Typically, a horse race involves two or more horses ridden by jockeys over a set distance for competition. There are many ways to bet on a horse race. Some of them are betting on the winner, wagering on multiple races, and running style.
Speed figures
Whether you are a beginner or a seasoned handicapper, a speed figure for horse race can be an important tool to help you identify horses with superior speed and potential to win. Speed figures can also be used to disqualify horses from a race or to uncover good betting opportunities.
Speed figures are calculated by using a horse’s finishing time in a race. An analyst then compares that time to a number of average times that have been measured on a track. The higher the number, the faster the horse.
The figure is then adjusted for the type of track. Tracks with rougher surfaces or slower speeds will produce slower figures. Also, the figure may be affected by other horses in the race.
The most accurate figure is the Digest’s Combined Pace Rating (CPR). This figure is based on a horse’s closing fraction, closing time, and pace. Often, the CPR favors horses with a mix of stamina and speed.
Pace of the race
Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned bettor, understanding pace is one of the most important handicapping skills to master. It is the key to predicting future performance.
The pace of a horse race is the time it takes for the leader to reach certain points in the race. Pace is affected by the conditions underfoot and the strength of the opposition. In some racing jurisdictions, pace is the most important handicapping tool. However, despite its importance, pace has been underutilized by punters in the United Kingdom.
One of the most popular ways to analyze speed is to look at the split times of a race. Split times allow for the analysis of acceleration strategies, the different phases of a race, and the final stretch.
The average racehorse can run two furlongs in around 24 seconds. However, some horses can run faster than others. Horses are also affected by their breed and health. Some are naturally fit and athletic while others must be motivated to run fast.
Running style
Whether you’re a seasoned horse racing fan or an inexperienced newbie, you may be confused by the different running styles used by horses in the race. These styles are influenced by a horse’s personality, training, and pedigree.
Front runners are also called “speed” horses. They like to break out of the gate quickly, but slowly build up their lead until the final stretch. They do this by setting a moderate pace in the early stages of the race. This will allow them to get plenty of gas for the final strides of the race.
The closest horse is called a “closer.” This is a horse that stays off pace, but sits behind the leaders. They often make a charge late in the race, and are exciting to watch.
Wagering on winners of multiple races
Using horse racing wagers to cover multiple races can be very lucrative. However, it can be difficult to know when to use multi-race bets. Some handicappers use two basic strategies to structure multi-race bets.
First, some handicappers will use “singling” as a strategy. Singling is a method where a bettor chooses a horse to win a single race, but then takes another horse or horses behind him in the other legs. This strategy cuts costs, but can also depress payoffs.
Another method for covering multiple horses is using the “part wheel” method. A part wheel is a method where a bettor selects more than one numbered horse to finish first, second, or third. Part wheels can be applied to pick 4, pick 5, and even exotic wagers such as trifectas.
Disqualifications
Getting disqualified from a horse race is not a common occurrence, but it does happen. In fact, there are at least ten cases of horses being disqualified from a $1 million race in North America.
There are several reasons why a horse might be disqualified. For instance, a horse may be disqualified for failing a drug test. A horse may also be disqualified for running under the wrong name. A horse may also be disqualified for weight issues.
Horse racing stewards monitor races from an elevated viewing box or video feed. A steward will consider a horse’s behaviour and whether it interfered with another horse. If the horse interfered with another horse, it may be disqualified.
Horse racing rules generally limit what a horse can do to get to the finish line first. Disqualifications are rare, but they can be costly.