Let’s face it; if you know what you are doing, betting can be profiting. On the other hand, it can be frustrating, especially when your chances of winning rests on the ability of a magnificent beast you have no control over. While there are no guarantees, there are ways to improve your odds and not bet on a hunch. That said, if you aim at making some money at the bookies, look at these four things to look out for when betting in horse racing.
Finishing position from previous races.
This tip simply means you want to determine a horse’s likely outcome from previous outcomes. This is referred to as the “horse’s form.” Now you don’t want to just assume a horse will come in first today just because it came in first in a previous race. That’s because many factors come into play when horses race.
Don’t get us wrong; it’s not a bad idea to back a horse on a winning streak. What we’re saying is that it’s best to juxtapose other conditions about the horse’s previous performance so that you can make the “right” decision.
For example, if a horse is on a winning streak, try to look for which race type the horse has been doing well. It is a known fact that horses perform well on a particular surface than on another one.
So, dig deeper to know if the horse you want to back is a champion on a dirt, turf, or synthetic surface. What’s more, you also want to consider the previous distances a horse came in first. It’s a good move to back the horse if it’s similar to the current distance.
Stall or gate position.
We know all races don’t kick off from stalls; however, this next tip is worth mentioning, as many races do. As a rule of thumb, a sprint race will favor horses positioned at the outside stall, while longer races favor inside stalls.
Whether you are at the bookies in person or online, it’ll be great to have this knowledge in your arsenal if you ever want to bet on such a race. If you are betting online, you can look out for platforms with sign up offers, which could offer your bonuses for betting.
The number of rest days from the last Race.
Another factor that makes a horse perform well is the number of days its owner rest it before a new race. In case you are wondering why an owner may not allow a horse to rest properly, well, horses are expensive.
So, unless an owner has multiple winning horses, chances are, a horse might not have adequate rest before participating in a new race. The implication is exhaustion, and an exhausted horse may not be good for your odds.
So, what are you looking out for here? You want to back a horse that has rested well at the same time, hasn’t overstated in the stable. Again, the thumb rule here is 30-60 days. If a horse has rested way beyond 75 days, it usually needs a couple of races before picking up a good form.
Official Ranking
The official rank of a horse is how experts rate a horse. A higher number means a higher ranking. You don’t want to ignore this information as you could be betting on a handicap race, where horses are weighed down to level the playing feed. A highly-ranked horse is usually weighed down. If a horse is carrying too much weight, it could affect the performance.
