How to bet the winner and still lose money

Okay gentlemen and ladies, here is a prime example of how bad habits can be hard to break. My new focus as a handicapper is to key in on one horse, placing half or more of the daily roll on this finely-placed specimen. Find a strong standardbred in a weak field and play it every which way you can. Well, I screwed up, but my horse sure didn't.

In a spectacular finish, Windsong Farewell came trotting up a storm to edge School Spirit by a nose.

Here are my bets and the payouts:

Windsor, Race 5, $20.00 WIN 8 $27.00 $20.00

Windsor, Race 5, $2.00 EXA 8 / 2-5 $0.00 $8.00

Windsor, Race 5, $1.00 TRI 8 / 3 / 2,4-7 $0.00 $5.00

Windsor, Race 5, $0.20 SFC 8 / 3,4 / 2-5 / 2-6 $0.00 $3.60
(F8746)

Windsor, Race 4, $0.20 PK4 2,3,5 / 8 / 1,3,9 / 1,4,5,7 $0.00 $7.20
(F2-8-2-5)


Here's where I went wrong:

Though my top pick has now won 6 of the past 7 days, I only invested $43.80 in today's top choice, out of perhaps $150 worth of wagers. If another 25 or 30 or even 40 of that had been put here, I would have possibly cashed exactor, superfecta and pick 4, though I still would have likely missed the tri, with the 7 in the 2nd spot.


Now, what am I gonna do about it?

Okay, I have already identified 3 strong entries for tomorrow, and will likely find a couple more when all the numbers are in, so maybe start with five max. Allocate half to the best situated, twenty percent to the next one, and about ten percent each to the 3rd, 4th and 5th best-placed.

Stay tuned.