Why Post Positions Are Important in Horse Racing Betting?

The horse’s position for starting the race is important as you wager on the finishing position in the race. The placement of the horse and their jockey could be a positive or negative aspect to how they can run the race. If you can pick the winning horse with good post position, you do not have to get too complicated with your handicapping skills.

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Breaking this situation down, there are three post positions of horses (and their jockeys) that you are concerned about: betting the inside positions (1, 2, 3 and 4), betting the middle positions (5, 6, 7 and 8) and betting the outside positions (9, 10, 11 and 12). The horse racing field could be smaller than that, but the post positions should be divided by three equal parts.

Betting Horses With Inside Post Positions

If you have a horse with early speed, you can bet on that horse in the first four positions of the race. Having an inside post and early speed right out the gate, that horse can get away quickly and establish an early lead. They do not have to contend with heavy foot traffic for getting the inside track.

This scenario is advantageous when the horses are on a short run to the first turn. The less distance between the initial gate and the first turn favors the horse with early speed and the inside position at the gate in a race.

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Betting Horses With Middle Post Positions

If you have a horse that stalks the pace in the race, you can bet on that horse in the middle of the pack. Being in the middle of the race with the starting position still gives the horse a good chance to do well further in the race.

Most trainers love the middle position if they have a horse that is less likely to get in any speed duels or get caught up in traffic. This tactic of betting a horse with a middle post position at the start of the race can work out fine if that horse has a jockey that is patient before the stretch run.

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Betting Horses With Outside Post Positions

The outside post position for a horse and their jockey is the least favorable for any type of running style. However, the veteran competitor might be a deep closer who prefers to trail the pack and run late in the stretch. That deep closer needs to establish some type of position that is not too far from the pack of horses that are leading the race.

When a horse breaks from an outside post position, they need some kind of speed to make up the difference between the horses that are in the lead. The horse that is far enough out of the lead as the race proceeds can find themselves “hung wide” on the first turn. This will cause them to lose valuable ground which cannot be made up.

Why Track Conditions Are Important in Horse Racing

Important Variables for Betting on a Horse Race

The post positions of horses in a race at the start is one of the important factors on winning the race, but there are more variables for betting on horse racing. Track conditions, the distance of the race and the number of horses in a race are also important to note if you want to win your wager on the race.