Who keeps a spreadsheet on here ?

Little black book

at least it’s something

Yes - the commission total is something one wouldn't easily guess...

I prefer to just use a bank balance check... but can see the attraction of one...

IYO if you have a plan and stick to it its uneccesary.

Unless you are testing.

You have to keep track on every play…imo

Stats on

Win bets

Lay bets

Place lay

Place back

Expenses if you go racing

Look at what is making and losing

I have old ledgers from years back….

You were at Donny recently…how much on fuel…food…entry….and P/L

At times it could scare you….imo…

Punters run from the true stats

Irish’pro’ on YouTube…..no stats on his betting….FFS !

You go racing you win a monkey punting cash

£15 - £20 fuel

£30 ish entry

Racing rag

Food

Tea/ coffee all adds up

Big hole in the monkey profit…

Its something I have thought about but what price can you put on the mental side of things, fresh air, change of scenery to keep you sharp?

But to answer your question entry, food, bev , petrol I arent tight with myself is about 50.

If its Icy the Irish Pro...the bloke talks a lot but is the real deal.

Totally different mindset on course…one meeting one card….

More or less know exactly what you are punting before you get to the racetrack

Anorak punted on course for years….I think he would agree….

formoftheace 18 Jan 23 20:41 
You have to keep track on every play…imo

f4rty oct--dec

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One thing about the racetrack if there is an odds on chance you can’t have you can lay it on the exchange….never had that years back….

The pellets are in the napper Rico…..imv

Why did you stop gambling on course?

Its surely better than driving a lorry around is it not?

Long story….a person put a gun to the head….I made the decision

Long time ago….

was it wyatt earp?

Well it wasn’t in Wallsend….

I'm guessing it was 'er indoors?

Around 1989, because I kept detailed records of my betting  I designed and wrote a 'diary' specifically for punters to fill in and keep records of betting etc. I lived near Lambourn at the time and 'the greatest jockey' got to hear about it and sent someone round to look at it. He didn't think a punter would keep it up especially after a couple of losing days. I think he recommended I sent it to the Sporting Life which I did. They considered it for a while but then turned it down. Still have the letters. Blow me if about 6 months later they produced one of their own. I bought one. It flopped. Happy days.

the vast majority of punters lose, casual or attempted pro. No one wants a reminder of it years down the line, without evidence you can convince everyone you were a winner!

f4rtys brain been puggled with 30yrs of petrol fumes..pity he hadnt lit a match.

That’s a sore one Rico….good job the sawn-off wasn’t a bit higher …it would have been the mahogany suit…..imv…

90% of players lose….fact….

The few lucky ones join the media….but still lose at punting….

Most punters can’t handle the losing run…..imv

Doesn’t matter how much of a betting tank you have,or backup funds

You lose a few quid in a day..week..month..it will effect the mindset

I remember an owner at York who was worth a right amount….lost a monkey and blew into a rage….not good…

Maybe I was fortunate I never produced in the breeding shed…no responsibility in that department…

Imo it’s not how much you lose…you will always find an angle to earn a crust….imv…who can handle it mentally….

Let’s face it who can handle losing to a bookie…..?   

Anyone who wants to give it a go on track for a week….remember the expense…

I think there is a person on here thinking that way….I could be wrong….

A lot will not believe me, but this is absolutely true. I have a record of EVERY bet I have ever made since I began betting at age 11 and now I am 62.

I wrote the first bet down (it lost) on the back of a school exercise book and then it quickly became a habit. I moved on to writing it out inside a proper lined book two year later and then onto an accounts ledger five years after that.

In 2008 I moved it all to spreadsheets. In 2013, I went full time punting (after retirement) through going racing 180 times a year on average and have very penny spent on ALL expenses, as well as my betting records, documented as well. It helps me enormously because I can see where the dips were, the losing runs were (never as bad as you feel at the time) and much, much  else.

ANY punter who says they are professional but does not keep a detailed record is not a pro at all but a dreamer. Nobody can be a full time pro without detailed records and they are kidding themselves if they think otherwise.

Yes, some win for a period of time but then delude themselves that the good times are continuing even when they go bad.

And, to end, yes my extensive figures show a profit overall but that profit has only come about since I went full time and applied the discipline so vital to succeed - and the discipline required to keep the records for so very long is part of it.

I expect plenty of abuse from others over this but I can assure you my post is true.

Why would you expect plenty of abuse? Would have thought most folk would applaud your diligence!

There are people who have diaries since a young age why wouldn’t anyone believe you,you are spot on regarding records

Going racing is totally different from sitting on the exchange….no clicking away on a mouse

Playing with hard cash makes the punter more cautious imo…

Pack a suitcase and try Cheltenham for the week…

Hotel

Entry

Fuel

Food etc

At least £800 before you try a punt a winner….lot cheaper years back obviously

The pressure is on….fortunately for me I don’t do pressure….but I’ve seen guys in tears….think on….

