Betting on horse races is quite complex when you first start out. There are so many moving parts in the sport that can have an impact on the result – and you need to understand them if you want to place sports bets that win you money.
Essential Horse Racing Terminology to Know
With this in mind, let’s start with the first two phrases or horse racing terminology that it’s essential to understand. When you hear or see these, you need to know how they can play a part in the race you’re about to bet on.
Change In Class
As with so many sports, class, and categories segment horse racing. The idea is to put horses of a similar strength up against each other so that the race is more interesting and that more competitors have a chance to win.
Why it’s important to note this in horse race betting is because you want to know if a horse has changed their category recently, and why. A horse may have won several races and then moved up a category, making it less of a favorite to win its next race. On the other hand, if a horse has been struggling in one category and shifts down a level, it may suddenly start to win.
Easy Last Time Out Winners
This phrase is used to describe horses that have won two or three of their last five races. There’s no guarantee that they’ll win their next one, but you can be pretty confident that it will place well. It’s like being on a winning streak, and as a bettor, you can cash in on that hot streak.
Other Areas to Understand
Now, horse racing isn’t just about the horse. Our horse racing tips reveal that there are several other factors that play a pivotal role in how well the horse does in a race. These include:
- The Trainer
A horse may be born with all the traits of a winner, but those mean nothing if they aren’t trained and handled properly. Knowing the big-name trainers will help you to pick great horses for your bets. It’s particularly exciting to watch a new horse come onto the scene when you know it’s been trained by the right person or team.
- The Jockey
As with training, the jockey is an integral part of the horse racing team. Jockey’s often have favorite courses that they regularly win at, and the trainers will pair their horses with the best jockey for the track and the occasion. When you can spot the strongest pairings on the day, you’ll be able to pick great contenders for winners.
- The Surface
In tennis, a lot is said about clay and grass courts. In horse racing, the courses aren’t quite as distinct, but each location has different conditions. The weather and water table can play a big part in the softness or hardness of the ground, as can the type of grass used.
Horse Racing Betting is About Understanding the Sport
When you know your sport, you can place bets with confidence. Horse racing is no different.