Are you a horse racing enthusiast? Do you watch and bet on horse races often? If yes, you are not one among a few; horse racing is one of the most popular sports to be on around the whole world. There are so many horseracing enthusiasts all over the world too. The horse racing bet could be categorized as an easy bet if you have the ability to predict the winning horse.
It does require talent. But through this article, we are sharing such talents with you in the form of strategies along with how to place these horse racing bets, types of horse bets, and major US horse bets that are happening. This is like an all-in-one guide to horse racing, so continue reading this article to learn all about horse racing.
Best horse race betting strategies
Table Of Contents
There are many available horse racing tips and strategies that will help bettors improve their betting game. We have combined all these tactics so that you don’t have to search for them in many different places. Horsing races is all about knowing the horses and their pace.
There are exotic and straight bets when it comes to horse betting. The straight bet is the easiest one, which mostly requires you to just pick a horse and the spot they finish at, but the exotic bets include you placing multiple bets in the same bet. Beginners and pro bettors alike can use these strategies that we have mentioned below.
- 80-20 horse racing betting strategy
- Pick 3 Horse Racing Betting Strategy
- Following the trainer strategy
- Low-risk horse racing strategy
- Dutching system horse racing strategy
- Show bet horse racing betting strategy
80-20 horse racing betting strategy
The 80-20 horse racing betting strategy is a smart one to use in a bet that gives you a good win. The strategy is to split the stake you are about to bet into two with a proportion of 80% and 20% and bet it on two horses instead of one. If you make this bet on the same race, this might seem like a Dutch bet, but the ratio of 80% and 20% is important to be maintained.
The 80% of the stake is placed on the favorite horse, which is the one that has more chance to win but pays less, and the 20% of the stake is placed on the longer-priced one, which pays very well if it wins. So if any of them end up winning, the price amount you might be getting would be almost the same.
Let me give you an example of this:
You want to place a bet, and your stake is $150, and you are applying the 80-20 horse racing betting strategy to this, so you split it as,
- $100 on the favorite at +150 odds
- $50 on the long price one at +600 odds
Regardless of which horse wins, you will make $225. You only have to ensure that any one of the horses you have placed the bet on should win to get the amount.
80-20 horse racing betting strategy is a perfect betting strategy to adopt in your betting if you are looking for some security while you feel like one of these bets would probably win. This strategy can also be applied while betting on different races. The only disadvantage of this strategy is that in some races there might be more than 2 favorites, so you might lose it all without knowing which favorite to pick.
Pick 3 Horse Racing Betting Strategy
If you are a bettor who wants to win big, pick 3-horse betting could be the right option for you. This strategy includes placing three bets on three different races.
To win, you should succeed in all the bets you just placed. Securing the three wins might look hard, but the payout is worth the risk. If you lose any one of the bets, it would result in you losing the whole bet.
For example, you bet on race 1—horse A—at +250.
Race 2: Horse B at +350
Race 3—Horse C at +200
If you win all of these three bets, then you will earn $7000 from a $100 stake.
Think of this: instead of placing the pick 3 horse racing betting, you went in for betting all of this individually for a stake amount of $100 on each race; even then, you would have won only a sum of $1000 by spending $300 altogether, but by the pick 3 horse racing betting strategy, your payout is huge with a comparatively lesser stake.
The only disadvantage the Pick 3 Horse Racing Betting Strategy has is that if you lose just one bet, you will end up losing the whole bet. Something to keep in mind: Understanding the risk before placing the Pick 3 Horse Racing Betting Strategy is important.
Following the trainer strategy
While analyzing factors in the search to find the winning horse, a key factor is its trainer. Knowing the trainers of the horses is an important factor; we might be so busy looking into the horses that we might forget to take a look at them.
There are many trainers with all the horses that act in the same pattern. If one of their horses wins, then most of the other horses will follow the same path. So get to know the trainers of the horses and their recent wins.
Low-risk horse racing strategy
Are you looking for a low-risk horse racing strategy? We got you covered in that area too. Here are some low-risk horse racing strategies for you, which will increase your chances of winning.
Dutching system horse racing strategy
One of the low-risk horse racing strategies is the Dutching system. The Dutching system is a popular strategy where the bettor places bets on multiple horses competing in the same race simultaneously instead of picking just one horse to bet on.
