Betting on Horse Racing For Dummies

Description

Betting on Horse Racing For Dummies is packed with information that teaches you the ins and outs of the racetrack. You’ll learn how to improve your odds, avoid common betting mistakes, and just plain have fun at the races. This is a spectator’s easy-to-understand guide, so you’ll have no trouble identifying the racing breeds with their strengths and weaknesses, sizing up the jockey, understanding the importance and role of a trainer, placing bets, managing money, and beyond. Can’t make it to the track? No worries! You’ll get the scoop on online betting with off track betting sites and apps. This update covers the latest changes in the betting world and in the racing world, so you’ll know just what you’re wagering. Learn about the different types of horse racing Discover and identify the best racing breedsKnow your jockeys and trainersMake smart wagers and manage your funds For beginning betters, Betting on Horse Racing For Dummies is your ticket to well informed wagers and a winning edge. Already know the ropes? You’ll love the market trends and insider tips you’ll find inside. Title Page Copyright Page Table of Contents Introduction About This Book Foolish Assumptions Icons Used in This Book Beyond the Book Where to Go from Here Part 1 And They’re Off! Horse Racing and the Betting Scene Chapter 1 Playing the Ponies for Pleasure and Profit Differentiating the Types of Horse Racing Before You Bet: Handicapping the Races Eliminating losers and developing the race shape Taking all factors into account Betting with success Starting simply Going for the score Managing Your Money Deciding Where to Bet The racetrack Off-track betting and Las Vegas Home sweet home Chapter 2 All Horse Races Are Not Created Equal Race Setups: The Long and Short of It Short races Long races Different Levels of Competition at the Racetrack Maiden races: Where it all begins Claiming races: Where every horse is for sale Condition levels in claiming races Moving up in class Dropping down in class Nonselling races: Another step up the ladder Starter allowance races Allowance optional claiming races Allowance races Stakes races: The top of the pyramid In a Class by Themselves: The Triple Crown and the Breeders’ Cup The Triple Crown The Breeders’ Cup World Thoroughbred Championships Chapter 3 Getting a Handle on Parimutuel Wagering Betting Against Other Bettors Comparing Parimutuel Wagering to Poker Attracting a New Gambling Audience Beating the Takeout Understanding Breakage Chapter 4 The Skinny on Betting Starting with Straight Bets Straight bets: Win, place, and show Place and show pools Dead heats and other sticky situations Styles of Wagering Straight Bets Group parlay play How to place your bet With a mutuel clerk, face-to-face On a self-service computerized betting terminal Over the telephone using a phone betting account Online via the Internet Betting from anywhere using your mobile phone device Rules to bet by Proper procedure: How to call out a wager Watching the tote board Show plungers: A safe chance to make a score Chapter 5 Visiting the Racetrack Cost of Attending the Races Parking Admission Food and beverage Seating: You Get What You Pay For Turf clubs Luxury boxes Clubhouse Grandstand Track apron Infield Accessing Information: The Program and Other Resources Watching the Races From Start to Finish Looking at the track Viewing closed-circuit television Understanding the Racetrack Layout Placement of the poles Clubhouse and far turn Paddock and walking ring The backside Rewarding Yourself and Your Family Player reward programs Breakfast programs Playgrounds for the kids Part 2 How the Players and Factors Impact the Race Chapter 6 Studying Horses in the Paddock and During the Post-Parade Dissecting the Anatomy of a Horse Examining Horses in the Paddock and Walking Ring Positive traits to pick from What is not worth your wager Watching the Horses in the Walking Ring, the Post-parade, and the Warm-up Chapter 7 Riders up: The Importance of a Jockey The Traits of a Winning Jockey Better jockeys make fewer mistakes Timing Low weight Anticipation Considering a Jockey’s Experience Level Apprentice riders: Are rookie jockeys worth it? When journeymen riders become money riders Betting by the Book: Statistics Contrasting Viewpoints Chapter 8 Trainers and Owners: Calling the Shots Betting on Futures Training Horses is a 24/7, Year-Round Job A Winning Team Trainer Trends and Tells Owners: There Is No Racing Without Them The expenses of horse ownership The joys of owning a racehorse Chapter 9 Knowing the Track Surface and Conditions Scratching the Surface: Rating the Main Dirt Track Fast Good Muddy Sloppy Giving a little TLC: Main Track Maintenance Crowning Blading Making the Grade: Turf Course Ratings Tuning In to Track Biases Main track biases Turf biases Tapeta synthetic surface Maintenance Handicapping Tapeta Chapter 10 Zeroing In on Equipment Changes Blinkers On, Blinkers Off Why and when blinkers are used Different cups Why and when blinkers come off Bits: A Little “Bit” of Help Can Go a Long Way That’s a Wrap: Bandages Rear bandages Front Bandages “Fixing” a Horse’s Chances Lasix: Not Until You Are Old Enough Get Good Footing with the Right Horseshoes Part 3 Gaining a Competitive Edge Chapter 11 The Daily Racing Form: America’s Turf Authority History of the Daily Racing Form Reading the