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Whether you’ve placed a bet on a horse race or not, it is a pastime most of us are aware of.
Remote locations to bet “off-track” are scattered throughout most major cities worldwide, as are tracks where you can see the action live.
Pop culture also features tons of references to the classic sport, and there is no surprise that it’s the second most popular spectator sport in the U.K., and the most popular sport to bet on in the United States. Whether you’re a curious spectator wanting to learn more, or you’re ready to try placing your first wager on a race, here are some beginner betting tips.
Some handy information you’ll need to know includes how to bet on horse odds, what various bets entail, and what’s going on around that action-packed track. Are you planning on watching and betting from home? You’ll need a secure internet connection since money is involved. If you’re ready to learn more, let’s giddy up and hit the races!
Beginner Tips on Successfully Winning Bets
Let’s go through some basics you’ll need to know, whether you’re new to horse racing or just looking to freshen up your knowledge of the sport.
Hitting the racetrack is accessible and fun to novices and seasoned gamblers alike. This is because you can essentially “roll the dice” when picking a horse or study the intricacies of each animal, track, and rider. And as with any bet, you can never be 100% sure what will happen.
Types of Wagers and How Much to Bet
It’s a good idea to start with smaller and safer bets if you are new to the racetrack. In terms of a dollar amount, most racing venues will have a minimum bet set around $2USD. This is a healthy amount for your first visit to the track, as it is relatively negligible but has plenty of potential to grow when wagered well.
Safer bets place the gambler in a lower-risk situation. These will earn a lower return on your initial bet but offer greater odds of a payout. The three most common bets are win, place, and show. A win bet offers the most financial remuneration but requires your horse to take first place. Place bets increase your odds with first and second places paying out but offer less return on your wager. Show bets are the least risky, offering you money on first, second, and third place victories, but also pay out the least because of their relative safety.
There are a handful of other bets you may have heard of, including the Quinella, Superfecta, and Daily Double, to name a few. These are more complicated and exotic ways to gamble, and we won’t be discussing all the possibilities since they require more experience to execute successfully.
Horses
While there are plenty of different possible bets, and you can put down as much money as you’d like, the common denominator throughout all bets is that you are choosing one of the several specially trained racehorses to invest in. How do you know which one to pick? You can trust your gut, conduct ample preliminary research, or combine the two approaches.
As mentioned earlier, horse racing is so accessible to everyone. A first-time better can simply pick their favorite horse on a whim. A seasoned track aficionado may have studied the patterns and habits of each horse.
Serious racetrack enthusiasts will have researched which horses ride better in certain climates, on certain types of track terrain, and with certain riders (jockeys) taking the reins. What makes the sport exciting to novices and experts alike, is that anything can happen.
Track Betting Versus Off-Track and At Home
So, where should you go to bet on a horse race? The most exciting option remains the racetrack itself, where you can watch the race take place before your very eyes. However, not everyone lives next to a track, and issues like the COVID-19 pandemic have made remote options more appealing to some.
Off-Track betting takes place at small venues, which will play the races on screens in real-time. Snacks and drinks are often available, providing some of the social aspects of heading to an actual track.
As with most things these days, track betting is also available online from the comfort of your home but requires a fast and secure internet connection to ensure you don’t miss any action or fall prey to hackers.
To Conclude
Be it online, off-track, or at a physical track, horse race betting is a fun way to spend an afternoon. Pick a race, do a little research, and watch those horses go!
Allison is the Publisher of Eclipse Magazine. She loves going to the Races and is learning to bet (despite being officially the worst bettor in the History of the Universe), there’s a lot more to learn…
