I’m no pro, but I used to enjoy going to the track when I was younger. Since I didn’t know much about horses, developed my own system. I would buy a racing form and a local paper and look at who the experts recommended. What I looked for was not necessarily the winner, but a horse that all the experts seemed to think would at least show (3rd place). I would take 50 bucks for 10 races, planning on making a 5 dollar bet on each. I might get back 7-10 dollars on average if they showed. Then I would add half of that to the bet on the next race, and pocket the other half. On a good night I might double or triple my money, on a bad night I might lose half. Most often I would make enough to pay for some food and beer, and it was fun.
Had a similar system when I was in collage at Alabama. Betting dogs. My total “allowance” was 50 bucks that I got on Friday when I came home. If I was careful I’d have 30 or so come Monday night. My roommate and I would drive to Greentrack in Eutaw. That’s how I made my spending money for the week. Or not. Some weeks beans and rice till Friday. But mostly I did pretty well.
And yea, I did work. Holidays and summers. Course this was in ‘79 and ‘80. 30 bucks went a lot further then. Although not much further..........