I cashed my first ticket when I was six years old. Don't worry, there was nothing illegal about it! My family got involved with Standardbred racehorses and when one of our horses would race, my parents would place $2 across for me. I fondly remember waking up in the mornings and seeing a small pile of money beside my bed that they had brought home from the night before.

This started a lifelong love affair with race horses and with betting.

Betting horses is a wonderful pastime and can be profitable as well. It's not easy to win consistently, but handicapping can be a lot of fun once you figure a few things out.

Playing the horses can be extremely rewarding in more ways than just potential earnings. Handicapping is a complicated puzzle with many moving parts and it is a great mental pursuit. No two days are the same, and no two races are the same.

A night at the races can quickly add up in dollars spent, but a night out at the movies is no different. They are both fun outings with one big difference - at the races, there is a chance that you might leave with more money than you came with.

For people new to racing, trying to read a program is like trying to understand a foreign language. It is a steep learning curve to figure out what information is important and what isn't. That's what makes it so much fun. Unlike playing a slot machine, handicapping the races engages your intellect on many different levels.

The results are measured immediately too. Unlike the stock market, you don’t have to wait long to see how your opinion fared. By studying what happened in a race after it has happened and seeing where you were right or wrong, you can improve your game quickly.

So what can you do to improve your chances of winning? Try these three things:

1. Have a reason to bet. Betting every race can be fun, but it makes it more difficult to leave with money in your wallet. Identify three or four races where you have a strong opinion and make an effort to bypass the rest.
2. Use the tote board to your advantage. There is something to be said about the wisdom of the crowd, and it definitely applies in horse racing. Although playing favourites isn't the best strategy to use, it is a good idea to see who your peers are supporting.
3. Have a budget and stick to it. Some days everything will go your way, and other days everything will go against you. If you play within a limit you won't find yourself regretting that you went to the track in the first place.

There are many things to look at when betting horses. Factors like class, pace of the race, racing style, connections, and speed are all important. Play prudently, manage your bankroll, and don’t chase losses. Sometimes patience is the best strategy for finding success consistently.

It's important to remember that horses are living breathing beings. Just as we have bad days, so can they. We use past performance information to try to predict how they will race today, but there are no guarantees that they will duplicate a past effort.

By managing your expectations and your bankroll, playing the ponies can be a hobby that can entertain you for a lifetime. Just ask that former six year-old who has never stopped loving the game!

The Century Downs pick 4’s have been a little tough to catch lately - but Saturday night could be the night! Here’s a play that I like. Good luck and enjoy some great racing!

Saturday Century Downs Race 8 Pick 4 - $36

2, 4, 5/1, 2/3, 6, 7/1, 3