Here we go

We'll get to this week's races in moment. First, let me clarify what I'm doing and why.

I've been an avid handicapper for 7 years now, the first 5 of which could diplomatically be classified as a learning experience. I was horrible -- no clue how to read a past performance and a less-than-limited understanding of parimutuel wagering. The last couple years I've put that 'learning' to adequate use. Now, I'm either going to generate professional level returns, or I'm going to find out what I still need to learn.

The $20 threshold was selected for two reasons: 1) my wife won't bat an eye at the amount, and 2) it will force me to take a very narrow stand on each race.

Each week I will make only vertical, or single race, wagers. Horizontal, or multi-race, wagers...Pick 3s, 4s & 6s...offer the potential for much greater payoffs and a greater likelihood of earning 3:1 over the long-term. While I will continue to make those plays offline, that's not what we're after here. We are going to drill deep into 1 or 2 races per week and find out how accurately we can handicap a race.

Now, onto the races.