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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
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Frequently Asked Questions
- Do you bet?
Absolutely. I not only do my handicapping and make my selections based on my own style of play but I couldn't do this work without actually investing my own money. I may not play every day, but whenever I can I play on-line or at my local simulcast venue. One of the reasons I play, besides the fact I want to make money like you do, is that I absolutely hate it when one of my selections wins at a big price without my money!
- What's Your Win Rate
As I encourage everyone I talk to at the track or at seminars, I keep records not only for tax purposes but also so I can track my selections and to answer these types of questions. Since my selections are "Value" oriented, leaning toward horses at above average prices, they (meaning the top selection) win at a much lower rate then the betting favorite wins, which is about 33% of the time. From January 1, 2003 through May 31, 2003 my top selection has won about 20% of the time with 3900 races handicapped so far. To make up for that win rate which is lower then the public choice, my average winning mutual is well above that of the average favorite.
- If you are so good, why aren't you rich? or If you are so good why are you selling you selections rather then playing them?
This is a great question and one I never shy away from. If you are a horseplayer you know the joy in selecting the winner and cashing a bet. The thrill of being right, particularly when others are not, is one that can't be explained to many people out there. There are few things as gratifying as selecting a winner and knowing that it has helped others to make money or have a positive experience at the races. Also, as I said before, I do play the races so that is not an issue. The third reason I do this is to educate. My selections, which are available for free review every day after the races, don't just contain the horses names in order. I try to explain the reasoning that goes into the handicapping process so that you, the reader, can use that information the next time you handicap a race, whether you use my selections or not.
How would you like an extra set of eyes and ears at the track? I know I would. That's the feedback I get from many people regarding how my selection reports are used, as an adjunct to their own handicapping, in order to find live longshots, reduce the chances of vulnerable favorites, or to get an opinion on a horse that they may not have considered.
- Do you do seminars?
Absolutely. I love to teach, and if it weren't for people teaching me when I first became interested in this sport as a teenager I would have quit long ago. My greatest mentor, Dick Mitchell, always said "The best way to learn is to teach" and I believe that sincerely. I get a lot of feedback at seminars and talking to fans that benefits my game as well, as handicapping is more of an art then a science, and is in a state of motion.
If you have a group attending the races, Ellis is available to speak to your group attending the races to enhance your experience and hopefully to put you on a few winners.
If you are associated with a Racetrack or Off Track Betting facility wanting to increase handle through customer education just send e-mail to Ellis at:estarr@ubercapper.com
- Can anyone win at the races?
First let me say that it is difficult. There's no question about it. With an average of $0.17 taken out of every bet you need to be right a lot more often then wrong to be profitable. But, since racing is a pari-mutuel game, in which the house has no stake or edge as opposed to casino gambling, and since racing is akin to the stock market because you can not only decide when to invest but can quantify your investment before jumping in, there is nothing like it. To be realistic, even the best regular players in the country are lucky to make 10% on their money. However, if you love the game and the challenge of using your own judgement or the judgement of others, as well as possess the ability to manage your money wisely, there's nothing like it. Additionally, since you can set a bankroll to invest and churn the same money over and over, you can actually earn a living at it.
- Where can I find information on the Web on a daily basis?
Equibase.com is your best source for information like entries and results. You can also sign up for the best free horse tracking service on the Internet, Virtual Stable, which automatically sends you e-mail every time a horse on your personal list of horses you want to follow works out, is entered, or after it has run.
Ntra.com is a service of the National Thoroughbred Racing Association, and is a center for information about the industry for those everyone with an interest in the sport.
For handicapping information, there are a variety of sources. I use a combination of both TrackMaster Plus and Daily Racing Form (obtained from the Equibase web site) data to do my handicapping. Both provide excellent and complete past performance data and various statistics.
The TrackMaster data has one advantage over the Daily Racing Form information that is very useful in my handicapping in that it contains the official program data, including betting numbers, morning lines and day of race jockey, medication and equipment information which can save a lot of time.
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