Millions of people across the world enjoy watching horse racing, with some betting on the outcome and others just doing it for the pleasure of seeing the race unfold. What do you need to know when you start out?
Find Races That Interest You
There are many different reasons that you could choose to watch a certain horse race. For example, you might like the colorful fashion and spring setting of the Kentucky Derby. Or you might enjoy the thrills and spills of the UK’s Grand National.
This sport is popular in many parts of the world, so you can watch races from Dubai, France, Hong Kong, Australia, and other places. This means that you can decide if there is a certain setting that appeals to you most.
As with any other sport, you might also find that you soon have a favorite to follow, whether it be a horse or a jockey. Hugely popular horses over the years have included Secretariat, Man o’ War, and Seabiscuit, with fans enjoying their running style, aggressiveness, and other factors.
Do Research on the Field
One aspect of horse racing that appeals to a lot of fans is the way that they can dig deep into the records to do research. This means looking at the form of each horse and whether the conditions in the upcoming race suits them.
There are online tools that can be used to do this more quickly, but it is still hugely satisfying to put in the work and then make the right call. Even if you don’t place a bet, you will still get a warm feeling from picking a horse and see it come through to win.
Serious gamblers use a variety of systems to make their predictions, which can give them an edge when it is done well. However, for a complete beginner it may make sense to focus on a few of the favorites for each race and look into their chances of winning. Or else you could choose a race with a small starting field.
Understand the Different Types of Betting
If you are going to bet on a horse race then you will soon see that it is easy to do. The simplest approach is to choose the horse that you believe will win and place a wager directly on it. In this way, it is clear right away if you have won or lost as soon as the race ends.
A look at the most popular types of bets for Kentucky Derby fans also shows us that you place a future wager ahead of the action.
Once the race gets closer, you can look at more complex options like place, show, exacta, and trifecta. Click here to see the current odds: TwinSpires.com/kentuckyderby/odds
Start off with simple bets and you will see how you naturally progress and understand the more complicated options that are available.
Work Out How Much to Bet
One of the most important pieces of advice is to not go chasing any losses you incur. You should only bet the amount that you can afford to lose. Doing it in this way means that you can get to enjoy the race and celebrate any win without worrying about the impact of a loss.
Even a very small bet adds an extra degree of excitement to meetings like the Belmont Stakes or the Dubai World Cup. However, there is no obligation to bet on every race, only when you feel comfortable doing so and think that it will add to the pleasure.
After you have watched a few big horse racing events, you will start to feel like an expert and should become more confident at predicting who will win each race.
