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Betting Strategies: 'It all depends on what you are trying to make from the race'
Sara and I spoke over the phone on Friday about her betting strategies, and she offers up her Late Pick 5 at Saratoga for Saturday.
Education
Pros and cons of boxing your bets
When horse racing bettors talk about boxing wagers, they’re referring to a specific wagering strategy for bets like the exacta, trifecta, and superfecta.
Education
The Science of Horse Racing: Hooves and Horseshoes
For this month’s the Science of Horse Racing, let’s play some horseshoes and learn a little about hooves, plates, and more.
Education
Step-by-step: How to bet a Super High 5
Hitting a Super High 5 wager isn’t easy; it’s one of the trickiest and most expensive horse racing bets to pursue. But winning tickets often yield big paydays.
Education
Step-by-step: Building a Pick 4 ticket
Of all the multi-race wagers in horse racing, the Pick 4 is among the most popular. It’s challenging enough to produce solid payoffs while remaining relatively budget-friendly for small bettors.
Education
Exacta vs. quinella vs. Omni/Swinger: Which should you bet?
Fans of international horse racing know there are three similar but distinct exotic wagers found on a typical betting menu: the exacta, the quinella, and the Omni/Swinger.
International
Step-by-step: How to bet a Pick 5
The Pick 5 is one of the most popular wagers in horse racing, and for many good reasons. If you’re wondering how to bet a Pick 5, we have you covered.
Education
What are Omni/Swinger bets, and how do you play them?
If you’ve ever dipped your toes into betting on international horse racing, you’ve probably noticed an unfamiliar bet type called the Omni/Swinger. But how hard is the Omni/Swinger to play and hit?
International
How to handicap Royal Ascot stakes for juveniles
One of the distinguishing features of Royal Ascot is the six stakes devoted to two-year-olds during the annual five-day meeting.
Royal Ascot
What are claiming races? Here are the basics
In North America, claiming races are among the most common types of Thoroughbred horse races conducted at racetracks across the continent. But what exactly are they?
Education
What are Brisnet Speed and Pace rating pars?
Have you ever wondered how to use Brisnet Speed and Pace rating pars? Let's dive in and explore what they offer.
Education
Fact or myth: Are all North American dirt tracks one mile in circumference?
If you follow North American horse racing, perhaps you've come to believe the vast majority of Thoroughbred racetracks are one-mile dirt ovals. But is that really the case?
Education
What are Brisnet Speed and Pace ratings?
Once upon a time, a long time ago, judging raw pace fractions and final times was the only way to gauge the speed of a race. Then speed figures burst on to the scene and changed everything.
Education
5 Preakness handicapping trends to consider
To enhance our understanding of Pimlico’s signature 1 3/16-mile race, let’s explore five Preakness (G1) handicapping trends worth keeping in mind.
Preakness Stakes
Explaining program numbers and post positions
If you’re just getting started betting on Thoroughbred horse races, it can be easy to confuse program numbers and post position numbers. It's important to know they're not always the same.
Education
What is the Kentucky Oaks/Derby Double?
When the Kentucky Derby (G1) and Kentucky Oaks (G1) roll around, it’s common to hear handicappers discuss their plays for the “Oaks/Derby Double.” But have you ever wondered what this wager entails?
Kentucky Derby
Top 10 Preakness trends
To get you ready for the second leg of the Triple Crown, let's look back on the last decade of races, as we examine the top 10 Preakness racing trends.
Triple Crown
How to read a Brisnet horse racing program
Have you ever wondered how to read a racing program? Then you’ve come to the right place.
Education
The Science of Horse Racing: Changing Leads
Horses can switch their leading leg, called changing leads, during every type of stride.
Education
Pari-mutuel vs. fixed-odds wagering: How are they different?
Sports bettors are accustomed to fixed-odds wagering. Horse racing bettors are widely familiar with pari-mutuel wagering. But how do they differ? And is one better than the other?
Education
What happens when a horse race is "off the turf?"
Perhaps you’ve heard of horse races being taken “off the turf.” But unless you’re familiar with racing lingo and the broad workings of the sport, the meaning of the phrase isn’t necessarily obvious.
Education
How to read horse racing workout lines
Reviewing workouts is a key component when analyzing unraced horses or horses returning from long breaks. We'll teach you how to read all the numbers and abbreviations involved in workout lines.
