I actually read the thing.
I start by looking at the past performances. I’m no expert, but I try to figure out a few things:
- How has the horse been running lately? I look at their recent finishes. Are they consistently in the top three? Or all over the place?
- What kind of races have they been running? Are they moving up in class? Down? That can tell you a lot.
- Who’s the jockey? Some jockeys just seem to click with certain horses.
- What is the trainer’s record?
It’s a lot of information, and honestly, I’m still learning what it all means. I’ve found some helpful websites that explain some of the stats, but it’s mostly trial and error.
Today, for example, I spent a good hour poring over the program. I circled a few horses that looked promising based on their recent speed figures and the fact that they’d been running well on similar tracks. Then I looked at the odds. I don’t want to just bet on the favorites – where’s the fun in that? I try to find horses that I think have a good shot but aren’t getting a ton of attention.
I ended up placing a few small bets on a couple of longshots and a few favorites that I felt good about. I headed down to the track, grabbed a hot dog, and found a good spot to watch.
The first few races? Nothing. My longshots were, well, longshots. They didn’t even come close. I started to second-guess myself. Maybe I should have just stuck with the favorites. Maybe I don’t know what I’m doing.
But then, in the fifth race, one of my picks – a horse named “Lucky Streak” – actually pulled ahead! It was a close race, neck and neck down the stretch, but Lucky Streak won! I couldn’t believe it. The odds were like 8-1, so my small bet actually paid off pretty well.
The Result
I ended up losing a little money overall, but that one win made it all feel worthwhile. It’s not just about the money, though. It’s about the challenge, the excitement, and the feeling you get when you actually pick a winner.
I am going to keep practicing and keep learning.
