Horse racing often gives the impression that it is a sport for the wealthy. However, this is far from the case. While there are many affluent industry participants, the vast majority of those involved are far from rich. You might be wondering ‘why go to a horse race?’ in the first place. In addition to being a chance to dress up in your fanciest hat, it’s an exhilarating sport that can be thrilling not just to watch, but also to participate in the betting process.
As a first time goer, it might be daunting to try and navigate the various bets available as well as which horse to bet on. There isn’t a surefire strategy to guarantee wins: only careful and calculated guesses that give you the best chance. Here are a few things to consider as a beginner looking to try their hand at betting.
Types of Bets
The first thing to note is that there are 2 main categories, Straight Wagers and Exotic Wagers.
Straight wagers are simple and cheap; a punter just picks a horse to come in first, second or third. A Win bet is a bet for the horse to come in first. A Place bet is betting on the horse to come in second or third whereas an Each Way bet is the same as placing both a Win and Place bet.
Exotic wagers allow the punter to bet on multiple horses in a single bet, increasing the potential for greater profit. An Exacta is a bet for two horses to come in first and second in an exact order whereas a Quinella is for two horses to come in first and second in any order. You’ll win a Trifecta if your three horses come in first, second and third in an exact order. You can also ‘box’ a Trifecta which will allow the horses to come in any order. First Four is as it sounds: pick four horses to come in first, second, third and fourth in an exact order.
In addition, it’s also possible to bet across multiple races with Doubles, Trebel, Quaddie and Super 6 bets. Select the winners of 2, 3, 4 and 6 consecutive races respectively.
For beginners, straight bets are the safest ones, especially if one is unsure about which horses to pick. With some experience and research, you can upgrade to making bigger, more strategic bets to really rake in the profits.
Study the Program
The next tip is to do ample research on the horses and the track. There are numerous variables to consider from the form of the horse to the form of the jockey as well as the track conditions. Moreover, the horses may not always be consistent and it’s possible for them to have an off day. The racing program is well worth taking a good look at to fully understand the race track and the horses involved in the race. It provides all the information one would need to make an informed decision. If you want to know more info about Australian horse racing tips visit Elite Racing today.
