Horse racing is an eye-catching contest that gives you unmatched thrills. And it’s a little wonder that racetracks attract hordes of bettors, nowadays, most commonly online. Our fine-grained text below will introduce you to the sport and everything around betting on horse races.
The History of Horse Racing
As ample artifacts prove, competitions involving horses and riders have existed since ancient times. Horse racing has reshaped with time, developing new forms, equipment, and conditions for both horse and jockey. Here’s how this spectacular equestrian sport originated and thrived.
Beginnings
As an organized sport, horse racing dates back to the 7th century BC. That’s when it became part of diverse athletic competitions in Ancient Greece, including the legendary Olympics. Athletes competed either in a special vehicle called a chariot or on the back of a horse.
Apart from entertainment, an early horse race was a display of the animal’s endurance and speed as well as the art of riding. Needless to say, safety was not duly regarded at those times, and fatal accidents were not rare. Other regions where equestrianism had its roots include:
- Ancient Rome
- Ancient Egypt
- Arabia
- Babylon
- Syria
- China
Evolvement
Significant advances in breeding in the 17th and 18th centuries made the sport grow by leaps and bounds. The Thoroughbred, one such achievement, was a breed conceived specifically for horse races. The British monarchs were major sponsors and proponents of the discipline.
In the late 1700s and early 1800s, horse racing evolved into a whole big industry, with clear-cut rules and specialized events, clubs, venues, and even media. Bookmaking played a pivotal role in the industry’s growth. The following are a few landmark contests launched during that period:
- The St Leger Stakes(The UK)
- The Epsom Derby (The UK)
- The 2000 Guineas Stakes (The UK)
- The Belmont Stakes (The USA)
- The Preakness Stakes (The USA)
- The Kentucky Derby (The USA)
Modern Times
While staying true to its centuries-old traditions, today’s horse racing can’t help but absorb the latest trends and developments. As a result, races are now widely broadcast, winners are determined by photo finishes, animals are better protected, and betting on horses is digitalized.
Despite the numerous emerging competitions in different corners of the globe, the old-line equestrian events still ride high. Among them are the Grand National, a world-renowned horse racing festival in England, and the Breeders’ Cup, a younger contest in the United States.
Different Types of Horse Racing
Essentially, horse racing is a common term for a host of competitive horseback riding activities. Depending on the activity, participants may cover various distances using different gaits or movement styles. Also, races may vary in qualification rules, tracks, surfaces, and harnesses.
Below are the main types of horse racing competitions that are held regularly and universally.
Flat Racing
This is the most widespread type, with the most explicit rules: competitors run from point A to point B, testing either their speed in sprints or their stamina in longer races. As the name suggests, tracks here are flat, located mostly on plains, and have no fences or other obstacles.
| 🐎Gait | Gallop |
| 📏Distance | From 400 m up to 6.4 km |
| 🏟️Surface | Turf, dirt, or synthetic |
| 🏆Examples | The Kentucky Derby, the Melbourne Cup, the Dubai World Cup |
Steeplechases
Requirements get complicated for steeplechasing or jumps racing, another sport variation. While running, contestants must overcome fences, ditches, or hurdles. Because of multiple obstacles on the track, a steeplechase is a demanding race, requiring an intense jumping effort.
| 🐎Gait | Gallop or canter |
| 📏Distance | From 2.8 km up to 6 km |
| 🏟️Surface | Turf |
| 🏆Examples | The Grand National, the Maryland Hunt Cup, the Nakayama Grand Jump |
Harness Races
The designated harness for this kind of race is a sulky — a light vehicle with only two wheels and a single driver’s seat. As horses move around the racecourse using a specific gait, they pull their sulkies with drivers. Maintaining the necessary gait is crucial for harness racing.
| 🐎Gait | Trot or pace |
| 📏Distance | From 1,609 m up to 3,140 km |
| 🏟️Surface | Dirt |
| 🏆Examples | The Prix d’Amérique, The Hambletonian Stakes, The Inter Dominion |
Endurance Riding
This racing variation is far more extended than any of the above, so bettors should have enough patience before getting to know the winner. Since distances for endurance rides are extremely long, they occur in natural settings, putting the horses’ stamina to the hardest possible test.
| 🐎Gait | Trot and canter |
| 📏Distance | From 40 km up to 1,000 km |
| 🏟️Surface | Varied |
| 🏆Examples | The Tevis Cup, the Mongol Derby, the Marcha da Resistência |
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Horse Racing Strategy: Understanding Odds and Handicapping
The long-established gambling tradition, the thrill of competition, the rush of adrenaline, and the serious money involved make horse racing an ideal bettor’s choice. Indeed, the equestrian sport betting is a much-loved pastime worldwide, raking up billions of dollars annually.
