Today, with the bowl games in the background, I tallied up my 2006 wagers. I was a winner last year, finishing ahead by $9.95. While I hate to think of my hourly rate of return, I get solace from the fact that most people's hobbies are serious money drains and mine turned a tiny profit. I had 10 signers (W2G forms reported to the IRS for winning tickets paying greater than $600), all from mulitrace exotics (Pick 3s and Pick 4s). I did almost all of my betting online and only saw live racing twice - at Emerald Downs in August (for just two races) and the Breeders' Cup at Churchill Downs. In 2007 I hope to improve in this category. Almost 40% of my bets were Trifectas with another 22% on Exactas (in both categories I earned positive rates of return). I did not do much win, place, and show wagering and I actually bet more into the show pool than into the win pool. Most of my betting was on races simulcast from Australia, mainly because the races are run at night and do not interfere with my work or family life and also because past performances are free. Churchill Downs was second as a result of the Derby and the Breeders' Cup, my two biggest betting days of the year. While I don't get rebates for betting, I have accumulated almost one million Youbet Advantage points (I'm just a few months away from a 55" HDTV).

+/- positive or negative ROI