Totesports
Totesport
How to Win at Horse Racing by Play To Win
Online Betting
Let's face it we are talking about online betting here, you're reading this on a computer and that's where we are concentrating our efforts, however you can and should be able to take this knowledge down to your bookies and win just the same but why would you, the internet makes gambling so easy.
Technology has stood the world on it's head at one time if you wanted to place a bet on a horse you had to go to the track find out as much information as quickly as you could then choose your horse or horses. Now you can track horses with ease following their progress and then pick your moment to lay your money and hopefully at odds that will earn you a good profit.
Types of Wager
Pari-Mutuel Wagering - A form of wagering that originated in France. similiar to the tote in England all bets placed at the track go into a pool, each type of bet has it's own pool. The track acting as the agent takes a commission for handling the bets.
Straight Wagers - the simplest form of bet straight wagers are single bets that are placed on one horse.
Win - another simple bet you collect if your horse finishes first.
Place - you collect if your horse finishes first or second, you only collect the place amount.
Show - you collect if your horse finishes first, second or third, you only collect the show amount.
Across the Board - A common term for placing all three straight wagers on one horse, you collect the win, place and show amount if your horse finishes First, you collect the place and show amount if your horse finishes second, you collect the show amount if your horse finishes third,
Each Way Bet - applies to UK bookies you are basically placing a win bet, then you place another bet for the same amount to cover you should your horse finishes First, second, third, dependent of the number of runners you may only get paid for second or if there are a lot of runners you can get paid for fourth. The odds are calculated as full odds for first, half odds for second third odds for third place etc.
Exotic Wagers - exotic or combination bets are bets that involve two or more horses.
Exacta or Straight Forecasts - you must select the horses that finish first and second in exact order - mostly used for dog racing in the UK
Trifecta similiar to exacta except you must pick the horse that finishes third as well,
Superfecta - this time you must pick the first four places in exact order.
You can box these bets this which means that your selection can finish in any order for you to win, for example in exacta you pick horse 1 to finish first and horse 4 to finish second, with a box bet if horse 4 finishes first and horse 1 finishes second you still win, you obviously extend this down to trifecta etc.
Daily Double - to win this you must pick the winner of two consecutive races you must make your selection and place your bet before the first of the two races,
Pick 3 - similiar to the daily double except you must pick three consecutive winners
Pick 4 - Similiar to the above only you now have to pick four consecutive winners
Handicapping - the ability to predict the winner of a horse race is called handicapping, this involves evaluating the known abilities of a particular horse to race well under the conditions it will find itself in on a particular day.
Handicappers will use past performances to gauge the horse's ability to win they will also work out from detailed statistics whether the horse is getting better or worse. They must also take into account the type of conditions, the quality or lack of it in the opposition and more importantly the distance of the race and the condition of the track. Click to place a bet now
Variables - Fitness how fit is this horse how long a lay off has it had, like all top athletes horses have to be kept in peak condition that includes racing, long lay off's mean rusty horses.
Class - don't expect a horse that has lost against lesser opposition to suddenly win if it moves up a notch or for that matter if the opposition is the same calibre.
Distance - horses tend to favour certain distances check it's within your choice's abilities don't expect the impossible it rarely happens.
Position - starting gates lead to positioning problems for some horses they don't like the inside or the outside etc. check what your horse has done in the past from it's start position.
Running style - is your horse a front runner, stalker, pace setter etc.
Trainer - most important successful trainers are consistently turning out good horses like winning teams they sometimes slip up but not on a regular basis.
Jockey - is he a good winning jockey, good jockey's get good horses they also know how to get the best out of their mounts.
Present form - is your horse having a good time or is it going through a dip the stats don't lie and they tell us that horses that win or have come close to winning are more likely to win next time out.
Consistency - has your horse finished in the money more often than not then you can safely bet he's likely to continue.
Weight - really carrying extra weight only comes into the equation on long races or over the jumps, pay attention to it but don't let it rule your decisions.
The Jockey club was founded in 1750 and by 1810 all the classic English races had become established. National Hunt evolved from the hunting of stags and foxes, both pastimes involved the surmounting of natural obstacles such as fences and hedgerows. Steeple Chasing came from Ireland and it is believed evolved from Irish Pounding matches, the loser being pounded to a standstill by the winner's superior stamina over rough country terrain, eventually this developed into races over set distances and the winning post usually being a church steeple. Britain's first steeple chase over a course took place at Bedford in 1810 and by 1840 the Grand National was being staged at Aintree. The National Hunt committee was formed and was recognised by the Jockey Club in 1866.
Rules
An equestrian sport in which horse ridden by Jockeys over set distances. Existing in Two forms National Hunt in which obstacles must be jumped and Flat Racing in which there are no obstacles.
Flat Races
Are for thoroughbred horses are usually over distances from five furlongs to two and a half miles.
National Hunt
Races in this category are usually longer upto four and a half miles these are split into two distinct types,
Hurdling, which are short races over flexible obstacles called hurdles.
Steeplechases over larger more rigid obstacles called fences.
Handicaps in handicap races horses are given extra weight to carry according to recent form, age and gender.
Races to watch out for are:
Two Thousand Guineas held in May it is run over the Rowley Mile course at Newmarket for 3 year old colts and fillies it's name comes from the fact that was the guaranteed winning prize. The first winner was Wizard in 1809
One Thousand Guineas held in May it is run over the Rowley Mile course at Newmarket for 3 year old Filles. The first winner was Charlotte in 1814.
The Oaks held in June is a race for 3 year old fillies run at Epsom Downs over one and half miles, the name derives from Lord Derby's estate at Epsom. The first winner was Bridget in 1779.
The Derby could have been called the Bunbury but Lord Derby won the toss against Sir Charles Bunbury, this race is run over one and half miles at Epsom downs in June the initial races were run over 1 mile. The first winners was Diomed in 1780.
St Leger the oldest of the English Classic races held in September at Doncaster is run over 1 mile 6 furlongs and 132 yards the race was named after Anthony St Leger an Army Officer whose idea it was to hold the race. It has been held at other venues. The first winner was Allabaculia in 1776, the same year America gained it's independence.
The Grand National held at Aintree over 4 miles and 856 yards in April probably the most famous steeplechase in the world. The first winner was Lottery 1839
Cheltenham Festival takes place each March and is the stunning climax to the National Hunt Season It comprise many races but the ones to watch out for are the Gold Cup run over 3 miles 2 furlongs the first winner of this race was Red Spash 1924, and the Champion Hurdlerun over 2 furlongs and 110 yards the first winner was Blaris in1927, finally the Queen Mother Chase run over 2 miles the first winner was Quita Que in 1959
Prix de L'arc de Triomphe Europes richest horse race held at Longchamp near Paris France it is run over 1 mile and a 1/2 is open to colts and fillies the first winner was Comrade in 1920
Kentucky Derby held in May at Churchill Downs Kentucky the USA's premier race is run over one and a quarter miles the first winner was Aristides in 1875
Some horse racing titbits!
Becher's Brook the Grand National Fence gets it's name from Capt Martin Becher who riding in the very first National in 1839 was dumped into the water at this notoriously difficult fence, on getting out he was heard to declare "how dreadful water taste without the benefit of whiskey" he never competed again but they decided to name the fence after him.
1853 saw the first time all three English classic races were won by one horse the horse was called West Australian and he won the 2 Thousand Guineas, The Derby and St Leger.
Golden Miller is considered to be the greatest horse of all time having won 5 consecutive gold cups 1932 - 1936 a still unmatched record he also won the 1934 Grand National this is a unique double