How Professionals Play

A professional has handicapping skills, sufficient capital with which to operate, patience and self control, and clearly defined profit objectives.

The professional employs two basic betting methods: his bets are 1:3 ratio win and place, or flat betting to place only.

His profit objective is 50 cents on the wagered dollar. When he achieve his profit objective for the day, he stops playing.

What kind of horses does the professional pick? In claimers, look for a horse who had a recent race in which the class of the race is as high or higher than the horse's previous race. The horse must have been in the money of within 2 1/2 lengths of the winner in one of its last two races. The qualifying race must not have been aa maiden race.

In Allowance races, look for a horse with a recent start in a named handicap or stakes race. The previous race must be higher than allowance class. The horse must have finished in the money or 2 1/2 lengths of the winner.