One of the reasons that the popularity of sports gambling has skyrocketed in recent years is its accessibility. It’s easy to bet on most major sports because everyone understands the basics, which teams are good and why they win. Horse handicapping, on the other hand, is a completely different and somewhat arcane discipline. Where there are some shared concepts, success at sports betting doesn’t guarantee the same playing the ponies. Legendary sports handicapper Jimmy ‘The Greek’ Snyder was famous for killing the books with his sports plays–and giving it all back with his inept horse bets.

Were not going to suggest that the information here even scratches the surface of what you need to know to become a serious horse handicapper. There are countless books, DVDs and other media that you should check out if this is your goal. If you’re interested in simply knowing the basics so that you can enjoy a day at the track, here are some basic concepts of horse handicapping:

Arm yourself with information: The first step for any horse handicapper is to pick up a copy of the Daily Racing Form (DRF) and the track program. The publications give the names of the horses, jockeys and trainers, the morning line odds, and the types of bets available for each race. You’ll also have past performance charts, which are crucial for serious horse handicappers. These charts reveal a lot about a horse and what they’ve done on the racetrack, including its record, where it ran, the quality of competition it ran against, and what position the horse was in at various points in the race.

You’re playing against other bettors, not the racetrack: A big difference between sports wagering and horse betting is the function of ‘the house’. In horse racing, you’re not playing against the track–instead, you’re betting against the other patrons. The track simply serves as a ‘banker’, accepting money and paying bets. For this service, they take a percentage of the money bet on each race (called the ‘takeout’). The odds on a horse aren’t set by the track, but rather by the amount of money bet on each entry.

The odds in the newspaper are known as the ‘morning odds’ and are essentially educated opinions. They’re not much different than ‘overnight lines’ in sports betting. They can serve a function for handicapping, but often will not reflect what will transpire when the actual betting begins.

Horse handicapping basics: This is where horse racing gets complex–there are countless theories about how to handicap a horse race. Some handicappers consider the breeding lineage of the horse, while others are more concerned with past performance. Still others put more weight on the training a horse has received, or its workout performance.

Once the handicapper starts to work out what he thinks will transpire in a race, he has to weigh that against the prices available on each horse. A likely winner might not be a good bet if his price is too high. Conversely, a long shot could be an overlay if his odds–and potential payback–is high enough. It’s all a matter of doing the math–its importance in gambling alone justifies a greater emphasis on the subject in American high schools.

Trainers and breeding: Some handicappers prioritize a horse’s breeding background–considering his bloodlines and the competitive quality of his parents and grandparents. Then training must be considered–a good trainer can often get a horse to ‘over perform’ much in the same way a good coach can get the most out of his team in sports.

The horse’s jockey: Jockeys are free agents, meaning that they get paid on their performance. In theory, this means that they’ll do their utmost to win in every given race. While there are a few exceptions, many serious horse handicappers downplay the importance of the jockey. Assuming the horse’s ‘mount’ is competent, there are much more salient factors to consider when handicapping a race than the jockey.

Dedication and Discipline: There’s not a set formula for successful horse handicapping, so try different things and find what works for you. And, as always, don’t go overboard with the money you wager and particularly until you get a feel for what you’re doing. If you’re interested in learning more, check out the Daily Racing Form website.

Adrian Vega is a part time writer who lives in Europe, he has plenty experience writing for bodybuilding forum. He is currently writing a program on how to lose weight and help people with his nutritional knowledge.

Combine two of man’s greatest interests and you’ve got something called sports gambling. What could be more ingenious? Imagine a group of men cheering over their favorite team, and almost always, bets are placed along with the racket.

Almost every week there is this specially sport game that gets extra attention. And if you ask the sports fanatics this specific event will change the history of sport. So to get some extra action many people are betting on the winner. This is sports gambling.

It might sound addicting, but sports gambling is really just for fun and a way to bond with your friends. You can bet a little amount of money and still have a good time. Sports gambling makes the outcome of a game more meaningful and the whole duration of the game more thrilling and exciting. Here are some basics to get you started on sports gambling.

To place a bet, all you have to do is go to a sports book, which is a place that accepts sports bets. In the United States, there are four states where you can do sports gambling legally.

You can bet on a lot of different sports events like college and professional football, hockey, baseball, basketball, dog and horse racing. Actually you bet on everything there involves sport. Bet on the overall score, the round knockout round and even the coin toss.

