Picking winners at the horse races with any consistency is not an easy thing to do. Actually making a profit from your bets over the long haul is almost impossible. I didn't say it was completely impossible, just almost, but with that being said, it is important to realize what you're up against before you make a bet.
If you're just a recreational horse player and only want to take a chance and have some fun, there isn't as much pressure on you as the professional who is trying to make a living might experience. But even the casual horse player finds winning much more enjoyable than losing and therefore, taking a little time to learn how to handicap and find a good bet might be worth the effort. Leaving the race track or OTB with more money than you started with is a great feeling.
It all comes down to having a good method of finding good bets and then playing them properly. That starts with the actual bet type you choose. Straight bets like win, for instance, are usually the easiest and often the most profitable. They don't offer the huge payoffs that exotic bets like trifectas and pick threes do, but on the other hand, they are easier to win. You can always wheel a horse in a daily double, exacta, or even a trifecta, but that becomes an expensive bet.
