Horse racing is a sport which has been enjoyed for hundreds of years; from Norse mythology to chariot racing in Roman times, horse racing has always been inextricably linked with gambling. As a result of this people are willing to pay vast sums for a horse which they think can make them money. Indeed it would be accurate to say that the breeding, buying and selling of race horses plays an important role in supporting the gambling industry as a whole. Along with football, online horse racing betting accounts for a large proportion of bookmakers business such as Totesport.com.
When it comes to placing a bet on a horse there are several ways this can be done. A few of the more common ways to place a bet are standard betting and spread betting. A standard bet is the most simple and involves choosing a particular horse to back for which the odds appear attractive. A more complex form of betting is called spread betting which has increased in popularity in recent times; this is similar to buying and selling shares on the stock market. The idea is to accumulate a certain amount of points which are attributed a fixed value by the spread betting company, this is usually a favourite of more adept gamblers.
Punters have various options for spread betting, these include gambling on the ‘favourites index’ where you can gamble on the amount of favourites which will win at a particular meeting; or the jockey index – which works the same way, allowing punters to gamble on jockeys rather than the horses.
Depending on where you are in the world, horse racing can take slightly different forms – one of the most popular forms is Thoroughbred racing, and this is the form which is most prevalent in the United Kingdom. What distinguishes one type of horse racing from another is the breed of horse involved; broadly speaking these can be separated in to four different groups; Thoroughbreds, Standardbred, The Quarter Horse and the Arabian.
Thoroughbred horses are bred to be able to traverse intermediate distances at a very fast pace and can be worth hundreds of thousands of pounds – breeding and racing thoroughbreds can be a lucrative business. The distance of Thoroughbred races can vary, but they are usually between five and twelve furlongs; a furlong roughly equates to about an eighth of a mile. Something which sets horse racing in the UK apart from the rest of the world is the stringent rules on whipping the horse to make it go faster; in the UK jockeys are not allowed to raise their whip higher than their shoulder to prevent them hitting the horse too hard.
The important thing to remember when placing a bet on a horse is that you are more likely to be the beneficiary of a payout if you bet with the crowd. Bookmakers try and lure you into making bets on horses which are less likely to win by giving you odds which result in huge payouts, as they are certain that these horses or series of outcomes won’t happen.
Thursday, 26 November 2009
Sunday, 8 November 2009
The End of The Flat Season
The Flat season has come and gone with yesterday's meeting at Doncaster. As always, it has been a time to learn and refine our skills and endeavour to come back in March, for the new Flat season, a new-improved blog brimming with confidence and determined that H.C.E can continue to maintain that winning edge.
With the conclusion of this season, it is perhaps too easy to considering what went wrong rather than take all the positives which ultimately led to a decent points profit for the year and one or two big price selections that ran stormers but didn't quite prevail. On balance, we have to be pleased with our first season.
There is little doubt H.C.E will be bigger and better next year. We will be giving more tips and this will give a more balanced approach. We did fall into the trap of being too selective at the start of the season which caused problems. With my brother, Tony, taking a greater role along side myself and Gareth next season, we will be highlighting a good number of speculative-priced bets, which really make a season if one or two get there head in front. As followers will know, we rarely give selections less than 11/4 and generally we are looking for 4/1+ with an emphasis on each way bets. Considering we had a 50% place rate this season we have been pretty consistent. The big money comes from those infrequent 20/1, 25/1 & 33/1 shots (bigger on Betfair and other exchanges) which transform a so so year into something truly spectacular. Next season will see an emphasis on these type of selections. For that reason alone it is worth keeping an eye on the blog: signing-up to our free tips by email or mobile phone.
We will continue to follow the all-weather racing until the New Year but the postings will not be on a daily basis until the Flat season begins in March 2010. To be fair, the general standard of juvenile running on the all-weather is often quite poor and last season I rarely noted any bets of interest. If I do see something worthy as a bet, I will send the tips as per usual although I can imagine this period of time being quiet. It is good to have a breather at the end of a long season and recharge the batteries to come back bright eyed and eager for winners. In addition, I will be researching the H.C.E database and analysing each and every trainer. This is particularly important for our statistical bets and to understand those gems of knowledge, traits & trainer characteristics that make our selections stand out from the crowd. The fact that we specialize with two-year-old racing is of particular interest to many as this is a niche market.
I hope all our readers have enjoyed the blog and found it a source of winners and interest too. It has taken a huge amount of time to follow the entire Flat season.
