Horse racing is one of the most popular sports to bet on in the United Kingdom and Ireland. Only football can match its appeal for punters, who try to make their fortunes gambling on the races.
This is especially true for the Royal Ascot festival, which is about to kick off on 17 June. Royal Ascot races are one of the most watched in the entire UK and they bring in a lot of bets.
However, customers can fall into traps when betting on the races, allowing the bookmakers to rake in the cash. It's essential to know what you're doing when it comes to betting on horse races.
With that in mind, we’ll now give you a masterclass on what to look for when betting on horse racing to ensure that you get the most out of the experience.
Find the best value
Bookmakers will differ in prices across the board. There will be discrepancies, especially in the leading events when they are competing for customers, so understanding odds and knowing what they imply is crucial.
Odds won't be the same on different websites and those differences can also tell a story. On top of that, sometimes the odds can be quite different, so placing a bet with the right bookie can the advantage you should be looking for as a punter.
With that in mind, using an odds comparison website will help you find the best value, ensuring that you’re not missing out on potential profits.
Also, odds are constantly changing as we get closer to the race and that's why it is important to keep track of the odds before placing your bet. So, make sure to check often and thoroughly before the race you want to bet on starts.
It’s also prudent to look for promotional offers offered by the bookies that may offer price boosts. They are more common around the big events – such as the Grand National, Cheltenham Festival, and Royal Ascot. Getting an odds boost on a leading contender could make all the difference between earning profit and breaking even on a race day.
Study the horses
When you’re betting on horse racing, there can be a lot of competitors to take in. You may only be familiar with a few horses or perhaps none at all. It’s a trap many rookie bettors fall into. You have to build up a background knowledge of the competitors to have confidence in betting success – otherwise, you’re leaving it all to chance.
The bookmakers love it when customers leave it to chance or bet on a horse for its name or the colour of the jockey’s jersey. Becoming familiar with a horse’s performance on the track – judging it by conditions and distance – will arm you with enough knowledge when it comes time to place your bet.
The form guide is also your friend. It’s a good way to see where your chosen horse has succeeded and failed in its career. It may just give you the edge when you need it the most, so learning how to properly read a race form card is essential to your betting success in horse racing.
Record your wins and losses
Knowing where you have succeeded and failed is a good way to maintain your winning record or avoid the same mistakes. If a certain horse has failed you after being named the favourite, you will know next time to avoid it or at least determine the reason why it could not deliver in the contest. The same goes for a jockey, who may have endured a poor performance.
It might have been the jockey, or it might have been the horse. Two strikes against either may convince you not to proceed with bets involving the horse or the jockey in the future. Keeping evidence is the best way to ensure that you don’t forget. On the other hand, if a horse has a successful run over a distance or on a racecourse, you will want to note their victory and ensure that you’re paying attention to their odds for their next meet.
Use the markets to your advantage
There are an abundance of markets available on horse racing events, especially at the major events. In an ideal world, you will pick winners on every race if you line up an accumulator, racking up a huge profit in the process. However, it rarely works out like that. There are ways and means to earn the little victories that will keep you on the right track.
Using bets such as Trixie and Super Heinz or fold bets can protect you from suffering defeats should one of your horses fail to fire on race day. You use them just like a normal bet, although your stake may be elevated to reflect the odds.
Only put down an amount you’re comfortable with as there is still an element of risk involved as with any punt.
Enjoy
Ensure that betting remains fun – when you’re not enjoying yourself, stop. Have a budget in mind before you start to bet and stick to it no matter what. It can be easy to get carried away with success or chase losses with subsequent unsuccessful bets, which is a certain way to losing even more.
Always keep in mind a budget and ensure that you’re satisfied with the capital at risk. It's a thin line between fun and problem gambling and you have to make sure you don't cross it. If you feel like you're betting too much, stop and take a break.
After all, this should only be a fun activity and not a way to earn money since that is impossible, at least in the long run.
So, make sure you’re having fun either at the races or watching them online with a bet.
Still need help?
Check out some of our other beginners' guides to betting on horse races here, as well as our latest Royal Ascot 2025 articles in which you can find reliable information about the schedule, weather, and other important things, along with some useful betting tips for the entire festival and horse racing in general.
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