I am new to horse racing and I would like to get good any tips?

Question

I went to Churchill Downs a few days ago and it was a painful experience any specific things to look at?

Answer 1

I live in louisville and actually less than half a mile to churchill downs. The best advice I can give you is that you should go look horses and just pick the one that you think will win by looking at them. Churchill downs is a place to have fun, not become rich. If you are a serious better, look through the program and check to see the horses records at the distance that they are running.  A lot of times horses run different distances of races and are better at some that others. What i do, is bet on the horse with upper to middle odds. Example horse 1 has 4.5:1 , horse 2 has 9:1 and horse 3 has 1:1. I will bet horse 1 to win,place,or show. That way, if horse 1 gets 1st,2nd or 3rd. I win. That bet costs $6 and if you win you would get atleast 9 back.

Answer 2

Lean forwards, keep you weight in the sturrops, and hold on tight.

Answer 3

First off, not every race is playable.  This is a mistake that many novices make:  they believe that they should bet every race, or that betting every race increases the chances that they will win.

Nothing is further from the truth.  Some races are just not playable-- either the horses entered are wildly inconsistant, or the most probable contenders are so close to each other that you can't really separate them, or the horse or horses that are the most probable winners are at such low odds that athe race isn't worth the risk.

When I handicap, the first thing that I try to do is eliminate obvious non-contenders:  horses that for whatever reason are extremely unlikely to be a factor in the race.  This could include horses that have consistantly been unable to win or be a factor at the class or distance of the race;  horses coming off a long layoff (unless the trainer has a high percentage of winners coming off a layoff);  horses that have been claimed from their last race and are running back for a new barn (unless the trainer has a high percentage of winners with horses just claimed); and so forth.

I then look at the horses I have left and make a decision about whether the race is playable.  

If you're new to racing, what I would do, if I were you, is spend some time handicapping the races but not betting them, and see how you would do if you had bet them.  There's no harm to keeping your money in your pockets while you "test drive" your skills.

I also like to look at the horses in the saddling paddock and as they warm up.  Aside from looking for obvious signs of health, I look for things like sweating:  I don't like to see a horse "washing out" heavily in the paddock or post parade, and I especially don't like to see a horse with a lot of "kidney sweat" (foamy-looking sweat) between the hind legs.  I don't like to see a horse wringing its tail a lot, as this is a sign of resistance or anxiety;  I don't like to see a horse travelling with its head up high and bouncing off its front end, as this is another sign of resistance; and I don't like to see a horse that's moving stiffly or with short, choppy action. I also don't like to see a horse that looks dull, disinterested, or otherwise unhappy or tired before the race.

I know that some people really, really, really love the exotic wagers-- trifectas and pick sixes and other multiple-horse bets, but I've never been a real fan of those bets.  Exactas and daily doubles, fine, but once you get beyond that I think you're getting into the realm of luck as much as skill in winning.  

Best tip I can give you:  learn to love the races for the excitement and for the horses, and keep your wagering to the point where your day at the races isn't spoiled if you don't win.  

Good luck and enjoy the greatest sport on earth!