There are few more exciting sports to bet on in the world than horse racing. After all, what can come close to watching your outside pick land one of the biggest races on the international schedule, holding your breath wishing that the line would come quicker in order to celebrate your returns?
But, many newcomers to the sport are often quick to believe that betting on racing is more about luck than skill, with many experienced bettors often referred to as ‘lucky’ for getting returns on accurately predicted Exactas.
However, this is typically dismissed by those that wager on the sport throughout the season, as they would have been closely following horses throughout the year with big races in mind for their bets. However, is betting on the sport more about luck or is it purely skill?
Following Form
Experienced bettors will tell newcomers to the sport that making wagers on selections is hard work, and it can often be a tiresome experience to go through the form of each runner before nailing down a selection.
This is where the skill comes into making a wager, as experienced bettors will know exactly what they are looking for when it comes to a potential winner of the race. This includes examining the speed figures recorded by each of the runners involved, and weighing up whether the horse performs better over a shorter or longer distance.
One of the biggest betting races on the calendar is the Kentucky Derby, with horses typically running over a longer distance than they have previously experienced.
When it comes to betting on this kind of race, experienced bettors will use their own eyes to weigh up whether horses could benefit from a step up in distance, with fast finishing horses in major prep races typically being among the most likely winners over an extended distance.
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Luck Plays A Part
It would be wrong to say that all bets revolve around just skill, as some of the biggest races on the schedule do require some kind of luck in running to ensure that the selected horse stands the best chance of claiming victory.
Races with big fields will typically require the gambler to have some kind of luck, as a lot of things can go wrong in races such as the Kentucky Derby, Melbourne Cup, and the Grand National.
Big fields often see fancied runners getting caught out by pace, meaning that they could leave themselves far too much to do in the closing stages. It is also no secret that the more runners that are involved in a race will increase the chances of the horses getting into each others way, which could mean a loss of momentum if they are tangled up at the wrong part of the race.
This is the biggest indicator that luck plays a role when it comes to betting on the sport, but finding horses that can steer clear of mishaps with other runners can be achieved by finding runners that will sit off the pace and not contest an early lead in big races.
Examining Horses Requires Skill
Reading through form lines can be a boring experience for those with no experience in the sport, meaning that examining each horse takes a lot of skill. However, the most important factor when it comes to examining the form is the skill of knowing exactly what to look at.
Bettors will know that not all factors found on the form guide will have a direct impact on the race, meaning that only the most important bits of information will be required to weigh up the potential chances of a likely winner.
When it comes to betting on big flat races such as the Kentucky Derby, this often includes looking at the sires of the runners involved, and weighing up whether there is form in the progeny over the extended distances that could be competed.
This isn’t so much a factor when it comes to betting on jumps racing, as the actual form on show will have a bigger say in the chances of each runner in the field. In jumps racing, bettors will be looking at the distances that each of the contenders have competed over, and whether they have experienced success at the highest level of the sport.
Connections Are Important Reading
One of the most important pieces of form that should be read by all experienced and newcomers to betting is the form of jockeys and trainers. This is often a difference-maker when it comes to the chances of a potential runner, as those in excellent form would stand the best chance of maintaining their winning record.
Meanwhile, trainers in poor form could indicate something is amiss at their yard, meaning that it is unlikely that their horse will run to form. Jockeys in excellent form will also have a strong chance, as they will be riding with high confidence, while riders on long losing sequences may be more difficult to support.