Let me start by clearing something up, "winners" as in first over the line, are not that important to me. I am happy to make a profit from a horse running second or third and if they do run the place then I ALWAYS win on the race. I suppose that is why I (and the stats supported me) don't place much emphasis on barrier positions as plenty of horses run 2 or 3 from wide gates.

I reckon we, as punters, are too often looking to find the ultimate winner of the race rather than simply looking for a horse who MAY win the race but wil most likely run a place. The name of the game (if you are serious) is making a profit. How many times at the end of a race day on which you have backed several winners, you find that when you check your wallet you have in fact lost or don't have as much money as you thought?

My method regularly throws up placegetters at big odds. I've had double figure placegetters many times and too many to count between $3 & $5. Mind you, I've also had very good priced winners but not as many as I've had placegetters. I suppose what I am saying is learn to be happy with regular, smaller profits rather than occasional good wins. For me, a winner is a bonus but placegetters are gold.

NOTE FOR MAVERICK: you asked me about multi type bets, one I omitted to mention that I occasionally have a lash at is an all up for a place. I upset a Sydney bookie at Xmas by taking $31 k from him with a relatively small outlay. Not a happy man at all. I suppose I shouldn't have said "thanks Santa" when I collected.

To answer other questions: Once a horse has run its race, wherever it finishes, it is out. I do not follow them for a couple of reasons. 1. My method relies on horses meeting all of my criteria which they may do one start but not the next. 2. I don't see the point in following up horses if they have made me money. I've done my job (selecting and supporting them) they have done their job (winning or placing). Why risk it again based on the fact that it won/ran well or was unlucky? No room for emotion in punting. Yes, I've had horses come out and win after I've supported them previously without success but not that often and to me it doesn't matter anyway.

A specific PLACE strike rate is one of my criteria but average price isn't. My selection has to be within a certain price range in the newspaper market to qualify. The average price rates #4 and the SR rates #7 in "order of importance".

Cheers

Privateer