A lot of people ask me, "Hey, Ted. When you're not on the radio, what do you do for fun?" Here's just one answer.

Long before the Lottery came along, like everyone else, I made an occasional trip to Las Vegas. If you keep your head and realize they don't build those casinos and hotels from the people who win, you might be okay.

On one particular trip, I noticed the flurry of activity coming from the Race Book. And, of course, who hasn't watched the Kentucky Derby on TV? It looked like fun. But, how do you make any money at horse racing? Here's the secret ... 95% of the time, you don't!

Still, the fascination caught my attention. So, I read a few books and studied the odds. Believe me, it goes way beyond that. Why? Because, I was always good in math (forgive me) and I absolutely love research. So, instead of reading the Wall Street Journal, I found the Racing Form my spare time buddy.

Long story short ... I almost became a paid horse racing writer and handicapper for a local newspaper. They thought I was that good! At one time, I even sold my picks at the track. I was a professional handicapper with a real business license and everything!

The promise of the newspaper job evaporated when the newspaper decided to use their "extra space" for more advertising, not racing picks. Paid or not, it can be great fun as a recreational pastime. This opinion comes from the guy who was a sports announcer on radio and TV long before coming to KOST. Baseball, football, golf and basketball were the sports that I played in my younger years. But, horse racing is the sport that I follow closely today.  

For those who understand golf, it's a bit like the game of golf. Some days can be good; others can be great (like the time I held the ONLY winning Pick Six ticket at the track). And, just as often, the day can stink! That's why they call it gambling. Remember what I said about how they build those hotels and casinos? It doesn't come from the people who win.

So, we turn the page to today - Sunday, March 3, 2013. All in all, I had a pretty good day. Here's a sample of my picks, listed in order of preference unless I mention a possible tie with my top two selections.

I've never made a living at handicapping. It's simply fun. If you ever go to the race track, gamble responsibly. Treat it like a day at the movies. Not cheap entertainment, but it's a day away from the office. I do this (handicapping) instead of paying green fees, buying a boat or joining a bowling league. Although, I do have some history with a bowling ball. My highest league sanctioned game was 233. Maybe, I missed my true calling! 

Here were today's picks at Santa Anita:

We had two consecutive winners on Saturday at $14.80 and $14.00 to win! We also correctly had Game On Dude for the win in the Santa Anita Handicap. Then, we topped things off with a $500+ winning exacta box in the last race. Things look equally fun today! First race is 12:30pm.

1st Race
2 (WON and paid $5.80)

2nd Race
Top two seem equal.
7 (Lost)
6 (WON and paid $11.60)
4 (Finished 2^nd)

3rd Race
3 (WON and paid $24.20)
4 (Lost)
6 (Finished 2^nd)

4th Race
5 BEST BET (WON and paid $4.60)
1 (Lost)
3 (Finished 3^rd)

5th Race
Top two look equal.
1 (Lost)
7 (WON and paid 9.40)

6th Race
Looks like a wild one!
1 (Lost)
the actual winner paid $20.20. Wild is correct.

7th Race
4 (Finished 3^rd)
2 (WON and paid $6.40)
5 (Finished 2^nd)

8th Race
Top two look equal here.
3 (Lost)
4 (Finished 3^rd)
8 (WON and paid $18.20)

9th Race
4 (Lost)
8 (Finished 3^rd)
3 (Finished 2^nd)
 

Ted Ziegenbusch