Horse Race Betting

The sport of horse racing is a whole lot of fun to bet on. Whether you're at the races, watching on TV or even streaming the races to your home computer, there's nothing quiet like a bet on the horses. Thoroughbred horse racing is hugely popular in the US with tracks in almost every state. Many US friendly online sportsbooks offer special racebooks that cater for horse racing enthusiasts. They offer track odds, rebates and promotions all from the comfort of your own home. More on those later as before you begin you'll want to know at least the basics before you become the expert horse punter.

Betting on Horese - The Basics

Before you become the expert, you are going to need to know a few facts. Horse racing although extremely popular can be tricky to bet on if you are not up on the knowledge, however betting on horses can be very profitable if you follow the basics and build up your horse racing know how. A huge factor that will play a part in your success is learning about form and the horses previous racing history and that is something that cannot be taught here. Learning this takes a little time, but there are many tools available to help you to understand a form guide and what to take into consideration when placing your bets. The main things you will need to look at are last three races, distance ran, weight carried, track condition, type of race (who the horse was up against) and jockey. All these factors and many more come into play and once you find a guide that you are happy with then you are half way there. Many online racebooks will offer tips and thoughts on races, especially the bigger races however, whether you wish to take a tip from the bookie you are trying to beat is up to you. There is, as you can see a lot of research in horse betting as with many other sports, however unlike many sports there are more potential outcomes in horse racing. In NFL wagering for example the basic bets are with and against the spread, under/over points scored and various other options that usually include only two outcomes. In a horse race with let's say 10 runners there can be many outcomes and as you will see when we look at bet types, there can be a whole lot of different ways to win, and lose.

Types of Horse Racing Bets

So, you have taken a look at the form guide and had a think about where you want to place your bets. The next thing you need to decide is what type of bet you wish to place and in horse racing there are a lot that you can choose from. It may be best for you to start with placing a few of the more simple types of bets. This is good in a few ways in that it helps you with understanding the mechanics of placing the bet at your preferred online sportsbook, and also helps you analyze the outcome and take a look at what the outcome of the bet would have been, if you had placed a different kind of bet. The simpler bets also offer a better chance of winning and although at lower odds, there's nothing like getting off on the right foot. Below is a list of the most common bets, there are of course more but it's suggested that you take a look at these first.

Straight, Single or Win - This is the simplest and most common bet that is placed in horse racing. You take the odds of the horse and wager on that horse to win the race. Simple.
Place - A place bet means that you are wagering for a horse to finish either first or second. The odds are lower than a Straight but you have a better chance of winning.
Show - Another simple bet meaning you need the horse to cross the line either first second or third.
Quinella - Sounds complex but it's not at all. You need to pick 2 horses and they need to come in first or second, in any order.
Quinella Box - You have to pick at least three horses and you may pick the whole field if you wish. Two of your horses picked must come either first or second, in any order.
Perfecta - Very similar to the Quinella bet however your two horses must finish in the exact order that you state.
Perfecta Box - Just like the Quinella box you can pick three or more horses, up to the whole field and the chosen horses must finish in the order you state. The more horses you pick the better your chances of winning, but the more the bet will cost.
Trifecta - A straight Trifecta means you are choosing the three horses to cross the finish line in the exact order.
Trifecta Box - You must pick three horses and they must finish first, second and third in any order.
Super Trifecta - You must pick four horses and they must finish first, second and third and fourth in the exact order. A very hard bet to win but will have huge payouts.

As you can see, although not being rocket science there are a lot of betting options available and it's not just about picking winners. There's a lot of value and potential winnings to be made if you can pick those horses with long odds and back them to do well. If you want to play it safe then statistically the favorite will win 33% of the time, however you will get very short odds. Also, do not underestimate the jockey that is riding the horse as top ten jockeys will win around 90% of all races at a given meet. Another thing to remember is that early prices are not a true reflection of who may win the race, they are an indication of a bookmakers thoughts on where they think the money will go, and these will change leading up to the race.

Horse Racing Wagering Online

There are a multitude of online sportsbooks for US residents that offer very good racebooks and we recommend both Bovada and BetOnline. Both offer great odds, welcome bonuses and every type of wager you could wish for. They also offer specific racebook rebates helping you cut any losses. Horse racing, as there are so many races going off each day requires the book to have a solid and stable betting platform and both Bovada and BetOnline provide that.