Education
Recent trends in the San Felipe Stakes
The $400,000 San Felipe S. (G2) has a recent history (2010 onwards) that's been slightly different than other races we've explored this week.
Kentucky Derby
Recent trends in the Fountain of Youth Stakes
Arguably the most anticipated of the Kentucky Derby (G1) preps on Saturday is the $400,000 Fountain of Youth S. (G2) at Gulfstream Park. Here are some recent trends worth noting about the Fountain of Youth since 2010.
Kentucky Derby
What is a turf course? Everything you need to know
You’ve probably gathered that many horse races take place on grass. Others, it seems, take place on turf. Or are they one and the same?
Education
Recent trends in the Gotham Stakes
The Gotham S. (G3) will be the first of four Kentucky Derby (G1) point-scoring races on March 5. Here are three trends worth noting about the Aqueduct fixture since 2010.
Kentucky Derby
Recent trends in the Risen Star Stakes
Here are three things to know about the recent history of the Risen Star.
Kentucky Derby
Step-by-step: How to bet a Pick 6
In terms of difficulty, all other wagers pale in comparison to the Pick 6, which dares you to select the winners of six consecutive races.
Education
When maiden special weight to maiden claiming isn't a class drop
Many handicappers consider the drop from maiden special weight to maiden claiming company to be one of the biggest class drops in horse racing. But it's not always the descent it appears to be.
Education
Addeybb pictured winning the 2020 Champion S. (G1) (Photo courtesy of Ascot Racecourse via Racenews)
The Top 5 Races in Australia for 2021
Here are the top five Australian races for 2021, in chronological order.
International
What is a bullring racetrack, and how should you bet one?
Generally speaking, there isn’t much variety among North American Thoroughbred racetracks. But once in a while, you’ll hear the term “bullring racetrack” tossed around—what does it mean?
Education
What is betting "across the board," and is it a smart strategy?
Like any sport, horse racing comes with its fair share of specialized lingo. One confusing phrase you’re bound to encounter is “across the board.”
Analysis
How to understand and use average winning distance statistics
Average winning distance (AWD) stats can be useful when handicapping horse races. But the numbers must be analyzed in context with the realities of average race distances in North America.
Education
What are coupled entries, and how should you bet them?
Coupled entries are among the more confusing aspects of betting horse races. But once you dig into the details, they’re not quite as complicated as they seem.
Education
Exploring jockey stats and win percentages
While horses are naturally the most important factor in handicapping any horse race, many bettors look toward jockey statistics to strengthen their opinions and separate top contenders.
Analysis
Breeders' Cup: Trends worth remembering from Del Mar's first BC
As Del Mar plays host to the Breeders' Cup for a second time next month, we scout out the more notable trends from its first in 2017.
Breeders Cup
Using Brisnet dam stats for pedigree handicapping
Analyzing the produce records of broodmares can help steer you toward informative betting angles.
Pedigree
Using Brisnet sire stats for pedigree handicapping
Analyzing pedigrees can be a helpful tool for identifying which runners are suited to particular race conditions. And sire statistics are some of the most useful pedigree tools to utilize.
Pedigree
An introduction to track conditions (and all the related lingo)
Thoroughbred horse racing is an outdoor sport, with races typically taking place rain or shine. That means track conditions can vary widely with the weather.
Education
What is the History of entering a horse into a horse race?
The roots of racing in medieval England were planted when horses for sale were ridden in competition to demonstrate their speed to potential buyers.
History
5 important trends for Kentucky Downs
Large fields, rich purses, and enticing betting payoffs are par for the (unique European-style turf) course at Kentucky Downs, which will host its annual six-day meet starting Sep. 5.
Education
Speed & Class Ratings: Juveniles Wit, High Oak among standouts
The juveniles to make the biggest impression to date on the path to the 2021 Breeders' Cup.
Education
What are morning line odds, and what do they mean?
If you’ve bet on horse racing in the past, you’re probably familiar with the term "morning line odds." But if you’re a little hazy on the definition, never fear—we'll get you up to speed.
Education
What is a guaranteed pool, and how does one work?
Sometimes, you’ll see racetracks advertise high-profile wagers featuring “guaranteed pools.” But what exactly is a guaranteed pool, and how does one work?
