Insider Secrets: Expert Guide on How to Bet on a Horse Race and Win

Top Horse Racing Handicappers

Understanding Horse Racing Betting

When you’re betting on horses, you need to do your research. Unlike team sports, where you can largely rely on the team’s overall performance during the season to make an informed wager, with horse racing you need to be meticulous. You need to consider the following:

• A horse’s age, breed, gender, and pedigree
• The race track conditions 
• The jockey’s experience
• The trainer’s experience
• Post position
• Racing style

Stat platforms like Equibase provide all kinds of historical data on horses and races, making it an invaluable resource for horse race bettors. 

It’s also advantageous to join a few racing forums to see what other bettors are saying about tracks, horses, and jockeys. Places like The Racing Forum and Horse Racing Forum are great for seeing new perspectives on current lineups. 

All Horse Racing Wagers Explained

Unlike football or basketball, which rely on a team of players scoring points, horse racing is all about the order in which horses finish the race. As such, all wagers revolve around predicting which horse will come in first, second, third, etc. 

Here’s a quick look at the different wagers you can place on horses:

Straight wagers are the simplest and most common type of bet in horse racing. They involve picking a single horse to perform in a specific way during the race. Here’s a breakdown of the different types of straight wagers:

Exotic wagers are more complex than straight wagers and offer the potential for much higher payouts, but they also come with a greater degree of difficulty. Here’s a breakdown of some popular exotic wagers:

Other International Horse Races

Horse racing is quite popular in the United States, but there are plenty of races around the globe that draw bettors’ attention. 

• Canadian Triple Crown: This prestigious series consists of three races – The King’s Plate (Woodbine Racetrack), Prince of Wales Stakes (Fort Erie Racetrack), and Breeders’ Stakes (Woodbine Racetrack) – contested by three-year-old thoroughbred horses.
• Woodbine Mile: Held annually at Woodbine Racetrack, this Grade 1 stakes race for older horses is run on turf over a distance of one mile.
• Canadian Derby: Held at Northlands Park in Edmonton, Alberta, this race features three-year-old thoroughbreds competing on a dirt track over 1 1/8 miles.

Check out our list of all the best horse races in Canada to bet on. 

• Epsom Derby: This flat race, also known as the “Derby,” is the most popular one in the UK and is considered the premier classic race for three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies.
• Royal Ascot: This prestigious racing meeting, held over five days in June, features multiple Group 1 races, including the Queen Anne Stakes, Gold Cup, and King’s Stand Stakes.
• St. Leger Stakes: Run at Doncaster Racecourse since 1778, this Group 1 race for three-year-old thoroughbreds is contested over a distance of one mile and six furlongs.

Check out our list of all the best horse races in the UK to bet on. 

• Melbourne Cup: This Group 1 race held on the first Tuesday in November is a national holiday in Victoria and is considered the “race that stops a nation.”
• Cox Plate: Held at Moonee Valley Racecourse in Melbourne, this Group 1 weight-for-age race is open to horses of all ages and is run over a distance of 2,040 meters (about 1 ¼ miles).
• Golden Slipper: Held at Rosehill Racecourse in Sydney, this Group 1 race is for two-year-old thoroughbreds and is considered the world’s richest race for this age group.

Check out our list of all the best horse races in Australia to bet on. 

• Hong Kong International Races: This prestigious race meeting, held in December, features four Group 1 races – the Hong Kong Cup (turf), Hong Kong Mile (turf), Hong Kong Sprint (dirt), and Vase (extended turf).
• Champions Chat: Held at Sha Tin Racecourse in April, this Group 1 race for four-year-old and older horses is run over a distance of 2,000 meters (about 1 ¼ miles) on turf.
• Queen Elizabeth II Cup: Held at Sha Tin Racecourse in April, this Group 1 race is open to horses aged four and above and is run over a distance of 2,000 meters (about 1 ¼ miles) on turf.

Check out our list of all the best horse races in Hong Kong to bet on. 

• Japan Cup: Held at Tokyo Racecourse in November, this Group 1 race for horses aged three and above is run over a distance of 2,400 meters (about 1 ½ miles) on turf.
• Takarazuka Kinen: Held at Hanshin Racecourse in June, this Group 1 race for horses aged three and above is run over a distance of 2,000 meters (about 1 ¼ miles) on turf.
• Tenno Sho (Spring): Held at Kyoto Racecourse in April, this Group 1 race for four-year-old and older horses is run over a distance of 3,200 meters (about 2 miles) on turf.

Check out our list of all the best horse races in Japan to bet on. 

Tips for Betting on the Horses

Even if you’ve placed horse wagers before, there are a few hard-and-fast tips that help you become even better at betting on horses.

As you’re looking at what wager to place, it’s important to do a bit of research on the horses, jockeys, and their trainers. 

You want to know what kind of running style each horse has (are they a front-runner or a closer?), as well as where they tend to shine. Do they excel on dirt tracks, or under heavy pressure? These kinds of stats will help you determine A) is this horse one I can bet on at XYZ race? and B) are the odds on this horse reflective of its potential?

But don’t stop at the horses. Look up which jockeys are riding the horse, and who the trainer is. Some trainers are better at getting horses ready for a big race, so you’ll want to know a bit of the conditioning that happened behind the scenes before putting your money on the line. 

The three common track surfaces in horse racing are dirt, synthetic, and turf. Each track requires a different running style. A horse that thrives on dirt or turf, might not perform well on a synthetic track. You also have to consider whether the track is flat, inclined, or banked, all of which can impact a horse’s performance. 

When researching the track, be sure you’re also researching the weather and typical conditions. A sloppy track due to rainfall might favor a horse with good hoof action for better traction. On the other hand, a dry track will favor horses known for their speed. Humidity and temperature are also factors, both of which can fatigue a horse and jockey if they’re used to running in colder climates. 

Post position, which is the starting stall number for a horse in a race, is randomly selected, and it can greatly impact how a horse finishes a race. Horses on the inside rails have a shorter distance to travel around the track compared to those on the outside. This gives them a slight edge, especially in shorter races. Inside horses also have a better chance of securing a favorable position early on, avoiding getting boxed in by other horses. 

Post position can impact their ability to adopt their preferred style. An inside position might be ideal for a front-runner, while an outside position might force a closer to use more energy early on to get into position. Not only is it a good idea to know your horse’s racing style, but see how their post position might make the race easier or more challenging for them. 

One of the best ways to stay on top of betting value is to subscribe to a handicapping service. These folks spend their days hunting down horse racing value to hand out to opportunists. If you’re strapped for time, reading picks from a handicapper is one of the best things you can do. 

Even if you don’t agree with their picks, seeing their data and processes can help you become a more informed bettor yourself. By using their stats and predictions, you can place your own wagers with confidence. 

Get Your Maiden Win from Horse Racing Betting Experts

Even though horse racing is a fast sport (with many races over in a blink of an eye), there’s a lot to learn before you can successfully make winning wagers on every race. 

To kickstart your horse race betting career, we suggest checking out our horse handicapping service. Our bettors are always digging up value on small and large horse races alike, and they love sharing their winning wagers with our subscribers. To get access to the full roster of data, picks, and expert analysis, sign up for our premium subscription today.