Given no racing activity recently, I had an opportunity to scan through my handicapping library and came across these sentences from the book “Value Betting” by Mark Coton

There is no pre-determined goal in betting, no cup final, no derby, and no trophy to be lifted as witness to your skill and judgement.

There will always be something more to achieve. Once you have won your fist £1000, there will always be another to make, more winners to back, but more failures and disappointment to endure.

The book was written in 1990 and could be considered out of date.

However given that most books published recently focus on the authors fool proof “system”, lack what I would call insightful methods and re-hash previous handicapping material that is now the domain of racing commentators and betting shop fodder alike, the principles outlined in the book have for me stood the test of time.

It’s a shame Mark (the original Racing Post “pricewise”) gave up the game to revert to his training as a lawyer.

Maybe a gambling path without recognition and public adulation is just too lonely.

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