| Read any race track's program or the past | | | | races to find races that he or she wants to play. |
| performances you can buy and you will find public | | | | There is an old saying that probably explains how they |
| handicappers. Public handicappers are men and | | | | find their "playable" races. "A person shouldn't bet on |
| women who have built a reputation based on their | | | | any race he or she doesn't have a strong opinion |
| knowledge who then handicap races and publish their | | | | about." |
| picks or notes about the races. They are paid by | | | | In other words, if you can't figure the race out, don't |
| newspapers, race tracks, and the suppliers of past | | | | bet it. Another very important handicapping point that is |
| performances. | | | | also lost in the shuffle when rating these public |
| Some of these handicappers are very good while | | | | handicappers is what price he or she would take on a |
| others just seem mediocre. Sometimes the service | | | | horse, in other words, fair value odds. He or she would |
| they write for will publish the ROI (return on | | | | probably be able to stay in the black, though just |
| investment) for their picks over the course of the | | | | barely, by only betting on horses that he or she thought |
| meet. They usually are in the red though some come | | | | were at a fair price. |
| very close to making a profit. | | | | So when it comes to public handicappers, I think it is |
| While that may not be impressive, remember this, they | | | | fair to say that many of them are quite good, but they |
| have to handicap every race and make picks for the | | | | are trying to accomplish a very difficult task. It is still a |
| race whether they would actually play the race or not. | | | | good idea, however, to read their comments, because |
| No one can handicap every race on a program and | | | | you will sometimes find some very good points you |
| make a profit over the long run. So a smart | | | | may have overlooked with your own efforts. |
| handicapper usually picks and chooses among the | | | | |