Dutching, An Underused Tool of the Horseplayer

There are so many tools available to the horseplayer today. Between past performances that go into detail, raw speed figures, trip calculating speed figures, distance traveled stats, replays, and the list goes on and on to even include personalized computer models.

At the end of the day, you still must do three things to be successful at this game. You must pick winners, know how to bet them, and come out ahead.

One tool that is hardly talked about in racing here in the USA but more frequently elsewhere is dutching. There are some sharp players here I know who do it, and I personally have found myself delving more into it with success. It is in my opinion, something anyone looking to beat this game should at least be aware of and consider at times.

Basically, dutching simply means calculating the appropriate but different amount to wager on each horse or combination you think can win, guaranteeing you a certain ROI or return on investment. Of course, you must be right. If you are not right, you can’t win no matter how you structure your wagers unless you are on a betting exchange which is a whole different story.

For example, say you think the 2, 5, and 9 are the only three horses who can win a race. You have $50 to wager on the race and want to win if any of those horses come through and win the most you can with your $50 investment. A dutching calculator will tell you the precise amount to bet to win on each horse to get your desired result. It is easy to use and can really change your game.

I know many of us like the multi-race sequences. I believe it is in part because it allows us to use multiple horses to win in a race to try and hit the sequence. I think we all share in the frustration you feel when you are strong about a race, especially when you are confident one of your nicer priced horses will win and you hit that race but lose the sequence. Dutching can be a big help in this scenario.

As opposed to going after races you may not like as much as your key race, why not consider investing the money into the race you like and dutching to cover the nice price horses you think can win. It is a beautiful tool and can increase your winning percentage and ROI.

Dutching can be done anywhere you have odds available and or probable payouts like exactas. I have found some wonderful dutching opportunities recently and have capitalized on them. I usually go for the kill shot and will take a stand and live and die with it. I also know you must adapt in this game, and I have found and now actually look for races where dutching gives me an excellent chance to make a hit, and I only have one race to worry about, and every horse I think can win covered in it. That is a good feeling.

AmWager has a built-in dutching calculator you can experiment with, and in my opinion, you would be foolish not to. If nothing else, try it out. I did, and I’m glad.

For more of my wagering strategies, read Past the Wire ….