Picking a winning horse might seem like it all depends on a random stroke of luck, but this could not be further from the truth! There is actually a lot of strategy that goes into horse betting as there are a number of factors that can influence the final outcome of a race.

If you are interested in learning more about horse betting, then keep reading! This article is going to walk you through (or should we say, canter you through) some of the best top tips we have found for placing your first bet on the horse races so that you can be a winner.

Ready? Set, Go!

Don’t Bet On The Favorite By Default

Horses are picked to be the favorite for a reason. When you consider the fact that horse racing is notoriously unpredictable, however, with many a surprise win that sneaks in thanks to the underdog being discounted, it becomes clear that the favorite is not always a shoe-in.

For this reason, we would recommend that you avoid putting your money on the favorite of any given race just because they are the favorite – statistically, the favorite only takes home a first place win around 30% of the time, so you can’t rely on this title to give you a win.

Instead, you will need to know which selections are available to you and which will offer you the most value. Try to look for odds that offer you the biggest return for your stake or odds that indicate a high chance of winning. The more research you do, the more you will know!

Learn the Terminology

If you can’t understand half of what is being said around you then it is unlikely that you will be able to start placing successful bets on the horse racing right from the outset.

Horse racing has a whole world of word and terminology, so here are a few to get started:

Ante-post: A type of bet which you can place on a race well before race day.

Back: A basic type of bet on a single horse to win.

Drifter: A horse whose price increases before the start of the race. 7

Dutch: When you back two or more horses in a single race.

Jolly: Another term for the ‘favorite’.

Place: When you back a horse to finish in any place.

Tote: A bet based on a horse winning or placing.

Get To Know The Horses and Jockeys

A lot of people will advise you to do your research when it comes to the horses that are competing in any given race, but it is also important to look at the history of the jockeys that will be riding them during the race. If you want to place a winning bet, research will be key.

Luckily, all the information that you could possibly need is usually readily available in horse racing. You can find swathes of information online or the majority of horse racing events will have programmes available for you to purchase with the same information printed inside.

Once you have found the information you need, check back through the history of the horse or jockey you are researching to see if you can spot any clear patterns or winning streaks. You will then be able to use this information to inform and influence your betting strategy.

Place Multiple Types of Bets

One of reasons why people love betting on the horse races is because of the sheer volume of different bets that you are able to place on any one given race (or even multiple races).

This is also something that you can use if you want to try and increase your chances of success when placing your bets as a beginner. It is pretty logical if you think about it – the more bets you have on, the higher your chances of one of them coming in will be.

Multiple bets are the best way to incorporate a variety of wagers into your betting strategy as well as allowing you to bet on more than one horse, which can again improve your chances. With that said, betting on every race is never a good idea and this will deplete your budget.

Manage Your Bankroll

One of the most important things to learn if you haven’t yet placed your first bets on the horse races is how to manage your bankroll. Before you start with any form of betting, it is hugely important to set yourself a reasonable budget that you are happy to spend on bets.

You should then only bet within your budget, and once it is gone, it is gone. To manage your bankroll, try to keep track of any bets you do place as this will help you stay on track.