Horse race stories can shed light on the nitty-gritty of the presidential campaign, while giving readers a window into the inner workings of Washington. And they help to focus the reader’s attention on the races. Without election handicappers, coverage of the election would look like an endless series of policy white papers. And with 22 months to go until the election, there is plenty of time to explore the various points of view. But how do you pick the winners?
Breakage in a horse race
One of the oldest betting practices is breakage in horse races. The term “breakage” refers to the rounded down pennies and nickels in parimutuel wagering. Most racing states operate within a dime breakage per dollar. In horse races, breakage is a useful tool for predicting odds and making better wagers. Learn the rules and terminology involved in breakage before you start betting.
Starter race
A Starter race for horse is a qualifying race, wherein the horse starts with no claiming tag. In order to be eligible for the Starter race, the horse must have raced at a certain claiming price within a specific timeframe. If the horse hasn’t yet raced, the start price is still valid, and the starter may still enter it. Otherwise, it can compete for a $10,000 claiming price.
State-bred horses
When a horse races, the Starter has a crucial role in ensuring a fair start. The starter oversees the loading of the horses and controls the opening of the starting gate. A starter race is for state-bred horses that will start for a specific claiming price. A starter race limits horses to a certain number of starts, or PPs. A starter gate is a partitioned mechanical device used to confine the horses until the race begins.
Placement in a horse race
In a horse race, placement refers to a horse’s position in the field, as well as the jockey’s position. The course of a horse race has a beginning, stalls, and finish line. In general, the first horse to cross the finish line wins. However, tactics may vary from one race to the next. In the case of a jumps race, a horse placed in the middle of the field may need luck to win.
Rules of the game
While it is not easy to win a horse race, following the rules of betting on horses can increase your odds and give you the edge over the competition. Before placing a bet, check the form and track records of the horses you’re betting on. A horizontal line of numbers represents the race results of a horse and shows where it has placed. If you bet on the favorite, be aware that past performance is no guarantee of future results. Nonetheless, betting on the favorite may pay off about 33%, 53% or even 67% of the time.
Rules of betting
There are a number of rules regarding betting on horse races. Firstly, the market is usually made up of one runner, although this number can be reduced by walkovers or non-runners. You can only place bets on singles; multiples are not allowed. In case of a withdrawn horse, the market is made up of the price of the second, third or fourth place finisher. For example, if the first horse finishes third, the bettors must still place bets on the second, fourth or fifth placed horse.