Education
What is a single, and why are they valuable?
Hang around horseplayers long enough, and you might start to wonder—what are these coveted “singles” they refer to when betting multi-race wagers like the Pick 4, Pick 5, and Pick 6?
Education
Dirt, turf, and synthetic: An introduction to racing surfaces
You know how tennis is played across three main court surfaces—acrylic hard courts, clay courts, and grass courts? Horse racing is pretty much the same.
Education
What is takeout, and how does it affect betting profits?
If you’re a fan of fine dining at home, you’re probably a wholehearted supporter of takeout. But if you’re a bettor, then takeout comes with a much different definition.
Education
Analyzing the running styles of 2021 Preakness contenders
To aid our handicapping of the Preakness (G1), let’s break down the contenders into four running style quadrants, based on their past performances and post positions.
Education
Mucciolo: Three lessons I learned during Kentucky Derby weekend
Another fantastic Kentucky Derby weekend in the books, where exciting and memorable racing took place at Churchill Downs. We got to witness some of the top horses in the country perform, both males and females, on both the turf and dirt, with some pulsating finishes at the wire.
Kentucky Derby
Analyzing the running styles of 2021 Kentucky Derby contenders
Post positions for the 2021 Kentucky Derby were drawn on Tuesday, the last step necessary for handicappers to finalize their pace predictions and guesstimate which horses will receive ideal trips.
Kentucky Derby
4 jockey stats to know for Kentucky Derby week at Churchill Downs
If you’re a bettor who factors jockey assignments into your handicapping, we’ve got a handful of stats and facts for you to keep in mind during Kentucky Derby week at Churchill Downs:
Kentucky Derby
Kentucky Derby Jockey Profile: Luis Saez
The rise of jockey Luis Saez has been meteoric. Ever since he started riding, he’s been a force to be reckoned with.
Kentucky Derby
Kentucky Derby Jockey Profile: Mike Smith
The 55-year-old from New Mexico has partnered with some of racing’s most legendary horses since picking up his first official victory.
Kentucky Derby
Kentucky Derby Jockey Profile: Ricardo Santana Jr.
It’s safe to say Ricardo Santana Jr. is a jockey on the rise. The 28-year-old from Panama has made almost uninterrupted progress since September 2009.
Kentucky Derby
Kentucky Derby Jockey Profile: Joel Rosario
Jockey Joel Rosario. Few North American jockeys have enjoyed greater or more sustained success over the last decade than Joel Rosario.
Education
2021 Kentucky Derby: Brisnet Speed Rating Report
The Kentucky Derby is the most analyzed race in North America, and Brisnet Speed ratings serve as a useful handicapping tool for the big event.
Kentucky Derby
What is the History of the Word Handicapping?
Would you believe that the word "handicapping" actually originated from a bar game?
History
What is the History of the Word Betting?
Betting was formally introduced into history by tracing back to both Ancient China and Ancient Greece.
History
What is the History of Simulcasting?
Coined in the 1940’s, the term "simulcast" is a combination of the words "simultaneous" and "broadcast."
History
What is the History of Wagering?
The word “wager” traces back to the 14th century Middle English term “wageure,” which means to make a solemn pledge or vow. Wager has since evolved to refer to betting.
History
Horse racing: Finding an edge in claiming conditions
Spotting changes in claiming-race conditions can lead to profitable wagers.
Analysis
5 tips for playing Vertical Exotics: Part 2
Vertical wagers are some of the most exciting, and potentially lucrative, bets throughout a racing card. Part 1 of this series was focused on explaining what they were. I will take the next step in this piece.
Education
5 Tips for playing Horizontal Exotics: Part 2
The popularity of multi-race plays has ascended rapidly in recent years, and the growth of them doesn’t appear to be slowing down, either. Part 1 of this segment was focused on explaining what horizontal wagers were and how to implement them into your betting practices. I will go a step farther in this piece.
Education
5 Tips for playing Vertical Exotics: Part 1
Wagering on vertical exotics gives handicappers various options to make investments in a single race. Here is what vertical wagers entail.
Education
5 Tips for Playing Horizontal Exotics: Part 1
While the win-place-show model has been in place for some time, the recent growth of exotic wagers can be confusing to both the novice and newcomer.
