Horse Racing: Ways to Improve Chances of Predicting the Winner

Gambling
Horses race on the turn at Churchill Downs. (Eclipse Sportswire)

Horse racing is one of the most popular sports in the world and has been for generations. The sport is a huge favorite with all ages who watch races across the world live on TV and in person. From the early days of on-course at English racecourses to the capacity crowds cheering on the Kentucky Derby, racing enthusiasts love to make predictions on the outcome of races.

Over the last few years, we have seen the number of horse racing fans steadily increase thanks to modern technology. You can now watch a race from the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, or Australia on your smartphone using an HD quality live stream. This can be done from home or on the move.

Apps like those mentioned at MyTopSportsbooks allow members to watch international horse racing and make predictions. In this article, we uncover some of the best-kept secrets in online horse racing, advising small changes you can make to your habits to increase your chances of correctly calling the winner of a race.

Eclipse Sportswire

Don’t Look for a Shortcut: There Isn’t One

If you are interested in horse racing, you’ll know the type of person we will warn you about. The “expert” always seems to be picking the right horse, calling winner after winner like they possess some sort of golden touch. How do they do it, what’s the trick and what is the best way to follow their lead?

Stop right there. We will explain why there are two things wrong with the above example. Firstly, there’s no such thing as a fan with a golden touch, one that always wins and is forever calling races on the money. They may tell you they are on a long winning streak but these types of racing enthusiasts only advertise their winners.

They don’t share their losing picks and, if they are predicting as frequently as they claim, you can be sure they will suffer their fair share of losses. Don’t fall for it, and don’t be sucked into admiring someone that is lying through their teeth. Visit Las Vegas and ask any professional bettor if they win every bet, and the chances are you’ll be laughed out of town.

Second, there is no winning formula — no shortcut to success and no strategy that will see you secure a winner in every race. Yes, some fans are better than others at forecasting the results, but that is down to hard work and dedication. Hours spent researching, comparing runners, studying form, and reading reviews of recent races is the key to their success. And that will be the key to your success.

Do Your Research Before Picking

Before making your prediction on a horse race, you should carry out as much research as possible. You want to know the form of every runner in the field, the weight they will carry in a handicap, any head-to-head matchups worth knowing about. Check how the stable, trainer, and jockey have been performing and read relevant interviews. There’s no such thing as doing too much research. The more you know about a race, the better your chances of solving the puzzle.

It’s also crucial to get the best possible advice. Regardless of the track you bet on, the horse you back, or type of bet you place, you want to do it with reliable knowledge. The easiest way to do this is to ignore the gossip columns and social media for the most part and stick to facts. Keep all the relevant numbers in mind when picking a runner.

Watch Live Races

There’s a lot to be said about sticking to the stats and working off results, but it’s also important that you watch as many horse races as possible. This can be done on TV at home or using your smartphone. You should be on the lookout for how horses perform on different surfaces and at different racetracks. Are they better over longer or shorter distances? The best way to find out is to watch racing.

Watch the action and take a note of any horses or emerging jockeys that catch your eye. You can even take hints from further down the field. Ignore the winner and look for runners that were, perhaps, impeded early and came on strong or will benefit from the experience.

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