With apologies to a few, this thread has disintegrated into remarkable prattle. The first rule of handicapping is to bet your own money, on your own selections. Rule two; take responsibility for those selections. There are no other rules.

The previous four pages of this thread are largely, collective confessions of novice handicappers who always bet the right horse. And if that horse loses; blame the jockey. Posts such as $50 to win, $50 place on a certain horse... ten minutes before the race, are ubiquitous and carry a dismal hit rate. Some cappers list 4 or 5 horses, for any given race, then take credit if any one of them wins! In the last few days some posters are fraudulenting claiming their horse won, when it ran up the track!!

Without apology or regret, I can relate to how hard a jockey has it. For twelve years I lived across the street from Churchill Downs. For the last eight of those years my roommate was an outrider. I have enormous respect, and a deep admiration for jockeys' work ethic, athleticism and courage. I call more than a few good friends.

In continuing my tirade, one post indicated the jocks in Louisiana, for the Delta Princess, were on the take, or lousy, because they set a fast pace. The poster did not consider that both were Grade One winning fillies and both were sent. Additionally that night, the first five races were won by widening wire to wire winners, with one exception who ran a very game second at a nice number. Wouldn't you love to see, your jockey, strangling your speed horse in a big money race???? Posting that a jock would "stiff" a horse in a $300K race highlights the prattle here in, and indicates the posters' incompetence.

In conclusion, in five decades of betting on horse races, a jockeys poor ride has beat me about five times. I asked, a few, really solid national cappers, the same question and their answer was about the same. I do not intend to come off as a know-it all, and have been "warned" that forum regulars are "intimidated" with my knowledge, I counter with all my bets are posted somewhere and my ROI would make a lottery winner wince. My strength is that, I realize, many handicappers know more than i do, and beat me like a drum every day, but I do not makre up excuses for my failures! Posting Friday, Good cappin, BBB