Education
5 Tips for new players betting maiden races
Betting maiden races can be a challenge for inexperienced bettors. With little to analyze, how do you decide which horse is ready to win?
Education
Four tips for handicapping first time starters
Wagering on horse racing is not an easy task. And what presents an even more difficult assignment to many is how to bet on first-time starters.
Education
Three tips for betting the Pick 5
The Pick 5 is one of the best wagers on the menu at Churchill Downs. With its low 15% takeout and $0.50 minimum, it's good for beginners and experts alike.
Education
Handicapping 101: How smart ticket building can increase profits
It happens all the time—a handicapper determines Horse #3 is a near-certain winner. They determine Horses #5 and #7 are the most likely to finish second, while rating a slim chance to beat Horse #3 across the finish line.
So what does this handica ...
Education
Step-by-step: Building an exacta ticket
As one of the oldest exotic wagers in horse racing, the exacta is practically as recognizable as the traditional win/place/show wagers the sport has long been known for.
The exacta requires bettors to select the top two finishers of a race ...
Education
Step-by-Step: Building a Pick 3 ticket
Constructing a Pick 3 ticket should be an easy task. The wager is straightforward and simple—pick the winners of three straight races and reap a nice reward.
But to play the Pick 3 effectively involves a little more forethought and strategy. W ...
Education
Exclusive: Money Management for Winners by Frank Scantoni
Effective money management is crucial to long-term success. If you want to conquer the gambling world, you need to have the proper money-management skills to protect your bankroll but also help it grow year in and year out.
Analysis
How To Bet Horse Racing Podcast: Pedigree Handicapping the Kentucky Derby
The most common question when handicapping the Kentucky Derby after "Who do you like" is "Can he get the distance?" A horse's pedigree is often used to help identify horses with a potential ability for 1 1/4 miles on dirt, but it can provide many ...
Pedigree
Using Trainer Angles in Handicapping, Part 5
You’ve probably heard the talk—the talk of how trainer has become essentially unbeatable with his two-year-olds.
Maybe “unbeatable” is a bit of a stretch, but it isn’t far from the truth either. In 2018, Baffert’s two-year-olds compiled an otherw ...
Education
Tips and Trends for Handicapping Marathons
Marathon horse races held over 1 ¾ miles or farther aren’t all that common in North America, and when they are on the agenda, some handicappers find themselves puzzled by the unusual challenge of handicapping such long-distance races.
What do you ...
Education
Betting Regional Class Advantages, Part 2
In a recent article here on BetAmerica , we discussed how regional class advantages can exist throughout the sport of horse racing and produce to profitable wagering opportunities.
Our first example noted how turf horses from the East Coast ten ...
Analysis
Betting Regional Class Advantages, Part 1
While the old saying “a good horse can come from anywhere” is certainly true, it’s also true that good horses are more likely to come from some places than others.
A great example comes from California, where a greater emphasis is placed on dirt r ...
Analysis
Betting Races on Soft Turf, Part 1: Why Europeans Can Have an Edge
Relatively speaking, racehorses in North America don’t get many opportunities to run on truly soft, rain-inundated turf courses. When heavy rains strike, turf races are frequently transferred to the dirt track in order to preserve the grass.
But i ...
International
Should You Bet Horses Returning on Short Rest?
Although there has been a tendency in recent years for trainers to give their horses more and more time between races, there are some trainers still willing to run their horses back in a week or less, and when you can identify a trainer who’s skille ...
Analysis
Exploring the Advantages of First-Time Lasix
If you’ve followed horse racing for any amount of time, you’ve probably heard phrases like “first-time Lasix” or “racing without Lasix.” But what does it all mean?
For the most part, racehorses in North America are treated with Lasix a few hours p ...
Analysis
Deciphering Track Biases, Part 2
Wouldn’t it be nice if we could predict when track biases will appear and wager accordingly, yielding impressive profits while simultaneous gaining some bragging rights?
Perhaps it sounds far-fetched, but truthfully, it’s not as hard as it sounds. ...
Analysis
Deciphering Track Biases, Part 1
Track biases… is there a more mysterious aspect of handicapping horse races? Maybe, but I'm not sure what it would be.
In essence, track biases are simple enough. Their name says it all—some tracks can be biased toward horses racing on the lead, o ...
