Horse racing dates way back to the Olympic Games of Greece in the period from 700 to 40 BCE. It is definitely one of the oldest sports, but it has changed and shaped to become what it is today. And today, this sport is certainly one of the most exciting and adrenaline-spiking sports! Millions of people around the world follow this sport and even place a few bets on it.
However, if you are only now entering the world of horse racing, the details, rules, strategies, and other aspects of this sport might be overwhelming. There is a lot to learn, but it’s not impossible! So, if you’d like to enjoy this sport like a pro, let’s go over a few things that you will need to get started.
What is Horse Racing?
Simply said, horse racing is a sport where horses compete to be the first to cross the finish line. However, horses are not alone on the track as they all have their trainers and jockeys taking them to victory. It is also vital to know the types of races that exist in this sport. That being said, there are two major types of races:
- Flat racing – this is when horses (ridden by jockeys) run on a flat track and compete to see who is going to cross the finish line first. It’s exciting and loud, and these races can get your heart pounding.
- Jump racing – instead of a racing track, there is an obstacle course where horses and jockeys need to show off their skills. These tracks usually include hurdles, ramps, and other obstacles, and it can be as equally as exciting as flat racing.
So, depending on what atmosphere you like, you can choose between these two types of races to watch, either online or right on the track. Every race brings something special and can be exciting and keep you on the edge of your seat.
Terms You Need to Know
Just like any other sport, horse racing has its own rules and with the rules come the terms you should be familiar with. These terms can help you better understand what is going on on the track, and even help you if you decide to try your luck and knowledge in betting. So, before you start, learn these few terms:
- Jockey – the person riding the horse during the race
- Trainer – the person in charge of preparing the horse and the jockey for the race
- Furlong – a fancy word for distance measurement; furlong is 1/8th of a mile
- Handicap race – usually referred as the ‘hard more’ for the favourites where some horses carry extra weight to level the playing field.
- Maiden race – a race for horses who haven’t won yet (similar to a rookie league)
If you study these terms and familiarise yourself with them, the entire experience on the track will become more fun and easier for you. And this knowledge can help you make better strategies when picking your winner.
How to Bet on Horse Racing
If you’ve ever bet on any sport, then you already know how it works. Horse racing isn’t that much different than betting on football, basketball, or any other sport, as here, too, you are picking the winner (or at least trying to predict who the winner will be).
However, before you start, you should do some research. This is especially important if you plan to place your bets online. The first thing to choose wisely is the betting platform, of course. You can start by researching and reading reviews. There are great review websites that do the research for you and list the pros and cons of each betting site. For example, Irishluck.ie is a great resource for horse racing enthusiasts, offering expert advice and insights on pages like https://www.irishluck.ie/sports/horse-racing. Additionally, you can talk to other people who have experience in horse race betting or visit forums and other online pages where people talk about how to bet, share their experience with various betting operators, and so much more.
After you’ve done the research and picked the betting website (or you simply decided to do it right on the track), you should learn more about what types of bets exist.
Win: In this type of bet, you are simply picking a horse for which you think it’s going to win. If it wins, you win, too.
Place: This type of bet brings lower risk because the horse you pick can finish first or second. The payout is lower here, but it is a safer bet.
Show: Here, the horse you pick has to land in the top three. This makes this bet perfect for beginners who are still finding their way around this sport.
Exacta: This bet is for bolder people because here you have to predict the top two finishers in the correct order.
Trifecta: Similar to Exacta, here you have to predict the right order of the top three horses.
How to Bet Smart?
The first piece of advice here is to bet only when you feel ready. This means doing the research and gathering knowledge and tips from people with experience. Besides that, there are other things to consider in order to bet in a smart way:
Set a strict budget: the first, and most important, thing is to set a betting budget and stick to it. Only use the money you can afford to lose, and never use the money for the bills and life.
Stick to simpler bets: if you are new to horse racing, you shouldn’t risk too much or opt for complicated bets. Instead, stick to the simpler bets that you understand and bet smaller amounts.
Always do the research: even though this is already a given, you should always do your homework before you bet. As a newcomer, it is easy to get overwhelmed and confused, so it’s vital that you always keep track of updates, jockeys’ and horses’ past successes and failures, and don’t forget to check the odds!
Horse racing is a thrilling sport filled with excitement. Visiting tracks and watching races live is certainly bound to raise your adrenaline, but if you want to be successful at predicting the winners, you should do your homework, a bit of research, and don’t forget to have fun!
