Evening star., 1939-07-05
The
SPORTLIGHT
Percentage Iron Law
Governing Gambling
By GRANTLAND RICE,
Special Correspondent of The Star.

NEW YORK, July 5 (N.A.N a. -
How can you beat the game-the
gambling game? The first answer
is that few can. The next is to look
in the general direction of the kitty
The third takes in percentage, which
few ever consider. The iron law of
percentage is big factor and yet
it usually is something completely
overlooked, hidden away in the mists
and fogs And the average gam
bling psychology too often is tied up
in knots.
An old-time bookmaker, who has
been on the job for more than 80
years, was discussing the difference
between professional and public or
amateur gambling ways.
There is far more betting on race
tracks alone through bookmakers or
the mutuels. than this country ever
has known" he said The count
runs into many millions, more than
any one might guess. But the public
at large still plays the sucker role
And the public always will"
Amoteur Gambler Quits
On His Good Luck
Just what is the main difference
between the pro and the amateur
gambler?" I asked.
Here at least is one important
split" he said. The average anna
teur gambler, the public, quits on
his good luck, but presses his bad.
If he starts winning he begins to
hedge. He wants to leave a winner.
The tide may be running with him,
but he cuts down his bets. 1t is only
when he starts losing that he begins
to increase his play in an effort to
get out.
If he comes to the fifth race or
the sixth race we'll behind, with luck
running against him, he starts to
plunge. He knows there are other
races and other days on ahead. But
he can't wait that long. He must
take the chance of getting out today.
And that usually means a much
bigger dent in his bank roll than he
wanted to face. I've see this happen
day after day through year after
year.
Pros AIwoys Strive
To Ride With Tide
I'VE work in just the opposite
way he continued. IF things are
running our way and breaking
gently, We ride with the tide. We
increase our bets. Well take more
chances. But none of us likes to
buck a rough tide. Would golfer
rather have a following wind or a
headwind? Does an airplane make
faster time with a tailwind or a
headwind? Any one can answer
that. And that's our gambling
philosophy.
Some days they run with you
some days they run against YOU.
We ride hard with the good days
and loaf on the others. Swim with
the tide-not against the tide. If
you are losing cut down your bets
don't pile them up
rs there any way to beat the
races, asked.
only for the smart few" the
bookmaker said. How can YOU
beat that 10 or IA percentage
against you? Any one who tries to
play every race hasn't even a start
Ing chance. The odds are not 10
to l, but 1000 to |.
Snort Horse Players
Pick Their Roces
"A few smart players get along
by getting the best information
they can pick up, and then betting
only these few horses. Maybe one
or two day, Maybe none on GER
tain days. They know the tough
races to beat and they back away
from these. But the average sucker
plays them all alike.
Not even a trainer, fine
trainer, knows what a horse will
do on a given day. Look at Fight
ing Fox-a' champion one race and
a dog the next. Yet he looks lust
the same on each start He breaks
a track record and then finishes
sixth. You've got to rate too MANY
things-the horse, the jockey, the
track, track conditions, weight
owner, trainer, past performance
post position-it's more than a
mathematician can add up"