Mark Ripple
Encyclopedia
Mark E. Ripple, born August 30, 1967 is an American money manager, expert horse racing handicapper,. and author of Handicapping the Wall Street Way. He is frequently sought after to pen articles, having written for American Turf Monthly, The Horse Jockey, CBS, and Southern Gaming Magazine. He’s been featured in American Turf Monthly and Motley Fool, and has been a featured financial commentator for CBS Market Watch. Mark has given lectures at numerous colleges including the University of Pennsylvania , Hudson Valley Community College, and Rensselaer Polythechnic Institute. He is also Co-Founder of the Elizabeth K. Ripple Memorial Scholarship Fund, founded in honor of his sister, which provides scholarships for students attending Hudson Valley Community College's Respiratory Therapy Program.
Incorporated.
handicapping
. Handicapping the Wall Street Way shows how Ripple successfully applies theories learned from 20 years in the securities investment game to horse racing.
Ripple based his theories on market inefficiencies. The odds on a horse or a stock's price is normally very efficient, because the public sets the prices and gives correct values. We see this when odds-on favorites finish in the money more often than not, and blue chip
stocks steadily rise in value over time. Clearly, this is a slow way to turn a profit. However, irrational behavior by the betting public, be they stock investors or horseplayers, will cause inefficient markets. He uses the parallel of the dot-com boom of the late 1990s and the Belmont Stakes
with a Triple Crown
on the line to demonstrate the most extreme examples of market inefficiency, and how taking a contrarian approach can lead to profitability. Investors who bought dot-com shares at the height of the boom and horseplayers who bet on War Emblem
, Funny Cide
, and Smarty Jones
at the Belmont all took a loss on their wagers.
One angle of betting that other race handicapping books rarely touch on, but is always discussed by financial advisors, is risk management, prescribing a betting strategy corresponding to the level of risk the bettor is willing to take. With greater risk, there is a corresponding greater potential profit but with the trade-off of more money that can be lost. Ripple was the first to use a simple questionnaire to determine what level of risk the reader is comfortable with, and then the reader can implement the corresponding betting strategies.
Ripple recognizes that it is not "one size fits all" and has tailored strategies to reflect this.
Thomas James Associates
After graduating from Hudson Valley Community College as a President's List Student, Ripple commenced to further his studies at Rensselaer Polythechnic Institute until he was recruited as New York State's youngest investment banker, at age 21, by Thomas James Associates of Rochester, New York. He spent one short year at the fledgling firm and was drafted by Merill Lynch.Merrill Lynch
While at Merrill Lynch, he held a variety of responsibilities in sales management, in both debt and equities, as well as product risk management, and investment banking.Prudential Bache
Mr. Ripple has also worked in the Mergers and Acquisitions Group of Prudential SecuritiesPrudential Securities
Prudential Securities was the financial services arm of the insurer, Prudential Financial. In 2003, Prudential Securities was merged into Wachovia Securities, a division of Wachovia Bank.-History:...
Incorporated.
PVR Investment Holdings
Ripple continues to invest for a very select group of clients with his British-Canadian partner, PVR Investment Holdings.Picking Xtra Winners at the Track
In 2005, Ripple authored a ground-breaking piece of work on horse racingHorse racing
Horse racing is an equestrian sport that has a long history. Archaeological records indicate that horse racing occurred in ancient Babylon, Syria, and Egypt. Both chariot and mounted horse racing were events in the ancient Greek Olympics by 648 BC...
handicapping
Handicapping
Handicapping, in sport and games, is the practice of assigning advantage through scoring compensation or other advantage given to different contestants to equalize the chances of winning. The word also applies to the various methods by which the advantage is calculated...
. Handicapping the Wall Street Way shows how Ripple successfully applies theories learned from 20 years in the securities investment game to horse racing.
Ripple based his theories on market inefficiencies. The odds on a horse or a stock's price is normally very efficient, because the public sets the prices and gives correct values. We see this when odds-on favorites finish in the money more often than not, and blue chip
Blue chip
According to the New York Stock Exchange, a blue chip is stock in a corporation with a national reputation for quality, reliability and the ability to operate profitably in good times and bad....
stocks steadily rise in value over time. Clearly, this is a slow way to turn a profit. However, irrational behavior by the betting public, be they stock investors or horseplayers, will cause inefficient markets. He uses the parallel of the dot-com boom of the late 1990s and the Belmont Stakes
Belmont Stakes
The Belmont Stakes is an American Grade I stakes Thoroughbred horse race held every June at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. It is a 1.5-mile horse race, open to three year old Thoroughbreds. Colts and geldings carry a weight of 126 pounds ; fillies carry 121 pounds...
with a Triple Crown
United States Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing
In the United States, the "Triple Crown" is usually the Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing, a series of three Thoroughbred horse races for three-year-old horses run in May and early June of each year consisting of the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, and Belmont Stakes.While Daily Racing Form...
on the line to demonstrate the most extreme examples of market inefficiency, and how taking a contrarian approach can lead to profitability. Investors who bought dot-com shares at the height of the boom and horseplayers who bet on War Emblem
War Emblem
War Emblem was the winner of the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes in 2002. His Derby time was 2:01.13. Victor Espinoza was his jockey for the Derby, never having seen the horse until the morning of the race. War Emblem, who went off at 21-to-1 odds, gave trainer Bob Baffert his third Derby...
, Funny Cide
Funny Cide
Funny Cide is a Thoroughbred race horse who won the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes in 2003. He is the first New York-bred horse to win the Kentucky Derby and the first gelding to win since Clyde Van Dusen in 1929.-Bloodlines:...
, and Smarty Jones
Smarty Jones
Smarty Jones is a thoroughbred race horse, and winner of the 2004 Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes. He finished second in the Belmont Stakes that took place on June 5th, 2004....
at the Belmont all took a loss on their wagers.
One angle of betting that other race handicapping books rarely touch on, but is always discussed by financial advisors, is risk management, prescribing a betting strategy corresponding to the level of risk the bettor is willing to take. With greater risk, there is a corresponding greater potential profit but with the trade-off of more money that can be lost. Ripple was the first to use a simple questionnaire to determine what level of risk the reader is comfortable with, and then the reader can implement the corresponding betting strategies.
Ripple recognizes that it is not "one size fits all" and has tailored strategies to reflect this.