Strategizing is the best way to bet on horses, while understanding the basics is your first stepping stone if you have little or no relevant wagering experience. For starters, it’s good to nail down such fundamental horse racing betting concepts as odds and handicapping.
Odds are assigned to every participant in a horse race. Not only do they indicate the favorite and underdog, but they also let you know your potential return. The lower the odds value, the likelier the outcome. When determining odds, oddsmakers factor in the following things:
- Horse’s statistics and physical form.
- Jockey’s track record and experience.
- Weather and track conditions.
- Public betting trends and splits.
Another important factor affecting the odds is handicappers’ opinions. Who are handicappers? They are betting pros who analyze events in-depth and consider every detail to make accurate decisions. A trusted handicapper’s expert judgment is worth relying on when placing a wager.
Horse Racing Tips and Strategies for Beginners
Once you can read the odds and know a thing or two about handicapping, continue exploring horse betting rules to know what markets you can choose from and what type of wager you can place. Next, drill down the competition you bet on, paying attention to the following aspects:
- Horses’ previous performances.
- Trainer and jockey past successes.
- Race class and racetrack conditions.
- Horses’ strengths and weaknesses.
Thorough research is instrumental in making an informed prediction, which you can also enhance with dependable tactics. Below are some practical tips and proven strategies to help you debut successfully as a horse racing gambler.
Bankroll
A bankroll is money you have solely for wagering, and managing it reasonably is critical for your gambling routine. Allot an affordable sum and spend it gradually, without exceeding the limit and putting everything on the line at once. Keep it cool and stay immune from chasing losses.
Staking Strategy
It’s rational to determine a single stake size as a particular percentage of your bankroll. Novice gamblers may start with 1% or 2% and increase their stake incrementally to 5%. A stable staking strategy will allow you to control your spending better and extend your bankroll.
Backing Multiple Runners
Distributing bets among several promising runners in a contest is an effective way to diversify risks, mitigate losses, and improve your chances of winning. This tactic is especially fitting for horse racing competitions with a number of strong contenders and no clear favorite.
Betting on Horse Racing: Types of Bets and How to Place Them
Betting on sport events has become much easier these days. Instead of visiting a racetrack and standing in line at the counter, you can quickly submit your betslip online. For example, at 1xBet, a top-grade international betting platform, you can place bets in horse racing in just a few clicks.
If you opt to wager online, your initial move is to register an account and make a deposit on your chosen platform. Below are further straightforward instructions on how to bet on horses online:
- Select horse racing from the sports menu.
- Choose a suitable event and your bet type.
- Pick the runner and click the related odds.
- Enter a stake amount in your virtual betslip.
- Hit the “Place Bet” button to submit the slip.
- Track your bet’s status to see if it works out.
As for the types of horse racing predictions or bets, they can be divided into two primary categories: straight and exotic. Each category is described in simple terms below.
Straight Wagers
Straight betting is picking a single runner who you think will win, place, or show in the race.
| Straight options | Predictions |
| Win | Winner of the race |
| Place | 1st or 2nd place finisher |
| Show | 1st, 2nd, or 3rd place finisher |
Straight predictions don’t require much investment and are easy to understand, make, and win.
Exotic Wagers
Exotic betting is picking more than one runner and making multiple predictions at a time.
| Exotic options | Predictions |
| Exacta | 1st and 2nd place finishers, in the correct order |
| Quinella | 1st and 2nd place finishers, in any order |
| Trifecta | 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place finishers, in the correct order |
| Superfecta | 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th place finishers, in the correct order |
Exotic bets take time to understand and effort to win, but they can pay out extraordinarily high.
Conclusion
Horse racing has fascinated crowds since time immemorial. Whether online at home or physically in the stands, people all over the world watch horses demonstrate their incredible abilities by running distances, jumping over obstacles, and pulling drivers in carts.
Apart from giving excitement and joy, the sport enables spectators to make profits by backing their favorites with real money wagers. To become a successful horse racing gambler, you need to dig deep into the sport, devote enough time to researching, and manage your bankroll wisely.
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