Knowing a horse form, meaning how its recent previous races, is not as much of a challenge as it seems. When you do, you stand a much better chance of success whenever you bet on horse racing. But knowing horse form is one thing. You should also know how to read important information and how it affects you when betting. This guide will enhance your skills in evaluating the horse form effectively, which will boost your chances of winning.
Basics of a Horse Profile
All the information you need about a specific racehorse can be found in a horse profile, which is normally available on the betting site by clicking on the name of the horse.
- Age, sex, breeding details of horse.
- Name of the owner and the trainer.
- A breakdown of individual information is organized into winning, placing prize money, and career earnings.
All of these facts can be the key to a victor. As an example, the age factor may arise when a young horse competes with older horses, where the young horse may be given a weight allowance when competing with older and more experienced horses. There are also instances where a specific trainer is on a hot or cold streak that may result in a horse being more or less appealing based on the shape of the stable.
What is Horse Racecard
A race card is a hand out providing brief details about a horse racing event with key information about each race and the horses that will be competing. Race cards are available to study horse form and spot trends prior to sports betting. The figure of the most recent runs of a horse is often shown beside the name of the horse and the number of the stall where the horse will start.
Be aware that there is usually a number next to the name of the horse that points to the amount of days in which the horse has not run. Long off the track horses might not be at their best fitness. Knowing who the rider is helps you to know if he or she has a good record at a specific track, or with a certain type of course.
The other detail that could be of importance on the race card may be the weight that a horse will be carrying. Horses that bear more weight than other contestants are usually at a disadvantage. Other than the horse form numbers, the post position, and weight carried, the following are some of the other items that are usually found on a race card:
- Race number
- Horse names
- Jockeys
- Trainers
- Betting odds
- Track conditions
- Distances
- Breeding
- Age
- Sex
Detailed Previous Runs
By clicking on the date of a past run you should be able to access certain details about that specific race, provided you are looking at a horse form. The order in which it was finished, the distance covered, its ratings, its official time of the race and the condition of the track would also be provided. You will also find a comment as to how near a horse rode to the front runners and a little description of where it was and what it had done in the race.
You can also watch a video of past races depending on your betting site. Replaying race videos can provide you with a good understanding of how a horse performs that you might not realize. You can also see something that others did not notice, which will provide you with an advantage when you make your bet.
Moreover, most horse racing betting websites provide tracker applications. Through these, you can make lists of horses that you are interested in and you will receive alerts when your horses will start their subsequent race. In that manner, you will not be required to look at race cards every day, which will give you time to analyze races and make good bets.
Also Read: Live Horse Betting Secrets: 10 Proven Ways to Win More
Why Horse Form is Important
Although profile attributes may be highly informative, a horse’s most recent form will be seen as the most significant as it represents the actual state of the horse and its willingness to act. The entire list of a horse’s past outings is normally available on different racing sites and the latest outing will always be placed at the top of the listing. Checking past performances takes time but you have to do it to maximize your bets.
Among the top priority things to be known about the horse form figures is the shorthand notation of a horse’s recent finish race e.g. first place will be denoted as “1”, second place as “2” and so on. The trick is to look deep into every line of horse form and determine the quality of opposition. When in doubt, a rating score provided by racing analysts is used to measure the intensity of the competition and the actual performance of a horse.