Advice for First Time Visitors to the Race Track

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Horse racing can be a lot of fun, but if you are going to the race track for the first time it can be very confusing. And if you decide to make a few bets, you will probably end up losing and may be turned off from the enjoyment of the sport and may never go back to the races. People will tell you that the important thing to remember is that you had a good time. This will always be said after the races are over and you have lost too much money. The last thing a person needs is some type of debriefing on what just happened after the races are over. It is much better to prepare yourself ahead of time and know what to expect.

If you are planning on making any wagers at the track - and almost everybody does - there are three things you must adhere to when you are at the track. One is to not wager too much money and the second is to make only straight wagers. The first rule is very important and is true for any sort of gambling. Set aside a certain amount of money for betting that is separate from money that you will use for snacks, refreshments or lunch. Make sure that you know how much money you are willing to bet and also that it is an amount you are willing to lose in its entirety. If you are willing to lose £50 and there are ten races, then you can make a £5 wager on each race. Keep in mind that you do not need to bet every race. You can risk £20 on four races which is £5 per race, or perhaps you can bet the track minimum of £2 on ten races for a total of £20. But the important thing to remember is to decide on the total amount of money and how much for each race before you have made your first wager.

The second important step to enjoying your first time at the race track is to avoid exotic wagers. These are the type of bets where you pick the winner and the second place horse or the top three finishers. These are called exactas and trifectas. They can have huge payoffs, but are also very difficult to win. Other types of exotic wagers are the Pick 3, Pick 4, and Pick 6. These bets are when you pick the winner of 3, 4, or 6 races. They too have large payoffs but are difficult to hit. It is best to stick to the straight bets on your first trip to the track. These wagers are win, place, and show. A win bet and your horse must win the race, a place bet and your horse must finish first or second, and a show bet meaning your horse finishes first, second, or third.

Claire Jarrett runs Marketing By Web and is writing on behalf of The Sports Investor, who offer horse racing tips and advise on how to make money laying horses

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