I have often wondered what is going through the other guys head at the race track. I thought it would be interesting to set up a poll to see what odds a horse bettor looks for when he is about to bet at the track. Compared to other polls I have conducted this one turned out to be quite popular as well as informative. Actually at this point in time (half way, I set it up for two months) there has been 29 horse players who have voted with 28 days remaining for the poll to be active.
The results so far show that 55% of you look for a horse with 4/1 but less than 10/1 odds. Now what does this tell me. I'd say that more than half of you are looking for some value with your bet. After all at 4/1 odds a $20 win bet will return $100 at the low end. At the high end at 10/1 a $20 win bet will pay $220. Now that's value if you are right and the horse wins.
Now some of you are looking for the long shot to come in. 13% of you say that you look for a horse with 10/1 odds or more to bet on. They do come in. Look at the Kentucky Derby this year when Mine That Bird went off at greater than 50/1 and took home the prize, $1000+ on a $20 win bet. I'll just bet that there were more than a few folks down in El Paso, Texas who collected on this bet too. In the Belmont Stakes there was another Bird, Summer Bird that went off better than 10/1 too - and won. Now you see that with some courage and conviction that these folks can be handsomely rewarded!
Add together 55% and 13% and this amounts to 68% of you out there are looking for "value" or "super value" with your bets. Hey, I'm with you. Go for it!
Now about 30% of the time the favorite wins. I'd say most of you have the right idea. Favorites don't give back much bang for the bet. However, from the poll it looks like 32% of you like those favorites.
Friday, June 26, 2009
Monday, March 30, 2009
A Ten-Cent Superfecta Favorite Bet of Mine
These days where can you get a return on ten cents? The ten cent superfecta is certainly one place to look. I have heard from a number of people that it is hard for them to structure a ten cent superfecta bet. I have suggested to a number of my horse betting friends an approach that has a simple structure and at the same time has a fairly high probability of success.
If you play the horses even occasionally you can usually pick one or two horses in some races that look, in form, a head or two above the other horses in the race. Using this piece of information you can structure a ten cent superfecta that is inexpensive yet has a good chance of paying off.
I will label these two horses 1 and 2. Let's assume there are 10 horses in the race you have chosen. A simple ten cent superfecta structure would be 1,2/1,2/all/all. This bet would cost you $11.20. If there were 9 horses in the race it would cost you $8.40. These are inexpensive bets but they do include all of the horses in the race and if you are correct about your top two picks then your superfecta will payoff. Further, if the horse that shows and the horse that comes in 4th are long shots then the payoff could be very rewarding.
For those of you just trying the ten cent super for the first time this bet can get you started and give you some experience beyond just placing win and place bets or even exactas with your top two choices in a race.
Good luck.
If you play the horses even occasionally you can usually pick one or two horses in some races that look, in form, a head or two above the other horses in the race. Using this piece of information you can structure a ten cent superfecta that is inexpensive yet has a good chance of paying off.
I will label these two horses 1 and 2. Let's assume there are 10 horses in the race you have chosen. A simple ten cent superfecta structure would be 1,2/1,2/all/all. This bet would cost you $11.20. If there were 9 horses in the race it would cost you $8.40. These are inexpensive bets but they do include all of the horses in the race and if you are correct about your top two picks then your superfecta will payoff. Further, if the horse that shows and the horse that comes in 4th are long shots then the payoff could be very rewarding.
For those of you just trying the ten cent super for the first time this bet can get you started and give you some experience beyond just placing win and place bets or even exactas with your top two choices in a race.
Good luck.
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Trifecta Poll Results
I have been running two polls since last May 2008. One poll was about the 'Trifecta Cost' and the other was about 'Trifecta Success'. I had a total of 28 respondents. Thank you for those of you who visit my site for your responses.
Here are the results of those polls.
When you bet trifectas, what is the average cost of your bet?
$6 or less ............................. 32%
$12 but more than $6 ......... 32%
$24 but more than $12 ........ 26%
$48 but more than $24 ........ 0%
more than $48 ................ 11%
What is your success with trifecta bets?
