Playing the ponies is a fun hobby, but can be a lot more fun if you can at least break even to afford your hobby. These three horse racing tips will help you get the most while spending the least. It’s best to not make a single wager for at least one month as you begin to get a feel for the hobby.
Never Bet Every Race
It’s tempting to bet every single race – but not profitable. Only bet when the horse’s odds are at least 5-1. The returns are much better for one ten dollar bet for one horse that’s 10-1 than for five horses at even odds. Professional gamblers or those who write tips for newspapers often bet only two or three times a month.
Picking horses without making bets can help you practice for when actual cash is on the line. You could even place gentlemen’s bets or very small wagers with friends. Instead of betting money, you could bet that if your friend’s horses finishes in front of yours, you will wash his car the next day.
Keep a Racing Notebook
How do professional punters know when to make a bug wager? Because a horse they noted in their racing notebook is going to the post with juicy odds. Horses to note include late finishers, horses that made a good effort despite traffic problems and horses that prefer specific tracks.
Once you begin to watch the races regularly, you will begin to notice familiar faces. Standardbreds tend to race every week while Thoroughbreds race every fortnight, unless they are the top stakes winners in the country and then they are saved only for races with huge purses.
Bet Only What You Can Afford
Horse race betting can be expensive, in between actual bets, time spent studying the Daily Racing Form and buying horse betting tips sheets. At the beginning of each week, make a budget as to how much money you can spend and stick to it. Never dip into the rent money to place a wager because that will cause more stress than pleasure. Read the rest of this entry »
