Three Point Horse Racing Tips for Beginners

Are you a neophyte? Here are very simple and practical horse racing tips you need to know to get into the game and actually enjoy it. When I say enjoy, I also mean increase your chances of winning. And yes, even in your first attempts!

In any game, where wins and losses are involved, you need to equip yourself with the essentials: knowledge of the mechanics, jargons and tools relating to the sport. For instance, to be an expert in chess, you’d need to be familiar with the moves of the chessmen, what the term “checkmate” means, and of course, you’d need a chessboard and all the pieces. In horse racing, the same applies.

1. The first thing to remember among the tips is to know the game of wagering itself. Be familiar with the two types of bets – straight bets and exotic bets. In a straight bet, you are betting only for one horse while in an exotic bet, you punt for two or more horses. In this article, I will only be discussing about the former for starters. For straight bets, picking the right horse on which to place your wager is very crucial. Pay attention to the physical characteristics of the thoroughbred. Check the hide for luster as this is a good indication of the animal’s health and vitality. Observe your choice’s mood and connection to the surroundings. A horse that appears indifferent or unfocused is one you wouldn't consider. Finally, assess the jockey and the trainer by looking into their stats.
2. Knowledge of certain words in the field will help you significantly in this new undertaking. Imagine playing a game without having any idea about the terms used in it. Learn basic horse racing jargons such as “bookmaker”, “parlay”, “odds”, etc. It will not only simplify things and make them fun for you, but to be able to understand the lingo will also give you a sense of belongingness to the increasing population of horse racing enthusiasts worldwide. An expert punter should be well-acquainted with the vocabulary in the sport.
3. You need tools for betting too. Here are the things you’ll have to secure before betting: public handicapper odds, tip sheets, the DRF (Daily Racing Form), and the racetrack program. These may cost you some money, but they will be most useful to you. You’ll also enjoy this activity more with a pair of binoculars to give you a closer look at your winner.

It is always good to know as a newbie that you are not alone in this venture –no, not even close. In fact, horse betting has grown increasingly popular garnering more than AU$14 billion worth of wagers in 2009/10 alone. That’s indeed a big deal of money. Welcome to the club! Remember: just get to know the game, the words and the tools and then you’re good to go!