Thoroughbred
Horse Racing Terms & Key Tips
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.
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