In light of what has been posted on the message board this past week about betting, I feel compelled to give my thoughts on the matter.
I have never heard of a real life owner or trainer say; "Thank goodness for the pari-mutual windows at the track, if I was not able to bet I would not be able to keep my stable".
The theme of all my articles in the SIM Files pertain to a format for learning. Just as in the real world, if a trainer does not address the needs of his/her horses, chances are they won't be training very long. If you as an O/T in the SIM game do the same, well....you may very well lose interest in playing this game, although there is a lot more room for error in this game than in real life.
Those of us who haven't seen thoroughbred racing from the backside are now given the opprotunity to do so. If I may quote a SIM O/T, who is a thoroughbred horse trainer in real life, Ron Leonard; "This is as close to the real thing as it gets". We play this game for the opprotunity of owning, training and making proper stable management decisions. In my life, I'll never come close to running and owning stock that I have now in my SIM stables.
Since we do have the means and are given SIM dollars to use for betting, I would like to propose a self-disciplined approach.
Almost every handicapping book that you read, states; "...before you take your hard earned cash to the track, test this angle without betting first". Ohh..my gawd....I've read that so many times, I have screamed. Right....I'm going to sit on my thumbs and take notes on this angle for a year. NOT!!
Now we have a pratical way of which to test these methods, plays and money management programs, by incorporating them into betting in the SIM. You can put to work sound procedures and keep notes on the type of bets and amounts of each, plus keep good records of your action and figure your ROI. (Return On Investment)
Anything that reduces the aspect of gambling when going to the track. If I wanted to gamble, I'd buy lots of Lottery tickets and watch the ping-pong balls drop, or maybe go to 'Vegas and watch the wheel spin. NOT my idea of fun!
There are so many aspects of this game that can be over-looked, if your diligent and keep at it, you will find many different applications of this game that will be very helpful to you at the real track.
Good Luck
July 2, 1999
