This Post Is For G-Rob

by Luckbox

You can start by re-reading this post in which G-Rob explains just how bad I am at picking the ponies. When you're done there, come back here.

Okay, so it's well established that in G-Rob's mind, you're better off betting against me. In fact, while in Vegas, he and I decided to do some pony prop bets. It didn't go well for me...

Sitting in a casino cafe that can be found in every casino on the strip, and waiting for our food to arrive, I noticed a race getting ready to run on the only TV in the joint. I offered G-Rob $5 a race. In this particular race, I noticed the money was heavily on the 7 horse to the tune of 8-5. I gave G-Rob the field and took the 7 horse.

By the time the race began, my horse was the third favorite. The smart money, which usually comes in late, wasn't on my horse.

"Oh, it's a turf race," I said. "Don't worry about the horses that get out fast. The closers are usually the winners on the grass."

My horse got out fast. And finished dead last. G-Rob got a hearty laugh out of that one. We tried a few more races, but in these, I didn't give him the field. Neither of us won. But that wasn't it for the ponies for me.

Sunday morning, with G-Rob and Bad Blood already on the plane, I hit the sportsbook at the Palms. I bought a couple of racing forms and settled in for a couple hours of racing. It went very, very well.

Race 9 Monmouth

It was the Lighthouse Stakes, going 1m 70 on the dirt, and I liked the 1 horse, Devil House. I bet $5 on him to win, and when he came across the wire in first, he paid $30.80 on a $2 bet.

My ticket

Race 8 Belmont

This was an Allowance race going just 6 furlongs on the turf. I had my eye on the 9 horse, Gold Vendetta. It was another $5 win bet, and it was another winner, paying $19.80 for a $2 bet. I also had the exacta for $93.50.

My ticket

Race 3 Hollywood Park

Finally, it was a Claiming race going 1m 1/16 on the dirt. I kinda liked two horses. The 4 horse, Brave Sun, and the 6 horse, Sorta Gold. I put down $4 win bets on both of them. When Brave Sun came across in first, a $2 bet paid $28.80.

My ticket

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As I tried to explain to G-Rob in Vegas, winning at the ponies isn't about always having the winner. I mean, it'd be nice to win every race, but it just doesn't happen. If you handicap a horse and believe it may win the race once out of every three times the race is run, it's not real smart to place a bet if he's getting 2-5 odds, but it would be a great bet if he's getting 10-1 odds. In each of the races above, I identified horses at great prices that I thought had great shots at winning their races. That makes a profitable day at the sportsbook.

Wish you could have been there, G-Rob.

| Betting the Ponies , | Horse Racing