One of the most popular sports in the US is horse racing. However, most of its fanbase don’t watch it for the sport itself but to bet on it. If you go to a stadium and do a survey of all the people attending, you’d be surprised that most of the people watching the horse race are there for the betting games. While the sport is enjoyable by itself, many spectators prefer the thrill of the betting games.
If you’re a bettor who already knows the basics of horse racing, but looking to up your betting game to the next level, then you’re in luck. We will be talking about some essential strategies you should know about. These strategies will give you a significant chance of winning horse racing against even the toughest punters out there.
Look at the Racing Forms
Thousands of people bet millions on horse racing, but you’d be surprised that only a small percentage of them look at the racing forms to do some research. Of course, research is essential if you want to pick the right horse to win. That said, even just glancing on a racing form can yield great results, especially if you know where to look.
Racing forms, also known as form guides, contain all of the information about the upcoming races, including the horses participating, their jockeys, and even each horses’ track record. That said, when you get your hands on the form guide, the first thing you should look at is the background of the race itself.
The top of the racing form shows the time the race will start, the location, and the distance of the course. In addition, the track type is essential if you want to pick the best horse on a specific track type. Unfortunately, most of the time, racing forms don’t have that information. It will be up to you to research it.
Now, why is this important? It’s because some thoroughbreds excel on a specific track type and track surface. The rest of the form guide will then show you the colour of the jockey and the draw of the horse. If you don’t know what a draw is, it represents the starting position of the horse.
The next column usually indicates the placements of each horse on its recent races. This is good because this helps us greatly when picking our horses. For example, it’s generally a good idea to bet on a horse that consistently places in the top three in its most recent races.
Make Different Kinds of Bets
The most popular type of bet in horse racing is the win bet. It’s straightforward as you’ll only pick a horse and hope it wins. However, there are so many more bets, excluding that one and making different kinds of bets in a single race is often the best course of action.
For example, one of the most popular bets is the exotic bet. They are bets that involve betting on multiple horses at once. Of course, looking at that, it can seem impossible, but when you win an exotic bet, it’s well worth it.
For example, let’s look at the exacta bet. It’s a type of bet that involves betting horses that you think will win first and second places in the correct order. On the other hand, there’s a quinella bet that is the same type of bet, but you don’t have to get the order right.
Shop for Odds
Shopping odds is obvious if you want to make the most out of your bets. And the best thing about it is that it doesn’t only apply to horseracing but in betting in general. Of course, it can’t be applied to pari-mutuel betting since you can’t control the size of the pool.
But if you’re dealing with fixed odds, then things can change. So after picking the horse and selecting the type of bet you want to place on it, you’d want to compare odds. For example, with the Breeders’ Cup being just a few days away, it’s now time to shop and find breeders cup odds.
The best thing about shopping for odds is that there are many betting sites on the internet. And every one of them has their odds, both lower and lesser than the on-site bookmaker. Pick the one with the best odds, and you’ll win more. Sure, it’s only a buck or two, but it will grow with time when you do it regularly.
For instance, one site has $5 more, but another site will have a $15 bonus, so you should go for the second one. But if you have the money to go for both, then why not? Additionally, almost every online bookie has perks and bonuses for their first-time bettors, so make sure to look out for them.
Takeaway
These strategies might be basic and straightforward, but they are essential if you want to win more races and have the best odds. They are well worth it, especially if you do them regularly. As long as you implement these strategies into your betting, you’ll have a sure edge in the wagering games.