The bookies rely on statistics to predict which team will win. They use something called a spread to find the weaker team that is expected to lose by a certain number of points. This is the odds setters’ way to make bets possible for a sports book.

In sports gambling, there are different kinds of bets. In sports gambling the most common type of bet is the straight bet, where all you have to do is to pick the team which you think will lose or win. Over/under bets are wagers on the combined number of points scored in the game by both teams.

Parlays are when you are betting on more than one game and teasers are almost the same. The difference is that you can add or subtract points from the spread to make the bet stronger.

So simple is sports gambling. Just remember only to bet small amount you can loose without regretting it for the rest of your life.

Martin Elmer is the editor of Klasselotteriet. Here you can also read about Klasselotteriets traekningsliste.

Practically nothing can compare to the thrill associated with seeing your horse fly past all competitors and reach the line first. Although it’s known as the ‘Sport of Kings’, owning a racehorse is now open to a great deal more individuals than just royals as a result of racehorse syndicates. This is where many people split the financial load and winnings related to owning a Thoroughbred racehorse. A share in a racehorse can make a fantastic gift that will involve trips to the stables to see the horse in training and lots of days at the races.

Racehorse syndicates

The concept of syndication first involved hot racing colts soon to cease racing and start breeding. Back in the 1950s, anybody in the Thoroughbred horse racing industry realised that the main income was not in the racing but from breeding. The very first significant stallion syndicated was Nashua, America’s Horse of the Year in ’55. However only millionaires could afford a share of him.

Yet even though this was great news for the racehorse breeders, what about the regular individuals who enjoyed the competition, traditions and sport of racing? Racehorse syndications became more popular in the early 1990s after America and Europe had been hit with economic recessions. Small syndicates of only a low number of people started in approximately 1987. During that year, a syndicated colt named Political Ambition won the Grade 1 Hollywood Derby. The publicity around Political Ambition helped to highlight the idea of syndicating Thoroughbreds before they were retired and solely used for breeding.

Syndication spread to all types of racehorse

Initially, racehorse syndicates were restricted to runners on the flat, but then spread to harness racing and later steeple chasing. In contrast to flat racers, ‘chasers have lengthier racing lives if taken care of by a sensitive and nurturing racehorse trainer. The main focus is not on setting revenue or speed records but of having a sound horse to race to its best.

As time passed, racehorse trainers and owners of steeplechasers recognized that the most effective means to renew enthusiasm in racing was to get far more individuals involved in the buzz of owning a ‘chaser. To be able to achieve this, syndication shares of racehorses were drastically reduced making sure that even the middle-class could easily participate. With far more people in on a racehorse syndication, the lower the financial burden there would be on each party. Also this meant that more people would be interested about the well being of the individual horse.

Ruth Williams writes regarding a number of themes including racing partnerships.

If you enjoy the sport of horse racing, you’ve probably at some time dreamt of the day when you could possibly own a racehorse of your own. Thoroughbred horse racing has long been referred to as the sport of royalty and being in position to own a racehorse would certainly provide you with the chance to experience this long established recreation, rich in tradition and pride. In the event you invest in a racehorse you will need to decide on the jockey silks which will symbolize you or your syndicate. The next few paragraphs gives a look into racing silks.

During past years of horse racing, the horses have usually belonged to wealthy individuals. In the previous few decades, however, it’s grown to be somewhat common for racing horses to be owned in partnerships or various other types of syndicates. One noteworthy demonstration of this fact is the 2003 Kentucky Derby winner, Funny Cide, a racehorse owned by a collection of at least 10 partners who pitched in and organized themselves as Sackatoga Stable. A different instance is 2008 Kentucky Derby winner, Big Brown, whom was owned by IEAH Stables, a horse racing hedge fund organization of sorts.

When you have arrived at the decision you want to have a racehorse, there are lots of facts to consider. The most personal choices to make when deciding to own a racehorse, is choosing your colors, or “silks”. Every horse runs in the specific colors of their owner or partnership, and there are no two horses running in the same colours. This allows spectators to quickly recognize the horses and who they belong to. The owner of the racehorse must register the colors with the national governing body, which in the case of the UK is the British Horseracing Authority.

A number of designs for silks are so well-liked that race horse owners are willing to shell out lots of money for them. Several colours have sold for 1000′s, or even even tens of thousands of pounds. Silks which are considered particularly interesting, or perhaps have a long and dramatic history are known as “cherished colours” and are the most expensive, as so frequently are the “plain silks,” the ones made up simply of a single color.

