Betting on Horse Racing - Tips and Info
Horse racing and betting have gone side-by-side for as long as we can remember. This sport is well-known for its wagering habit and during the world’s most prestigious events, millions of dollars are reported in total handle.
The popularity of betting on horse races went to the next level with the rise of online sportsbooks as they allow bettors to wager on these events from any place and any time. The only thing that you, as a bettor, need to do is register at an online bookmaker. The process of registering is fast and won’t take more than a minute of your time. After you complete it, you will gain access to all of the world’s most popular events – Kentucky Derby, Cheltenham Festival, Melbourne Cup, etc.
Kentucky Derby has become quite the spectacle in recent years, especially after the drama with Medina Spirit. The competition is massive and the odds are always fantastic, which means that the rewards can be decent. However, you will have to consider a few things and that is what we are going to help you with.
We’ll name a few tips on how to make the most out of betting on horses, so without any further ado, let’s dive into the details.
Find a Credible Online Bookmaker
Online bookmakers have tons of advantages over land-based sportsbooks. Many bonuses and promotions up for grabs, great security, numerous accepted payment methods, greater market coverage, better odds, top-notch customer service; you name it, these sites got it.
The only thing that you need to make sure of is that the sportsbook is licensed and regulated. To check for a license, all you have to do is scroll to the bottom of the page and see whether a license is displayed. Double-check the information at the respective authority to see if the details are correct. All of the best bookmakers for horse racing are regulated by a certain authority, which means that they can legally provide their services.
Unlicensed online sportsbooks can be scam sites, which is why it is not secure for you to register an account there.
Use Bonuses and Promotions
As mentioned earlier, bonuses and promotions are among the greatest advantages of online sportsbooks and a feature that you should definitely use for your own benefit. Some of the promotions that sportsbooks offer are:
- Welcome bonuses
- Odds boost
- Enhanced odds
- Reload bonuses
- Free bets
- Loyalty programs
Make sure that you see which bonuses apply to horse racing and use them as they can boost your winnings. Bookmakers are known to flood bettors with promotions that are specific to horse racing, especially when a major event, such as the Kentucky Derby, is coming up.
Considering the fact that mobile usage is on the rise, many sportsbooks even offer bonuses that can only be claimed from mobile devices. One thing that is worth noting here is that you should always pay attention to the terms and conditions of the bonuses as they indicate how easy/hard it is to claim the bonus.
One of the most important T&Cs is wagering requirements, which state the amount that you need to stake before being able to withdraw the bonus money.
Bet Rationally, Not Emotionally
When you are placing bets, always make sure that you wager rationally. This is especially important if you have a favourite horse that you always think is going to win. It is a scientifically proven fact that emotional decisions often lead to mistakes, whereas rational thinking increases your chances of success.
You can think of this as not just a tip for horse racing betting, but a general guide that will help you in your life.
Use Statistics To Your Advantage
On the topic of rational thinking, always make sure that you check the statistics before wagering on a certain race. Check which horse and jockey are the most successful, what are their records in the recent period, how well do they do against certain competitors, are there any recent complications, etc.
All of this information will provide you with valuable data that will help you easily determine what type of bet you should place. The more fact-checked your bet is, the higher the chances of it being a winning one are.
