| Dog racing is exciting. When the boxes open and the | | | | Sure, you might have glanced at them out of the |
| dogs burst out, the crowd is focused on the dog or | | | | corner of your eye to make sure they weren't gaining |
| dogs they bet on. Will it get the lead right away? Will it | | | | on your dog. And in the turns you were gritting your |
| make it around the first turn without getting blocked or | | | | teeth, hoping that none of the other dogs would bump |
| bumped? | | | | yours. |
| Then they're around the first turn and in the | | | | But nine out of ten people watch a race without really |
| backstretch. If your dog is in the lead, you're staring at | | | | looking at it to see what happened, other than to see |
| it, urging it on, whether you're yelling or just thinking (or | | | | what happened to the dog they bet on. This is why |
| even praying) silently. Then it's the final turn and as | | | | when they bet on some of these dogs in their next |
| they thunder toward the finish line, you're watching | | | | races, they won't have a clue about how to bet them. |
| your dog and hoping that no one will close on him at | | | | When dogs race, even if you don't have a bet on the |
| the last minute. | | | | race, you should watch how the whole race plays out. |
| The first dog goes over the finish line and - if it's your | | | | Look to see which dogs run where, which ones break, |
| dog - you're grinning from ear to ear and telling the guy | | | | and which ones look like they'd come in next race |
| beside you that you had the winner. In other words, | | | | under different conditions. |
| you've just done everything wrong from the beginning | | | | When I watch a race, I make notes about dogs that |
| of the race to the end and you're really happy about it, | | | | just miss or need something that they didn't have in |
| if you won. | | | | that race. That way, when I see that dog in another |
| If you didn't win, you still did everything wrong | | | | race, I know whether they're a good bet. |
| throughout the race, but have no idea that might be | | | | It's okay to focus on your dog for most of the race, |
| why you lost. Let's face it, you never even really | | | | but don't neglect the other dogs. They're the dogs you'll |
| watched the race at all. You watched your dog - the | | | | be betting on down the line, so get to know their |
| one that you bet on- and ignored the other dogs for | | | | running style. It's one of those little things that can make |
| most of the race. | | | | a big difference to your bankroll. |