When is the next major release scheduled for? Related to an answer for: How do I get started implementing wwise reflect in unity? A preview of the Grade 1 Hopeful Stakes on closing day at Saratoga.
Horse Racing Form Study And The Sites To Use
Free Horse Racing and Sports Selections. Horse racing is undoubtedly a complicated sport and most of the people, who watch it, including the so-called fans group, do not know much about.
This article is about the topic of form study, and more so the tools available to aid us with this task.
There are a fair few aids at our disposal these days, and punters are in a far better position than that of years gone by. There are plenty of websites that offer a wealth of info, also there are plenty of databases on the market that for a fee help us take our study to the next level. So with that in mind I am going to touch on those that I feel give us the best chance of staying ahead of the bookie.
At The Races:
This is probably the best info site available on the market, as it caters for all levels of knowledge and offers its readers/members some great tools without charging you a penny. Inside the race cards you are presented with a very user friendly interface, which has handy little tools including Timeform comments and analysis info. You can research trainer/jockey form, previous horse form, and also one of the handiest little tools in my opinion ‘Future Form’ which allows you to delve deeper into the value of a horses previous runs based on how well other horses in the race have performed thereafter. Add to this the ability to view any past race videos that have aired on the channel, plus a wealth of info to read with blogs from top jockeys and trainers, this site is a must for all horse racing enthusiasts.
Sporting Life:
Another fantastic site which again does not charge a penny. It does not have some of the handier features that ATR have, but the one thing it does have that ATR does not is the ability to let us view Racing UK videos for free. The only catch with this is you must be a member of Skybet, but for the minute or so it takes to register this is a small price to pay. The reading material on the site for all sports is superb, and again is a must have in my opinion.
Racing Post:
The leaders in the field so to speak, and that view does warrant plenty of respect. However this has lost much of its appeal these days since introducing a charge for most of the info available. You can still go in and do basic study, and admittedly it does post some great info with regards to breeding stats, sales info etc etc. However you can still find that info elsewhere for free on the net, and although the basic charge of £3 – £5.50 per week hardly breaks the bank, the prices will only go up and for the average punter the above two sites can do the same job even if you do have to flick between the two from time to time. If you are looking for a one stop shop though, and are willing to pay the membership fees, you will find this site invaluable.
They are the main three sites, and most of you will have heard of them, so I will now touch on a couple of databases that can help you take your game to the next level.
Horse Race Base:
This is a great little tool and is certainly a value for money option when it comes to subscription fees. The owner is constantly improving the features, it has the ability to let you delve much deeper into trends analysis, trainer/jockey form, and lets you create your own systems plus much more. There is a free trial available to all new members, so is worth a look at the very least.
Raceform:
The Racing Post’s computerised form book, and although on the pricey side of affairs it does pay for itself over time. There are many handy features included, and you can get lost in the array of info and stats available. The software can prove tricky when you attempt to run a tailor made system though, and I have found in the past it has the tendancy to freeze for long periods of time. All in all though ignoring some little quirks it is up there with the best.
Proform:
This is the one I currently use, and to be honest having tried most of the ones available on the market this one supersedes the lot. The interface itself is a little daunting at first glance, but there are plenty of handy video tutorials allowing you to learn how to use all of the features the software has to offer. You can simply get lost for hours discovering it’s capabilities, and the daily extra’s on offer in the members area are alone worth the subscription fees. It is on the pricey side and I would only recommend it for those who are seriously interested in taking their study to a new high, but if you do fall into that category then I guarantee this piece of kit will give you what you need.
There are plenty of other options available out there, but the above three in my opinion are the best, I’m sure others will disagree.
There is some great racing over at Punchestown today, including the face-off between Flemenstar and Sir Des Champs. With just four runners in the field it really should be between those two, and I would not put you off a bet on the latter who should be the market leader in my opinion, and even at the low price of 7/4 still offers a bit of value. Neither horses are likely to go for broke though, especially with richer prizes on offer later in the season, but this is a great starting block for the Willie Mullins runner who is a very live contender for the Gold Cup at Cheltenham in March.
If you haven't found what you are looking for in in our guide to the best horse racing betting sites then you may find what you're looking in here. At OnlineBetting we aim to answer all of the important questions that punters ask, after all the best way to add value to your bets is by understanding the rules and permutations, you know what they say 'knowledge is power'.
When Is The Next Major Horse Race
We've got informed and expert perspectives on all things to do with racing that reflect your needs as a punter. Find everything you need from explanations of Rule 4 and Dead Heats to guides to history, betting controversies and more.
