Horse Betting Tips
Horse Betting Tips
Betting on the horses is fun, it’s a challenge and it can also be a great way to get some extra money in your pocket. But like all other forms of gambling, it can also cause huge monetary losses if you are not careful with your bankroll or not diligent enough to get pertinent information on the sport and use it to your advantage. In any risk to reward situation, your main aim should be to remove undue risk from the equation. The best way to do this is to be disciplined, both in your betting strategy as well as your bankroll management. If the bets are simply not going your way today, stop and take stock of the situation rather than making a desperate attempt to make up for those losses with wild bets.
Wagering on multiple tracks can be a great way to increase your profits, but it can also lead to disastrous results if you don’t succeed in your bets. When you bet on multiple tracks, you are open to a greater risk potential, especially if things don’t go as they should. Novice horse bettors often get into trouble due to lack of discipline in their betting strategies when they play too many tracks. Again, bankroll management is critical when you play several tracks at the same time.
Often, players new to horse betting simply wager win or place on the big names in the race. There is very little strategy or value to these bets. If you really want to go with a good value bet, go for the pick threes or pick fours or the exotic wagers. These are good value bets in the long term and are more likely to make you those big profits that you keep hearing about.
Be an informed player at the race tracks. Ensure that you read all the literature available on the horses and the races and everything else that you can lay your hands on. Your study on the recent histories and track records of the horses as well as the jockeys will surely pay off. Get to know the various track surfaces, the tendencies of the horses so you can bet on the right horse. We discuss below some basic points to consider when selecting a horse and placing a bet.
Fitness of the Horse
Before considering a horse to bet on, the important factor to look at is his fitness – whether the horse is physically fit enough to give his best or near best performance. Fitness is obtained with the combination of training and competition. If the horse has been away from the tracks for a long while, the more difficult will be the comeback.
Class of Race
Class could be defined in terms of the quality or type of competition the horse can compete against. To determine this, you might need to check out the prior races and conditions under which the horse has run. You can’t expect the horse to win if he has not raced against comparable competition.
Racing Distance
Horses are generally bred or trained to do well at certain distances. Check out all the lists to find out if the horse has performed well at the particular distance for the race you have in mind.
Horse’s Running Style
There are three categories of styles in which the horses tend to run at the races. One is the ‘pace setter’ or the ‘front runner’ wherein the horses run in the leading position and never remain behind for more than two lengths. The ‘Stalker’ usually runs no more than four lengths behind the lead horse. The ‘Rally types’ or the ‘Closer’ are never closer than five lengths from the pace. Usually horses follow consistent running styles. If there are few challengers in the race or if the track favors early speeds, it’s a good idea to go with the front runners. Otherwise, choose the stalker or the rally horse.
The Horse Trainer
The horse trainer is like the coach and some coaches are better than others. The quality of training has a great impact on the horse’s performance at the race.
The Jockey
If you check out the statistics, majority of the races are won by the usual few riders. It takes a great amount of skill, good judgment, timing and excellent riding techniques to ride a racehorse. An experienced jockey has the ability to communicate with the horse and lead him to a win. The jockey’s riding abilities are crucial in obstacle racing rather than in flat racing. That’s because in obstacle racing, no matter how fast the horse runs, if the jockey falls off, the horse is virtually out of the race.
The Horse’s Current Form and Consistency
It is advisable to give preference to a horse that has run at the races recently. To check out the horse’s current form, study his most recent races. This will give you an idea if the horse has been performing well and stands a chance to make it to the winning post. Usually, a horse that has been away from the tracks for several weeks might have been ill or injured and therefore has less chance of winning.
Examine the horse’s life time record as well as his performance for the year. If he has been doing well fifty percent of the races, he is a consistent performer and safe to place your bet on.
Take Stock of the Odds
Online racebooks are very well informed since they have all the possible data on the contenders for the race and they also have a good experience in determining the odds. The odds put forth by the racebook are first-rate indicators as to which horse is most likely to be among the final three winners. The racebook’s odds give you a clear idea on which horse to bet, so make use of this information.
Track Conditions
If the track is muddy and heavy, you should give preference to horses that are fast starters. Such tracks favor the horse that takes the lead in the race, making him the most likely winner.