Should you establish that you intend to own a racing horse, you will have quite a few essential decisions to make, for instance where to locate a racehorse trainer along with many other points. Maybe starting with deciding on your colours would be the easiest method to get enthusiastic about the great sport of horse racing and owning a race horse.

Have you considered racing partnerships as a way of becoming a racehorse owner? This type of racehorse ownership enables you to own a share of a racehorse with the added benefit that the cost of the horse’s upkeep is split amongst all the members.

What could be better than owning a racehorse? The excitement, the energy and, if all goes well, the joy of victory! But as you already know, investing in a racehorse is not something you can do on a whim. There is a lot of things you need to take into account. This article will give you an overview of everything from selecting a racehorse, to the costs of owning a racehorse.

Acquiring A Racehorse First, you need to find a place to procure your horse. You have three options. You can purchase privately, through a public auction, or at selling/claiming races. Before you start, contact a bloodstock agent or a trainer who specializes in helping people select horses for racing. They will do this for a reasonable fee, and it is well worth paying. No matter where you decide on to purchase, commonly prices for a racehorse average around 15,000 pounds. Prices do differ though, according to the pedigree, performance and demand for the horse. Additionally, for a private sale, you want to ensure that the horse has passed a medical exam that is explicitly for racing purposes, not just general health.

Costs Of Owning A Racehorse Now that you know, on average, what a racehorse costs to purchase, you need to consider the ongoing costs. On average, they add up to around 16,000 pounds yearly and include (but are not limited to):

Training Expenses: food, exercising, stable, staff wages and trainer wages

Upkeep for training facilities (gallop costs)

Routine vet care (vaccinations, etc)

Regular upkeep: includes things like ongoing shoe replacement, which is usually done every 4-6 weeks

Transportation: travelling to and from races

Overtime: staff overtime on race days

Entry expenses: costs to enter your horse in a race

Fees for your jockey/rider

You may also have to pay registration fees in order to register your horse, horse’s name, ownership and colours. You should also purchase insurance for your horse.

Why Own A Racehorse? Are you scared off now? You shouldn’t be! There are definite benefits to owning a racehorse. Practical benefits include registering for Value Added Tax (VAT). You can then reclaim the VAT you have paid on your ongoing costs. And of course, there are other benefits too…like owner privileges on race day, and private access to Owners Only areas for you and your guests.

If all of this sounds daunting, you can still own a race horse through a racehorse syndicate or shareholders club, whereby you buy a share of a racehorse, in conjunction with with several other people, for much, much lower than the cost of owning a racehorse outright. In many cases, ongoing expenses are included in the share price, and you still get to take part in your horse’s training…and share in the victory when your horse wins!

Are you thinking about racehorse ownership? Racehorse trainers are a good place to start when searching for racehorses for sale. For more information check out http://www.jonjooneillracing.com/.

A racehorse trainer could tell the potential racehorse owner volumes about buying and owning a racehorse. This can end with nothing more than an injured horse, or it can end rather lucratively. Horses are living creatures and are just not able to be predictable all the time. However, there are seven things that the potential racehorse buyer should take into account.

Do They Have Enough Money to Buy and Keep a Racehorse?

Even a jade ridden for pleasure can be expensive to maintain. A racehorse has a lot of requirements: food, shelter, and other specialists to take care of and train the animal. You have to get and pay for the right permits and adequate insurance. Racehorses also have travel expenses as they move from one racecourse to the other over the season.

Lineage

Someone who is looking to own a racehorse needs to know the stock it comes from. Identify the horse’s dam. Who sired it? Can they and their ancestors be found in the General Stud Book? Who are the horse’s full or half brothers and sisters? Have they performed well on this particular course?

The Horse’s Conformation

Seabiscuit ran with a strange, eggbeater action for a horse, but despite this he was a great champion. Other horses might not compensate for flaws in the same way. If possible, the potential buyer needs to see the horse run around several laps.

Which Gender?

Is the owner willing to take a chance on a filly? Some fillies have been brilliant, of course, and Falmouth and Ribblesdale Stakes, among other races, are open only to fillies. Would the owner be interested in a gelding after considering that even champion geldings do not generate stud fees? It is possible to buy several horses from the same exact lineage but it does not guarantee that each will be a champion.

Where Do They Want to Race the Horse?

