For many sports fans, horse racing is automatically associated with gambling. And they are right. Betting and horse racing have gone hand in hand for a very long time. The history shows us how it developed, and how important this sport is nowadays, considering the number of bookmakers available. The impressive offer led to some great deals, like the Sportingbet promotional code that gives you a 100% bonus.
History of horse racing
Races between horses were mentioned in ancient Babylon, Greece, Egypt and Syria. During that time and later in the Roman Empire, chariot racing and mounted horse racing were already major industries despite a high percent of lethal accidents.
Returning to our times, in 2008, surveys showed that horse race gambling generated a worldwide market worth of approximately $115 billion. That's how big this industry is. Many major corporations in the world don't have this kind of revenue.
Today, horse racing includes many types of disciplines. However, the most popular ones are flat racing, jump racing, harness racing and endurance racing. Each discipline requires a different type of horse breed for optimal performance. For example, the most popular horse breeds used for flat racing are the Arabian, Appaloosa, Quarter Horse, Paint and Thoroughbred. Other disciplines might value various horse breeds like the Thoroughbred for jump racing or the Standardbred for harness racing.
Popular horse racing competitions in 2016
There are many great racing tracks around the world, but the most popular racing competitions are considered to be the ones held at the following tracks:
Churchill Downs racetrack in Louisville, Kentucky, United States is where the Kentucky Derby Festival takes place each year and lasts for two weeks. This year, the festival is scheduled to start on April 30, 2016.
Another popular track is the Ascot Racecourse located in Ascot, Berkshire, England that operates in association with the British Royal Family. The course is used for Thoroughbred horse racing and hosts 26 days of racing in a year. In 2016, except March, races are being held every month.
Meydan race course located in Dubai, United Arab Emirates is another major international horse racing track that has over 67 million square feet. The racecourse operates from November through March and hosts the Dubai World Cup Night; an event that currently offers $3o million in prizes and this year is scheduled to take place Saturday, March 26, 2016.
Betting on horse racing
While some horse racing tracks prohibit gambling altogether, there are many that allow it. At the tracks, such activities are conducted through a gambling station.
However, an increasing number of online bookmakers have started to offer a diversified selection of horse racing bet markets with horse races broadcasted live. This technology allows bettors to enjoy the excitement of the race as if they are at the tracks themselves.
When it comes to wagering on horse races, bettors don't gamble against the house but against other people, meaning that a pool is created with all the money wagered, and winners split the profits among themselves.
The most popular horse racing bets are considered to be the straight bets and the exotic bets.
With straight bets, you wager on a horse to finish the race in top positions. For example, Win bets require that your horse finishes the race on the 1st position. Likewise, Place bets extend the requirements to the 1st or 2nd position while Show bets include any top 3 positions.
While many people enjoy straight betting for its simplicity, there are some bettors who can handle risks and prefer exotic bets. Such bets are considered to be the Exacta, Trifecta, Superfecta, Daily Double, Pick 3, Pick 4 or Head-to-head.
These types of bets are labelled exotic because they have lower chances but higher profits. For example with an Exacta bet you are required to select the exact order of the 1st and 2nd place horses in a race. Similarly, other types of bets have various other requirements.
Horse racing betting tips
Horse racing is an industry that mixes well with sports betting. However, mastering this gambling segment takes time as there are so many terms, bets and factors to consider. Although sometimes you might find it difficult to pick a winning horse, here is what we recommend you to do to maximize your chances of winning.
When you select a horse, make sure to check all the available data about your pick, including previous races, history of the horse, weather reports for that day, racetrack conditions, and any other piece of information that can give you an edge in selecting a winner.
Familiarize yourself with various types of bets and test them until you find the ones that allow you to be profitable. As we already explained, straight bets are less risky, while exotic bets have higher payouts but lower chances of success.
Betting on horse races has its rewards and many sports bettors and gamblers worldwide have found this activity as extremely profitable. Why not giving it a try?
