10 valid thoughts for the serious horseplayer.

1. Your time is the most important variable to consider. If you waste it in any way, your ROI will go down by that amount. You have to work on ways to use your time better. Time is money is a very valid concept for serious horseplayers. 

2. Hit rate is not that important. Its not irrelevant either. But, no matter what your hit rate is, if you don't play for value, you are guaranteed to lose money. 

3. What others say is important. They might give you info you can use. But your own opinion and system is always the most important thing to listen to. Others will always say things that will trigger you, and they will think up things you would have never thought to test or try. Doesn't mean they are right, but it means they are a resource to avail yourself of. It doesn't replace what you do, but it can add to it if applied correctly. Don't discount anyone until they convince you that is the best option.

4. You don't know it all, and neither does anybody else. If they claim they do, its a sure sign they know little, and certainly less than you if you are already successful. You never stop learning if you play the horses. I've done if for 35 years, and I learn more now than I did 2 years ago. 

5. Winning at the races is simple, but its not easy. Its hard work and its a constant battle to get better faster than the others can catch up to your edge. Set time away from playing to get better every day. It will pay off in better returns over time.

 

6. You have to accept losing, and make plays that will lose, trying not to be perfect. Its the net amount you win that matters, not whether you win or lose a bet. Hardest one of these 10 for a perfectionist like me to master. I've worked hard to accept losing as part of the winning process.

 

7. Until you figure out other ways of playing, stick to what you know and what works for you. Profit is profit. How you do it, and how others do it doesn't matter. Whoever makes the best return on their bankroll is doing it right for themselves. I probably don't understand your bets that well, and you won't understand mine. Its not a race to figure out how others do it. The goal is to do it well yourself, and that is all that matters.

8. Numbers don't lie. If you gather valid data, what others think about an angle mean nothing if your data is tested and proved valid. You will win, and they will lose. Facts trump opinion. They likely wont understand what you do, how you figure it out. That is not your problem. That is your edge.

9.Study what losers say and play. They will lead you to angles and success just by steering you away from poor and ill conceived plays. Stupid is very valuable in this scenario. The flipside of a loser is a winner taking their money. Without losers, we would only be trying to beat whales with supercomputers and high powered brainiacs on their payroll. Good luck with that.

10. You have to be consistent. You can never alter your strategy or how you play because you win or lose a lot in a day or week. If you know what you are doing, trust yourself. If you don't trust your ability, your work and your plan, you might as well just burn the money. At least it will be useful and heat your house. It certainly will disappear if you don't stick with the plan you have set out.