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Horse Racing Bookmakers
You would think that given Horse Racing pioneered betting in the UK that it would be an entry level requirement that all betting sites would have a good horse racing book. That is very much not the case. At OnlineBetting we don't assume everybody bets for the same reasons which is why we list top bookmakers by the sports they are best at as well as their features. Find the best horse racing bookmakers in our horse racing betting sites guide.
How to Bet on Horse Racing
Our comprehensive guide to how to bet on horse racing has everything you need to know to add great value to your wagers. Whether you’re a complete beginner or seasoned regular you will find something you didn't know about betting on the sport.
In our guide to betting we explain starting prices, favorites, best odds guarantee, disqualification and non-runners, ante-post betting, totepool, race cards and more.
Flat and National Hunt Grades, Groups and Classes
Getting your head around all the different grades, classes and groups in horse racing can seem like a mountain to climb for the uninitiated, especially considering they are different for flat and jump (National Hunt) racing. Once you understand the basics however the system is fairly straight forward. In this article find details about all categories and types in UK horse racing today.
Top Horse Races, Meetings & Festivals
Don't miss any of the best horse races in the UK with our comprehensive list of the major meetings and races. Whether it’s the flat season or the jump season there is a quality horse race to look forward to. We talk about the five Classic flat races, the St Leger, Epsom Derby, Oaks and 1000 and 2000 Guineas as well as the top festivals such as Cheltenham, Royal Ascot and the Champions day and not forgetting of course the Aintree Grand National, and more.
Horse Racing Terminology
The sport of horse racing can seem quite complicated to the amateur bettor with its various terminologies from furlongs to fillies and grades to Ginneas. In this section we explain all of the aspects you need to know to get the most out of watching and betting on the nags. We discuss flat racing and National Jump racing, distances, breeds, grades and classes, ground conditions (going), form, handicapping and other types and terms.
History of Horse Racing
Discover the origins of the sport of kings from the ancient Egyptians to the modern day. Horses and humans have a longer history than any other animal and this culminates today in one of the biggest and richest sports in the world. We will tell you about the early history from King James I, the banning of the sport by Oliver Cromwell, the role of Queen Anne and Ascot, the formation of the Jockey Club and the classics, where jump racing came from and how gambling on horse racing came about.
Rule 4 Explained
Rule 4 is system by which bookmakers deduct winnings when non-runners are announced in horse and dog racing as well as other events with more than two contestants in a field. The rules, defined by the Tattersalls Rule of Racing governing all horse racing is designed to protect bookies in the event of a withdrawn selection. Deductions are based on the odds price of the withdrawn selection and can range from no reduction at all for a 14/1+ withdrawal up to 90% deduction in winnings if a 1/9 or longer odds selection is withdrawn.
Horse Racing Track and Ground Types
If you only ever watch the big UK and Irish races you could be fooled into thinking all racing happens on turf and grass. This is not the case, especially outside of Europe where the predominant ground type for racing is in fact dirt, in various mixtures of mud and sand. Following on from some early failures better technology has seen synthetic all weather tracks now appearing at racecourses across the globe too. What effect does the ground type have on racing and will all racing end up on artificial surfaces?
The Tote
The Tote is a great British betting institution. Established by the government in the 1930's to provide a regulated pool betting market at race courses across the UK it was for a long time the most popular way to bet on horse racing. Known for having generally better payouts than fixed odds it is still loved by many. In the modern era the Tote has fallen on hard times, first through legalisation of off track betting in the 1960's through to online betting and privatisation of the tote in 2011 to Betfred, but now run by a consortium things are looking up. Our guide looks at the tote from its origins through to its precarious future.
How To Read A Race Card
There are few sports where the bookies will give you a massive dossier of key information for the contestants, but in horse and greyhound racing the race card, which is available online from top bookies and in the meeting programme or in the newspaper, is a critical piece of kit for those that want to study their bets. To begin with a race card can seem daunting, containing countless numbers, letters and abbreviations, this can be very off putting to the occasional bettor. There really isn't however a lot to it and with a few basic pointers you can be getting the best out of the racecard in no time. Read our guide to how to read a race card for UK racing to help you bet online and at the track.
Handicapping in Horse Racing
With around 60% of UK horse races being handicaps it is worth knowing a bit about the system, how it works, how it is calculated and how it is used. Handicaps on the surface are self-explanatory, horses with a better track record are 'handicapped' more than horses that have performed worse in the past, the system therefore is designed to level out a field of runners.
