There is an abundance of information on EZ Horse Betting for the novice gambler. Once you have learned the basics of betting horses at an online racebook, you will be ready for more handicapping angles. Advanced horse race betting techniques take your game to the next level and help you cash more tickets. These techniques have been used by professional handicappers for years to get the edge that it takes to win.
The Surface Switch
Horses are just like any other athlete. They have strengths and weaknesses. Determining which racing surface a horse prefers is a technique that can put lots of money in your pocket. Many horses making a surface switch go to the post at long odds.
What is a surface switch? This occurs when a horse suddenly stops racing on one surface and begins racing on another. In thoroughbred racing there are three primary racing surfaces: dirt, turf, and synthetic. The synthetic track is still very young compared to the other two, and there is little data to support how it affects the outcome of races. Some horses still seem to prefer it, though, and that is all you need for this advanced race betting method.
Let’s say that a horse has been racing on the dirt and delivering dismal performances. He has finished fifth or worse in all of his starts. A horse like that wouldn’t get your attention as a handicapper. He would likely be eliminated from contention in your selection process. Then something different happens. You notice that today the horse is racing on the turf for the first time.
Unimpressed by the horse’s recent performances on the dirt, you do not make a bet on him. He then proceeds to win the race by four lengths and you are left scratching your head. What did you miss? What happened? The answer is probably the surface. Some horses just like one surface better than another.
The key to making money from this angle is to bet the horse on its first try at a new surface. If you wait until after the horse has demonstrated some proficiency, you will receive a lower price on the horse. A good way to tell if the horse might be successful with a surface switch is to look at what the trainer has done with this move in the past. If the trainer regularly wins when switching from dirt to turf or vice versa, you may have discovered a tasty bet.
The Claiming Drop
Any horse that is dropping down in class to face easier competition always merits some respect. Sometimes all a horse needs is a little softer field, especially if it has been finishing second or third in its recent races. Claiming drops happen every day at racetracks, but there is one particular drop that is more powerful than all the rest. It involves a horse that is dropping from a Maiden Special Weight race to a Maiden Claiming.
In a Maiden Special Weight the horses entered in the event are not available to be claimed by other horsemen. They are often first-time starters, and trainers do not want to risk losing the horse until they know what kind of animal they have. The MSW races attract the very best horses, and most stakes winners began their career by winning just such an event.
Once a horse has competed in a MSW and failed to win, the trainer may consider putting that horse into a Maiden Claiming event where the horse will be available for a claim to anyone that is willing to pay the claiming price. This is one of the most significant drops in racing. The talent level between a Maiden Special Weight race and a Maiden Claiming is worlds apart.
What you want to look for is a horse that has tried the MSW level a couple of times with moderate success. Look for a horse that has finished third or a strong forth. When the trainer decides to put that horse in a Maiden Claiming event, bet your house. The chances are very good that the horse will win one of these contests.
The downside of this advanced horse racing technique is that the prices on such animals are often low. Even the most basic handicapper knows this trick, and you will be lucky to get 2-1 on a horse in this position.
Two Turns to One Turn
The manner in which horse racing tracks are laid out also makes a difference when it comes to the preferences of some thoroughbreds. Some horses have a harder time negotiating turns than others. This is especially true on so-called bull ring tracks like Delta Downs in Louisiana. These tracks have very tight turns with a significant amount of banking. Bigger horses can often find themselves getting out in the turn, which means that they go wide and lose ground. A smaller horse can better take advantage of the physics of such turns.
You will want to look for a horse that has been racing at two turns. This will generally mean the horse has been running longer distances. You will note that the horse in question has been finishing well, usually in the top three, but tends to lose its advantage on the final turn. The trainer may decide to opt for a race that goes a single turn, and in this case the horse may win.
There is a very fundamental principle at the core of this horse betting technique. Horses require less effort to run in a straight line. Navigating a turn decreases stamina. Horses are better able to unleash their full speed on a straight track. You should also note that many European races are ran on a straight track with no turns. This is also the case for sprint races that are held during the Dubai World Cup. Straight races really emphasize which horse is the fastest in a given field.
The Horse for the Course
One of the great success stories in modern racing is that of Lava Man. Claimed for a moderately low sum of money, Lava Man went on to earn over $5 million and win 17 races. The thing was, whenever the horse was taken out of California to race he did poorly. Lava Man had a definite preference for racing in the Golden State.
Such is the case with horses on many racing circuits. This is where your handy past performances will be of use. You can easily tell by looking at the race record of a horse how well the animal performs on circuits others than those where it is accustomed to racing. The best bets in this regard will come after a horse has ventured out of state to compete and failed. When he comes back to his home circuit, some bettors may be inclined to believe that he has lost some talent and the horse will be underbet.
Many handicappers have been undone by this simple but effective horse racing technique. To take advantage of it you will need to follow the talented horses on a certain circuit closely. It helps to keep a notebook in which you can record he successes and failures of individual horses.
Using Key Horses in Exotic Bets
Exotic bets are one of the most profitable to be found at an online racebook. These bets include the trifecta, exacta, and superfecta. Many players approach exotic betting by boxing their selections. This can be an expensive and inefficient way to bet the races, and it also signifies that you do not have a strong opinion.
A key horse is a much better option when it comes to playing exotics. You identify a horse that you think has a chance to win the race and then you use that horse as the key to your exotic wagers. This means that you will be building an exotic ticket around that horse. Here is an example.
You like the No. 2 horse in a race but you really want to play the trifecta for a chance at a good payout. Since you have confidence in this horse to win, you now need to select other horses that you feel will complete the trifecta. You will then key the No. 2 to win with the other selections boxed in the second and third-place spots. By doing this you will have reduced the cost of your ticket, and you may be able to use longshots in the other spots to possibly win a larger sum of money.
Of course, success with this technique demands that your chosen horse wins the race. Or does it? One of the best ways to play a trifecta bet is to key your chosen horse in all three spots, using other horses to complete the box. In other words, you would bet the No. 2 horse to finish first, second, or third with other horses around it. This bet only costs $18 on a $1 ticket, and it can return large sums of money.
Are you ready to get in the game and try some of these techniques for yourself? All you need to do is check out one of our recommended online horse betting sites. Check our Bovada racebook review, Twinspires review or even our Betamerica review. All great choice if you are in the US. 5Dimes review for folks anywhere! You can sign up in just a few minutes and bet the races from your computer, phone, or tablet. Nothing could be easier!
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