Horse Racing For Fun and Profit Is An Adventure Worth the Risks
There are many ways to enjoy and take part in the world of horse racing.
I've owned race horses and groomed them.
I've exercised my own horses and have also spent a lot of time deciphering the mysteries of a horse race as a handicapper.
It's known as the sport of kings, but believe me, it is supported by the racing fans and bettors, many of them who make small bets, rather than just the elite who the sport supposedly exists for.
Without the money that flows through the race track the sport would be very different.
The thoroughbred breed was originally developed by wealthy and influential people, but human beings have been racing horses for thousands of years, long before the thoroughbred breed was developed.
That means, that while the modern thoroughbred racing we see today started as a rich man's sport, it has its roots much deeper in the human psyche and in our history and it is shared by rich and poor alike.
Rich or poor, people of both genders and of all nationalities will always want to race horses.
Some do it for the love of the sport and to feel the thrill of the competition while others do it as a way to gamble and live vicariously through the experiences of the magnificent animals and brave and talented riders.
The art of handicapping a horse race is an intellectual challenge that appeals to people who like intellectual sports and figuring out a good riddle.
The problem is that horse racing is expensive.
While many do it for enjoyment, it costs money to feed and care for an animal that weighs a half ton.
Vet bills and trainer fees add up quickly.
Therefore, while some people who own race horses do make a profit, many do not.
The same is true of people who wager on horse races.
Everyone can't be a winner.
The track has to take a fee from the pools of money that the bettors wager in order to run the race track and pay the municipalities their share of the profits.
While the owners pay a part of the fee for maintaining the sport, the bettors pay a fee as well.
Who benefits? A few people who wager make a profit and a few who own the horses make a profit, but most people who are involved as owners or bettors are losers.
The money they lose is the price they pay for the thrills and opportunities.
Employees of the race tracks make a living and the towns and states that receive money from the races benefit as well.
On the other hand, those towns and states have to provide services, so it isn't all profit.
If you decide to become a horse player you better factor that fee and the expense of playing the races into your financial calculations.
If you approach the sport as both entertainment and a possible, though unlikely, source of revenue, you'll probably get a lot of enjoyment and a few genuine thrills out of your experiences.
It takes luck and sometimes hard work, however, to make a profit in dollars and cents.
Your profit may be in the experience itself, but speaking as someone who has spent decades in the sport, I can truthfully tell you that time at the race track is time well spent.
I've owned race horses and groomed them.
I've exercised my own horses and have also spent a lot of time deciphering the mysteries of a horse race as a handicapper.
It's known as the sport of kings, but believe me, it is supported by the racing fans and bettors, many of them who make small bets, rather than just the elite who the sport supposedly exists for.
Without the money that flows through the race track the sport would be very different.
The thoroughbred breed was originally developed by wealthy and influential people, but human beings have been racing horses for thousands of years, long before the thoroughbred breed was developed.
That means, that while the modern thoroughbred racing we see today started as a rich man's sport, it has its roots much deeper in the human psyche and in our history and it is shared by rich and poor alike.
Rich or poor, people of both genders and of all nationalities will always want to race horses.
Some do it for the love of the sport and to feel the thrill of the competition while others do it as a way to gamble and live vicariously through the experiences of the magnificent animals and brave and talented riders.
The art of handicapping a horse race is an intellectual challenge that appeals to people who like intellectual sports and figuring out a good riddle.
The problem is that horse racing is expensive.
While many do it for enjoyment, it costs money to feed and care for an animal that weighs a half ton.
Vet bills and trainer fees add up quickly.
Therefore, while some people who own race horses do make a profit, many do not.
The same is true of people who wager on horse races.
Everyone can't be a winner.
The track has to take a fee from the pools of money that the bettors wager in order to run the race track and pay the municipalities their share of the profits.
While the owners pay a part of the fee for maintaining the sport, the bettors pay a fee as well.
Who benefits? A few people who wager make a profit and a few who own the horses make a profit, but most people who are involved as owners or bettors are losers.
The money they lose is the price they pay for the thrills and opportunities.
Employees of the race tracks make a living and the towns and states that receive money from the races benefit as well.
On the other hand, those towns and states have to provide services, so it isn't all profit.
If you decide to become a horse player you better factor that fee and the expense of playing the races into your financial calculations.
If you approach the sport as both entertainment and a possible, though unlikely, source of revenue, you'll probably get a lot of enjoyment and a few genuine thrills out of your experiences.
It takes luck and sometimes hard work, however, to make a profit in dollars and cents.
Your profit may be in the experience itself, but speaking as someone who has spent decades in the sport, I can truthfully tell you that time at the race track is time well spent.