[brianwspencer]

Originally Posted by TheSpyder

OK, so everyone beared theri souls with how they did this last year. Now let's look at the year ahead and think about what we can do to do better. I'm not talking about becoming a punter, but what are a few things that we can do to make 2007 a better year than last year.

Howz About You??

1. I will positively stop playing tracks outside of Kentucky, Louisiana, or Illinois -- with the exception of the occasional Gulfstream race. No more Calder shots. No more Belmont. No more Santa Anita. Far less Oaklawn....maybe no Oaklawn at all.

2. I will go deeper on Breeders' Cup day. This was the third straight year where I picked a good amount of winners, but didn't go in as heavily as I should have. Case in point: Hitting the tri in the Classic for $680 on a $12 ticket, but having Giacomo on the bottom of the tri along with Premium Tap, and knowing that with an extra $20 to throw into that bet, that I could have hit an 8K super with the same horses I played.

3. Only play the Derby with a group of friends. I played my first bet ever on the BC with friends, all pitching in on the late pick-4. It was awesome knowing that we could cover more as a mini-syndicate than alone. I will limit the Derby betting to the pick-4 involving the Derby and the trifecta or superfecta with a bet with a mini-syndicate of friends.

4. Focus more on Pick-X bets. I really only started playing them with any regularity this year. I used to bet just win bets and tris, but have had way too many "near-miss" tris and supers in the second half of this year to keep doing it. I don't have the money to dive into supers the way I need to, so I tend to key longer shots....in the wrong spot (ie i key them fourth and they run third, keying a 4K super). It's stupid wagering, and I will stick more to investing more money in multi-race wagers where I only have to pick winners instead of winners and who will clunk home third.....except in the Breeder's Cup. Exotics are on the table there still.

5. Watch every single race at Arlington this year and take way more notes than I need to. I watched them all last year, but didn't keep as detailed of notes as I had in years past with moving and the transition and all. It was my worst year betting Arlington in my history -- and I attribute it to my being lazy. I am usually completely on top of Arlington's meet (and made some monster scores in 2005, namely with my best buddy Courthouse ), but slacked off this year and I paid for it. Focus my ass up and start making some money at Arlington again -- because it's there for the taking.

6. Really stop and enjoy what I'm watching. I only tend to really stop and proverbially "smell the roses" when I'm live at Arlington on a Saturday afternoon standing by the rail watching turf racing. It's then that I realize that there are incredible things happening at tracks every day and that there is more to it than MY betting interest in it. It is really an awesome sight to behold every day around the country. I need to remember that Saturday-afternoon feeling on a rainy Thursday afternoon at dirty simulcast facilities too.

Great thread idea -- thanks for making me take a bit here and think it out!

EDIT: oh yea, and this!

Originally Posted by MaTH716

1. Don't look at the tote board before I bet. If I like a horse and he is 3-2 so be it. I have a habit of going back into the form and try to convince myself that I like the other horse at 8-1 better. So instead of cashing a small ticket, well you know how the rest goes.