Horse racing systems have been around for a long time and come in many styles.
You can read some excellent books on the subject of handicapping by top authors or you can buy a short set of instructions on how to pick winners or horses that will complete other types of wagers like trifectas or exactas.
What is the best way to learn how to handicap a horse race? If you want to learn how to handicap horse races and to make money betting horses, I recommend you read those good books and also check out as many systems as possible.
The more information you look at the better your chances of putting together the steps necessary to actually profit from your bets.
One thing you should be aware of, however, is that betting on horses is extremely risky and it is very hard to make a profit over the long haul.
Who uses systems? When you think about it everyone uses a system of some kind.
A system is just the method or way that you do things.
You may not have set out to develop your own system of handicapping, but if you've been to the races a few times and made some bets, you've probably already started developing habits and have some method or way of picking bets.
Unless you've gone to the races many times and developed some rigid rules for picking winners, your system is probably still developing.
I've been handicapping races for many years and yet, I am still refining my methods and learning all the time.
I have definite systems I've developed over the years and when I started out, I read the books and looked at other people's systems, too.
You can read all the systems and material you can find and then forget the ones that don't seem to help and keep the bits that seem to fit.
On the negative side of using a system, if your system is a loser then you will be, too.
While almost any system is better than just randomly betting on horses, a bad method that loses money, is still going to eat up your bankroll and eventually leave you broke.
You could have achieved that without a system.
Another pitfall or problem with using a system is getting into the mindset that you have to do something a certain way and cannot deviate from a set of instructions.
When people learn handicapping from me, I always tell them to adapt what they learn to suit their own style, characteristics, personality.
In my opinion, that is the only way you will eventually win and find a way that is right for you.
On the positive side of the handicapping system issue, the old saying, 'those who fail to plan, plan to fail, is true.
' While a day at the races, betting on the horses and handicapping the races, can be a lot of fun, when you bet you are using real money, and that should be taken seriously.
Therefore, a little planning and a good system can go a long way to help you to have some winners and some fun, or at the very least, to lose less.
Systems don't have to be complicated.
You can find a simple system that has a few steps that will lead to more winners.
My advice is to look at horse racing systems as teaching aids and learn what you can from them, but don't feel that you have to follow any method strictly by the book.
Go slow, make small bets and never lose sight of the fact that handicapping and betting on horses should be enjoyable, or all the work and preparation just isn't worth it.
Getting too serious, risking too much money, or trying too hard, will only lead to frustration.