Horse Betting Tips

The ancient sport of horse racing offers exciting opportunities for skilled handicappers to place bets, win money, and have fun. But there are many variables involved in a race. Weather and track conditions constantly change; horses are regularly "scratched" (taken out of the race); the all-important post position is selected at random. A good handicapper has to study the field and take all these different aspects of horses and racetracks into consideration in order to place an intelligent wager.

  1. Check Your Horse!

    • Check the Daily Racing Form for the most complete background information on the horse. Make sure the horse is fit and well prepared for competition by checking workout times at the distance being run and most recent race results. Longer times between workouts and today's race means the horse may be unprepared for competition. Check the class of horse that your pick previously competed against, as well as distances previously run and quality of surfaces. Compare these variables against today's conditions and decide whether the horse has done well in similar conditions in the past.

    Post Position and Running Style

    • Check the horse's post or starting position. Outside (high numbers) or inside (low numbers) pose a disadvantage in short races, while in longer races (two turns or more) the inside post position is an advantage. Horses need excellent speed to overcome a bad post position. Some horses are natural front-runners, others race in the middle of the pack, and the rest are "stalkers" who like to come from behind. By comparing the horse's running style with his post position and the running style of his competition, you can better judge whether the horse will be able to emerge from the pack and win the race. Consider the track conditions, and the fact that fast starters are favored on slow (muddy) tracks. Finally, check the records of the trainer and the jockey. Certain trainers and jockeys are winners; others are just coming to work.

    Playing the Odds

    • Check the tote board before the race goes off. The board lists the odds on each horse to win, expressed as a ratio, for example, 2/1. Horse bets come in many different styles. A show bet wins if the horse places first, second or third; a place bet if the horse places second or first; a win bet only if the horse wins the race. The payoff is highest on a win bet, lowest on a "show." The ratios change as the public place their bets, with more favored horses getting smaller odds. Using the research and study already done, consider the horses that have won recently at the current distance, are being ridden by experienced and winning jockeys, have had good recent workouts that favor the current track conditions, and have a good post position in the current race. Experienced horse bettors look for "good value"--in other words, fairly long odds on superior horses--then bet these horses in a combination such as a trifecta (betting three different horses in the same race). Simply betting favorites is a money-loser, as favored horses carry short odds and don't win enough to justify the risk of betting on them.