DRF Result Charts and Past Performance Nuts and Bolts: How it all fits together Statistics Past performance line (from left to right) How I Like to Read the Past Performances Read from the bottom up Mark up the Daily Racing Form Bringing in Beyer Speed Figures Winning while running a slower Beyer Speed Figure Do not overlook horses off the also-eligible list Chapter 12 Trying Your Hand at Handicapping What Is Handicapping Anyway? Doing Your Prep Work Buying the Daily Racing Form Getting the morning line Figuring out the race shape Speed horses Stalkers Closers Dirt surfaces Turf surfaces Changing your strategy for scratches Finding Value in the Odds Looking for overlays Knowing when to beat ’em and when to join ’em The Importance of Post Positions Post positions in sprints and routes Post positions in turf racing Weight Matters (or Does It?) Trite but True Clichés You can beat a race, but you can’t beat the races The speed of the speed Pace makes the race Horses-for-courses Chapter 13 Planning Your Wagers A Winners’ Strategy Embrace the Process: It’s All about Winning Writing down your bets Checking your tickets for errors Figuring out what kind of horseplayer you are Keeping track of your bets Chapter 14 Making the Most of Your Bankroll Knowing Your Personality and Temperament Keeping your emotions in check Make Your First Bet of the Day a Winning One Differentiating Your Bets: Action, Prime, and Going for the Score Action bets Prime bets Going for the score Wagering a little to win a lot Don’t Chase Your Losses; Live to Fight Another Day Wagering a Percentage of Your Bankroll Versus the Same-Size Wager Wagering a percentage of your bankroll Placing same-size wagers Part 4 Risky Business: Tackling More Advanced Bets Chapter 15 Betting Exotic Wagers Exotic Wager Styles Getting value from an exotic wager Making multiple-horse bets Exacta Quinella Trifecta Superfecta Placing Wagers on Multiple Races Daily Double Pick-3 Pick-4 Pick-5 Pick-6 Future Bets Chapter 16 Getting Into Sophisticated Handicapping Taking a Scientific Approach: Advanced Handicapping Resources Beyer Speed Figures Daily Racing Form Formulator Ragozin Sheets Thoro-Graph Brisnet EquinEdge OptixEQ Jerry J’s Power Page Clocker reports Andy Harrington’s Workout Report Bruno DeJulio’s Workout and Cheat Sheets Daily Racing Form Workouts Key Races Dropping in Class from Maiden Special Weights to Maiden-Claiming Chapter 17 Handicapping Tournaments National Horseplayer Championship The NHC Tour Breeders’ Cup Betting Challenge (BCBC) How to Qualify Read the Rules Strategizing for Success Play to a number Focus, focus, focus Arrive at acceptable odds Save some bullets for the end To live or die with cap horses Chapter 18 The Race for the Triple Crown Triple Crown Winners Derby 101: What You Need to Know Is 2-Year-Olds Racing Experience Still Important? The Road to the Kentucky Derby Point System The Importance of Post Positions What Happens After the Kentucky Derby? Picking a Preakness winner Betting on the Belmont Stakes Part 5 Playing Different Ponies and Different Venues Chapter 19 Harness Racing: It Will Drive You Wild Harness Racing Equipment Comparing Pacers and Trotters Pacers Trotters Defining the Lingo of Harness Racing Handicapping Harness Race-Style Sizing Up the Racetrack Considering the driver’s importance Watching replays and trip handicapping Past performances Championship Races Chapter 20 American Quarter Horse Racing: Don’t Blink, or You’ll Miss It Leading Quarter Horse Racetracks Quarter Horse Racing Is Short and Sweet Past performances Video replays Distance Class Jockeys and trainers Stakes Races Chapter 21 Visiting Your Local OTB: Off-Track Betting In the Beginning: The New York City OTB Starting off on the wrong foot Studying OTB’s effects on New York racetracks The Growth of OTBs Which States Have OTBs Arizona California Colorado Connecticut Illinois Nevada New York Chapter 22 Betting From Home What Are Some of the Perks? Doing Your Homework, Literally at Home Staying on Top of the News Past performances Workout reports Speed figure and pace sheets Horses to watch list Entries, results, and a lot more Selection services Other radio shows and podcasts How to Bet from Home How to sign up Account Deposit Wagering Companies (ADWs) Watching the Races in Your Pajamas FanDuel TV (formerly TVG) FOX Sports 1 (FS1) and FOX Sports 2 (FS2) NBC Sports Chapter 23 Viva Las Vegas Finding the Right Racebook for You Earning Comps: Using What is Rightfully Yours Last Contest Standing: The Twin Quinella Wagering on the Kentucky Derby and the Breeders’ Cup in Las Vegas Placing Future Book Bets Kentucky Derby and Breeders’ Cup parties in Las Vegas Comparing Las Vegas with Other Locales Part 6 The Part of Tens Chapter 24 Ten Best Racetracks to Visit Aqueduct Belmont Park Churchill Downs Del Mar Gulfstream Park Keeneland Monmouth Park Oaklawn Park Santa Anita Park Saratoga Race Course Chapter 25 Ten Best Track Announcers of All Time Chic Anderson Fred Capossela Larry Collmus Trevor Denman Tom Durkin Phil Georgeff Harry Henson Joe Hernandez Dave Johnson Luke Kruytbosch Chapter 26 Ten Best Horse-Racing Movies A Day at the Races (1937) Dreamer (2005) 50 to 1 (2014) Let It Ride (1989) National Velvet (1944) Phar Lap (1983) Seabiscuit (2003) The Horse Whisperer (1998) The Pope of Greenwich Village (1984) War Horse (2011) A Glossary of Horse Racing Lingo Index EULA