Dating Handicapping Tip: Cruelty

I read an entry a horse racing handicapping blog that posed the question, is horse racing animal cruelty? And I would say some men/women treat their dates and significant others cruelly. If you truly love the animal will you make it race and if you truly love a person will you manipulate, try to change, or make more insecure? Cruelty is not a term just for animals; it applies to how we treat each other.


Many seem to think if they love the opposite sex it involves sex. That is not necessarily true, perhaps they love sex. And in most sexual relationships there is a lot of cruelty whether physical, mental or emotional. They get caught up in the race trying to look good, compete for attention and for what?

To truly appreciate the opposite sex, your date or your lover you would not desire to put them through any anguish or pain. You would not pressure them into uncomfortable situations, manipulate or offer ultimatums. You would not ruin their reputations or relationships. You would not break them down or run them ragged.

Someone once told me to consider racehorses like professional athletes. Owners invest millions in the horses and they are well taken care of. In the game of dating make sure you find someone who treats you like a million bucks and takes care of you as if you were a champion. In that case the game of dating is well worth the effort.

Dating Handicapping: Loyalty

Football season is among us and for the life of me I don't know what team to route for. Usually I route for individual players. I am the most fair weather fan. There are diehard fans that bear through the darkest times. For my family, they are such die hard Steelers fans you would think my last name is Rooney (owner of the Steelers).


For most loyalty in relationships refers to commitment. Are you fair weather in the relationship or do you have the commitment to weather most storms? Or maybe if you’re crazy fanatical or you are cheering for a lost cause? How do you know if it is a rough patch or a losing cause?

The important thing to remember is relationships are not a game. You can't turn off the television, hurl insults at your spouse or cheer for our lover to be crushed by an opposing defense. You can't lock yourself in your room and cry when you lose a fight (although some do) and you can't drink until you can't stand (although some do). That behavior although suitable for football; is not suitable for relationships.

You see; in football, Oakland Raider fans should consider routing for another team if not for self respect alone. And if you’re New England patriot fan you must realize the fantasy is over and it is time to cheer for a real team. And being a Dallas Cowboy fan when you live in Des Moines Iowa is kind of like having a crush on a superficial Hollywood celebrity. But then you may be diehard Denver Bronco fan weathering the hard times until your next championship. You’re loyalty should be in check with you the quality and the reality of your relationship.

The question is even a team if your favorite would you bet on them to win. Funny how we stand by teams knowing they are a losing cause. How far do we go with our loyalty in a losing love match when we could ultimate find our winning contender? If we value not only commitment in love, but the content of our love, it is a question we must all ask.

Dating Handicapping Tip: The Thrill of Victory

Whether it is a horse race or sporting event the end goal is either a ribbon or a trophy. In relationships the prize is marriage. Hip-hip-hooray! You're married and on your way to a lifetime of wedded bliss. Bring on the presents! For some the race, the game is just the thrill of victory. In relationships many live for the celebration of wedding and the passion of the honeymoon. What comes next?


Many sports heroes experience depression after winning a championship. They put all their efforts and focus in winning one particular prize, or succeed at a singular goal. When they accomplish that goal, what is left to accomplish? What is left for an athlete once he/she wins the championship – another championship? Everything they have put their life into is now done.

What happens when a couple reaches the threshold of marriage? There is celebration and parties. Newlywed couples often find ways to keep the fires burning - a new house, a pet, children. Many times it is attempts to keep the relationship new. But then five years later there is nothing new to celebrate and reality sets in. What happens when the thrill of victory subsides?

Today I read an article that portrays married couples living separate lives. They sleep in separate bedrooms, or at least tolerate each other until death. And many others find other games to play and races to run. Does this seem like a victory? It sounds like an ex-jock turned couch potato. That is hardly the life of a champion.

How do you keep that champion spirit after the thrill of victory is gone? Well, it involves continued training to keep fit. Marriages take work, not just on the relationship and your spouse. You need to continue to work on you to keep your champion form.

But then, you may realize that the prize you earned in your hard work on the path of marriage is not worth the effort. Perhaps you may learn, you never had a champion relationship? Then it is time to move onto greener pastures. The thing to remember, the thrill of victory lasts only as long as the effort and value you put into it.

Dating Handicapping Tip: Handicapping Good Performances

Today I read an article, "Things he does to show he's into you." The article listed some things men do for woman to show their love. Although they are demonstrations of affection; however you need to take care because they may not be a true indication of the quality of relationships.


I do not want to dismiss acts of kindness and generosity, but I once knew a husband who brought to his wife coffee in bed every morning. This was extremely sweet, but the couple divorced a short time later due to lack of communication. That act was simply that – sweet and demonstrative.

