A Beginner’s Guide to Horse Racing -

If you are planning to attend your very first horse racing event, then it might be a good idea to brush up on the components of the sport. While horse racing might seem quite intricate to beginners, it’s actually quite an easy concept to grasp once you know the basics. And that’s where we step in.

We have put together these brief beginner’s horse racing guides to horse racing in the hopes that it will help you to quickly grasp how the races work and if you feel like it – you can place your first bet!

History

While we won’t delve into the full history of horse racing, taking a look back at how the sport has evolved will give you a better appreciation for the game.

Horse racing, as we know it today, began way back in the 17th century. While it was first introduced as a game for the aristocrats, it soon became popular throughout the classes. Today – thanks to the vast media coverage – horse racing is one of the most-watched (and gambled upon) sports in the world.

The Types of Races

Horse racing has been divided into many different categories. To keep things simple, we’ll look at the current most popular forms of racing.

Ep 114: Aaron Rodgers, OBJ, and The New York Jets
by Full Press Coverage on March 25, 2023 at 12:09 am

• Flat Racing. This is the most popular type of racing and refers to a race held on flat and even turf. The Track is usually 1-3 miles long.

• Hurdle and Steeplechase Racing. In hurdle racing, horses are prompted to jump over hurdles. In Steeplechase racing, there are numerous obstacles including fences, ditches, and water.

• Endurance Racing. Endurance racing challenges horses over longer tracks for a longer period of time.

Betting on A Horse

Betting on a horse can be tons of fun and even rewarding if you make the right wager.

To start, we always recommend you put money aside for betting and then stick to your budget – this way you can gamble responsibly.

Essentially, there are 3 ways to place a bet:

1. A “win” is a wager on who the 1st place winner will be and pays off the best if you the odds are in your favour.

2. Betting on a horse to “place” is a bet that the horse will finish at 1st or 2nd place.

3. Betting on a horse to “show” is a bet that the horse will finish at 1st, 2nd or 3rd place.

While you can earn more by placing a “win” wager, your odds of actually winning something at all are increased if you make a “place” or “show” bet.

By studying the program that’s handed out at the beginning of each race, you will get a good idea of which horses are likely to make it over the finish line first. You will also be given a list of betting odds that will help you to make a more informed betting decision.

While betting can get more complex, the information we have given you is a good starting point and with a little practise, you’ll be a horse racing pro in no time!