Analysis
How to Bet the Double
If you’re just getting started betting on horse races , you might be confused by the multitudes of wagering options available, with many types boasting unusual names that aren’t necessarily self-explanatory.
But never fear—BetAmerica is here to ...
Education
Synthetic to Dirt: A Valuable, Overlooked Angle
Although the glory days of synthetic racetracks seem to be over in North America—tracks like Santa Anita, Del Mar, and Keeneland have all gone back to dirt in recent years—many synthetic racing surfaces remain installed at tracks across the continen ...
Education
How to Bet the Trifecta
If you’re just getting started betting on horse races, you might be confused by the multitudes of wagering options available, with many types boasting unusual names that aren’t necessarily self-explanatory.
But never fear—BetAmerica is here to hel ...
Education
From Grade 1 to Grade 3: A Significant Class Drop
It’s easy to understand how significant it can be when a racehorse drops from one class level to a lower class level. As we’ve discussed in the past, when a horse drops from a maiden special weight to a maiden claiming race , the easier competiti ...
Education
How to Bet the Exacta
If you’re just getting started betting on horse races, you might be confused by the multitudes of wagering options available, with many types boasting unusual names that aren’t necessarily self-explanatory.
But never fear—BetAmerica is here to hel ...
Education
Using Trainer Angles in Handicapping, Part 4
Many handicappers know the value of analyzing a trainer’s record with first-time starters. Some trainers, like Bob Baffert and Todd Pletcher, are renowned for the ability to send out race-ready horses to win their debuts, and knowing this can be hel ...
Education
When to Bet Sprinters Stretching Out in Distance
Thoroughbred horse races are held over a wide variety of distances—it’s part of what makes the sport so interesting.
But as a handicapper, how do you know if a horse that has been competing in sprint races can be competitive while stretching out t ...
Education
Using Trainer Angles in Handicapping, Part 3: Blinkers
Question: What do American Pharoah, Justify, Arrogate, Bayern, Dortmund, West Coast, Mastery, and Dream Tree all have in common?
Answer: They all won Grade 1 races for Hall of Fame trainer , and furthermore, they all won their second career starts ...
Education
Maiden Special Weight to Maiden Claiming: A Classic Class Drop
In the sport of horse racing, you’ll often hear handicappers refer to horses that are “dropping in class.”
The definition of dropping in class is simple—it means that a given horse is going to be facing easier competition than in his previous star ...
Analysis
Betting First-Time Starters in Maiden Claiming Races
Once in a while, handicappers will come across a maiden race filled with horses that seemingly lack the desire or inclination to win.
This can be particularly evident in maiden claiming races, the lowest category of races for horses that have neve ...
Analysis
History Can Be Your Guide in Graded Stakes Races
In theory, it seems sensible that handicappers should approach every race the same way and utilize their preferred methods of analysis to determine the most likely winner.
In practice, this is far from the case. Different types of races warrant di ...
Education
Using Trainer Angles in Handicapping, Part 2
The history of horse racing is filled with rags-to-riches stories of horses rising from humble beginnings to enjoy success at the highest levels of the sport.
Legendary Hall of Fame inductees such as Lava Man and Stymie have taken the “claim-to-fa ...
Analysis
How Grass Pedigrees Can Provide Value in Turf Races
It’s easy to assume that once a horse has started its racing career and run in a few races, its pedigree is no longer an important factor to consider in handicapping.
While this might be true in some cases, there are still many instances when pedi ...
Pedigree
How Knowing a Horse's Family History Can Lead to Winning Bets
When handicapping horse races, it can be a subtle but significant advantage to know the history of a given horse’s close relatives and the circumstances under which they excelled on the track.
One of my favorite examples involves a broodmare named ...
Education
Using Trainer Angles in Handicapping, Part 1
Handicapping horse races involves many factors, and among the most popular (and lucrative) is analyzing the records of trainers to identify the areas where they excel.
For examples, some trainers—such as the two-time Eclipse Award winner —have an ...
Education
How to Play the Trifecta Like an Exacta
When playing trifectas, one of my favorite strategies is to look for races in which two horses appear clearly better than the rest of the field.
In these situations, playing the two standout horses in the first and second positions can allow you t ...
Education