At the track, or OTB or home....do your wagers vary?
 

Not really taking a survey, but I've noted personally over the years I tend to wager smaller increments and total amounts when I'm actually in live attendance at a track.

I've never planned it in advance, but it just seems to have always happened.

I don't do any other wagering on horses other than rare sports book, or else OTB

Mostly OTB.

I'll "bet big" at an OTB, though may make just a couple wagers a visit, and rarely more than five or six wagers a visit.
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At the track, I likely wager a little most races. And can be content with just a spoonful of action.

I think I get too busy soaking up the great live atmosphere to get that gambling part of the brain going, or something.

It seems I bet less on track (Saratoga), because I'm concentrating only on the Spa races as opposed to being at an OTB and betting several tracks like an idiot.

Interesting post. As I live in SC ( and that' South Carolina not Southern California) all my horse racing action is on the computer. I'm a small better but work out of a home office most the time so I'm able to follow a great deal of action.

After years of doing this, and thanks to all the goodies the internet offer on racing, I'm relaxed and focused, and much more deliberate. I bet less and more selective.

On the rare occasion I get to an actual track it's usually a treat just to be there and between the distractions, noise, having to walk all over, I find myself less focused but bet more just for the fun. Even when I cap in advance, my betting and money management stinks.

Now that I thought about it, I think I'll change that.

Spyder

Ditto for when I'm at AP. Rarely play other tracks unless key races.

Guess I am the opposite. I definitely end up playing more on site.

I have my "set" plays that would be the same from home or track. However at the track, I am much more likely to make action or on the fly plays instead of just waiting for my scheduled spots. Also get to look at paddock in person and tend to be able to focus more on board movement than I do from home.

On track I'm more focused, and only bet that track. I have usually done my homework, and can spend time "soaking up the atmosphere", looking at the horses(and fillies;) ), etc. I don't know if I bet more or less, but I seem to do much better at the track.
At the OTB, I used to be an idiot, betting all the action I could. I have finally learned that betting all the tracks rarely works, and now try to focus on my favorite tracks. Pic threes and fours are best, because if you get them going you can just sit.

Another point that this thread brings up. I always only play one track a time, whether on line or at a track. I do have friends that, if they have 5 minutes without a race going off, they're making picks somehwere after a two minute capping. Can't seee doing that.

Spyder

lol..I didn't know we were friends..

That used to be a very bad habit of mine, but at OTB now I only focus on two tracks plus any other spot plays.

*coughs...bullsh*t*

Yeah. I can BARELY handle one track at a time (on or off-site).

Actually, saying I used to take 5 minutes is generous...

^^owns doctorate from Scav's School of Bombs Away Wagering.

During my Hiroshima years, I made Scavs look like BTW

online i have access to near real-time pool info. I work the overlay on an ineficient market. I consider relatively complex wagers. I do last-second homework on any race that displays certain market patterns. I will be happy with any small profit.


At the track/otb i only went down here for one, maybe two weak fan favorites, and I am coming home with a big one if right. Little pool info to finagle, and I don't get as complex. Larger more basic wagers, with larger expected profit.

On track:

If I have a P4 or P6 working, I will tend to make small win/exacta bets at other tracks after some speed handicapping. My main concentration is always on the track that I am at.

At home:

I am very disciplined and will only wager on the track/tracks that I have handicapped for the day and stick to my plan.


I also went through my Hiroshima Stage, but those days are long gone.

I find I play my absolute best at home, where I can concentrate. At the OTB, the distractions are endless, including having to worry about waiting in line and one at the machine, pissing off someone behind you. At home, you can take your time, click horses on/off without worrying about irritating anyone.

Aside from betting my home track, I rarely wager on anything else, except when I am at Gulfstream (often) or Pompano (occasionally) where I'll bet $10-$20 a race to have some action. I think I've made 5 bets over $20 since the first of the year.

I really dislike the OTB atmosphere except, of course, the pre-$1 admission days at State Street where literally surviving the first floor barbarian horde was always a thrill. But the $1 combined with the closing of the Taco Bell on Lake took the joy from it.

I am in that stage now, I need blinkers

I didn't read through this whole thread to see multiple mentions :)

I have gotten better. no more DD bets at Mountaineer, no more Penn National, no more LOS AL...

In the winter I usually go to the OTB an try to concentratre on 2 tracks, but that never happens and I go ballistic. At least I havn't bet on harness in about 2 years. When the weather is nice almost all my betting is at a track and only betting on the track on visiting, except for stakes and maiden turf races at other tracks. Right now I havn't bet any races in about 2 months.

I've played from home every once in a while, but i've always felt like more of a degenarate doing it that way. Plus if i take a bad beat, there is nobody there for me to curse and scream and make an ass out of myself in front of. what fun is that??

Now when I go to OTB I bet 2-3 tracks that I have handicapped before I get there. This has improved my ROI significantly. I used to be blitzkrieg better jumping from track to track just looking for action. I usually at least bet my original opinion but add horses based on what I have seen early on the card. But to answer the original question I bet more when I am at the track or at the OTB because I have put more effort into prehandicapping than when I play a few races from home.

For me, I do my best ROI happens when I bet on the computer at home. I place most of my bets within the last 2 min to post and can observe the odds, probables, pools because they are all at my fingertips. I also can watch prior race replays with a couple of quick clicks.

Of course, it's tough to tell how a horse looks and warms up with the grainy online video feed, but I still feel like I am best prepared at home.

As far as amount wagered goes, I bet about the same on track and at home. I bet less at the racebook, but I'm usually just there for fun and free drinks.