Betting at the Spa: 10 Tips to Turn a Profit

For 40 racing days spread over 7½ weeks handicappers will face the challenge of turning a profit at the world’s best extended race meeting. Nothing is as uplifting for a horseplayer as a hot streak at the Spa, but a slump there hurts far more than it stings anywhere else.

For those who bet horse racing, here are 10 lessons learned (often painfully) from 43 seasons of betting Saratoga:

Don’t get overly aggressive early in the meeting and put yourself in a hole. Hold your fire and wait for opportunities. Plenty of overlays will show up, and when you see one, go for it.

Saratoga features dozens of unraced 2-year-olds who cost megabucks, but it’s hard to pick winners without past performances. Just watch the promising rookies with an eye toward future investments.

Stabbing around when you don’t have a strong opinion is financially fatal. Don’t be afraid to admit you’re confused by a race with six legitimate contenders. Not losing counts just as much as winning.

The Ortiz brothers, Flavien Prat and Joel Rosario will ride an inordinate number of winners, and trainers Chad Brown, Todd Pletcher, Linda Rice and Brad Cox will dominate. The rich always get richer at Saratoga.

Maybe it’s the air, maybe it’s the water, but year after year some horses do their best work at Saratoga. Give proven Spa specialists a long look even if they haven’t run lately or if their current form is subpar. They often can wake up with big prices.

Playing every race makes no sense, so don’t use the shotgun approach. Instead, pick your targets carefully. Focus on three, maybe four races a day at the most and you’ll find your focus will sharpen.

Don’t overvalue the Aqueduct form. The top trainers from all over the country send their best horses to Saratoga, so respect the out-of-towners. As the late, great Woody Stephens liked to say, “They’re here for a reason, not the season.”

Where a horse starts often can affect where it finishes. An extreme outside post can be a hindrance, especially on the inner turf or in a dirt race with a short run to the turn. The rail can be a problem at 7 furlongs on the main track, especially for a front-runner in a field full of speed.

Like most American tracks, Saratoga favors early foot, particularly early in the meet. Unless a race has four or five need-to-lead types likely to duel on a hot pace, think twice about playing closers in sprints.

Most of us are recreational bettors, so obsessing constantly about the bottom line can take the fun out of an absorbing hobby. And good luck.