BETTING ON HORSES.

New Zealand Times, Volume LVII, Issue 2411, 17 January 1895, Page 4

BETTING ON HORSES.

(From English'Spare Manxznts.) HAM) STUDY A FIRST REQUISITE. Betting or gambling—and any, form of betting is gambling—isalraost'as'oldas hmnanityitself. In allages therehavebeen men and women who have staked money and other considerations of value upon.the cast of dice, the turn of a ■■card, or the • speed and staying qualities of a horse, and there will continue to bo such down to the very end of time. At the present day the practice of wagering money upon such pastimes is perhaps more universally prevalent than at any other period of the world’s history, and nowhere more so than in our own country. The very great increase in horse racing, both running and trotting, which we have seen within the past few years, and which 'seems to steadily continue, has been the means of initiating into the practice' of betting an immense number of of all ages, both sexes, and every condition and walk of life. In view of this fact, wo i recently solicited an expression of their views from several of the great bettors now most prominently identified with the English turf on the question of how to ~ win money on the fliers. NEVER OWN ANY RACE-HORSES. “If you want to win-money on the ; tmf by betting heavily," said a prominent bookie, in reply to my ’question, “ never own any raoe-horses yourself. If you do, it will certainly influence your judgment. You will goto the track convinced-that some horse will beat the one you have entered, but as soon as you see your horse you will begin to wish that he may win, and from wishing you will soon progress to believing. Then you will wager all the money you can raise on an animal which you have previously decided, in. your sober senses, had no chance of winning. “ Again, if you want to win money by betting, have no superstitions, no systems, no set rules or ideas. Shun professional ‘ touts ’ and the 1 tips ’ they offer to sell you as you would the plague. Try to form an intelligent judgment as to the respective merits of the horses and of their jockeys, on that particular day and track, and then don’t be afraid to back it.' ; • - “One peculiar thing about betting," feontinued our informant, “ia that the strain oh one’s nervous system is greater when you win than when you lose. It is invariably so with mo, and Other big bettors teU*me their experience ia similar.; After losing heavily Igo to the theatre or some other resort, and soon forget my losses. Thou Igo home to bed, and sleep soundly. But after making a big win I am very apt to pass a sleepless night." Another turfite, well known in city circles, said, when I put my conundrum to him, that to win money on the turf ONE SHOULD HAVE A CERTAIN LIMIT IN BETTING, , and never go beyond it. He should not stake on a single race more than onefourth of his available betting capital. Then- in the event of losing, he would have three-feurths with which to win it back.- When it, is possible, to hedge a bet to advantage it should always be done. “ If you believe that a horse that is ever so 1 short ’ in the betting can win,"he continued, “and your belief is based upon a carefully and accurately formed intelligent judgment, : do not -hesitate to back that horse with just as much confidence as you would if he were a favourite. If you win one race do not invest all your winnings on the next. I do not believe there is any 1 system’ of betting that can be recommended. The only way to win is to study the horses, the jockeys, and the track." “ If I should attempt to lay down any general rules for the guidance of bettors," said a third, who visits every race track worthy of the name, “ the first would bo never bet ignorantly,” simply upon the chance and with the mere hope that you may win. I mean'by that, NEVER BET ON A HORSE UNLESS YOU HAVE STUDIED HIM ■and all the other horses pitted against him to the best of your ability, and have thoroughly satisfied yourself from the best possible data obtainable that he is the best horse in the race, and that in all human possibility will win; This is what the shrewd professional bettor always does. ■ “ When I: say you_ must study- your horse and the others pitted against him, I mean that you must study their pedigree, their conformation, and especially their condition on the day of the race. A horse may go but and easily defeat a large field of horses, to-day, while to-morrow or next week he may finish last in that very same field, even though the same jockey has ridden him on both occasions, -and has tried equally hard to win both times. A. horse is the most uncertain thing in the world. ’ Ho is more liable to changes of temper and condition than even the most delicate and sensitive lady. Therefore his performances in the past are often of small value as an indication of what he can do in the present. The question is hot what he did the day before yesterday or last week, but what can he do to-day. WHIMS WILL RUIN ANY SPECULATOR. “ Besides studying the condition. of the horses on the day of the race, the track is also an important consideration. Certain horses only go well on certain kinds of tracks. Some require a firm, hard track; others go best on a soft yielding one. On a muddy track: a race ‘may be won easily by a horse that would have been utterly worthless among the same competitors on a dry one. It yon want to bet intelligently—and to win you must bet In no other way—you mbst be familiar with all such peculiarities of the horses you bet on and against. “ THERE IS A GREAT DEAL IN STUDYING JO.CKEYS as well as horses.; Some jockeys ride much better than others, and will get a great deal more speed but of their mounts Some are more likely to ride honestly than others. All of these things must be moat carefully considered in order to win. money on the turf.,: There is no one who can more ill afford to -indulge any pet theories, whims’, or /prejudices than the would-be successful turf speculator. On the contrary, ha must. ,be like the . skilled mariner—prepared to trim his,barque at . a moment’s notice/and alter her course ia accordance with any change in the winds - and tides. To win money on the turf one must not be too timid nor too bold; too pessimistic nor too optimistic; too truth): ftil nor too: incredulous; He must try to steer a medium course between' all these qualities,"