| Most apprentices are capable of breaking a horse | | | | result a horse shown favorite or second favorite in the |
| fast, which is great in sprint races, and the majority of | | | | early starting prices may then drop down the list as |
| their wins are usually accomplished under such | | | | the start of the race approaches and his odds |
| circumstances. However, in route races (distance of | | | | improve significantly, that is get longer. This doesn't |
| longer than 1-1/8 miles) they usually do not perform as | | | | happen very often, but when it does, bet on the horse |
| well. This is not necessarily because they are lacking in | | | | that was initially favorite. It is always a good value bet |
| basic ability but because they are lacking in the | | | | and in the long run you should make a profit. |
| experience needed to properly measure the pace of a | | | | When the track is slow or heavy, give preference to |
| race. An experienced jockey can enable a | | | | fast starters. Slow, muddy and heavy track conditions |
| front-running sprinter to perform as well in longer races. | | | | usually favor the horse that takes an early lead. A |
| Also, give an extra point to an experienced jockey on | | | | straight bet is simple, manageable and not too difficult |
| obstacle racing than on flat racing. A jockey's ability | | | | to win. Play it but always weigh up the odds. Avoid |
| becomes even more important in obstacle racing | | | | favorites and long shots (outsiders) too. Be selective - |
| because no matter how fast the horse is if the jockey | | | | don't bet on anything or everything. When betting |
| falls off or the horse pulls up, the race for that horse is | | | | straight, consider betting to win and show, or |
| over. There is not even a possible second or third | | | | each-way, if the odds are relatively high. |
| place. | | | | If a horse is heavily backed just a few minutes before |
| Look for value odds as much as likely winners. If you | | | | the start of the race and his odds are sharply reduced, |
| keep looking for them, you will learn to spot them fairly | | | | bet on it. This is a strong indication that somebody has |
| quickly. Look for a horse that has a fair chance of | | | | reliable favorable information about the horse that |
| winning and is not overly backed. This is usually a good | | | | nobody else is aware of. |
| value bet in the long run. On odds of say, 10:1, you need | | | | The horses to look out for in Lightweights Handicap |
| to win once in ten attempts to break even. Anything | | | | Races are those whose overall form shows that they |
| more is net profit. Horses backed heavily by | | | | are capable of winning, regardless of the class of race |
| information services and computer handicappers may | | | | in which they compete. Two or more wins in the form |
| win more often, but are usually poor value bets. | | | | shown in newspapers are often indication of a possible |
| The offshore sportsbook sites or bookmaker | | | | big win by a low weight. An added bonus is they |
| webpages are very well informed and have a long | | | | usually start at big prices. |
| experience determining the odds. Their starting prices | | | | When making selections, always give preference to a |
| are usually excellent indicators as to which horses are | | | | horse that ran recently. A horse that has not raced for |
| likely to be among the first three in a given race. | | | | several weeks may have suffered some setbacks |
| Sometimes the mass of the punters will put a lot of | | | | like an injury or an illness. No matter how good his form |
| weight and money on a horse which will then go to a | | | | was if it is not recent, chances are the horse will not |
| false price and because of that the other prices of | | | | win. |
| horses will drift in the market, that is get longer. As a | | | | |