Guide to Betting
Nothing beats the thrill of cheering home the horse you've backed and seeing him pass the winning post in front. It's always fun having a little flutter and here we guide you through the betting basics but don't worry, if you don't know anything about racing, you can always just pick the name or the colours you like!
Before you bet
Whilst there are no guaranteed methods of finding a winner, there are several things to take into consideration when you're having a bet:
- The odds (also know as the price) - Obviously shorter priced horses (e.g. 2-1) are more likely to win then longer priced horses (e.g. 20-1) and so therefore you will win less money when a favourite wins than if you've backed an outsider! Outsiders can win of course but if you want to play safe it's often best to back one of the favourites.
- Horse form - This is how a horse has run in past performances and obviously if it has won or been placed in recent races it is in good form. You can find a horse's form in the racebook on the day or by checking the Fields online or in the newspaper.
- Jockey/Trainer form - A positive indicator can be when a horse's jockey or trainer has had a lot of recent winners or has a particularly good record at a specific racecourse.
- Horse condition - If you're at the races, it's a good idea to take a look at the horses before the race. A horse with a shiny coat and long, relaxed stride is often a good sign. Some horses do sweat up or get worked up before a race which generally isn't a good sign although for some horses this can be entirely natural and won't affect their running.
- Going - This is the ground condition which can affect a horse's performance. You'll need to check the horse's form to see what type of going it has acted well on before. Another thing you can look out for is the horse's knee action as it canters to the start. Normally, if a horse has a high rounded front leg action it will go better on soft ground whilst when it has a quicker, 'flicky' action when the knees remain lower it is more likely to go well on firm, fast ground.
Types of Bet
There are plenty of bet types to play with depending on how many horses you like, how much you want to spend and how much you'd like to win. There is something for everyone. Here are few that more you might like to start with...
- Win - select the horse to finish 1st
- Place - select a horse to finish 1st , 2nd , 3rd
- Each Way - to win and to place
- Quinella - select the 1st and 2nd place getters in a race
- Trifecta - select the 1st, 2nd , and 3rd place getters in order in a race
EASYBETS are the really easy way to bet on QUINELLA and TRIFECTA'S options. Just decide what meeting and race to bet on and decide what value and the computer will do the rest. Easybets are available in most values but the popular values are $3, $4, $8, $16 and $32. If you don't want to choose the race just ask the TAB operator at retail for an Easybet Trifecta and the value of your choice and they will automatically give you an Easybet on the next race to go.
For more information on betting, visit the TAB website which also has a helpful beginner's guide to online betting.
