Two Obvious Keys to Make Money Betting on Horse Races

What is the key to betting on horse races and making money? Many people have searched for that truth for years and are still losing at the track. While handicapping a horse race and making money from your efforts may often be difficult, sometimes it is as obvious as the nose on your face. Don’t believe it? Here is an actual example.

For those of you who regularly read my articles, you know that there are two subjects I keep repeating over and over. The first truth about horse racing is that you need to find a horse who has already accomplished what you are asking of it today. The second is that if you find such a horse, it must be considered as a possible winner and that the whole key to making money with your wagers is getting fair value odds. That means that if there are two or more horses in a race and one is the favorite and another a long shot, and yet they have both accomplished what is being asked today, then you should probably bet the long shot.

Here is a graphic example from the 8th race at Laurel on January 27th, 2010. The 4, Handsome Bruno, was shortening up to a one mile event after taking the lead only to fall short in his last effort at a mile and an eighth. His speed figure in that event was the second best last race figure for any horse in the short field of 7 horses and he had won at the distance and on that surface many times at Laurel. He was also the second classiest horse in the race and had raced as recently as January 9th.

Handsome Bruno was ridden by D. Panell, the same jockey who had won on him for trainer John Rigatierri before. If all this information isn’t making you realize that Handsome Bruno was a contender and deserved some respect, then you don’t know much about making money betting on horse races. How did the crowd let such a horse go off at the incredible odds of 11.60 to 1?

Take a minute and think about that. While the entry of trainer Gary Capuano was taking the most money and may have deserved a lot of respect in the win pool, that entry wasn’t that much better than Handsome Bruno, a proven performer with very competent connections. Handsome Bruno was going off at very generous odds for a speedy, classy, horse who had just shown pretty good form. He rewarded his backers with a $25.20 win ticket.

Don’t get caught up in trying to determine which horse is the best or most likely to win and forget about the most important point. If that horse is over bet and there is another possible winner at good fair value odds, take it. You will find this situation almost every day at race tracks across the country and around the world. That is the key to making a profit, in the long run, when betting on horses.