Winning horse race bets do not randomly occur. Even though luck plays a role in racing and sometimes the unexpected happens, preparation and skill are needed in order to make the right bet. In terms of skill, it could be the the groom’s, the rider’s, the trainers or the horse’s. There are horses that are more intelligent than their competitors and that are able to make good moves during a race.
The Trainer/Jockey Skill Combo
However, the most important skill combination consist of the trainer’s and the jockey’s skills. One will not stand to win if they favor a horse that is prepared for winning and in excellent physical shape if the horse’s rider tends to make avoidable mistakes. Of course, no rider is perfect; it is normal for riders to have a bad day but talented jockeys are able to calmly approach the race and wait for the perfect time to make their move.
Reviewing Horses In Person
In some cases, the importance lies in what the rider does not do as opposed to what he does do. A lot of people handicap a race by viewing all horse competitors in order to decide which one is the favorite to win. Experienced bettors know that there is not much difference between the top-performing horses of any particular race.
For example, the favorite to win may only have a winning chance that is 25 percent better than the second choice while the second choice has just a ten percent winning edge over the third choice. Statistically speaking, for every four consecutive races, the lead favorite wins one time and the second choice wins three times. The difference is slight.
Considering the Jockey
When one compares the odds in order to determine the bet with the best value, one should consider the jockey in addition to the horse. It is recommended to review all jockeys involved in a single race. Take into account each rider’s win average, how their averages affect the horse ridden by each jockey and how these statistics should be included in the decision-making process.
Riders and horses differ dramatically because although the horses have small differences in winning chances, the riders have larger statistical gaps. So when faced with a race where two of the best possible winning horses closely match one another, the jockey’s numbers will be the race’s determining factor.