Introduction to Chuck
LAS VEGAS — Delayed by a tardy bus transfer and distracted by chatty friends, the amiable and welcoming Chuck finally got down to handicapping horse races April 9. He was late to address Keeneland, staging a weather makeup day, and a golden opportunity evaporated.
A Missed Opportunity
In its eighth race, a mile on turf, Summer in Adriane beat Navy Seal by a nose, paying $95.56 to win, $46.16 to place and $22.66 to show. A $1 exacta (12-10) paid $561.28. Jockey Juan Hernandez being atop Summer would have drawn Chuck to the 4-year-old gelding because Hernandez is a top western turf rider. Chuck also favors trainer Michael J. Maker.
Chuck’s Handicapping Style
The Hernandez-Maker combination would have made Chuck investigate further, with a wager on Summer likely. Chuck missed a big one. He grinned, took it in stride. There would be other tracks, other races, other winners. But there’s only one Chuck. Fortunately, I befriended him more than 10 years ago in my home sportsbook, at Green Valley Ranch (GVR). Chuck Williams, 74, is as dedicated to handicapping horses as anyone I’ve ever met.
Chuck’s Background
Growing up in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Chuck remembers devouring the Morning Advocate newspaper, front to back, that his grandfather obtained at dawn every day. Sunday sports sections were especially thick, and the agate type of the horse races led Chuck to fashion those numbers into meaning, and the Daily Racing Form (DRF). He was 8 when the radio call of the 1958 Kentucky Derby, won by Tim Tam, captivated him.
Southern Pride
He’d attend his first horse race at Jefferson Downs, in Kenner, near the New Orleans airport. Chuck is immensely proud to have attended Southern University, whose men’s track and field team won NAIA national outdoor titles from 1965 to 1967. In 1965, at a meet in Modesto, California, Robert Johnson, Anthony Gates, Everett Mason and Theron Lewis ran the mile relay in 3:04.5, matching the world record set by Arizona State two years earlier.
Equine Confidence
The ponies became Chuck’s priority. He won $6,700 in one race. At Fair Grounds in New Orleans, he once split a $25,000 prize with someone when both nailed a twin trifecta. He remembers feeling validation, proof of sound methods and tactics. In the late 1970s, before simulcasting, he detailed the records of more than 3,800 races, for every DRF track, to provide a tout-like service for a casino.
A Life of Handicapping
He charted the top four picks for each race and how they finished, comparing them to his handicaps. His won at a 38% rate, averaging $8.60 per win. The top four exacta and trifecta plays showed overall profit of 45 to 60%. Alas, the gig fell through. “But this is why,” Chuck said of his techniques, “I talk so confidently about horse racing.” In 1980, maybe to salvage a failing marriage, he attended Gamblers Anonymous sessions. Soon enough, Chuck smoked out the counselor’s hypocrisy.
Frugal ‘Capper
In August 2018, Chuck was rolling along. “I’m actually happy, really happy,” he told me then. “I’m able to focus. Each setback has made me concentrate more. I feel like I’m about to make a breakthrough, but I like to keep it to myself.” Setbacks kept lining up. The coronavirus prodded an imbecilic governor to shutter Vegas for 11 weeks. It was like a reunion, seeing Chuck — as much a fixture in the GVR book as its cubicles and kiosks — again.
The Goal
He asked about my mom. Chuck expressed genuine sorrow when my pop passed away in 2014, and every once in a while he asks how ma is faring. But he was unbalanced, inadequately digesting DRF charts the night before races, stuff like doctor appointments muddling his daily routine. “When you don’t pay attention to the little details, they can kill you,” he said. “I’m not where I want to be with my attitude.”
Recent Developments
He vanished, for about 19 months, until February 2024. Circumstances led to him being homeless, and navigating several hours in the book became too challenging around when shelters opened and closed their doors. He finally found a new home, renting an apartment for $415 a month, nearly half of his monthly Social Security benefits. “I have a place now, food in the fridge,” Chuck said. “I’m proud I got through that.”
Conclusion
His senior citizen’s monthly RTC bus pass, allowing unlimited travel within Vegas, costs $32.50. A storage unit, in which he stores hundreds of DRFs and other items, costs around $50. That leaves him with roughly $100 a week to spend on food and horses. Often, he wagers a dollar on a race. A main goal is picking a horse to finish among the top three, or show-betting.
Conclusion
Chuck has enough GVR player points to get DRFs gratis. On Christmas and New Year’s eves, he gathered them, retreated home to study and returned the following days to make his bets. His physiological balance restored, he continues to be the most compassionate, level-headed and rational person in this book.
FAQs
Q: What is Chuck’s approach to handicapping horse races?
A: Chuck is dedicated to handicapping horses and focuses on the Daily Racing Form (DRF) to make informed decisions. He has a unique approach that has been developed over years of experience.
Q: What is Chuck’s background?
A: Chuck grew up in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and developed an interest in horse racing at a young age. He attended Southern University and has a strong connection to the sport.
Q: What are Chuck’s goals?
A: Chuck’s main goal is to continue handicapping horse races and making a profit. He aims to be 90 years old and still playing the horses.
Q: How does Chuck support himself?
A: Chuck lives on a limited budget, supported by his Social Security benefits. He has to be frugal with his expenses, including his wagering activities.
