Big Scores at the Downs (or missed opportunities)

I train racehorses for a living (tough way to live). I've always loved horses and gambling, the ultimate gamble is to try and live this life. I've got lots of insight of the inner workings of what goes on behind the scenes. Today I want to share a missed handicapping opportunity. The past 2 years I've trained a horse named "The Friendly Ghost". He's a beautiful gray horse, recently retired to a ranch in South Dakota. We claimed "The Ghost" last year for $12,500. He had a respectable campain, winning for $16,000 and finishing 2nd for $30,000. He earned about $27,000 for the year. Well he had some ankle issues and needed a break, so we gave him about 6 months off. It took him a while to get back into the swing, but I knew he was capable of winning at the lowest level ($4000). We took a trip out to Detroit and he broke through with a win in September. He went off at 6 or 7 to 1. I thought he got no respect that day! When I glanced up and saw he was 10-1 I said to myself (or out loud) that's ridiculous and put the $20 I had on him to win. It was a good day (more on what it's like to own/train and win later). We ran one more time, finished 3rd, and returned to Boston. I do most of my training at Suffolk Downs. I knew "The Ghost" was clicking on all cylinders, so we entered to run on October 15th. It came up a full field of 12. It's tough to guarantee a win at this level with 12 horses, but I thought his odds should have been about 5-1. I had alot of people there that day and we were talking and having fun. I kept glancing at the tote board and the Ghost is double digit odds! The people with me were lucky enough to hear me say that "those odds are a joke" and they went to the windows and laid it in. Meanwhile I'm still busy with horse business and visiting and thinking those odds would come down. Well, less than one minute to post, they're going into the gate and I see 19-1 and I never made a bet. The Ghost is a closing sprinter. He was well back, he weeded his way through traffic and when they turned for home, he exploded with his deadly kick, split horses, and won by a full length like a good thing. We were all thrilled (nothing like winning). The Ghost paid over $40 for a $2 bet. And now I spend the winter thinking what if? I had and am the inside information people are searching for and I didn't bet a dime on the highest priced winner I think I ever had. I should have had at least $200 on him. It could be years before I get another opportunity like this. Well thats all for now. Next time a winning score!