ITEMS TO CONSIDER WHEN WAGERING ON THOROUGHBRED RACING
Here are some simple tactics which may be helpful to a new
bettor:
1. Wager on the favorite.
The favorite is the horse with the lowest odds or the one on
which the most money has been wagered. Favorites win
approximately one third of the time. This is not necessarily a
sound wagering strategy as favorites can pay very little.
2. Purchase a tip sheet or handicapping aid.
These are prepared by professional handicappers and may
provide useful wagering selections. They are available for
purchase from a couple of our past performance partners.
3. View the horses.
Watch the broadcast signal while the horses are in the paddock
and in the Post Parade.
Following are some handicapping factors that can be used
to aid in placing a wager:
1. Class.
Class is difficult to define, but it is unmistakable at the
racetrack. Horses seem to sort themselves into competitive
levels.
2. Pace.
"Pace makes the race." This old racing expression
points to another element to consider when placing your bets
-- the pace of the race. A horse generally can't have it both
ways. That is, he can't run extremely fast early and still
have enough left in reserve to run fast late in the race. A
fast pace generally means that the horses on the front will
tire out and thus help the runners that are closing ground. If
the past performances indicate that there are several speed
horses in a race, it might be a good idea to consider a horse
that likes to rally in the stretch. On the other hand, a slow
pace will help the horses near the front because they should
have something left for the end of the race. In studying the
past performances, you might find only one legitimate speed
horse in a particular race. If that horse gets loose on the
front end and has the pace all to himself with no pressure
being applied to him, he figures to have something left for
the homestretch and should be hard to overtake.
3. Trainers and jockeys.
It's always wise to take into account the human factor. Some
trainers do well with 2-year-olds while others are
particularly adept with horses shipping in from long
distances. Some jockeys seem to ride better on the front end,
and others are better known for their come-from-behind style.
A good idea is to check the standings, which show the leading
trainers and jockeys at the meeting.
4. Changes in equipment.
Blinkers are used on horses to limit their vision and to
prevent them from swerving from objects or other horses. It's
worth noting changes in blinkers - a horse wearing them for
the first time (or for the first time in a number of starts)
or racing without them for the first time. Mud calks are used
for off tracks. Calks, pointed extensions or cleats on a
horseshoe, are designed to prevent a horse from slipping.
Certain other equipment worn by the horses is noted in the
past performances.
5. Trip.
It is important for a bettor to watch his horse during the
running of the race and again on the replays after the race to
observe what kind of trip he had. Was the horse squeezed back
at the start, or carried wide on the turn, or blocked at the
quarter pole? A horse who loses a race because of a troubled
trip might be a good bet in his next start. Usually trouble
encountered by a horse in a race is shown in the past
performance lines.
6. Weight.
Weight, the old saying goes, will stop a freight train, so
it's especially important to notice when horses are carrying
considerably more weight than they did in their last start.
Conversely, it's just as significant to watch for horses that
are carrying much less weight than they did in their last
outing. One theory is that weight plays a bigger role in long
races, but another line of reason is that weight is every bit
as important in sprints.
7. Breeding.
Breeding is an inexact science, but a careful study of
pedigrees can enhance a bettor's chances at the races. Some
horses are bred for speed, others have inherited stamina from
their sires and dams and are able to run long distances and
certain horses are bred for grass racing.
8. Condition.
Condition may be the most difficult handicapping factor to
master. It is defined as the fitness of a thoroughbred - how
prepared he is to run a particular race. The dates of the
horse's most recent workouts and races and the probable
effects of this activity on his current condition are highly
important. If a horse is racing for the first time in a month
or so, a steady pattern of workouts is a good indication of
fitness. A good time for a workout generally is when a horse
covers the distance in 12 seconds or less for each furlong -
36 seconds or less for three furlongs, 48 seconds or less for
four furlongs, etc. A "short" horse is one not
trained up to the last ounce of his energy and thus not fit
enough for the race he's running in. He'll tire, and his
stride will shorten before the end of the race.
9. Medication.
Lasix and Butazolidin are medications administered to
racehorses. Lasix, a diuretic, is used to control bleeding
(certain horses bleed from a ruptured vein - or veins - in the
nostrils, the pharynx or the lungs), and Bute is an
anti-inflammatory medication. Some handicappers pay close
attention to a horse racing on Lasix or Bute for the first
time, believing that these medications might enhance that
runner's performance.
GLOSSARY OF KEY TERMS
Entry - A horse entered in a race is called an
entry. And on rare occasions, two or more horses are said to
be "coupled" and run as an "entry,"
comprising a single wagering unit. A wager on one horse of an
entry is a wager on both.
Furlong - One-eighth of a mile or 220 yards. Races
are measured in furlongs.
Morning Line - Approximate odds printed in the
program and posted before wagering begins. This is a forecast
of how the morning linesmaker believes wagering will occur In
a particular race.
Post position - A horse's position in the starting
gate, numbered from the inner rail outward.
Purse - The amount of prize money distributed to the
owners of the first five or six finishers in a race (varies by
state).
|
