From an American racing website I found a guy intrigued by the phenomenon of beginners luck. He says whenever he takes a lady to the track she does famously. She bets on the "poor blind horse" (blinkers) or "the one with the sore leg" (bandanging), or, the ever-reliable, "the one with the cutest name" or the nicest colours. Never fails. She goes home way ahead. He loses. Every time.

The laws governing beginners luck:

Law One: Bet on anything. It will win.
Law Two: Law one will only work once.

Hermes.