Handicapping means the odds are more evenly spread than they would otherwise be and this should hopefully add more enjoyment for punters and spectators. It is the job of the handicapper to set a horses handicap, and while this is an effective system it is by no means fool-proof, if it was then you wouldn't see 10/1+ horses winning handicap races, which you often do. Therefore knowing even a little about how a handicap is calculated can give you a serious advantage over time.
Weight, Sex and Age in Horse Racing
For every horse race you care to look at it will clearly list any age, weight and sex restrictions on the race card, and there is a reason for that; because it can be one of the most influential factors when it comes to the subsequent result.
For the passing punter who bets occasionally on horse racing it can be daunting to try to get to grips with the importance of age, sex and weight in racing and so to help you our guide sets out the main categories and factors to be aware of in jump and flat racing. Often by doing a small amount of research into the weight, age and sex of previous winners you can often pick more results over time.
How Often Do Horses Fall In Jump Racing?
There is nothing worse than backing a runner in a race only for it to fall before the end, this is, however, part and parcel of jump racing due to its nature and most punters accept this can happen. Indeed there are many faller insurance offers out there from bookies for this reason.
The question is how likely is a horse to fall in a National Hunt race? In our case study we look at the Cheltenham Festival as an example of the incident rate in elite racing, which is where most of us bet the most money. Largely the data agrees with the anecdotal evidence that fallers are around one in twenty horses, although, there is huge variation depending on the race type, jockey experience and conditions.
How Does a Horse Falling Affect Its Next Race?
We've all had horses fall in jump racing, which is frustrating if you've backed it and don't have faller insurance, but how does falling affect the performance of a horse in subsequent races?
In our article we look at two of the biggest jump race meetings on the calendar, the Cheltenham Festival and the Aintree Grand National, to see if horses that have fallen in these races either suffered poor form before the race they fell in or if their results are affected in the next races. Largely falling makes little difference to a horse, the most important thing is it's form.
Draw Bias In Flat Horse Racing
Generally in flat racing horses are lined up in electro-mechanical stalls that release all of the runners at the same time. The numbered slot each horse is given is randomly assigned and is known as the draw. Number one is closest to the rail with the last number (which is different depending on the number of runners) being furthest from the rail.
This produces something known as draw bias that can have an affect on the chances of winning. Generally a number one draw is seen as the best as this is closes to the rail. Draw bias affects races differently depending on the distance, ground, number of turns and the angle of those turns. Naturally some courses have a bigger draw bias than others.
Horse Racing Families
Horses are obviously bred in families but when you look at horse racing as a sport you could assume in many cases that the jockeys and trainers are too. Horse racing tends to run in families because of the access limitations that naturally mean those that grow up around elite horses are more likely to go into horse racing as a profession.
While there are lots of families in racing there are of course some that have gone on to dominate the sport. We look at the most prestigious families to grace horse racing, such as the Mullins', the O'Brien's and the Walsh's, and why they have excelled so much in the sport.
Frankie Dettori The Scourge Of The Bookmakers
When Is The Next Major Horse Race Results
Ask 100 people to name a jockey and you can bet over half of them would pick Frankie Dettori, the Italian is known the world over for riding tens of thousands of horses with thousands of winners in the biggest races over an illustrious career that started in the mid 1980's. He is also known for ruining many days for the bookmakers, such as when he rode 7 winners at Royal Ascot in 1996 costing the industry millions and he has completed many similar feats since.
We think Frankie deserves his own page given the impact he has had on the racing and gambling industry, so we've done just that. Enjoy.
The Grand National
Still the greatest horse race on the planet, the grand national attracts more in bets than any other sporting event of the year, it also brings in more spectators than the super bowl and champions league final combined.
We've got everything you need to know about the Grand National in our event guide, from the very basics of how to bet on the big races right up to full race cards, the history of the great race, a guide to the course and all of the fences, how to get there, day guides, about Aintree and Liverpool and so much more.
Cheltenham Festival
When Is The Next Major Horse Race Betting
Horse racing doesn't get any better than the Cheltenham Festival, the biggest and best national hunt meeting of the year and the culmination of the jump season.
Unlike the Grand National this is more than about just one race, the package of 28 races at Cheltenham, including five of the very biggest in the calendar, make a exceptional 4 days of racing. Loved by punters, this is also the time of the year when you can get the absolute best value out of bookmakers.