Some people quantify their love by the things their lovers do for them. For some, they need proof of love. But you have to be careful tallying the score because some of these acts may be of seduction, wooing, charming or even manipulation. Some may try to buy your affection with acts of kindness.

In sport an athlete can do all that is necessary and even beyond but sometimes to impress the fans, coaches and media. What they bring to the field may be lackluster at best. You would not wager too highly on an athlete who does somersaults in the end zone and dances to impress spectators.

So if you’re date performs these things for seduction, to impress you or your friends and family, you may not have a champion relationship. The key is to find the genuineness in their actions. Do they brag and boast of the things they do for you? Do they do them before others?

How can you be sure of your lover's commitment? The answer is when you never have to question your lover’s commitment. When you stop quantifying what a mate does for you is when you have a true love. A sure bet of love is when you feel confident and secure.

You can trust a true champion will always perform at their highest level regardless of conditions. You have faith they will always bring their best to all factors. A true champion of love does not need to impress or prove. What you need to do is look beyond what they do and concentrate on how they make you feel overall.

Dating Handicapping Tip: Race History

In looking back at a race horse's prior performances many factors need to be taken into consideration - the conditions, the jockeys, etc. It is really hard to handicap but it is one of the most important that combines many of the handicapping elements.


Training and Grooming - Looking at old pictures of your date will show you their previous state of affairs. Were they careless of their appearance? Oftentimes this means they were careless of their relationships. Were they overly coifed and groomed. It may mean they were insecure and needed to keep appearances. You now need to evaluate how they appear for you. Their appearance demonstrates how feel about our relationships – careless or concerned.

Players - Basically, who did your date "play" with and who did they associate says lots about their character and how they felt about themselves. To put it bluntly, did they date champions, losers or somewhere in-between? You may very much be champions but if your mate has a history of dating losers you may find trouble (Sandra Bullock/Jesse James)

Factors - We've all had bad experiences in dating and all of us at times have shown our dark side. This should be forgiven unless the dark side of the dating handicapping factors prevails; you may have problems. If you date consistently shone pour form, bad ability, too slow, or fast speed and if there was no value in their previous relationships it would be wise to think this one through.
It is true. People have bad relationships they go through bad times. And you can't too much emphasis on past races, but you can monitor behaviors actions and words to see if any of this resurfaces. If so it is not wise to expect different outcomes.

Dating Handicapping Tip: Playing Potential Outcomes

The word wager means to risk something on an uncertain event. Although in dating you’re not wagering money, you’re deciding to date someone and that is always a risk. You are gambling this person may pay off as a lover or even potential spouse. A horse race handicapper has several different outcomes he can choose to gamble based on the results of his research.

Win – the horse that crosses the finish line first.

Place – bets the horse that will at least get second place.

Show – bets the horse that will at least come in third place.

Exacta (Win & Place) – the horses that cross the finish line in first and second place.

Trifecta (Win, Place and Show) – the horses that cross the finish line in first, second and third place.

Once you have done so, you can decide how best to make your wager. If in all the research you believe you have found a standout winner, by all means, bet on them to win. But perhaps you found a contender you’re not sure about. Can you truly place them in your life? Will they even show up? Maybe in reviewing your potential dates, you find two or three good contenders. You may want to play them all to see how they finish.

To many people playing several dates at one time seems very unappealing and dishonest. Do not fret if you’re not comfortable dating more than one person, or if you don’t like it if the person you desire is dating other people.

If you are constantly putting all your time and effort into one relationship that does not show the signs of victory, or even the finish line, why wouldn’t you consider other options? In love you need to be strong and you need to be open to all possibilities, or else you may never pick a winner and be constantly stuck with a loser.

Dating Handicapping Tip: Online Handicappers for Hire

In every sport there are handicappers that give tips and hints to upcoming horse races and sporting events much. Many pay a good deal of money to these expert handicappers for their tips. But no matter how money spent, the gambler still must make his/her on bet and there is no guarantee to the outcome of his gamble.


For a lot of people, online dating sites offer tips and matches to people for at a price, but ultimately it is up to the individual to make the date. It is up to you to call the shots. And there is no guarantee you will walk away with a winner no matter how much money you spend.

Some dating sites guarantee you find someone, but they still are not guaranteeing a winning relationship. Dating sites are wagering on the fact desperate lovers will settle with someone/ anyone therefore proving their advertising.

Here is my advice; don't buy advice, educate yourself. The more sports fans know about the game and the players; the more educated wager they can make. And the more you know about your condition, the players and factors; the better your odds of finding a great relationship. Learn how not to waste your money on things you can figure yourself.