Thoroughbred Horserace Betting and my Experiences

One of the most challenging things I ever did was make money betting on thoroughbred horseracing. Actually it was on thoroughbred horserace betting and I did well. That means I made good money betting.

It is, however, a very challenging task to keep up with winning strategies. During the many years of research I used the largest, most powerful Mainframe computers and PCs, to see if any horse selection systems could make money consistently and did research for over 25 years.

That included working with a partner the last 5 years of that testing commercially available computer programs for selecting horses.
 

Overall Results of Testing Horseracing Systems was Dismal

In spite of their sometimes high cost, especially the computer programs, none of the many programs we tested made a profit on their own, or enough of a profit to say you could make money with them.

There were a very few, however, that could make money if a GOOD Handicapper used them and selectively made bets from the programs picks. Even the artificial intelligence programs we tested didn’t show a profit.

I was hoping they would, but was very disappointed. All those systems tested advertised good to exceptional profits. Don’t believe such advertisements!
 

Later Research comprised Creating Databases of Past Races

A lot of my later research on thoroughbred horserace betting comprised creating databases of past races. I read dozens of books on betting/gambling/horseracing. Some written by professional betters.

I spent going to the thoroughbred racing tracks in Southern California for many years. Lots of experience and research were part of being able to win consistently. Being a computer programmer definitely had its advantages.

I could find out if any published systems worked or not. Most did not. Even using artificial intelligence programs didn’t beat the races. That is unless you were an expert handicapper and knew money management. You then needed to modify those systems to make them produce a winning advantage.

Sometimes I would fly to Las Vegas (1 hr. flight) and make a bunch of bets at several different tracks. I’s fly back home.

A few days later when the casinos mailed me my winnings I’d collect my profits. It is definitely possible to make a very good living betting on horses. However, it takes consistent learning to keep on the cutting edge of what’s working as far as profiting from betting.

I created 7 different racing systems for thoroughbred betting around 2000. But I never sold them due to the death of my brother who was working with me on the project. That was back then when the internet was relatively new.

One day I may revisit them, update them, if necessary and sell them. That’s a big maybe, however.

You can read a more thorough account of my horseracing adventures on my Yolky blog.