Sports Betting Strategy: Horse Racing

Contributor | March 1st, 2013

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Horse racing betting is one of the more complicated variants of sports gambling around. If you want to consistently make horse racing winner bets, it’s vital that you go into a race with a sufficient amount of knowledge about the horses involved, their preferences and how they’re expected to perform on the day. Let’s take the recent Epsom Derby.

2013 Epsom Derby

The race had a red-hot favourite in the shape of Camelot. The animal was trained by the most respected trainer in the UK, Aidan O’Brien, and the market reflected this. Camelot had won his first two races – both at the highest level – and deserved favouritism. It was therefore unsurprising that the horse sauntered away with the most prestigious award in British Flat Racing and is now being compared to some of the recent greats such as Sea the Stars.

There were a number of factors that pointed to Camelot before the race. The jockey/trainer combination was unrivaled and the horse had been well-touted in the lead-up, with connections extremely bullish. He had also won his previous race, the 2000 Guineas, over a shorter trip, while his pedigree suggested that the Derby distance would suit him well. He had been a precocious two-year-old, albeit only winning once, and his form was of the highest level, with a Racing Post Trophy to his name. These are all variables that you should consider when horse racing betting.

This, however, is a relatively straightforward example given Camelot’s pedigree and there are plenty of other things to look for that might not have been so relevant in the Derby, but which could help you pick horse racing winner bets in future.

What to Consider

The ground usually plays a large part in a horse’s chances. If a horse travels well on soft ground, then firmer surfaces will naturally inhibit his chance of victory.

Similarly, a horse’s weight (in a handicap) and his official rating can make a huge difference. Often a horse has to carry more weight if he has won – as a penalty – and is handicapped to what is considered the height of his ability. It’s vital to inspect whether a horse is well-handicapped or not before choosing your selection. Trainer, jockey, stable-form, recent form, track form, distance, top speed and market checking are all factors that you must consider before deciding on a bet. These seem numerous, but it’s always likely to prove beneficial and, in the case of a race like the Derby, increase the size of your wallet.

Finally, be careful to follow the advice of the market, as that can be the most revealing of all the factors. If there’s a ‘plunge’ (i.e. a sudden bout of heaving betting on one particular horse) on the day, be sure to take note; the bookies and punters alike may well know something you don’t, so if the odds are shortening it’s almost certainly for a good reason. To see updated stats and odds on the latest horse races visit Ladbrokes Sports today.