A Day at the Races

There are few things I like more than responding to letters from my readers, especially if a question is involved. Liza -- remember wonderful Audrey Hepburn as Eliza Doolittle in the race track scene from 'My Fair Lady? -- writes from Naples, FL., 'My roommate and I have been following your column and like your stories very much.

'We recently moved to Florida from Michigan to teach school. We love Naples and the social life, but you make the horse races sound so interesting, we're planning to spend a day at the races at Hialeah Race Track next Saturday. Can you please give us some do's and don'ts when it comes to betting on the horses?'

Liza, I hope you and your teacher friend have a wonderfully successful day at the track. Here's a little joke you can tell her that she might appreciate. Two bookies come out of church and one slaps the other in the head with the church program: 'You idiot,' he says, 'it ain't Hialeah -- it's Hallelujah!'

Anyhow, you want to know how to approach betting on the ponies when it's obviously your first day at a race track. My first piece of advice is don't take a lot of money with you and leave your credit cards at home. The object of wagering on horses is to bet a little to win a lot. Not bet a lot to win a little like some people practice doing.

Once you arrive at the track, buy a Daily Racing Form. It contains all the information you need to apply the following rules that I am about to give you. Do not bet maiden claimers, claiming races or any other cheap races. You want to bet on maiden special weights, allowances or stakes races. Make a check mark next to each horse that qualifies and bet the horse to win that has the most check marks. Here goes:

(1) Check all the horses in the race that finished first, second or third at today's distance or near distance in the past three races.

(2) Check any horse that finished in the money in today's class or better in its last three starts.

(3) Give one point for any horse that is dropping in class from its last race if the race occurred within the past 45 days.

(4) One point for each horse that has won 20 percent or more of this year's starts.

(5) If a horse won by three lengths or more in its last race, it's worth a check mark -- but only if the race was run within the past 45 days.

(6) If the horse had an excuse for performing poorly in its last race -- it was bumped, impeded or forced wide -- it is worth one point.

(7) If the horse was a favorite in its last race and had an excuse, give it another point.

(8) Check any horse that returned to competition in its last race after a layoff and failed to finish in the money. Most horses will run a much better race their second time out.

(9) If a horse posted a bullet workout in the past 14 days, it's worth a point. Two bullet workouts since the last race are worth two points because they mean the horse is in condition.

(10) Give one point for any trainer who has won 20 percent of his starts this year.

(11) Give one point for any jockey who has won 20 percent of his starts or more this year.

(12) Give one point for any equipment change or first or second lasix, a medication that helps a horse breathe better.

(14) Look at the odds at post time for the horse in its last race. If the odds were anywhere from 2-1 to 6-1, it means the horse took money and probably should have done better than it did. That's worth a point.

(15) If there are only one or two horses in a race that were lightly raced, they are worth a check mark.

(16) Does one trainer have more than one horse entered in the race? If so, he wants to win. Give him a point.

(17) Award a point for each horse that was a recent beaten favorite in its past three races.

(18) Was a horse recently claimed and does it have a new trainer? If so, the new connections want to win, and that is worth a point.

(19) Has today's jockey won on the horse? That is a good sign. Give him a check mark.

(20) Does the owner also train the horse? That is worth a point.

(21) Finally, check the odds board just before post time. The horse that has the most place money should be right there at the finish line and is definitely worth a point.

Liza, I realize this is a lot of information for you to observe. Believe me, it's worth it. If I were you, I would pick up a daily racing form in Naples and spend a couple of hours going through the races. If you stick to these rules and only bet the horse with the most points, you should do well. I would love to hear the outcome of your day at the races.

Author: Geno Lawrenzi Jr.

(Geno Lawrenzi Jr. is an international journalist, magazine author and ghostwriter. If you have a unique gambling story to share with him, you may qualify for a cash award. Send your story with all the details to glawrenzi@gmail.com ).