So you’ve decided to start betting on horses, but you aren’t sure where to start. You can click here to check the stakes, but even the stakes won’t tell you everything that you need to know to make an informed decision. It’s only natural to feel overwhelmed by all of the options out there.
While there’s no way of predicting the future aside from building a time machine like something from Back to the Future, there are ways of tipping the odds in your favor. That means choosing a horse that is more likely to win the race. Here is your guide to choosing the right horse so you can rake in the dollars after your next horse race.
Stamina
You need to think about the distance if you want to decide on a winning horse. This is because much like people, horses also have a stamina gauge that will eventually run out. That one characteristic can be a key thing to consider when trying to figure out whether the horse in question has what it takes to make it over the finish line in first place. When you are trying to pick the right horse to bet on, it’s a good idea to think about a horse that has proven stamina. This is even more important when the terrain may be potentially challenging for the horse.
Going
What is going, you ask? Well, there are a lot of horses that are only going to run good races when they are working with particular surfaces, mainly because of the traction on their hooves. Some horses are fantastic when up against challenging terrain like mud, others are best only working on solid ground. Look at the results that the horse has gotten in the past, since this can tell you how well they work on certain terrain. This is most likely to get you better results than just going in blind.
Breeding
All race horses have the potential to win a race, but some more than others. Breeding can have a huge impact on the potential success of the horse on the racecourse. It may be a little risky in the eyes of some betters to bet on a horse that is fresh meat to the race, but actually, you can learn a lot about a horse based on its pedigree. For instance, you can usually tell what the stamina of the horse is like, and the time that it’s likely to reach its peak. Make sure that you take some time to learn everything that you can about the horse’s breeding, as this can give you a couple of indicators about how they are likely to perform.
Handicap Marker
Before you decide to bet on a racehorse, first look at its handicap marker. It’s not the best sign if the horse has already gotten to its handicap mark since it means that they will have a hard time competing with other horses. Horses will start to improve with the more races they run, and eventually they will leave the horse with the high handicap in the dust. Look at how the horse is rated, especially in handicap races.
Jockey and Horse Combo
Of course, you can’t talk about winning horses without talking about the jockey either. The horse is only one part of the equation. Some jockeys work a lot better with some horses than others. Look at the history between the horse and the jockey as this can give you an indication of whether the horse and jockey combination in particular is going to work in that race.
The Paddock
Do you have the opportunity to look at the horse in question before you place your bet? If so, then we highly recommend that this is something that you do. It can tell you a lot about the health and fitness of the horse. Look at how they behave – are they looking irritated or are they sweating? This isn’t a sign that the horse is going to do well in the race. If the horse has a good time in the preliminaries and looks calm though, it is a better indicator that they will do well in the actual race.
Conclusion
There’s a lot to learn when it comes to betting on racehorses, but it doesn’t need to be rocket science. Simply follow the tips that we have outlined above and you should be able to choose a winning horse in no time at all.
