Horse racing is a popular pastime in North America and worldwide. One exciting aspect of this sport is the ability to bet on the outcome of the races, which can be fun and lucrative if you are able to win. If you aren’t familiar with this form of sports gambling and don’t know where you should begin, here are some facts to get you started.

What is Horse Racing?

Horse racing is a sport that involves two or more horses competing to be the first to finish running a set distance. This sport is enjoyed around the world and has a long history. There are various types of races, the most popular being flat racing. In this type of racing, the horses generally race on a course and are ridden by professional riders called jockeys. The other types of racing include jump racing, where the course includes obstacles that the horses must navigate in order to finish, as well as harness racing, where the horses race while pulling a rider in a cart known as a “sulky.” In endurance racing, horses run for distances of up to 100 miles. There are many famous horse races, including the Preakness Stakes, Belmont Stakes and Kentucky Derby. A horse who places first in all three of these competitions in a single year wins a championship known as the “Triple Crown,” a feat that has only ever been achieved by 13 horses. Horses that are utilized in racing are generally of certain, specific breeds, including thoroughbred, standardbred and Arabian horses.

What is Betting on Horse Racing?

Horse race betting is a type of gambling where wagers are placed on the outcome of races. These can range from simple “straight” wagers to the more complicated “exotic bets.” For a beginner, it is best to stick to the basic wagers, which are easier to understand and sometimes only require a bet of a few dollars. Exotic bets result in a bigger payout, but require a knowledge and understanding of horse racing that beginners generally do not have.

Where Can You Bet on Horse Racing?

Most tracks allow betting, with a few exceptions. There is also off-track betting. To attend a horse race, check for a list of race tracks wherever you get your Canadian Thoroughbred horse racing news. When you attend a race, you can place your bet at the track.

What Are the Different Types of Bets?

The three types of basic wagers include “win,” “place,” and “show.” A win bet is the easiest to understand, as it only requires that the person placing a wager pick a horse that they believe will win the race. If their selection places first, that person wins the bet. In a place bet, the wager is placed on which horses will place first and second. A show bet is placed on the horses that finish first, second and third. This bet has a very low payout. Exotic bets are where things start to get more complicated. These bets are generally hard for beginners to win because they require betting on multiple horses within one wager. Exotic bets are made even more complicated by the fact that some can be placed on multiple horses within one race or multiple horses over the course of several different races. The three basic types of exotic bets are the “exactas,” “trifectas” and “superfectas.” Each entails picking the first two, three and four winners of a race, respectively.

While placing your first wager can seem intimidating, these simple facts will help get you ready to enjoy the world of horse racing and betting.