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We've all seen the rumpled Walter Matthau-lookalikes, poring over the Daily Racing Form, squeezing the last bit of fun out of a day at the races. The pros call it handicapping a horse. To most people, it feels like algebra homework.

Picking a horse to bet on should be fun, not an exercise in applied mathematics.
It takes years of study and dedication to decipher the information to bet with skill and accuracy. Here are a few things to consider instead.

What's in Name?

A time-honored approach, only slight more scientific than eeeny-meeny-miny-mo, depends on loving the name of the horse. If you're out with your pals for a bachelor party, then maybe "Heza Wild Guy" suits your fancy.

If your name or the name of an ex or a friend is in the horse's name, it could be a sign that luck is on your side. For example, "Hanna's Gamble" could be the winning pick for any number reasons. Maybe it was the name of your best friend in third grade or the girl who laughed so hard milk came out her nose when she turned you down for senior prom.

It could be the name of your favorite song, or just a name that makes you laugh. After all, who could resist plunking down two bucks on "Barbara Seville" whether you think of Rossini's comic opera or the greatest Bugs Bunny cartoon ever.

If this is your strategy, disregard all logic and bet your fancy. Who knows, it could pay off big if you see "Mo Dinero" among the entries.

Looks Count

Go ahead, be shallow. Pick the best-looking horse or the jockey with the prettiest silks. That combination of watermelon stripes on a robin's egg blue background just might make the difference today.

A noble-looking steed, with a strong jaw and a confident glare, may just turn out to be a winner for you. Or cast conventional wisdom to the wind and put your heart and money on the scrappy outcast, the unknown kid that's all guts who overcomes the odds ala Seabiscuit.

Of course, racehorses are all noble-looking steeds, not a shaggy stumpy Shetland pony among them. So look for strong hind legs, balanced shoulders and a graceful neckline. Even if your horse loses, it will still look good.

Read the signs

There's no substitute for seeing the horse live. Tracks offer various levels of access, so it can be fun to go down to the paddock before post time and watch the pre-game prep. Much like watching baseball players spit, stretch and scratch, horses have tell-tale signs visible to the keen-eyed watcher.

For a horse, the ears are the window to the soul. A horse with flicking ears

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