Been there, my first bet disappeared so fast my friends still bring it up every season. What helped me recover was treating it less like luck and more like homework. Before a spring meet, I started reading previews on platform for racing fans after a taxi driver mentioned it during a ride to the track. Their notes made it easier to compare horses and spot small details I used to ignore. Next time I went, I did not hit a jackpot, but I stayed in the game and finally felt a bit redeemed.