Here are 10 tips I’ve gathered from reading and researching different strategies to winning at horse racing. Handicapping a race is not rocket science but in the world of horse racing, everybody has their own system. Therefore, I compiled these tips to help anyone whether you’re a beginner or veteran of the sport to win some money.
1. Look for horses with high speed ratings or Beyer ratings. The higher the number, the more consistent a horse is in winning a race especially in sprint races.
2. Speaking of consistency, look at the horse’s past results. If they have been consistently winning 3rd or 2nd place finishes, this horse could be in shape and has a good chance of winning.
3. Pay attention to the horse that won it’s last race especially if it’s racing in the same class. This horse could be in tip top shape, is primed and ready to win back to back races.
4. Pay attention to class. A horse moving up in class is not always a good thing. Look at the past performance of the horse because that particular horse could have been racing against poorer horses and this move up in class could lead to a false favorite.
5. Be careful about betting on horses that haven’t raced for a long time. Trainers will often race their horse to get them to “tighten up” This just means that the trainer want to see if his horse is ready for his next big race. So stay away from betting a horse that has not raced in several months or over 180 days.
6. If the track is muddy or sloppy, look for a horse that likes to take an early lead or a front runner. They have a good chance of going all the way since horses that stay back will have mud on their faces. No one like mud on their faces whether your human or animal right?
7. Look for favorites that lost their last race. If they are still a heavy favorite in their next race, this could indicate that the horse is still in prime shape and still has a chance of winning. Just make sure to check his morning line odds. If the horse goes off at higher than 4-1, then pick another winner.
8. Pay attention to the odds of the horse. If his odds goes down consistently as the post time draws near, this horse could win in the money meaning he can win first, second or third. For example, a horse with a morning line odds of 8-1 goes to 5-1 then to 7-2 to 3-1 and finally 2-1 could have a chance of winning at least third place.
9. Go down to the paddock if you can. This is where the horses are paraded around for the fans to look at. Take note of any horse who stands tall and has shiny skin. This is a confident horse. Avoid horses with ears flat and looks frightened.
10. Watch for horses that like to take the early lead. Horses that have the first, second or third spot throughout most of the race has a good chance of winning in the money.
Well, there you go folks. Hope this helps a little. Remember to have fun and to have a good money management system when it comes to betting on horses. Most important of all is to never bet any money you cannot afford to lose.