Some horses excel on Epsom, Doncaster, and other flat racing courses. Others are good at National Hunt races like Cheltenham, or mixed racecourses like Folkestone or Kempton Park. When the owner determines he wants to enter the National Hunt race they should make sure their racehorse trainer is ready to prepare for it. Some horses simply don’t like to jump, and won’t.

How Willing Are They to Keep a Horse That Doesn’t Win?

To put it differently, how long will an owner keep a horse that is not paying its own way?

What Are the Plans for Their Horse When It Retires?

The most a horse can run competitively is several years. A champion stallion can bring in stud fees, and a champion mare can be used for breeding, but not all racehorses are going to be allowed to reproduce and a horse can live up to thirty years. Will the owner simply put them out to pasture, sell them to a horse-lover, an abattoir or some other concern, or donate them to a charity?

If you have a passion for horseracing and would like to have further involvement then racehorse trainers can provide you with the vital next step.

The spa town of Cheltenham is in Gloucestershire on the edge of the scenic Cotswolds. Each year it becomes home to thousands of race-goers attending the premiere meeting of the National Hunt calendar, The Cheltenham festival. The best horses and jockeys from the UK, Ireland and beyond compete each year at this prestigious event.

Since 1860 the National Hunt Chase has been held around the country and was the premiere event over hurdles. This highlight of the steeplechase calendar was held for the first time at the newly built Prestbury Park in 1902. From 1911 onwards, Prestbury Park has remained its home and it is run annually on the second day of the festival.

The highlight of the four day event is now the Gold Cup. Second only in prize money to the Grand National in the UK, this race is run on Fridays, the last day of the Festival. In recent years, the most prolific winners have been Irish jockeys. The prestigious prize was won three years in a row by Jim Culloty on Best Mate, with Ruby Walsh taking two wins on Kauto Star. However the record for most wins by a jockey is still held by Pat Taaffe who won four times in the sixties.

Since 2005 the meeting has been held over four days instead of three. Each day has a feature race; Tuesday being the Champion Hurdle, Wednesday features the Queen Mother Chase, Thursday sees the World Hurdle which was previously the Stayers Hurdle. To bring the race card up to a full six each day, additional races have been added including some for charity.

The quality of runners and riders attracts a lot of betting which each year runs into millions of Euros and Pounds. You can go to the track to bet or your visit local bookie but if neither is an option, there are plenty of way to bet online. It is so easy to make your selections and place your bet without ever leaving your desk.

It is well worth travelling to Cheltenham to experience this lovely course and its phenomenal atmosphere. As the first race starts, the crowd cheers so loudly it can even be heard on the TV coverage. Nearby there are many hotels and boarding houses for anyone wanting to stay the full four days.

Scheduled to coincide with St. Patrick’s Day in Mid-March the whole meet is akin to a huge party. The Irish trainers and jockeys love this meeting and they always celebrate in style. The Cheltenham festival is great fun wherever you come from though; you need not be Irish to enjoy it.

If you are looking to watch the Melbourne Cup live stream, then visit our website where we have all the resources you need including expert Melbourne Cup tips for all the races.

In 1860, the first horse race of the National Hunt Meeting marked the official beginning for what later became the Cheltenham Festival. Since that time, many champions have some and gone, each one of them leaving an indelible mark on the art and sport of horse racing. For everyone with the love of horses and racing, learning more about the history behind Cheltenham Festival tips is certainly worthwhile.

Gloucestershire is home to this event every year in March and has been for many years. Fans can experience four days of horse racing action and make bets on a variety of different types of races as well. Each day a particular race is a main while there are others alongside it. The big event on the first day of activities is the Champion Hurdle.

Many Irish and British jockeys attend these races every year. In fact, the historical significance of these jockeys has made this event as popular as it is today. The first day holds races for the up and coming champions, including the Supreme Novices Hurdle and the Arke Trophy run. For those committed punters, keeping an eye on these jockeys can pay off in later years of the festival and betting.

The Champion Bumper, Neptune Novices Hurdle, and RSA Chase are a few races run on the second day of the festival. These races are in addition to the biggest one that day, the Queen Mother Champion Chase. When you go online, you can find links that take you to experienced tips and free bets as well.

The Ladbrokes World Hurdle is a major event that takes place on day three. In addition to this champion run, the Ryanair Chase is also scheduled. Making bets on these events can start by going online and checking out the tips given by experienced punters. Look for the seasoned race goers for getting the reliable tips you can count on.

