How did you do this year?
 

What did you learn to make you a better better. (Is that right?)

This will be the third year I ask these questions.

2008 was really good for me. This year however I really lost focus more than anything and did not put in the work to find the winners. Interested more in some action, I made way to many bets without taking the time to properly handicap.

Thanks to Twin Spires, I can tell you 2009 I had a 18.44% win rate and a -0.22 ROI which is not too good at all. OK, it's pathetic.

This year, more concentration and better wagering.

How about you?

Spyder

Definite loser, and that's all because I had two golden opportunities/tickets in my hand and screwed them up all by myself. One with poor ticket management/structure (which is the biggest lesson I learned) and the other I just decided to go to bed and not place the bet (Hollywood Friday night card). That would have put me well in the black (would have been my best year ever) instead of ending in the red. Also I have realized that capping on the fly with 2 kids running in the house is doing my no favors. If I don't have proper time to look at races now, I just won't play.
I'm looking foward toward 2010, not getting in my own way and hopefully making a few nice scores here and there.

Do you guys find that betting less frequently with more of a bankroll is the best way to end up a winner overall and put yourself in the best situations for big scores?

I had a bad year overall. I can tell you without my 2 Kodiak Kowboy scores and Seth's first timer in the last race at Saratoga, I would be bankrupt.

If you mean by 'betting less frequently,' you're being more selective, I'd say yes. A lot of people can't help themselves and starting betting every race that's 2 mins to post. Focusing on one track.. and more importantly, just a few races, usually works best for me. I find my profits/bankroll start to disappear if I lose focus/patience and start making other bets I hadn't originally intended to make.

I don't know if this is the answer your looking for, but I think discipline is the most important factor. If you have the opportunity to handicap/play every day then it's easier to pick your spots. If you don't like a race or a sequance just sit it out and come back tomorrow. I guess technically that would be betting less and you would be saving your bankroll for a better opportunity.

Unfortunately for me, (and other people who don't get to play as often) when I finally get to the track I really don't like sitting out races/sequances because I'm there to play. I would think that's it's easier for a person to sit out races/cards when they will have other opportunites later in the day week as opposed to the person who only plays once or twice every couple of weeks. I know it's usually a losing formula, but that's the way it breaks for me personally.

I'm still the worst ticket structurer on the planet, but I had better success with Pick 3s this year.

Far and away my worst Saratoga meet, but my best Breeder's Cup. Two year old races whether maidens or stakes races still continue to be my strength. If anything, this year I began to get a feel of when I really thought I had an opinion on the race or if I should pass.

I think you mean...better bettor.

I didn't come close to having the year of the Indomitable One.
I can't get DrugS out of bed.:wf

Really had a tough time with the track I play the most, Santa Anita. I even stop playing it got so bad. It killed the win % down to 14.24, but the ROI was only a -.12.

The tracks and wagers that I made money on were Aquduct, Belmont, and Saratoga with exacta wagers at 16.18win % with a ROI of +.73.


This year I will focus on Maiden races and non winners of 1.

I actually even made some halfway decent money betting Presque Isle.

Talk about utterly impossible achievements.

I think we all had a better year than Gary Sciacca.

288 starts 10 wins (3%) 0.58 ROI
It must take an awful lot of effort to be that bad.

He's had some great moments of glory before - just look at the Belmont Park stats in the back of Davidowitz's book.

You'd think he was Mullins or Dutrow.

So have I....now Im Fat, Balding, Married, and have a 2nd baby on the way.

Take away Tobruk and Piazza Di Spagna and things would even have been worse.. Rough year...Let's hope DT Stables gets the barn jump started with their FTS in a week or so

One word.


TERRIBLE


far and away my worst year ever.

Overall, not too bad. I really think I am learning more and more all the time as far as structuring tri's and super's that have a chance to return decent money without overspending to make the bet and carefully watching the way others make multi-race bets. I share sentiments with Matt in that I have children that want my attention. Preparation and organization cost me dearly on several days, and it was the winning bets that I didnt make that really frustrated me. I had a bunch of signers (some thanks to Steve, one thanks to Herk) but none where they withhol the taxes automatically (those are real good). Looking forward to 2010.

Speaking from experience...Seconditis is a very very costly ailment....

Better than '08, but that's not saying much. I'm going to bet more pick 3's. Going to stay away from Pick 4's till I can get a handle on the pick 3's. I've always been win, exacta guy, and the past year or so started playing 3's and 4's. Ticket structure is killing me, but I'm learning, one buck at a time.

The worst Road to the Roses time period ever. Things got much better from the Preakness on. Saratoga was slightly profitable and a very good Breeders Cup . Overall...........I lost, but had a lot of fun!

I played a LOT less than I have in the past 5 years......and a furious rally in the past few months got me at least somewhat close to even.
I still finished decidedly in the negative however.

Didn't wager near what I put out in '08... had a great Tampa meet (early '09) a modest spring and a horrific summer ( save for Alalbama week at the Spa which rejuvenated the coffers) treaded lightly through the fall (except for Hollywood Friday nights which was pleasant) and amped up again for Tampa which has been even thus far... alll in all an uneventful 2009 - a little over even for the year.

Need to get more involved in tournaments this year, which is one of my horseplayer resolutions