| Did you ever wonder how other gamblers and | | | | Like they say, "Fake it until you make it." Just as long |
| horseplayers handle losing streaks? I am in the middle | | | | as you are always honest with yourself about your |
| of one, or should I say, hopefully near the end of one, | | | | winning and losing and the impact it has on you and |
| as I write this. Yes even old dinosaurs like me who | | | | loved ones. |
| have played the horses since the chariot races still go | | | | Speaking of loved ones, that is another important part |
| through losing streaks. | | | | of living through a losing streak. Stay connected with |
| Let me tell you about my, "long dark night of the soul," | | | | people. Tonight I called my grandson and we talked |
| so that you may get something that will help you | | | | about saxophones, martial arts, winter weather, and |
| through your next rough patch. I sell horse racing | | | | other things. It helps to remember that there is a whole |
| systems, but before I will put one on the market, I test | | | | world out there filled with many things and sharing |
| them and actually play them myself. That is how I | | | | those things with others is the best way to clear your |
| manage to offer a no questions asked guarantee on | | | | mind and stay upbeat. It also means you're not |
| everything I sell. | | | | neglecting the ones you love and who love you. It is |
| That is also why I try a lot of things in order to find that | | | | bad enough that you are on a losing streak, don't put |
| one right thing that works well enough to help a fellow | | | | them on one, too. |
| horse player. So that is why, on October 5th of 2009 I | | | | If you don't have any close relatives or friends, then |
| started working on a toteboard system that follows | | | | strike up a conversation with a stranger and talk about |
| the money and hopefully will be profitable over the long | | | | the weather, baseball, the government, anything that |
| run. It is now November 6th, 2009 so I have been | | | | will start your brain working on something other than |
| testing it for over a month. I have 160% of my bankroll | | | | the track and losing or winning. We humans are social |
| left, so I am ahead at the time of this writing. | | | | animals and interaction with other people is like a |
| However, I was at 230% of my bankroll just three | | | | healing balm, even if it is a little difficult to get a |
| days ago! That means I have been on a nasty losing | | | | conversation going, even if what you really feel like |
| streak. The worst part is, I have had such high hopes | | | | doing is crawling into a cave and licking your wounds. |
| for this method of picking winners by following the | | | | Look around yourself and see the world. |
| money, but now I don't know if I will lose back | | | | Tomorrow I am going on a day trip with my Sweetie |
| everything I have won. It could have just been a fluke | | | | and taking care of health related business. That is |
| and this may be another blind alley, a dead end, I've | | | | another thing that you must do, take time off and get |
| certainly been down plenty of those while learning how | | | | involved in something other than the track and |
| to handicap horse races. | | | | gambling. Have conversations, see different scenery |
| Should an old gray beard like me have so much | | | | and locales. |
| trouble with a losing streak? After all, I've had them so | | | | Finally, when you've aired your brain out enough and |
| many times that I've lost count. Of course, I've also had | | | | have given yourself time off, get back at it again with |
| more than my share of winning streaks, too. The | | | | renewed resolve to make it. Keep notes while you are |
| answer is, no matter how many times you live through | | | | gambling and know your ROI and what bets you have |
| them, losing streaks are still the pits and test you over | | | | made. Review everything and find your weak spots |
| and over. Handicapping horses for profit and really | | | | and strengths. Be willing to admit your mistakes and |
| working at this business is a constant test and you are | | | | also realize that sometimes it isn't you or your method, |
| only as good as your last series of bets. Do the | | | | gambling is just plain streaky. If you can look at the long |
| winning streaks help? Of course it helps to remember | | | | run, the big picture, and see that you are ahead at all, |
| them as a reminder. | | | | then you are very fortunate. |
| It doesn't matter when you're losing, though. It starts to | | | | Making 10% profit over the long run is very good in this |
| dominate your thoughts, especially as you watch the | | | | business, sorry if I just popped your bubble, but that is |
| money slipping away and don't know where the | | | | the reality of betting on horses for profit. If you aren't |
| bottom is. I suppose people who play the stock market | | | | making it, that means you are one of many people |
| feel the same way when it starts to slide. We | | | | who are in the process of becoming a successful |
| speculators can't help but wonder, "Where is the | | | | horse player. Stick with a good system, don't bet with |
| bottom?" | | | | money you can't afford to lose. Take time off (people |
| The worse thing you can do is to go on what the | | | | in all other lines of work do) and eat healthy food and |
| poker players call, "Tilt." You have to keep your | | | | exercise because we horseplayers have a tendency |
| equilibrium and maintain a healthy attitude and lifestyle. | | | | to let ourselves go, which in turn affects our ability to |
| First of all, don't start the negative self talk. Nothing will | | | | think clearly and have the stamina to win. |
| dig you into a pit faster than that internal dialogue that | | | | Above all else, enjoy your days at the races, if you're |
| is negative or fearful. Gambling and playing the horses | | | | not, then maybe it is time to take time off and assess |
| is streaky, it is a fact of life and if this is the path you | | | | your methods and motives. Life is short and should be |
| choose then you'd better be ready for it. So chin up | | | | enjoyable for the most part. Just as we use systems |
| and shut up or start with the positive self talk, | | | | to beat the races, the are systems to get the most |
| "Everyday in every way, I am getting better and better | | | | out of life, what I have just shared with you is a pretty |
| and this is just a stepping stone, however rough it may | | | | good start on the basics. |
| be, to success." | | | | Enjoy your days at the races. |
| It doesn't matter if you totally believe it, say it anyway. | | | | |