Sport plays a central role in South African culture and this means it has a rich sporting heritage to reflect on. Although football, rugby and cricket are huge with South Africans, horse racing is also a sport that many love.
Betting on sports is perfectly legal in the country and this extends to betting on horse races. If you plan to start doing this in South Africa, it pays to go beyond basic betting advice and get some expert tips first. This will ensure you have the best time and start backing horses in an informed, responsible way.
But what are some of the best expert tips for betting on horses in South Arica?
Choose where to bet
The first tip to bear in mind is very important and has an impact on your whole betting experience. It’s essential to take your time and carefully choose which sportsbook to bet with online. Although there are many places to sign up with, not all sites are the same.
By spending some time looking at what different sportsbooks offer, you can find the perfect one for you. This might be a site that has 24/7 live chat support, masses of horse racing markets or the best racing odds.
Taking your time to pick out where to bet on horse racing in South Africa also keeps you away from scam sites and means you choose a licenced, reputable bookie to bet with. To find out the best sportsbooks in South Africa to create an account with, check out playcasino.co.za today.
Don’t blindly back favourites
Once you have found a top sportsbook in South Africa, it’s time to start putting some money down. One of the best expert tips to keep in mind here is not blindly backing the favourite in a race.
Although they might be the most fancied horse with the lowest odds, this does not mean they’ll automatically win. Even if they do, they often offer poor value when you consider the return you get for the stake you put down. A better move is looking for each-way bets on horses further down the field who’ve performed well in similar conditions.
Think about live betting markets
One very good piece of expert advice for any horse race bettor in SA is branching out from the ‘Win’ only market after a while. One of the most interesting options here is the live betting markets most bookmakers offer.
These markets allow you to place bets after the action has started and the race is under way. The obvious advantage here is that you can check how the race is going before putting your money down. This can be even more effective if you’re watching a live stream of the race, so you can act quickly based on what is happening in real life.
Look for horses who’ve done well before
Horses, like humans, are creatures of habit, and this is something punters in South Africa can use to their advantage. One of the best expert tips is to go beyond mere form reading of the last few races and focus on horses who have done well in that exact race before.
It’s not uncommon for a horse to win a race one year and then come back to win it the following year. A good example is Tiger Roll’s 2019 Grand National win, which happened the year after he won it in 2018! As long as the conditions are similar to the previous year, looking for horses who’ve previously done well in the same race is a great tip.
Look at the form of the trainer and jockey
Most punters spend a lot of time checking up on the form of the horse they plan to back. This is sensible and something that is highly advised. Not as many, though, bother to check the form of the trainer and jockey – which is a major mistake.
The form of the yard, in particular, is something to really take note of. If the trainer is in good current form, for example, it’s reasonable to think their horses have a better chance of doing well. This is especially true if the course is one where the trainer normally excels.
By the same token, the form of the jockey is an aspect to focus on before making any decisions. They will essentially be controlling the horse and have a big say on what happens in the race itself.
Consider tips from race experts
It’s always key to research your bets before making them – but what if you lack the time or confidence to do this alone? Getting expert horse racing tips is the answer and is a simple, quick way to find horses to consider backing. It’s still a good idea to check any selections out yourself, but using reputable tipsters can make the whole process a lot easier.
Horse race betting in SA: expert tips to take on board
If you’re planning to start betting on horse racing in South Africa, there’s lots of basic information here to get started with. Once you’ve taken all of this in, it’s time to look for more in-depth advice to make the most of.
