

5 Factors to Look Out for When Betting on Horse Racing
Man’s fascination with horses has been around since ancient civilizations. From chariot racing to the more modern forms of horse racing, every evolution of the sport has never failed to become a thrilling spectacle for all to see. In fact, in many places around the world, a horse racing event is also considered a big social event where people get together.
With the high adrenaline rush each race brings, one can argue that betting on the horses is more exciting than just watching the sport itself. Due to the sport’s unpredictable nature, it’s no surprise that the horse betting industry is steadily growing yearly.
Fortunately, learning horse betting is relatively easy as long as you understand the basics of the sport. For the newbies or more experienced bettors looking for better strategies to improve their odds of winning, written below are five factors to look out for when betting on horse racing.
Read the Form
From the United Kingdom to Japan, no one can doubt the popularity of horse racing. However, despite the huge amounts being bet, only a few get to go home with big winnings in their pockets. The reason for the wide gap is that only a few actually read about the horses.
It goes without saying that you should get to know the horses before betting on one. To learn about a horse, you must read its form or the record of a horse’s past performances. Whether it’s the Kentucky Derby in America or the Melbourne Cup of Australia, a bettor will be more confident in deciding their pick by comparing the forms of all the horses in a particular race.
Nonetheless, reading the horse form can be a little overwhelming for novices. Beginners should know that a form is read from left to right. The oldest race is on the left; the latest is on the right. Moreover, the horse’s placement in the race is ranked 1-9, meaning that if they see “6653221,” the horse has won its last race.
Get to Know the Jockeys and Trainers
The next important thing a person should look out for is the person is the jockey. No matter the horse’s ability, the jockey has complete control of how fast the horse comes out from the gates and sets the overall pace during the race.
In addition, different jockeys have varying riding styles that can significantly impact the horse’s speed. When researching, also keep in mind the jockey’s weight, height, and recent performance. It also helps to know whether the jockey is the horse’s regular rider, as familiarity and experience can affect performance.
While not as necessary as the two, you can also opt to look at the trainers of the horses. They are the ones who have the responsibility of training and coaching, so it makes sense to factor in the trainers before betting on a winner.
Understand the Odds
The odds of horse racing play a vital role compared to any other sport. Reading the odds can tell a bettor how much they can win for their wager. Typically, bookmakers offer the biggest odds to horses less likely to win. By doing this, they minimize their losses.
Depending on where someone is betting, the odds can be displayed in two different ways: in decimal or fraction form. In decimal form, if a horse’s odds are 4.0, this means that one can win back $40 for every $10 that they bet.
On the other hand, if the odds are shown as fractions like 5/2, then a person can profit $5 for a $1 they wager. In simpler terms, a bet is riskier when the number on the right is higher than on the left, like 3/8.
Explore Other Betting Options
One of the biggest reasons so many people have fun betting on horse racing is its various betting options. By diversifying one’s bets, one also increases their chances of winning. For beginners, it’s best to start with the Win bet. It’s straightforward, cheap, and only requires one to bet on which horse they think will win.
If someone is confident in their horse racing knowledge and is looking for more excitement, they can try exotic wagers. These wagers allow people to bet on multiple horses at once, giving them a chance to win more than in straight wagers. There are four types of exotic wagers: exacta, quinella, trifecta, and superfecta. You can place your bet on sports here for your chosen horse.
Call Your Luck
As mentioned earlier, horse racing is a highly unpredictable sport. Therefore, no one can be entirely sure what the race results may be. Due to this, individuals also have to factor their luck into the equation! Crazy as it might sound, without Lady Luck on one’s side, they might not see their wager take fruit in a while.
Final Thoughts
Although horse races only last a few seconds, many enjoy the sport due to its fun and excitement. Whether one only comes to the race purely as a spectator or if they’re in for the thrill of the gamble, horse racing is a highly successful sport with no intentions of slowing down.