I had a quick skim and couldn't see it. What's your goal when backing horses? Do you prefer to pick a winner or win money? Personally, I get a sense of achievement if I break even, at least I'm not making the bookies rich.
I think most on here will be betting for the joy of the sport (which is not to say they don't look to show a profit) as there is something very satisfying about looking at a race and seeing your selection come home in front. With regard the money side there obviously has to be a balance between what you are spending and winning as otherwise it will just become a drain. I decided a long time ago I was unlikely to ever make any real money from racing because I could never be selective enough. I understand very clearly what races I am most likely to have success in and those I am likely to lose in, but I will never not have a bet in races like the stewards cup because I love the challenge. I have had some big wins over the years and even though you know that it's likely only your own money coming back, the feeling of a yankee coming in is quite something. I think long term I have had quite a few winning flat seasons (I used to keep track) but doubt I have ever had a winning jumps season. So in summary I think personally it's to pick a winner rather than purely a financial investment, but the money aspect goes hand in hand and the joy of a decent win financially is also an incentive. It is why I always have a yankee at the big meetings as I know I may lose more often than not but when it comes up the sum makes a big difference financially, whilst in truth when I back singles as I do most of the time even if I have a great day where possibly 3 out of 4 selections win the prices are unlikely to make the sum anything to really get excited about. To bet purely for financial gain it really is necessary to be hugely selective and disciplined. Most on here I feel are fans of the sport rather than money, whilst those I have come across who bet for money are as indifferent to a horse to a football team. I know I am going off topic now as well but personally I love the narratives that go with the sport, the affiliation to certain horses and trainers. I love following the career of a horse, a jockey and a trainer. I also love sharing views with people on the forum as speaking to another racing fan is like speaking to someone who follows the same football team, you can have a conversation that would mean nothing to someone outside of that circle but the enthusiasm from those who love as you do is infectious. I love sharing views and reading others views, I love being critical of a jockey or trainer as you would your centre forward who has not scored for 9 matches. We all know we could do no better but that's what loving the sport does it gives you a view. I love celebrating with these same trainers and jockeys as well when you see them delighted after a big win or a fantastic ride also. I have never bet on anything other than a horse race as I love the sport more than betting, but I have always bet on the sport since I have followed it. Sorry for going on - train of consciousness sort of thing started.
I don't bet big but I definitely do it to win money. If I had money I probably wouldn't gamble I don't actually watch the racing that much and very rarely watch a race I haven't bet on
Good question. I'm in a bit of an experimental phase at the moment, haven't had a bet since April (having previously bet on just about anything), a decision driven by (a) always seeming to do badly in the early part of the flat season and (b) having to watch the pennies at the moment. I wanted to see whether horse racing held the same fascination for me without the financial side and, to be honest, I am now much more selective about which races I watch and how often. Flat racing really doesn't do it for me at the moment (probably only the Group 1 races will catch my attention) but jumps racing continues to excite me, and in particular AP McCoy's pursuit of his fastest century of winners and (I'm sure this is his big target) 300 winners in a season. On Sunday I just flicked on Market Rasen and saw AP get O'Callaghan Strand up on the line and was (yet again) in complete awe of the man. For a fleeting second I thought "I wish I'd had money on that" but that soon subsided and I was happy just to have seen the race. When I used to bet it was definitely all about backing a winner for me - great feeling. I was never disciplined enough to make a consistent profit, I was purely in it for the thrill of backing a winner.
The comments of Bluesky9 and OddDog just about sum it up completely for me. Exactly my thoughts, and cannot add anything to these posts.
Completely agree!! 100% correct. Although would like to add I think it was Boris once said " we bet to make money for the next one" everyone would be lier if they said they don't like to be in profit after a bet but seeing a winner come home especially a big price one where u have done ur research is a great feeling
Morning DMD As everyone knows on here, I don't actually bet. Long ago I did, but I got more and more selective regarding the races I would bet in until eventually I wasn't betting in any. However, I get the same thrill from picking a winner as if I had backed it, and vice versa. I like to learn from picking a loser (ie I study the winner in depth to see if I can find a reason why I might have selected it). If I can then I've learned something. I do bet with fictitious money on here and I find I am still learning. It is a fascinating sport which Bluesky has summarised delightfully. The affinity one gets with some horses is something else and many a tear has been drawn from sheer delight when they battle their way to victory (I was very close to a heart attack once when one of my favourite horses pulled off an amazing and unexpected victory). At the end of the day, I'm in it for my love of horses, not to make money.
Cheers for the answers, it's food for thought. I quite like a day at the races, and I can play on line to kill time. For me, the buzz is keeping my pot from needing topping up. I've had it drop to pennies, and then built it back up to a healthy size. But once it gets a size, the bets go up in proportion. My dad studies the horses in quite a big way. I remember asking him how he'd got on, and he said he was £150 up. I asked if it was all on one bet, or just over the day, and he looked blank. He then explained he'd not put a farthing on anything, but if he had, he'd be £150 down, therefore, in his world he's well up... Another mate cashed in race after race at one meeting. It took a while for the penny to drop that he was backing several horses each way in every race. Lost money, but a winner every time. Point being, I guess if it works for you, it's a decent way to pass time, as long as you can afford it.
We often have betting (or points based) competitions on here DMD. Feel free to join in any time and, of course, to any threads that take your fancy.
I too used to punt, but have not for quite some time. I didn't really know whether I was doing it because I loved a bet or the racing. In the end I believed in both. But there has to be a bottom line, one has to be liked more than the other. I found the answer when I gave up betting. I like the concept of racing animals against each other. Even though I'm not betting, I can sit and watch racing all day long on tv. Sometimes while driving next to the local track, I'll pull over and wait for the next race. The sights and sounds of racing are a wonder to behold.
You can come on here DMD as long as your team behaves themselves in a few weeks time and does the decent thing and loses. If anything else happens and QPR do not get the expected result then please keep it to yourself. Picking winners is more important to me. But I'm hopeless at it and should select what I tip a lot more than I do. Nobody bets other than to win, even if you know you might not. When I go racing I'm a modest punter but I'd bet in every race just for the craich.
I don't often get to the races but when I do it is purely to see class horses. I may or may not have a bet on course but I can't remember ever betting on every race. I'll study the form beforehand and decide which race, if any, on which to place the bulk of any available betting money. The last time I went to the races was Arc day when Danedream won in a blisteringly fast time. My first bet was Elusive Kate which got me off to a good start. But then, after leaving Dabirsim alone due to prohibitive odds, I lost on Goldikova (2nd in photo) and then had the 4th and 5th in the Arc with so You Think and SNA (RIP). Fantastic day, hot and sunny, and Katie paid for the day. In France you don't have to win much to pay for the day.
On the subject of going to the races and betting in every race, I always bet on every race when I am there, even the Cross Country at Cheltenham. On the Tuesday at Cheltenham this year I had probably my most successful days punting: Supreme - Vautour win Arkle - Dodging Bullets and Valdez cost me the fecking placepot 3m1f Handicap Chase - Ma Filleule e/w at 33/1 came 2nd (nearly shot my load when she jumped the last in front) Champion Hurdle - MTOY neck 2nd Mares Hurdle - Quevega win and L'Unique e/w 4 miler - Shotgun Paddy neck 2nd Novices Handicap Attaglance e/w came 2nd I did the same on the Wednesday but can't remember much after Sire De Grugy winning - too much Guiness with Stick and Nass. Happy days
Roll on next yr!! Although will be round the time my second child will be born but in sure asking as the aren't born befor I can get a one day pass
