Welcome to The Winner's Circle Academy Getting Started Guide! In this lesson, we’ll explore the importance of understanding the daily selection texts you’ve subscribed to. Whether you’re new to race betting or just starting out, it’s vital to have a clear grasp of how the Pick 3 system works to achieve success.

This system is a structured approach to betting, aimed at picking the winner of three consecutive races. Sounds simple, right? Let’s dive into an example using the first three races at Kentucky Downs:

Race #1 - 8 Horses 

Race #2 - 10 Horses 

Race #3 - 7 Horses

How many combinations are possible to bet on?   The answer is 560 (8x10x7)!  Not so easy you might say.

Rule #1: Our system involves selecting 3 horses in one of the three races and 4 horses in each of the other two races. This setup always covers 48 unique combinations, calculated as 3x4x4 = 48. Our standard bet consists of 48 combinations at $0.50 each, totaling a wager amount of $24. We only bet $24 per race, which equals 1% of our total account value of $2400. In betting terms, this $24 is referred to as one Unit.

Here’s an example of a daily email you would have received on August 31st:

From left to right, each line displays the date, the track, the race number, and the horse numbers selected in the 3-race sequence.

Look at the fourth line:

We are betting that in the 4th race, one of horses #1, 3, 11, or 12 needs to win. Then, in the 5th race, one of horses #1, 6, 10, or 11 needs to win. Finally, in the 6th race, one of horses #1, 2, or 3 needs to win. The bet structure is 4x4x3x$0.50 = $24.

Here’s the result: #11 won the 4th race, #6 won the 5th race, and #1 won the 6th race! A $24 wager paid $180.02. The payout listed below is based on a $2 bet, but we use 50 cents as our bet amount.

From the example above, there were 9 races that day offering the Pick 3 Wager. We placed $24 bets on each of the nine races, totaling $216 out of the $2400 bankroll.

Not all winners will perform as well as the one mentioned earlier. Many bets will lose outright, and there will be losing days. However, by betting only 1% of the bankroll per race, you should achieve steady gains over time.

Consider categorizing the selected horses as follows:

 F - Favorites. These are the top picks to win the race with low payouts and are typically included in bets.

 C - Contenders. Horses with medium odds that have a solid chance of winning.

 L - Longshots. These are the high odds picks that can lead to big payouts. I usually include one in each race.

Typically, the dollar winnings could look like this:

 F-F-F      A $24 bet might only return $6 - $10 

 F-F-C     A $24 bet might return $15 - $20

 F-C-C    A $24 bet might return around $35

 F-C-L     A $24 bet might double the money wagered

 F-L-L      A $24 bet might reach $100 - $150

 L-L-L     A $24 bet might pay $400, $500, or even $600!

The small wins keep you in the game, the contenders and longshots are what make the account grow.  Stick with the process - it works.

Incidentally, here is the final tally from Kentucky Downs on August 31st. The profit for the day came to $106.30.

To wrap it up, getting the hang of the Pick 3 betting system is crucial for becoming a successful and profitable horseplayer. Spend the next two weeks learning and observing these picks. By incorporating this knowledge into your betting strategy, you'll boost your chances of coming out ahead.