Going Forward

This blog started in October last year and had a fantastic run through the Victorian Spring Carnival finding the winners of the three "big ones" Caulfield and Melbourne Cups and Cox Plate.Plenty of other winners as well at some very juicy odds.Since February however each month has been a losing one and to date 2013 has been very costly and frustrating.I wasn't advising staking during the first 3 months but if you were playing around level stakes (not something I would ever advise) you'd have been between 40/50 units up but since I started the staking plan the losses have been around 30 units (29.83).
Complicating everything for me this year have been some serious heart problems which have had me in hospital three times.Trying to play the horses professionally when you have these kinds of personal dramas going on is a real challenge and realistically it's inevitably that you are going to be a bit less focused than usual.The advise I have from my heart specialist or Cardiologist as they like to be called here in Australia is that gambling for a living is far too stressful and involves me working far too many hours each week and I should cease doing it straight away.Further advice was a course of anti-depressants to help me come to terms with every thing and gently readjust to a calmer less stressful existence.
The medication made me feel like my mind had silted up and after trying two different types they are well and truly off the shopping list.Giving up the punt would leave me without an income and my main interest in life.In short I'd rather go down swinging than drift along in a state of medicated ennui until the inevitable finally arrived.
I did consider canning this blog but a few people have emailed me asking where I've been and will I still be posting so I've decided to continue.
Until September I will only be focusing on Victorian racing here in Australia and that will very much take a back seat to the UK racing.From September until early November I'll look at both in equal measure and I'll be taking December off.
The schedule for the blog with tips attached will be Victorian racing -Lunchtime blog Wednesday through to Sunday,UK racing early evening blog most days (Sundays only when worthwhile).
I've had a very shabby start to 2013 but hopefully it can begin to turn around sooner rather than later.
With today's meeting at Sandown washed out there is no blog covering the Australian racing today but I'll post one this evening for Derby day at Epsom