What Is The Best Type Of Race To Bet On?

Betting On Handicaps

A handicap in horse racing is a race that enable horses of varied ability to race competitively against each other via the allocation of differing weights. 

The split between handicaps and non handicaps is around 60-40. Therefore on a daily basis there will be more handicap races to choose from. 

Handicap Ratings

 A horse’s handicap mark determines which race a horse can contest. You can read its historical and current handicap mark on most racecards. 

In the above example handicap race the ratings were as follows

This was a contest for horses rated 0-58, so a horse rated say 65 could not enter this race. 

Is the horses rating justified? or is it much worse or much better than that rating.

That rating in this race equates to how much weight the horse has to carry. The highest rated horse in the handicap (Roscioli) has to carry the most weight, the lowest rated horse in the race (Gonzaga) has to carry the lowest weight. 

Aside from luck in running, the key to winning handicaps lies in understanding the conditions on the day, which often favor the best handicapped horse. 

There are many different conditions to consider. Distance, going, and draw are some of the most obvious, but pace bias and track bias are also important factors these days.

The more time you invest in studying a handicap, the higher your chances of uncovering the winner. Even the most surprising results in these races can be predicted if you delve deep into the form.

Deciphering the winner of a handicap, considering factors like rating, weight, previous form, going, and jockey booked, is a puzzle. This complexity is what draws me and many others to bet exclusively on handicap races. 

Away from handicaps there isn't always as much betting value in group contests (the best class of race). 

This is partly because these better-quality races are often more thoroughly researched by bookmakers, press, and pundits, and prices reflect their true chances more accurately. 

At the other end of the scale, the worst class races of claimers or sellers and the lack of form in maiden and novice races hold no attraction to me.

If you are interested in finding winners (who isn't?) please check out How To Find Winners - 101 Tips To Choose A Winning Horse Racing Bet

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So its handicaps for me, but what type of bets do you prefer and why?

What Type Of Bettor Are You?

There are all kinds of different punters, many of us fall into various groups indicated by the type of bets we place. Each of us has different motivations and have found out over the years what suits us best. 

Form Students: These punters, which include many long-term OLBG members, meticulously study the form. 

We have met them at get-togethers, and they can tell us "the records of three-year-olds in all age handicaps, which horse is today's longest traveller, or how many rides William Buick has had north of the border in the last five years. 

When a horse wins, they say, "It was all there in the form book."

Race Trend Historians: They rely on historical data and trends from previous races to predict race outcomes. 

On OLBG, betting expert Andy Powell collates these historical records via his Big Race Trends blogs.

Mathematical Bettors: A growing segment of punters uses mathematical models and algorithms to identify value bets. 

This group often creates computer programs to solve complex betting outcomes, considering all the variables in a horse race. 

Others subscribe or purchase these from commercial organisations. 

System Junkie: They create or follow specific betting systems such as Martingale, Fibonacci, Kelly or newer systems that have been created and advertised by individuals. 

Value Hunters: These value hunters look for horses with longer odds that they believe have been overpriced by a bookmaker. 

If they give a horse a 10% chance of winning the race and it is priced at 20/1 (4.76%) with an individual firm, they place that bet. 

Major Event Punters: This group bets on significant racing events like the Cheltenham Festival, Grand National, Newmarket Guineas meeting, or Royal Ascot. 

They may not bet regularly, but they focus on high-profile meetings like these. 

Multiple Aficionado

Life-changing wins are the aim for those who favour backing more than one selection. 

They can reap significant returns via Accumulators, Trebles, Yankees, Lucky 15's Heinz or Goliaths.

 In many cases, these bets are instantly lost after the first or second leg, but this does not stop this most optimistic type of racegoer from returning weekly to these types of wagers. 

Tote Bettors

Rather than bet with a bookmaker, they prefer "pool betting," especially on the Scoop6 or Placepot. Pool betting is prevalent worldwide but especially in the Far East. 

Exchange Traders

The betting exchange trader places back and lay bets on the same event at different prices. 

This price variation allows the trader to profit whether the horse wins or loses. 

He or she can also create a "green book" with every selection realising a profit. 

Inside Information Punter

These individuals are often closely attached to specific racing stables or live in areas of the country (Lambourn, Malton, Newmarket), where many stables are based. 

Snippets of "inside information" enable them to profit in selected races. 

Tip Followers rely heavily on tips from expert tipsters, such as selected members on OLBG. Often, a cost is involved, especially when subscribing to the more high-profile tipsters. 

Arbitrage Punters: Arbitrage or Arbers exploit minuscule price differences between odds providers to guarantee a profit. The results are irrelevant as they have the race covered, whatever happens.  

High Rollers: They specialise in placing large wagers. Due to their amounts, this group can receive special terms from the layers. 

They are often quoted by publicity-hungry bookies looking to enhance their standing as a firm that will accept these big bets. 

Social Punters: This group often places small wagers and enjoys the race-day experience rather than solely focusing on placing bets. 

They go racing with their friends, and having fun is as important as winning. They mainly place small bets or long-shot multiple bets. 

Pin Punters: These are minimal-stakes casual racegoers who select horses using lucky numbers, liking the horse's name, or an unspecified hunch on why that horse will win.

 If they happen to win via this method, they often deride the more serious form student with, "I know nothing about racing, but I won, and your horse came last."

Many of us favour a mixture of many of the above categories, and although this is a generalisation, it shows the betting opportunities we all have in the sport we love. 

Responsible Gambling

However you bet one constant is the need to gamble responsibly. We have trumpeted this approach ever since OLBG was created. With this in mind the following articles are there to assist all readers. 

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