Winning Without Handicapping
“Put
your money where your mouth is” has been a rallying cry for gamblers since time
immemorial. Basically, it means if one is so confident about whatever it is they
are asserting, they should put some money down — they should bet on it.
Many
horseplayers think along similar lines. They will pass (I tried that once in
1992) or bet less money on races they are less sure of and wager with gusto on
the events they like.
This
got me wondering: Is it possible to determine the efficiency of pari-mutuel odds
based solely on the relative handle?
That
speculative markets like pari-mutuel pools are generally efficient is hardly arguable. In fact, on Wall Street,
there’s a name for it: the Efficient Market Hypothesis (EMH for short).
Formulated in the early 1960s by Eugene Fama, a professor of finance at the
University of Chicago Booth School of Business, EMH asserts that speculative
markets reflect all that is known and can be analyzed, while rapidly
assimilating new data on various traded assets. In racing parlance, this means
that each horse in a race is, for the most part, fairly priced.
Again,
let me stress that we are talking in generalities here. Obviously, Wall Street
traders and racetrack gamblers encounter underlays (overvalued horses/financial
instruments) and overlays (undervalued horses/financial instruments) every day.
That said, those of us who are honest, i.e. not in politics, know that the
concept of value betting is much tougher in practice than in theory.
But
what if the pools themselves could tell us how predictable a particular race
was? What if we knew in advance — without even handicapping — whether a
particular steed was a good or bad favorite?
Well,
based on my preliminary research, we can.
I examined
the June 30 and July 1 result charts from nearly every thoroughbred track in North
America with one simple goal: to find out if the money wagered on a particular race
was an indication of that contest’s efficiency or predictability. Specifically
I looked for the one event on each card that generated the highest straight pool
(win, place and show) handle. I then recorded the odds of each winner and noted
whether or not it was the favorite.
Here’s
what I found:
Races: 64Winning Favorites: 32Rate: 50.0%Return: $134.30ROI: +4.92%Median Win Price: $6.80
50
percent winners and a positive ROI… think about that for a second. And while
you’re still on the toilet (hey, it’s where I do my best thinking), remember that, on average, favorites win only
about a third (33.3 percent) of the time and produce a return of just 85 cents on each
dollar wagered (-15 percent ROI).
What’s
more, the races in my study ran the gambit — from graded stakes events to lowly
maiden claimers. At Monmouth Park on June 30, for example, there were two
stakes races — the kind of high-purse races we bettors supposedly flock to — on
the card, yet it was the fourth event of the day, a lowly maiden claiming
affair, that generated the most interest among punters.
 |
(Click on
image to enlarge)
|
Field
size didn’t always matter either, as was proved at Emerald Downs on July 1,
when the fourth race, consisting of seven betting interests, produced a larger
handle than the second race (eight entrants), third race (10 entrants) and sixth
race (nine entrants).
 |
(Click on
image to enlarge)
|
Interestingly,
the third race was comprised primarily of first-time starters, which adds
credence to the thesis that the handle reflects bettor confidence and, as
a result, the efficiency of the odds.
 |
(Click on
image to enlarge)
|
Now,
clearly, more research needs to be done, but the initial implications of
this study are stunning. If it’s true that more wagering leads to more formful
results, it would seem that the opposite might also hold true — that less wagering
leads to more chaotic results.
Also,
rather than focusing on the race with the highest handle of the day as I did
(which is an after-the-fact observation), one might instead establish handle “pars,”
averages to help one determine unusually heavy or light betting activity. Armed
with such knowledge, players could spot efficient and less efficient betting
markets with relative ease.
The possibilities,
it seems, are endless.
Weekend Win Factor Plays
Coming soon.
Weekend Win Factor Plays
Coming soon.
31 comments:
I know someone that has a "program" designed to watch the tote wagering. The dudes a loser and posts his plays as "Ultimate Selector". All he does is post chalk for the most part, or dutch wagers the chalk and second chalk...
Very seldom does he ever end up with a positive ROI for the day.
can't say less wagering brings "chaotic" in a bad sense. Had some success in the early days of simulcasting when some facilities had seperate pools...if you were lucky enough to find disparaty on your selection you could find some value[chaotic] payouts.
From an individual betting scenario on a day's card, one would not know what race in advance of the nine races would be the race that provides this biggest pool factor. Even within a card, say the sixth race, and it was the largest it would not be any factor in that possibly the next four races might contain the largest pool.
