Are Greyhound Handicapping Tips Just for Losers?

At the dog track, everyone has an opinion and they give it loud and long. There's no way you can escape getting other peoples' opinion. Whether it's which dog to bet on or which sandwich to avoid at the snack bar, you'll get tips all day and night.

So, do you, like most people, ignore them? Or, do you, like some people, believe everything you hear and bet on every tip you're given? Well, neither of those approaches is the one I recommend, but I DO

think that tips can actually be worthwhile sometimes.

I never just blindly bet on a tip, but I do pay attention to them, all the while considering the source. Because I go to the track often, I know the good tipsters from the touts. When someone I've gotten good tips from in the past gives me a tip, I write it down on the program page that it applies to.

If I have the money and the inclination, I bet based on the tip, but never too much. Then, and this is what most people don't do, I write down whether the tip was legit. That's right. Right on the program page, I write down the tip, who gave it to me and whether the dog came in.

This way, when I'm going over my program at home, I use my notes to keep track of who's worth listening to and who's just blowing smoke. I'm no spring chicken and I don't remember things as well as I used to. This system helps me remember who I should listen to and who I should just smile at and walk away from.

Tips can be a big help, but only if you know that they come from winners. They can help you win more and lose less. But the most important tip anyone can give you is to learn basic handicapping skills, rather than just depending on other people's tips.