The game can tame lions…..imv…

Last year was my last festival but really haven't enjoyed the last 3, changed so much. Why do you need to go track when you've got paddock experts on TV everyday

The Knight- very impressive well done. I used to keep records for years but there's so many factors and the only real thing what matters is the profit/loss column. I still do spreadsheets but nowhere near the detail I used to do. For me it's all in the study/form and you soon learn fast who to avoid and who you want to be on when money is down.

But saying that still the hardest game to make good profit from, it's about the same as poker, you need to put in serious hours if you want to be successful.

To be clear the reason I was on track was not because i found it a better alternative to here...

It was to mix things up and get some fresh air.

And yes I am fully aware of the cost, its simple math, add it all up if yer like, this trip woz a bullseye.

Ok

Glad I did not get abused - I'm afraid this forum is not what it used to be many years ago where sensible debate was the norm. Hence, I always fear that a sensible post will meet with at least one user who wants to be stupid.

Anyway, those who have read my original post might be interested to know that I have had only four cash bets on track since 2013. I do most of my business (but not all) on the phone on the two exchanges, more the purple one than this because of the premium charge.

I use a method for backing horses that I have never seen anyone else use. For me it is all about a very, very slow and steady climb up the profit ladder with few dramatic dips and just the occasional thrash at a big, big, win - paid for from my slow and steady profits.

My expenses are noticeable, four racecourse memberships, RP online subscription, speed figures subscription, Racing UK subscription, fuel, food, and the occasional stay away if I am going to a track where a same day trip is not viable. But I see these as business expenses and it all comes to around a £5k to £6k outlay by the end of the year. I hardly ever bet when not on track because if I am to lose money I want to do it in the fresh air and being able to see certain aspects of each horse's appearance that cannot be seen on TV.

My profit is after expenses but it usually takes me around 4 months or so  to retrieve what will eventually be my annual expenses. Thus the rest of the year will be profit. That is aside from 2016 when it fell apart for me (I suffered some kind of punting 'yips' and had a very poor year. But I learned from it.) I say all this because I hope it illustrates just how disciplined and organised I am - and how operating without proper records is such a poor idea. 

However, and these are the most important things of all, I love being at the tracks - although many are a sad shadow of what they were even 10 years ago - and I have the time, money and discipline to make it pay. I designed my method of betting to avoid long losing streaks, although I do get the odd poor few days (last week when, in particular, my trip to a cold and very, very windy Catterick for the North Yorkshire Grand National saw me take a real pasting. That was a bl**dy long drive home, I can tell you!).

It must be remembered, though, I am well into my 63rd year and financially secure. I have also been 'around the block' of life a good few times and know the critical importance of when to fire, when to keep the powder
dry, and to smile whatever the result. It took me a long while to arrive in this place, though. 

Lastly, a final thing about 'book-keeping' (not bookmaking!). After a bad loss, I always, always, always enter my figures onto my spreadsheets as soon as I arrive home. I find it a way of purging myself of the loss and moving on to the next meeting without dwelling on my reversal - and I learned that kind of thing from a book written by the mind doctor who looks after Ronnie O' Sullivan.

So, I hope this has made interesting reading for some and I do not come across as boasting. That's the last thing I would ever do because those punters who behave in that fashion are the ones who never last the distance.

Anyway, its time now to finish off the first part of my work on the Southwell card - where I will be in person tomorrow.

Good night and good luck all.

The Knight, nice to read that you've maintained the discipline after all these years and are still making it pay.

Any tips for tomorrow?

Nice write up Knight- thanks for posting. Good luck tomorrow.

Jan 19, 2023 -- 10:38PM, The Knight wrote:

Glad I did not get abused - I'm afraid this forum is not what it used to be many years ago where sensible debate was the norm. Hence, I always fear that a sensible post will meet with at least one user who wants to be stupid. Anyway, those who have read my original post might be interested to know that I have had only four cash bets on track since 2013. I do most of my business (but not all) on the phone on the two exchanges, more the purple one than this because of the premium charge. I use a method for backing horses that I have never seen anyone else use. For me it is all about a very, very slow and steady climb up the profit ladder with few dramatic dips and just the occasional thrash at a big, big, win - paid for from my slow and steady profits. My expenses are noticeable, four racecourse memberships, RP online subscription, speed figures subscription, Racing UK subscription, fuel, food, and the occasional stay away if I am going to a track where a same day trip is not viable. But I see these as business expenses and it all comes to around a £5k to £6k outlay by the end of the year. I hardly ever bet when not on track because if I am to lose money I want to do it in the fresh air and being able to see certain aspects of each horse's appearance that cannot be seen on TV. My profit is after expenses but it usually takes me around 4 months or so

I don’t agree about keeping records but what would I know only 40 years to go to be as wise

Very good story though and WD, all makes sense