Over 100% net gain ........... 0%
50% to 100% net gain ......... 22%
0 to 50% net gain ............ 44%
negative net gain ............ 33%
It is interesting to note that 89% of the respondents bet less than $25 when they place a trifecta bet. That represents most of you out there. However, 11% of you bet over $48. (This may be those of you who follow TVG and place there suggested bets.) Unfortunately, I don't have coordinated data to know how many of those 11% collect on their bets and what is there net return. Looking at Golden Gates recent statistics the average payoff for trifectas is $288. If you win at least 25% of the time with your $50+ bets you may be making some money.
Looking at the Trifecta Success poll the respondents say that 2/3's of the time they are scoring a net gain. 22% say their net gain is between 50 and 100%. 44% say their net gain is between 0 and 50%. 1/3 of you say your losing money on the bet.
I hope that this sheds some light on your chances with the trifecta bet. Good luck with your bets.
Here are the results of those polls.
When you bet trifectas, what is the average cost of your bet?
$6 or less ............................. 32%
$12 but more than $6 ......... 32%
$24 but more than $12 ........ 26%
$48 but more than $24 ........ 0%
more than $48 ................ 11%
What is your success with trifecta bets?
Over 100% net gain ........... 0%
50% to 100% net gain ......... 22%
0 to 50% net gain ............ 44%
negative net gain ............ 33%
It is interesting to note that 89% of the respondents bet less than $25 when they place a trifecta bet. That represents most of you out there. However, 11% of you bet over $48. (This may be those of you who follow TVG and place there suggested bets.) Unfortunately, I don't have coordinated data to know how many of those 11% collect on their bets and what is there net return. Looking at Golden Gates recent statistics the average payoff for trifectas is $288. If you win at least 25% of the time with your $50+ bets you may be making some money.
Looking at the Trifecta Success poll the respondents say that 2/3's of the time they are scoring a net gain. 22% say their net gain is between 50 and 100%. 44% say their net gain is between 0 and 50%. 1/3 of you say your losing money on the bet.
I hope that this sheds some light on your chances with the trifecta bet. Good luck with your bets.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Pick 3 Poll Results
As you have probably noticed for those of you visiting my blog on a regular basis over the last two months that I have had a poll about the pick 3 bet. The poll turned out as follows.
Poll: What is your success with Pick 3's?
over 100% net gain ..... 0%
50 - 100% net gain ..... 11%
0 - 50% net gain .......... 33%
negative net gain ......... 56%
It is apparent from this poll that the pick 3 is a losing bet over 1/2 the time for my poll participants. This is disappointing to me but I can understand why.
I have played the pick 3 quite a bit and the big mistake that can be made is using 'bet combinations' that are too small to have much of a chance of winning. If you have access to TVG you can get an idea of the cost of a pick 3 that needs to be made to have a good chance of winning. The analysts on TVG who share their picks with you hardly ever have a pick 3 selection under $18.
Some rough calculations of mine based on my own experience reveals that on the average (assuming $1 pick 3's that have won):
Combinations that cost Win %
less than $18 ....................8%
$18 to $27 ........................20%
$27 to $42........................ 32%
greater than $42............. 40%
You can see that to be successsful with pick 3's that you need pick 3 combinations that cost over $18. The payoffs for pick 3's can be large at times when you put long shots in your combination. To do this, however, you need to invest enough money in your bet to raise the probablility of your winning.
If you do not want to risk larger amounts of money with your pick 3 bets then it may well be best not to wager these bets.
Poll: What is your success with Pick 3's?
over 100% net gain ..... 0%
50 - 100% net gain ..... 11%
0 - 50% net gain .......... 33%
negative net gain ......... 56%
It is apparent from this poll that the pick 3 is a losing bet over 1/2 the time for my poll participants. This is disappointing to me but I can understand why.
I have played the pick 3 quite a bit and the big mistake that can be made is using 'bet combinations' that are too small to have much of a chance of winning. If you have access to TVG you can get an idea of the cost of a pick 3 that needs to be made to have a good chance of winning. The analysts on TVG who share their picks with you hardly ever have a pick 3 selection under $18.