This is like saying that the only thing one has to do is determine the three races a day the favorite would win and pass the other six to 7 races on the card.
I fear I did not do a good job explaining what this study was about and what it actually means:
ANONYMOUS #1: Most, if not all, tote board watching is a waste of time. Numerous studies have shown that betting trends don’t mean much. Seeking trends persists because there is a mystique to it — folks love believing that a select group of people “controls” the results of certain activities. Dan Brown — and this is not a knock, I greatly enjoy his books — has made a career out of that fact.
ANONYMOUS #2: You’re closer to the spirit of this piece and you brought up a great example. For those who don’t know, years ago simulcast events (with few exceptions) had their own pools and one way that a savvy player could make money is by looking for discrepancies between the home track pool (where one was betting) and the host track pool (where the race was taking place). Invariably, the host track was a bigger facility and featured a more efficient line. Hence, if one saw Horse A was 2-1 at the host track and, say, 7-2 at the home track, a potential betting opportunity was present.
By the way this situation is still true on many international events and is especially meaningful where there is a “hometown hero” competing. For example, I’m pretty sure if there were separate pari-mutual pools, Star Guitar would draw a lot more wagering dollars in Louisiana than he would in NY should the son of Quiet American compete at Belmont Park (Star Guitar is 22-for-28 lifetime in LA at the time of this writing).
ANONYMOUS #3: I see your point — I thought I addressed it in the piece — but you’re missing the big picture here (again, I’ll take the blame for not making it clear). The study was less about capitalizing on the race with the highest handle and more about the efficiency of betting markets. If, in fact (and the question is still open to me — 64 races over two days is not sufficient proof) more or less betting action on a race leads to greater or lesser efficiency, the ramifications are incredibly meaningful.
For example, if the odds in a race drawing very little action are NOT efficient, it gives value bettors a tremendous edge. For a guy like me, who makes his own line, such information is worth its weight in gold.
Simon......help me help you....you are comparing apples and oranges.....you cannot compare pari mutuel with wall street two different animals as pari mutuel is purely CONTRIVED not SPECULATIVE IN ANY WAY SHAPE OR FORM TO THE MIND THAT UNDERSTANDS THE FUNCTIONALITY OF THE SYSTEM.........for example reflection of a pools identity varies dependent on the type of race in yhat a grade one stakes race attracts a different money because of the returns offered in the form of purse money in other words because of whats in it for the parties involved their is less likelyhood that a jock or trainer would stiff the betting public as compared to a 5,000 claimer where you could offer a jock a $200 ticket on the winner @20-1 to stiff the favourite.....point is the smart money invests in big stakes races(contrived)
Ha, ha. Classic scene:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AGt5f70K02Q
Look, you're right in that inefficiencies can certainly result from "stiffing the favorite," but higher grade races bring their own inefficiencies to the table.
For example, how often do you think a horse shooting for the American Triple Crown (like I'll Have Another this year) is fairly priced in the Belmont?
The answer is practically never, because the reputation of Derby and Preakness winner trumps rationality 99-44/100% of the time.
As for your point regarding contrivance, I'll paraphrase another quote from a movie — “Back to School” starring Rodney Dangerfield — and say that you’re passionate… “about what, I have no idea.”
Derek, I love how you approach betting, with a curious academic aspect. Totally different to how I approach it but very interesting never the less. There are definitely still disparities to be taken advantage of on international racing. I backed Henrythenavigator in the BCC at 7/2 at home back in 2008...oops!
I hear you Ciaran (FINALLY, a name, LOL!). The European markets were instrumental in my playing Red Rocks in the BC Turf a few years ago.
You can examine anything you like but horse racing is by far the most difficult. To many factors, bias, conditions, track suface, jockey, post position and the list goes on and on.
I bet mostly online and sometimes you have to find a track that suits your skill. Lately have been betting presque Isle and the races that Pablo Morales is riding. He is a jockey that knows how to win even on a non favorite.
Someone should tell the horses what their odds are at post time.
"Someone should tell the horses what their odds are at post time."
If the implication here is that the odds are meaningless, you couldn't be more wrong.
