Gimmicks, smimmicks, stick to the traditional bets

I am simply amazed at the bad advice some people are giving concerning how to increase the handle at harness racetracks. Do we really think that offering crazy ideas like the Pick-8 increases handle in the long run?

Yes, I see mostly elderly people throwing $20 bills in the lottery machines hoping to hit a jackpot. It is very sad. This is money better used to buy food.

Horse race handicapping is not easy. But people only continue to wager on horses when they do win some of the time. I advise people to bet on should win horses almost every day, and avoid the seeking of “pot of gold” gimmicks. I’ve been betting horses for over 60 years and the crazy gimmicks come and go. I watch online these days and laugh when the announcers give their Pick-5 picks for the night. They lose $48 and never mention how upset that makes them. I wonder who is going to give newbies to the sport good advice when us old guys are no longer around.

Sure, I’m not happy when my pick clicks down from 3-5 to 1-9 as the race goes off. But that’s still better than trying to hit a life-changing Pick-5 with a small wager.

Al Gatto / Roselle Park, NJ