Some rough calculations of mine based on my own experience reveals that on the average (assuming $1 pick 3's that have won):
Combinations that cost Win %
less than $18 ....................8%
$18 to $27 ........................20%
$27 to $42........................ 32%
greater than $42............. 40%
You can see that to be successsful with pick 3's that you need pick 3 combinations that cost over $18. The payoffs for pick 3's can be large at times when you put long shots in your combination. To do this, however, you need to invest enough money in your bet to raise the probablility of your winning.
If you do not want to risk larger amounts of money with your pick 3 bets then it may well be best not to wager these bets.
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
10 Cent Superfecta Poll Results
My 10 Cent Superfecta Poll has been on my blog for a couple of months now and the final results are now in.
What is your success with the 10 cent superfectas?
Over 100% net gain 7%
50 to 100% net gain 13%
0 to 50% net gain 40%
negative net gain 40%
Total 100%
The results are very encouraging to me. 20% of the horseplayers participating in my poll are getting a net gain of 50% or more. 60% of those using the 10 cent superfecta are making money on the bet. It's the small time bettor that is using this bet (the high rollers use $2 superfectas that can run into hundreds and thousands of dollars) and it certainly seems from the poll results that 60% have found a way to make some money.
I have a new poll that will run for a couple of months. What is your success with the Pick 3?
See the side panel on my blog. Let me know how you are doing with your pick 3's.
Thanks to all who have participated.
What is your success with the 10 cent superfectas?
Over 100% net gain 7%
50 to 100% net gain 13%
0 to 50% net gain 40%
negative net gain 40%
Total 100%
The results are very encouraging to me. 20% of the horseplayers participating in my poll are getting a net gain of 50% or more. 60% of those using the 10 cent superfecta are making money on the bet. It's the small time bettor that is using this bet (the high rollers use $2 superfectas that can run into hundreds and thousands of dollars) and it certainly seems from the poll results that 60% have found a way to make some money.
I have a new poll that will run for a couple of months. What is your success with the Pick 3?
See the side panel on my blog. Let me know how you are doing with your pick 3's.
Thanks to all who have participated.
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
Conditional Betting
What is conditional betting? Recently Twinspires offers the capability of making conditional bets. These are bets that are only executed if the condition you specify is satisfied. Why would you want to make a conditional bet? Some horse players already watch the toteboard to see if certain conditions are met before they place a bet. This is a rather intensive activity that can play upon your emotions. Many times not a good situation to be in. Also waiting to right before the race starts, 1 or 2 minutes before, you may not be able to get to a window at the track to place the bet. Rather than having to watch the toteboard constantly you can enter the conditional bet and not even be where the toteboard is available to you. You can be at home and enter the bet over the internet. Then you can check later and see what the result is.
So what does a conditional bet look like? Here is an example.
Race #3 07/01/2008
Philadelphia
$20.00 Win (6/5 @ 2mtp)
#4
$20.00
In race #3 on the 1st of July at Philadelphia Park I entered a $20 win bet on the #4 horse with the condition that the tote must be 6/5 or lower with 2 minutes to post. If that condition was satisfied then the bet was entered and executed.
Right now you can place conditional bets on win, place and show bets and exactas. The restriction on exactas is that the bet is a simple exacta bet like horse A with horse B. No boxes or key exactas can be conditional. This doesn't keep you from making multiple simple exactas however. That's a little laborious to do but it can be done if you have the patience.
I am experimenting with strategies that include conditional betting. I'll report back to you later on how well the strategies work.
Stay tuned.
So what does a conditional bet look like? Here is an example.
Race #3 07/01/2008
Philadelphia
$20.00 Win (6/5 @ 2mtp)
#4
$20.00
In race #3 on the 1st of July at Philadelphia Park I entered a $20 win bet on the #4 horse with the condition that the tote must be 6/5 or lower with 2 minutes to post. If that condition was satisfied then the bet was entered and executed.
Right now you can place conditional bets on win, place and show bets and exactas. The restriction on exactas is that the bet is a simple exacta bet like horse A with horse B. No boxes or key exactas can be conditional. This doesn't keep you from making multiple simple exactas however. That's a little laborious to do but it can be done if you have the patience.
I am experimenting with strategies that include conditional betting. I'll report back to you later on how well the strategies work.
Stay tuned.