Remember to keep our text/email because the new season always comes round quicker than you imagine. There will be plenty of exciting tips for you to consider and we are confident you will benefit from those speculative bets we are keen to advise.
Thanks for all the support from readers, fellow bloggers and the H.C.E team who have made this a winning season.
Tips for year
http://blog.highclassequine.com/search/label/Tips%20for%20year
With the conclusion of this season, it is perhaps too easy to considering what went wrong rather than take all the positives which ultimately led to a decent points profit for the year and one or two big price selections that ran stormers but didn't quite prevail. On balance, we have to be pleased with our first season.
There is little doubt H.C.E will be bigger and better next year. We will be giving more tips and this will give a more balanced approach. We did fall into the trap of being too selective at the start of the season which caused problems. With my brother, Tony, taking a greater role along side myself and Gareth next season, we will be highlighting a good number of speculative-priced bets, which really make a season if one or two get there head in front. As followers will know, we rarely give selections less than 11/4 and generally we are looking for 4/1+ with an emphasis on each way bets. Considering we had a 50% place rate this season we have been pretty consistent. The big money comes from those infrequent 20/1, 25/1 & 33/1 shots (bigger on Betfair and other exchanges) which transform a so so year into something truly spectacular. Next season will see an emphasis on these type of selections. For that reason alone it is worth keeping an eye on the blog: signing-up to our free tips by email or mobile phone.
We will continue to follow the all-weather racing until the New Year but the postings will not be on a daily basis until the Flat season begins in March 2010. To be fair, the general standard of juvenile running on the all-weather is often quite poor and last season I rarely noted any bets of interest. If I do see something worthy as a bet, I will send the tips as per usual although I can imagine this period of time being quiet. It is good to have a breather at the end of a long season and recharge the batteries to come back bright eyed and eager for winners. In addition, I will be researching the H.C.E database and analysing each and every trainer. This is particularly important for our statistical bets and to understand those gems of knowledge, traits & trainer characteristics that make our selections stand out from the crowd. The fact that we specialize with two-year-old racing is of particular interest to many as this is a niche market.
I hope all our readers have enjoyed the blog and found it a source of winners and interest too. It has taken a huge amount of time to follow the entire Flat season.
Remember to keep our text/email because the new season always comes round quicker than you imagine. There will be plenty of exciting tips for you to consider and we are confident you will benefit from those speculative bets we are keen to advise.
Thanks for all the support from readers, fellow bloggers and the H.C.E team who have made this a winning season.
Tips for year
http://blog.highclassequine.com/search/label/Tips%20for%20year
Saturday, 7 November 2009
7th November
The last day of the Flat racing season. Three two-year-old races at Doncaster today.
A watching day.
Today's races:
12:25 Doncaster
1:00 Doncaster
1:35 Doncaster
A watching day.
Today's races:
12:25 Doncaster
1:00 Doncaster
1:35 Doncaster
Friday, 6 November 2009
7:50 Wolverhampton
Just two all-weather meetings at Southwell and Wolverhampton. Not too much of interest although I will take a closer look at the 7:50 Wolverhampton with regard to Cole's Red Courtier. I will update later with my thoughts about this juvenile. It is difficult to give this juvenile as a tip at this time, being a statistical bet. However, this two-year-old is worth an each way bet if 13/2 & less at SP.
A watching race.
Today's races:
1:00 Southwell
1:30 Southwell
6:20 Wolverhampton
7:20 Wolverhampton
7:50 Wolverhampton
A watching race.
Today's races:
1:00 Southwell
1:30 Southwell
6:20 Wolverhampton
7:20 Wolverhampton
7:50 Wolverhampton
Thursday, 5 November 2009
5th November
Getting quieter by the day as the Flat season comes to a close. Just the one two-year-old event today - 1:45 Lingfield, a small novice stakes.
A watching race.
Today's race:
1:45 Lingfield
A watching race.
Today's race:
1:45 Lingfield
Wednesday, 4 November 2009
4th November
Cards from Nottingham and Kempton feature five races today. A few short priced favourites and many unraced in the fields which doesn't make for betting races for me.
A watching day.
Today's races:
12:40 Nottingham
1:10 Nottingham
1:40 Nottingham
6:20 Kempton
6:50 Kempton
A watching day.
Today's races:
12:40 Nottingham
1:10 Nottingham
1:40 Nottingham
6:20 Kempton
6:50 Kempton
Tuesday, 3 November 2009
3rd November
Just the two races from Catterick today. The auction event at 1:40 looks particularly weak. An interesting race to watch and winning connections will be all smile to steal a win at the end of a long season.