The Cheltanham Gold Cup is scheduled for the last day of festivities. This is the race you can also find tips for online about picking the out front champions. You might also consider placing bets on the JCB Triumph Hurdle, the Foxhunter Steeplechase, and the Grand Annual Chase as well.

Take your racing bets to a new level when you check out the Cheltenham Festival tips online. Some websites are geared towards helping you to place free bets while also giving you inside facts about the champion picks. Getting the most enjoyment out of your racing attendance is enhanced when your bets supply you a profit.

Learn more about the 2012 Cheltenham festival. by stopping by our website where we offer expert tips on all the races such as Stan James champions hurdle.

Godolphin will be triple-handed in Saturday’s Ladbrokes St Leger, the fifth and last horse racing Classic of the season, at Doncaster after Rumh was supplemented at the six-day-entry stage.

In total eleven entries are still in the 1m6f contest, worth £540,000 in total prize money.

Blue Bunting, winner of the Qipco 1000 Guineas and the Irish and Yorkshire Oaks, will also be joined by the fellow Mahmood Al Zarooni-trained Genius Beast.

Trainer Mahmood Al Zarooni told www.godolphin.com: “Blue Bunting looks to be in the same form as she was before the Darley Yorkshire Oaks.

“I have been happy with her preparation for the St Leger and it's now a matter of waiting until next Sat..

“We will take a chance with Genius Beast but I believe that he will run a good race.

“He stays particularly well and all of the jockeys who have ridden him have recommended this race.

“He will stay on at the end and I'm hopeful that he will be able to make the frame.”

Morning line favourite Sea Moon is firmly on course after his Great Voltigeur triumph, whilst John Gosden tries with Masked Marvel along with Buthelezi.

Aidan O’Brien last won the race with Scorpion in 2005 and will this year depend on Epsom Oaks runner-up Wonder Of Wonders, along with Irish Derby runner-up Seville and stablemate Freedom.

O’Brien, who didn't show any pilot bookings, said: “Seville was always the most likely one we were going to run, but the filly (Wonder Of Wonders) ran a good race in the Yorkshire Oaks.

“We felt she wanted better ground, but we are going to be patient and see as she's also got the choice of reverting to a mile and 1/4 at Longchamp.

“Misty For Me could go back for that race (Prix de l’Opera), so we’ll take a look later in the week and see. She is only a possible.

“With Freedom, we were planning to find out how the race made up and see if there had been enough pace for everyone.

“It looks like there'll be masses of pace so he might not go, but that's in no fashion certain.”

Kieren Fallon has been scheduled by star Michael Owen to ride the Tom Dascombe-trained Brown Panther, while his Newbury foe Census is declared for handler Richard Hannon.

Matt Bisogno is a huge horse racing fan and he and his team write daily on UK horseracing and more general horse racing news

Sedgefield racecourse has replied to feedback that it is the most perilous in the country by re-siting the final fence in the home straight. The Johnny Ridley Fence has been moved closer to the grandstands and will be in use for the first time at it’s new position at today’s meeting.

Animal Aid, an animal support group, had been particularly vocal about the track, and after the meeting on 13 June when 3 horses died following tumbles, had requested the track to be shut down. Those fatalities brought the total number of deaths at Sedgefield to 33 since March 2007, according to the group.

Dene Stansall, speaking for Animal Help announced, “Sedgefield’s record of race horse deaths is second to none. Neither the racecourse, its owners Northwards Racing, nor the welfare ombudsman, the British Horseracing Authority, appear ready or able to deal with what is a major welfare problem. There shouldn't be any second possibilities with this racecourse. There's only 1 logical plan of action to prevent further pony deaths, and that is to shut the place down.”

Showing that this is obviously not the case, Jim Allen, head of racing development at Northern Racing, outlined the rationale for moving the fence. “The fence was a little downhill, and we had a talk about it among trainers and jockeys during our summer break. The general consensus was that it should be a touch uphill, so we’ve moved closer to the stands. Now there’s less of a drop, which is what folk wanted.”

Allen continued to explain the way in which the fence had been tested to make certain that it lower the risk of falls. “We’ve had trials this summer using the newly sited fence. Ferdy Murphy and Chris Grant both brought horses here, and they both gave it the thumbs up afterwards.”

Horse racing in the UK has been under some pressure recently to boost its overall track record, pressure that has seen splits develop in the controlling powers for the game in UK.

Matt Bisogno is a massive horse racing fan and he and his team write daily on UK horse racing and more general horse racing news.