Online Horse Racing Betting

Major derbies

Around 19 major derbies take place around the world. Below, we will discuss a few of the big ones.

Grand National

Held annually at Aintree Racecourse in Liverpool, England, the Grand National is an annual race that first took place in 1839. It is spread over almost seven kilometers and is a handicap steeplechase.

The horses are required to jump 30 fences over two laps, making it arguably the toughest race of the year, and one whose winner stands to earn £1 million.

Grand National has such an appeal that, in addition to hardcore horse racing fans, it also attracts a large number of casuals.

Kentucky Derby

As its name suggests, Kentucky Derby is staged in Kentucky, United States in May of each year. a Grade I stakes race, the Kentucky Derby is participate by three-year-old Thoroughbreds, while it is spread over a distance of 2kms.

Since the Kentucky Derby winner is draped in roses, the competition is nicknamed “The Run for the Roses”. Since it lasts for around two minutes generally, it is also dubbed by some as “The Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports”.

Cheltenham Festival

Held annually over four days at Cheltenham Racecourse in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, this festival features multiple races, the cream of which is the Cheltenham Gold Cup – a Grade 1 competition that is spread over a little more than 5km. The horses are required to jump 22 fences.

It has a unique reputation in the horse racing calendar. It is known for its electric atmosphere, especially the famous Cheltenham roar generated by the passionate crowd in attendance.

After the Grand National, the second-biggest prize money on offer for horse racing anywhere in the world is at the Cheltenham Festival.

Epsom Derby

The term derby in horse racing parlance was first used for the Epsom Derby, which is a race, also held annually, at Epsom Downs Racecourse in Surrey in June of each year. The distance of the competition is 2.42km and three-year-old colts and fillies are eligible to take part.

It is the biggest and the most prestigious of the five British classic races and, like Grand National, draws a large number of viewership as well as gambling fans.

Australian Derby

Held annually at Randwick Racecourse, Sydney, Australia, the Australian Derby is open to three-year-old Thoroughbreds and is held in April each year. Its distance is 2.4km and is arguably the biggest horsing competition Oceanic region.

Japanese Derby

Held annually in either May or June at the Tokyo Racecourse, Fuchū, Tokyo, the Japanese Derby could be called Japan’s answer to the Epsom Derby. It is open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies, and has a distance of 2.4km.

Betting on Horse Racing Online

Although the basics of horse betting have remained the same for generations and generations, the tech boom has certainly improved it.

The most basic bets in horse racing are win, place, and show bets. What the gamblers do here is simply pick a horse, and if their pick finishes in the place they predicted, they win.

In place bets, the horse picked needs to finish in either the first or second place. In show bets, even the third place is considered a victory for the punter.

Meanwhile, in exotic betting category, the gambler can pick more than one horse in a single race. That said, certain requirements are to be fulfilled, too. The examples of exotic bets are quinella, exacta, trifecta, daily double and pick 3.

Once you have gripped the basics of gambling on horse racing, you can move on to strategizing, which is different for every punter.

Some gamblers prefer to base their judgment on the past performance of the horse and the rider – a process also called handicapping. For that, it is advisable to give a deep study to the program, which almost always contains all the information there is to know about an event. Alternative to the program can be TV coverage and other material floated on the Internet by race organizers.

The first thing to study will be prior race results, which can tell a lot about a horse’s form as well as its racing habits such as whether it is quick off the blocks or not.

But then gamblers can make the mistake of backing a horse that had all its prior winnings in a lower class. Thus, it is always advisable to pay attention to what level of competition a horse had competed in before.

Next thing to study should be a horse’s handlers, namely its jockey, trainer and owner. The former two are integral in determining the fate of a horse, while the latter most’s ownership record could also serve as an indicator.

Next on the study agenda is the pedigree. It means that a horse born to another horse that had success in racing business is a favourable sign over another horse whose lineage is unknown.