Body language is not restricted to racehorses. Body language is also important for handicappers
Poor Lloyd, an handicapping aquantaince, looked like he was going to get pulled up and walked off before a race.
I prefer to believe in who I am and talk to my entire staff as I do nothing but positive reinforcement. I believe I have to ability to be King Kong on any given day and I want to pass that on, to them and to you.
Lloyd and crew, famous for asking for donations for a superfecta 'get out' wager, near the Belmont Park paddock, circa 2014 Belmont Stakes day could use confidence and a super hero monster mentality. They don't project super hero qualities when it comes down to the races.
Llloyd and crew wash out, walk short and slur their words looking to build a bankroll for a get out ticket. Drinking and gambling is a losing proposition. Train derailment waiting to happen.
I met Llloyd and crew in 2012 at Fair Grounds, all six of them were all over me about horses, I didn't know what to do with them, and as Steve Asmussen walked by Lloyd yelled out "Hey Steve, tell Bruno we are OK to hang out with." Asmussen laughed out loud nodding in approval. "Oh yeah! '' as he kept walking and laughing. I was still confused on who these guys were despite the ringing endorsement from Steve, whom I think was still laughing as he headed out to the backstretch.
Llloyd was the kind of handicapper that was the equivalent of dead man walking.
Breeders Cup mornings at Santa Anita, the Lloyd crew was in gameday form.
Armed with a bloody mary in one hand and looking disheveled from an all night out, he inspired zero confidence shaking his head in disapproval "I really like a horse today'', while nursing a major hangover.
That GIF above was Llloyd, he was telling me through his body language 'I like a horse that has no shot.'
How many handicappers you know have that same body language. They might as well be singing ''the horses don't bring me flowers anymore''.
You can tell an handicapper who wants attention, they may wear stupid colorful shirts, or even makes outlandish, over the top, word salad cases for and against a horse. We have seen and heard them all, but its all done to take your attention away from their horse pitch.
The more animated the persona the more I believe this person is full of 'Shite'.
Perception is everything, they can be a loser but if they got your attention, they got you, that's what they want, its not about picking a winner.
I liked Llloyd, he was harmless and a fun guy, but you need to project confidence, competence, as everybody out there already thinks they know more than you do.
Your confidence in your talent and ideas promotes winning.
We all go thru streaks, but its important to maintain a self controlling, calming behavior, winning or losing.
Asking for donations for a get out play may be funny, but it is also sad because it speaks volumes for the ability to take the losing to another level.
Anyone that sees you at the track has to have zero idea whether you won or lost, if you show your weaknesses or act like you have been restricted in a cublicle at work at the track, you are likely to have a lack of confidence in your opinions, and that's when you start reaching.
Winning breeds confidence, but also knowing your ability can get you past the losing parts of the game and life.
It's easy to get depressed, telling people, 'I can't cash a ticket' or 'haven't won a photo since Game of Thrones season 1 debut'. Yes, misery loves company, but 'sweet baby Jesus' you are putting that L right on your forehead.
You can never tell I won or lost at the track, at home, I may yell 'bullshit' at the TV screen, or murmur to myself going to the refridgerator for a soothing ice cream, but never at the track.
You never hear me talking about a bad beat, thinking of a loss, makes you think less about a winner. I want zen, my chee has to be a positive outlook, as I get reminded daily from Amy Kearns about not ruining her positive outlook.
“The power of positive thinking is the ability to generate a feeling of certainty in yourself when nothing in the environment supports you.” -- Tony Robbins.
or my favorite:
“There is a powerful driving force inside every human being that, once unleashed, can make any vision, dream, or desire a reality.” -- Tony Robbins again.
In my mind, every day is a new day, no baggage from the previous day.
As Yogi Berra would have said "this game is 90 percent mental and the other half is luck''.
You can make a difference in how you approach the game, look at your stats, review your performance, critique yourself without making excuses.
"My horse would have won if he switched lead'' when you cant even tell when a horse switches leads.
"I won that photo, they moved the finish line'', that one specifically deserves a psychiatric evaluation and an asylum stay.
"They don't want me to win'', yes and the earth is flat all around the globe.
You put your socks on before your shoes right? Then act like it.
Professional athletes and the best handicappers, if there is such a thing, have short term memories, like a goldfish.
Llloyd was a fun character but I wouldn't listen to his picks if it was a one horse race, don't walk around like you want to vanned off, to be a winner think like a winner. Think you are King Kong