This increases your probability of winning the bet, as you have placed many. This strategy has been practiced since the beginning of horse racing. The Dutching method is not just used in horse racing; it is also used in football.
It helps the bettors avoid failure as they are picking many opinions and the chances of one among them winning are high. In Dutch betting, you can split the stake in half if the odds are the same for the horses and place them on the respective horses, and you could also place the bet accordingly if the odds are uneven, which means you could place less amount on the horse with low odds and focus more of the stake on a horse with higher odds.
Show bet horse racing betting strategy
Another low-risk horse racing strategy is the show-bet horse racing betting strategy. The Dutching system might require you to have some experience in horse racing betting, but even a beginner could place a bet by using the show bet horse racing betting strategy.
Most of the bets require you to choose a horse, and that horse must win in order for you to win the profit, but here, you just have to predict the horses that would finish in the first three positions: the first, second, and third. The position of which horse finishes where doesn’t matter when it comes to show bets, just the top three.
How to Bet on Horse Racing
I am now going to explain to you how to place a bet on horse racing online. We are providing step-by-step instructions so that it will be easier for you.
First of all, you need to create an account on an online gambling site. If you already have an account, you can log in using your credentials, and if you do not already have an existing account, now it’s time to create one.
Create a new account on a gambling site by clicking on the sign-up option seen at the top of the page. Add your required details, such as name, date of birth, email address, the country you reside in, etc. The players who already have an account could log into it.
When your account is activated, now it’s time to add a deposit to your account. For this, you need to log in to your activated account and then find the cashier option, click on it, and make the payment through your trusted method of payment.
Now that you have added the deposit to your account, you can finally start placing the bets. Find the race that is interesting for you and that you want to place the bet on. You can browse through the races and select horse racing seen on the left-hand side.
After picking the race you want to bet on, now you can add that race to your bet slip along with the amount you want to bet on. After entering all of this into your bet slip, you can confirm it.
Just like that, your bet is placed; all you have to do now is wait for the results to arrive to know if your bet is a success or not.
Types of Horse Race Bet
There are many different types of horse racing; you can categorize it first into straight bets and exotic bets. The straight bets are simpler, and to place these bets, the stakes are less compared to those of exotic bets, which can be expensive. There are many bets that come under straight bets and exotic bets, so let us take a look at all of them.
- Straight bets
- Win bet
- Place bet
- Show bet
- Across-the-board bet
- Win/place
- Place/show
- Exotic bets
- Exacta bet
- Quinella bet
- Trifecta bet
- Superfecta bet
Straight bets:
Straight bets are the most basic and simple bets that might include predicting the horse that might finish the line first. If you are new to the whole horse race betting scenario and wish to bet, straight bets are the best option for you. You just have to bet on a single horse.
Different types of straight bets are
- Win bet
- Place bet
- Show bet
- Across-the-board bet
- Win/place
- Place/show
1. Win bet
A win bet is the simplest bet; you just have to predict which horse would come in the first place or, if simply calling, which horse would win. If the horse you wagered is the first one to reach the finishing point, you will win the payout, simple as that.
2. Place bet
When it comes to placing bets, you have to pick the horse that would come in the top two in the race. For example, you could predict and select a horse and hope it would end up in the 1st or 2nd place, and if it did actually end up in the first or second position, you would win the bet. It has a lesser payout than that of win bets, as the place bets offer more flexibility.
3. Show bet
The show bet is more flexible than the place bet. You have to pick and bet on a horse, and if you end up in any of the first, second, or third positions, then you will win the payout. The payout for a show bet would be less than a place bet, which comes with flexibility.
4. Across-the-board bet
Across-the-board is also known as a combo straight bet as it contains all the combinations of straight bets: win bet and place bet. You have to bet on a horse, and if you come in the 1st position, then you will win all of the three payouts for win/place and show.
If your horse comes in the 2nd position, then you will win two payouts of win/place; if the horse you wagered on comes in the 3rd position, then you will get the payout of the show. Firstly, in order to place the bet, you have to bet with a stake of three bets combined, meaning if a single bet costs $5, you have to spend $15 to place an across-the-board bet.
5. win/place, place/show bets
This is the same as the across-the-board bet, but instead of three, you have two options. If you are placing the win/place bet, then if the horse that you placed the bet on ends up winning, then you will be rewarded with both the win and place payout. If the horse finishes right after the first one, then you will only be rewarded with the place payout. This option offers you flexibility and will cost you more.
