Quote:
Originally Posted by The MoePro
I got some help from a horse racing handicapper and he recommended doing daily doubles. After the first five days I am in the red. Are these things profitable? Am I wasting my time?
I'm a huge fan of daily doubles. Here in NY, the take-out on daily doubles is 18.5%. In comparison, the win take-out is 16%. Across two races, the take-out is almost half of what win bets would be in each race individually. This doesn't guarantee a win, but it reduces the frequency with which I have to be successful in order to show a profit.
Some tips:
- If there are maiden claimers or cheaper horses who do not exhibit consistent form, I will stay away from the double in those races. There are occasions where I spot value in the doubles in cheaper race pay-outs, and I might dip my toe in. In other instances, I may find vulnerable favorites mixed in with competitive long-shots. The latter angle is particularly useful in turf races where very little talent separates the field, and the race comes down to the path/speed tactics chosen by the jockey.
- Don't hesitate to spread it around a little, even if to cover your wagers. Should you like 2 horses in each race in a double, giving a smaller chance to an additional horse in each race, then use the third horse in each race in back-up doubles. In this instance, I examine the projected pay-outs and use the horses I like less with bet sizes that cover my total wagers on the race.
- The most profitable doubles for me have come on major stake days where there are multiple competitive races towards the end of the card (the exception, of course, being the last race of the day). These pools can skew highly towards favorites and offer good value on even the 2nd or 3rd betting favorites.