Hello, fellas. Check this info on the best proofreading service!
norton provides industry-leading antivirus and security software for your PC, Mac .Norton Setup and norton.com/setup Installation Process – For both PC and mobile users. Highly popular among the PC users
mcafee.com/activate have the total arrangement of highlights which can ensure your computerized on the web and disconnected existence of the processing gadgets, and it causes you secure it as well mcafee.com/activate as it can keep up the solidness of your PC.
Mcafee Antivirus Download and Free Trial Security Software. [mcafee.com/activate Use our 30-day groundwork to get free antivirus insurance and illness launch while you discover how McAfee can ensure your PC superior to other security thing.
Norton Setup Internet and Device Security. Norton give total seCurity to web and device.Every business constantly expected to send the record and subtleties material and everybody needs to beyond any doubt that the norton.com/setup archives that are sending the best possible and unique arrangement.
Get your Office Setup Installed with the help of the best help gathering. You may present the office.com/setup all out office 365 pack with no caught work.
Norton Security covers PCs, Macintoshes, Androids, iPads and iPhones. Not all highlights are accessible on all stages. Sign in to My Norton to deal with your membership, update your profile, change your norton.com/setup charging inclinations, or reestablish your Norton security.
Great Blog
vegus168 สมัคร
Flipkart is offering great deals that are budget-friendly prices to all users willing to acquire exclusive mobiles. The offers favor users purchasing mobile devices from Flipkart. For users purchasing mobile below Rs. 10,000. How to Apply Phonepe Coupon Code in Flipkart Mobile The company will provide Rs. 500 off the price. Buyers purchasing mobiles above Rs. 10,000 will gain Rs. 1000 discount. Users purchasing using the PhonePe app will gain coupons which only valid for one purchase per code. This will provide more discounts on the cart. The user should add the product to the cart to get the prices.
Himachal Pradesh Board of School Education (HPBOSE) is Agency Government of Himachal Pradesh Entrusted with the Responsibilities of Prescribing Courses of Instructions and Syllabus and Blueprint and Conducting Final Examinations for Secondary School Students in Himachal Pradesh. HPBOSE Take State Level Examination for 10th Standard in March. Students who have to Appear for the HP Board Matric Blueprint 2024 HP 10th Final Exam Should Start Regular Practicing the Blueprint at Least 3 Months before the HPBOSE Exam, HP Board 10th Questions of Blueprint Prepare by Himachal Pradesh Board Senior Experts Only, Solving the HPBOSE 10th Blueprint 2024 will give them Confidence to write the Actual Exam, Marking Scheme hands Down is the Most important tool to Outperform in HP Board Examination,
In New Jersey, divorce law in new jersey divorce law covers grounds such as irreconcilable differences. Divorce law in new jersey The process addresses asset division, alimony, child custody, and support, ensuring equitable settlements through legal proceedings or mediation.
Uncontested divorce in Virginia provides a more efficient and cooperative path, minimizing stress and costs for those seeking an agreeable dissolution of their marriage. how much is an uncontested divorce in Virginia
In New York State, Quick Divorce in New York State couples seeking a quick divorce can file for an uncontested divorce, which typically takes about 3 to 6 months to finalize, Quick Divorce in New York State provided all requirements are met.
New Jersey divorces involve filing a Complaint for Divorce, equitable distribution of assets, determining alimony, and addressing child custody and support based on the best interests of the child.
new jersey divorce
Your blog is very useful for me who is going through puberty, thank you
"Your insights on winning without handicapping are truly inspiring! They highlight the value of skill, strategy, and fair play, encouraging everyone to strive for excellence. Keep up the outstanding work!"
How to Get A Fast Divorce in New York
The New York City Divorce Process involves filing a petition, resolving key issues like property division and child custody, and finalizing the divorce through the court system.
Facing charges of Middlesex County Reckless Driving Attorney ? A skilled attorney specializing in reckless driving cases can guide you through the legal complexities, advocating for your rights and aiming for the best possible outcome. Meanwhile, in matters of divorce, a seasoned lawyer can negotiate fair agreements or represent you in court, offering essential support through the emotional and legal challenges. Contact us now for expert legal guidance tailored to your needs.
"Winning without handicapping" refers to strategies where success is achieved without artificial limitations, such as in horse racing. It involves relying on pure skill, talent, or strategy to outperform others. This concept can be applied to personal development, sports, or business, focusing on merit Reckless Driving New Jersey.
Post a Comment