Exotic bets:
Exotic bets are more expensive and complex than straight bets, but they allow you to bet on more than one horse in a single bet. It is expensive as it also helps you win a great amount.
The different types of exotic bets are:
- Exacta bet
- Quinella bet
- Trifecta bet
- Superfecta bet
1. Exacta bet
It is the same as the win bet, but instead of one horse, you have to predict two horses that will come in the first and second positions. Here is where the twist of exotic bets comes in; you have to predict them in the exact order.
For example, if you place an exacta bet on horses 2 and 4 to come in the first and second positions for $10, in order for you to win, horse 2 should come in the first position, and horse 4 should come in the second position for you to win. The exact positions of the win matter.
So are you feeling like this whole exact order rule is too hard? Don’t worry. There is a way. You can “box” the exacta bet; now the position doesn’t matter; you just have to predict the horses that come in the first and second positions. But when you box your exacta bet, the stake will differ; you have to give double the stake to place the box exacta bet than the normal exacta bet.
2. Quinella bet
The quinella bet is to predict the horse that would finish in the first and second in line, and no, the order does not matter, so what it makes different from the box exacta bet is both its stake and its payout. The stake you have to bet to participate is a lot less than the box exacta bet, but the payout is also less than the box exacta bet.
3. Trifecta bet
When it comes to trifecta bet, you have to predict which of the horses finishes in the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd positions in the exact order. That means while betting, you should mention the position of the horse along with the horse. You will only receive the payout if the positions are in the exact same order. You can also box the trifecta bet, but to place this bet, you need to make the stake that is a whole lot bigger than that of the trifecta bet.
4. Superfecta bet
You have to predict the horses that will reach the line at the finishing point in order. Same as the quinella bet and trifecta bet, the superfecta bet can also be boxed, but it costs a lot extra.
Major US horse races 2024 to bet on
Now that you know the strategies to apply while betting on horse racing in order for the bet to be effective and steps on how to place horse racing bets, I am now going to tell you about the major US races that are happening in 2024 so that you know where to bet on.
- Kentucky Derby
- Breeder’s Cup Classic
- Pegasus World Cup
Kentucky Derby
This is an annually hosted event happening in the US. It is considered one of the most prestigious horse races for people all over the world. It has a rich history dating back to its inaugural race in 1875. The race is often referred to as “the most exciting two minutes in sport” due to its short duration.
The attendees of the Kentucky Derby are dressed in formal attire, which is a tradition among the people. It also has a signature drink, the mint julep, a refreshing cocktail served in a silver cup made with Bourbon, sugar, and mint.
The Kentucky Derby has seen many legendary horses like Secretariat, who won the race in the year 1973 and then went on to win the triple crown. It is the horse race of the year; each year the race has over $400 million being bet on the race.
Breeder’s Cup Classic
It is a Grade 1 race that contains the top thoroughbred horses from around the globe. This race takes place in late autumn, and it is famous for the high stakes bets. It is not just a race; it is considered a championship event. The horses like Cigar, the American Pharaoh, and Zenyatta have participated in this race.
Pegasus World Cup
The Pegus World Cup started in the year 2017 and has established itself as a premier race because of its impressive purse and the caliber of horses that compete. It is conducted at Gulfstream Park, Florida, annually. It contains two races called the Pegasus World Cup Invitational and the Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational.
FAQ
The best betting strategy to win a race would be Dutching. You can divide the stake and bet on multiple horses in a single race, which increases the chance of you winning.
When it comes to horse racing, the profit of matches depends on factors like track conditions, horse form, and market fluctuations; depending on these, the profits could vary. Not a single bet exists with a guaranteed win. But the most profitable bets could be the exotic bets, where the stakes are also high.
Steps for betting on these races are given above in detail; the steps include,
Step 1: go to a gambling site
Step 2: Create a new account or log in to your account.
Step 3: Make the payment.
Step 4: Choosing the match to bet on
Step 5: Place the bet
Making straight bets is the easiest bet to win in horse racing. There are different types of straight bets, such as win bets, place bets, and show bets, which are explained in detail above.
Straight bets and exotic bets are the most common bets in horse racing.
The biggest horse race in today’s world is the Kentucky Derby held at Churchill Downs Racetrack in Louisville, Kentucky.
