Have More Fun at the Horse Races

Would you like to have fun at the horse races? Here are a few thoughts from an old horse player that may help you to regain some of the joy of going to the races. Because people bet real money on horse races and it involves gambling and risk taking, many people become very emotional and unhappy at the horse races. Greed and need are the two major reasons people risk money to make money. If you're greedy and try to win money at the races and fail, you may be depressed when you lose.

If you're needy and try making money on the races, it may make your financial situation worse if you lose money. That can cause more stress and if you're already stressed out over money problems, it will only get worse. If you're worried and scared about your future due to lack of money and not having any foreseeable sources of money, then gambling is the worse thing you can do. Like they say, "Scared money never wins."

The reason for that is that we make decisions differently when we fear losing or failure. Fear of failure or loss distracts you and makes you play tight and conservatively. The average person who is afraid usually wins on low priced horses and misses longshots that he almost played. Sound familiar?

So let's start with the premise that you should never bet money you can't afford to lose. If you don't have any money that is free and clear of any obligations, then you shouldn't be betting with it. Think of a day at the track as amusement or entertainment. While entertainment is important to mental health, so is paying the bills. If you need to blow off steam, the race track is a good place for that, if you stay within your budget.

If you can afford a day at the track, here are a few tips to enjoy it more and worry less. First of all, keep it simple. A simple system for picking winners is all you need. While I always recommend in-depth handicapping for serious wagers, I also recommend simple and easy horse racing systems to make the day enjoyable.

I also recommend that you play a few hunches. Use your intuition. Nothing is more fun than just playing a horse on a whim and winning. Another good way to enjoy the races is to watch them, "live," if you can. Stand at the rail and listen to the hooves pounding down the stretch. Enjoy the sensual pleasure of watching beautiful animals doing what they do best--running their hearts out.

Keep it simple, take in all the sights, sounds, and smells. Make simple bets. Play win or an exacta box. Play cheap bets like fifty cent trifectas to stretch your money as far as it will go. Have fun and don't take it too seriously.

If you want to learn how a horse owner and insider handicaps just go to http://williewins.homestead.com/true.html and get the truth about betting on horses and winning. Bill Peterson is a former race horse owner and professional handicapper. To see all Bill's horse racing material go to Horse Racing Handicapping, Bill's handicapping store.