Sunday, June 15, 2008
Pick 3 Aberrations
As you know from my previous blog I have been testing new strategies using the pick 3. In this article I want to show you two extreme aberrations that have occurred in the course of a week; the Belmont Stakes on June 7th and high profile races at Churchill Downs on June 14th. Since writing my last blog "Pick 3 Research" I have been concentrating on pick 3 strategies that locate races where the favorite has a high probablility of winning. A race that had one of the highest probabilities of winning was the Belmont Stakes. Big Brown was a certain winner if there ever was one. (I was not alone in this assessment.) It was almost certain until the race was run. Probabilities are just probabilities, no matter how high they are and nothing more. Anything can happen in a race and it did.
As a strategy that I was testing on June 7th I chose to arrange three pick 3 bets using Big Brown to win in the 11th race. The first pick 3 started in race 9, the second started in the 10th, and the third started in the 11th race. Here is a case where all three bets lost with Big Brown losing in the 11th. What is the lesson to be learned from this. The outcome in one race can affect several other bets. Betting across races can be very costly even with smaller amounts of money. Also you have to wait until the races in the bet are completed to know whether you have a winning ticket. Betting within a race has more immediate gratification. This experience has given me insight into aberrations that can occur in strategies that sometimes are overlooked.
On June 14th, a week later, I experienced a new and highly improbable aberration at Churchill Downs. I saw before my eyes 6 morning line favorites win 6 consecutive races. These races also happened to be the 6 races in the pick 6. The probability of this happening is very very small. Starting with the 6th race there were 4 consecutive pick 3's that had 3 favorites in the outcome. The probability of this happening is .03.
Let me summarize the results for both weekends. On Belmont Stakes day there was no ticket that hit the pick 6. It carried over to the following Wednesday. The horseplaying public could not visualize Big Brown losing. (That included me!) However, there were some pick 3 and pick 4 players who won on the pick 3 starting in the 9th race, $6,475.00, and $34,287.00 on the pick 4 that started in the 8th race. Because of the cost factor being lower there were long shots (infact, the longest on the board) included in the pick 3 and pick 4 combinations for race 11. On June 14th at Churchill Downs the morning line favorites Hystericalady, Pure Clan, Pyro, Tizdejavu, Curlin, and Dreaming of Anna were the winning picks in the pick 6 which paid $48.00. The $2 pick 3's starting with race 6 paid $14.60, 47.00, 31.80, 19.40 respectively.
What a difference a week makes in the extremes of horse racing. Stay tuned for results of my research.
'til then.
As a strategy that I was testing on June 7th I chose to arrange three pick 3 bets using Big Brown to win in the 11th race. The first pick 3 started in race 9, the second started in the 10th, and the third started in the 11th race. Here is a case where all three bets lost with Big Brown losing in the 11th. What is the lesson to be learned from this. The outcome in one race can affect several other bets. Betting across races can be very costly even with smaller amounts of money. Also you have to wait until the races in the bet are completed to know whether you have a winning ticket. Betting within a race has more immediate gratification. This experience has given me insight into aberrations that can occur in strategies that sometimes are overlooked.
On June 14th, a week later, I experienced a new and highly improbable aberration at Churchill Downs. I saw before my eyes 6 morning line favorites win 6 consecutive races. These races also happened to be the 6 races in the pick 6. The probability of this happening is very very small. Starting with the 6th race there were 4 consecutive pick 3's that had 3 favorites in the outcome. The probability of this happening is .03.
Let me summarize the results for both weekends. On Belmont Stakes day there was no ticket that hit the pick 6. It carried over to the following Wednesday. The horseplaying public could not visualize Big Brown losing. (That included me!) However, there were some pick 3 and pick 4 players who won on the pick 3 starting in the 9th race, $6,475.00, and $34,287.00 on the pick 4 that started in the 8th race. Because of the cost factor being lower there were long shots (infact, the longest on the board) included in the pick 3 and pick 4 combinations for race 11. On June 14th at Churchill Downs the morning line favorites Hystericalady, Pure Clan, Pyro, Tizdejavu, Curlin, and Dreaming of Anna were the winning picks in the pick 6 which paid $48.00. The $2 pick 3's starting with race 6 paid $14.60, 47.00, 31.80, 19.40 respectively.
What a difference a week makes in the extremes of horse racing. Stay tuned for results of my research.
'til then.
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