A watching day.
Today's races:
1:40 Catterick
2:10 Catterick
A watching day.
Today's races:
1:40 Catterick
2:10 Catterick
Monday, 2 November 2009
2nd November
Just a couple of races today at Wolverhampton.
2:05 Wolverhampton
Mureb will be a short price to continue the fine form of Godolphin although at about even money there isn't too much meat on the bone. Tesslam will run a big race and a decent type for an each way double. Arguam is the most interesting juvenile in this race as Swinburn's two-year-old was quite well fancied last time but ran no race. Perhaps today will see an improved performance although the price on the exchanges doesn't inspire much hope and the huge price (touching 70/1) may well be a sign of limited ability. It will be interesting to see what this son of Poppy Carew can achieve on this third start.
4:20 Wolverhampton
Excellent Thought is a consistent sort but seems to be struggling to gain a first win. She is there to be shot at once again and I wouldn't fancy betting at short odds. Youcanalwaysdream has been been supported for this and could run a decent race today after showing good speed on debut before tiring badly late on. Ceratinly has something to find with the favourite but it is certainly encouraging to see the money today although Ryan hasn't achieved much this year with his juveniles. A wide draw is far from ideal. Bronze Beau will probably try to lead all the way and this turning track will certainly help his efforts. A juvenile that doesn't seem to have that winning edge and too often placed at best. Mosa Mine is a more likely type if fancied in the betting. A difficult race too assess and certainly a watching race for me.
A watching day.
Today's races:
2:05 Wokverhampton
4:20 Wolverhampton
2:05 Wolverhampton
Mureb will be a short price to continue the fine form of Godolphin although at about even money there isn't too much meat on the bone. Tesslam will run a big race and a decent type for an each way double. Arguam is the most interesting juvenile in this race as Swinburn's two-year-old was quite well fancied last time but ran no race. Perhaps today will see an improved performance although the price on the exchanges doesn't inspire much hope and the huge price (touching 70/1) may well be a sign of limited ability. It will be interesting to see what this son of Poppy Carew can achieve on this third start.
4:20 Wolverhampton
Excellent Thought is a consistent sort but seems to be struggling to gain a first win. She is there to be shot at once again and I wouldn't fancy betting at short odds. Youcanalwaysdream has been been supported for this and could run a decent race today after showing good speed on debut before tiring badly late on. Ceratinly has something to find with the favourite but it is certainly encouraging to see the money today although Ryan hasn't achieved much this year with his juveniles. A wide draw is far from ideal. Bronze Beau will probably try to lead all the way and this turning track will certainly help his efforts. A juvenile that doesn't seem to have that winning edge and too often placed at best. Mosa Mine is a more likely type if fancied in the betting. A difficult race too assess and certainly a watching race for me.
A watching day.
Today's races:
2:05 Wokverhampton
4:20 Wolverhampton
Sunday, 1 November 2009
1st November
Just the one race at Lingfield on this quiet Sunday.
1:20 Lingfield
A restricted auction race for colts and fillies. Godolphin have been in amazing form of late and Sowaylm will certainly have his followers being the son of the 1,000 Guineas winner Ameerat. Quite amazing to think such a well-bred juvenile can run in such a lowly event. New Innocence was a touch disappointing at Beverley although that was a fair race for the course and Butler's juvenile has been off course for a while which may suggest all was not well that day. Tom Wade was backed last time and it could be the case more was expected on that occasion. At huge odds, it will be interesting to see if there is any money for juvenile who cost 90,000 guineas as a two-year-old. It wouldn't be the biggest surprise to see a better run today although much more is needed.
A watching race.
Today's race:
1:20 Lingfield
1:20 Lingfield
A restricted auction race for colts and fillies. Godolphin have been in amazing form of late and Sowaylm will certainly have his followers being the son of the 1,000 Guineas winner Ameerat. Quite amazing to think such a well-bred juvenile can run in such a lowly event. New Innocence was a touch disappointing at Beverley although that was a fair race for the course and Butler's juvenile has been off course for a while which may suggest all was not well that day. Tom Wade was backed last time and it could be the case more was expected on that occasion. At huge odds, it will be interesting to see if there is any money for juvenile who cost 90,000 guineas as a two-year-old. It wouldn't be the biggest surprise to see a better run today although much more is needed.
A watching race.
Today's race:
1:20 Lingfield
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