How to start betting on horses is a question many people ask, and if you have been wanting to bet on horses, you have probably asked this question too. The truth is, it’s not difficult to get started, at least, not if you know what you are doing.
In this blog post, we’ll discuss the basics of horse betting so you can feel comfortable placing your first bet. We’ll also provide some tips to help you increase your chances of winning. So, whether you’re a seasoned horse racing fan or a complete novice, read on for everything you need to know about betting on horses.
Know What to Look for
The very first thing that you should know as an absolute beginner, is what to look for when choosing a horse to bet on. Many people who are new to horse betting immediately think to bet on the fastest horse, but this isn’t always the best decision, and there are multiple factors to consider.
When choosing a horse, speed is a factor, but so is the level of fitness and experience of the horse, how many races it has had, when its last break was, what type of track it runs best on, and more. Every Racecourse is different, so you should consider that as well. If you’re looking for a Cheltenham Racecourse guide, British Racecourses is your best option. All of these variables, and more, come together to influence the outcome of the race.
Understand the Value of a Bet
The next thing that you are going to want to do is to understand the value of a bet. This might not make sense right away, but it will be worth it in the long run. If you are new to horse betting, you should probably bet on the horse that is the favourite whilst you are still learning.
However, once you have become comfortable with research and knowing what to look for, you can begin taking risks. For example, you might have a horse that hasn’t won the first two races, but you know from the horse’s track record that it’s the fastest horse on the track, and you also know that it took a break recently. Horses that have come back from breaks typically need a few races to get back into form. In other words, betting on this horse if it wins will earn you more money than the favourite.
Know What to Research for
As mentioned above, you need to know what to look for in a horse before betting on it. Once you know what to look for, you need to know what to research for. For example, you might find that a horse has a very fast track speed on one track, but does terribly in another. An experienced horse bettor would then try to find out what the going is like on either track.
In addition to this, an experienced horse bettor would also research to find out who the jockey is, as well as the trainer. Many jockeys will do well with specific horses on certain tracks, and many horses will do well with specific trainers.
Always Have a Budget
One of the most important things that you will have to do is establish some sort of budget when betting on horses. Many people new to horse betting get so caught up in the action and fun, that they forget to manage their money and find that they have nothing left to bet with halfway through an event.
To avoid this happening to you, you should set a ratio based on your allocated budget. A good ratio is 1-5% of your total budget. This means that if your budget is $100, you should bet between $1-$5 with each bet.
Curbing Expectations and Chasing Losses
Finally, the last thing that you should do if you want to be remotely successful at horse betting is to curb your expectations and never chase losses. Why should you curb your expectations? Because many people new to horse betting think that they will make a lot of money right from the start.
This isn’t the case; your profits will be an accumulation of smaller wins. In addition to this, a quick way to lose all of your winnings is by betting even larger sums of money if you lose. This is called chasing losses and should be avoided at all costs.