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Beginner's guide to racing
Basic
Intermediate
Expert
Basic
Intermediate
Expert
Horse racing can be complicated, but our horse racing guides will help you master the sport of kings. Covering all major areas including betting, racecards and the Tote, there's also a handy glossary at the bottom of the page.
How To Bet
Beginners Guide To Winning At Horse Racing
Learn about the different ways to find winners in Horse Racing
Rule 4s Explained
Learn what Rule 4s are and when they are enforced
What are betting odds?
Learn about betting odds and how to work out probability from them
What Is A Lucky 15?
What is a Lucky 15, how does it work and how can I gain a return
Top 10 Statistics For Horse Racing Betting
Ten key horse racing statistics to help you find winners
Guide To Market Movers
Learn about market movers, including what they are and why they occur
Each Way Betting Explained
Understand what an Each Way bet is and how it works
"First Past The Post" Explained
Also known as Double Result, what it is and when it applies
6 Simple Pointers For Picking Winners
Our tipsters provide six attributes to consider when picking bets
Betting On Horse Racing - A Simple Guide
The basics of horse racing betting covered; how to bet and where to bet
Accumulator Bets Explained
What an accumulator is, how it works and how to back one
Types of Bets and How They Work
Learn all the different types of bets available and how they work
The Tote Explained
Tote Multiple Bets Explained - What is a Placepot
Learn about Tote Multiple Bets, including the Placepot and Jackpot
What The Tote Is and How It Works
What is the Tote and more questions answered
Guide to Racing
How many places are there in a horse race?
Learn about place terms, including how each-way betting works
Who are the best horses in horse racing?
Learn about some of the best racehorses both past and present
What are the Classics?
Learn about the Classics, including the Guineas and the St Leger
Who are the best trainers in horse racing?
Learn about some of the best horse racing trainers both past and present
Where can I watch horse racing?
Learn about the different ways to watch horse racing
International Horse Racing - Country By Country Guide
Country by country guide to horse racing around the world
Handicaps in Horse Racing Explained
What a handicap is, who decides it and why it matters
How Long is a Horse Race?
Miles and furlongs explained along with typical race distances
Stewards' Enquiries and Reversed Results
Stewards' Enquiries can affect results and your bets - find out how and why here.
Types of Horse Races Explained
A simple overview of all types of races, both Flat & National Hunt
What the "Going" is in Horse Racing
How the ground affects horses and races
What To Wear To The Races
Everything you need to know about dress codes at the races
Course by Course Guide To Betting
Learn about how each UK & Irish Venue rides
A Guide to Point to Points
Everything you need to know about Point to Points, including what it is and the best courses
Why is pedigree important in horse racing?
Learn about the importance of pedigree in Horse Racing
Cheltenham Festival
What to wear to the Cheltenham Festival?
Everything you need to know about what to wear at the Cheltenham Festival
How to pick winners at the Cheltenham Festival?
Learn about the different ways to find winners at the Cheltenham Festival
Grand National
Betfair Exchange
Betfair Exchange: Introduction to Basic Trading
Betfair Exchange: Cash Out – How Does it Work?
Betfair Exchange: Arbing and Matched Betting
Betfair Exchange: How to Set Your Own Odds and Why You Might Want to
Betfair Exchange: Placing a Lay Bet on the Exchange
Betfair Exchange: Placing a Back Bet on the Exchange
Betfair Exchange: Advantages of Using the Exchange
Betfair Exchange: Back and Lay Betting Explained
Betfair Exchange: What is the Betfair Exchange?
Glossary
A
Action
How a horse moves. Different actions suit different types of ground (e.g. firm or muddy).
B
Blinkers
Cup like pieces of equipment which force a horse to only look forwards. Denoted by a "b" on the racecard. See our full guide here.
C
Classics
There are five British Classics, all first run at least 200 years ago, and considered the most prestigious races on the Flat of the year.
D
Draw
In flat racing, the stall in which a horse starts the race. Picked randomly a "good" draw can provide an advantage at some courses.
E
Evens
Odds of 1/1, where a winning bet will return the bettors stake plus the same amount again as profit.
F
Filly
A female horse aged four or younger.
Form
How a horse has performed in previous races. Often displayed as the number of their finishing position (e.g. 1st = 1)
G
Going
The going describes the surface of the racecourse. See our full guide here.
H
Handicap
The horse's rating, as assigned by the sport's handicapping experts. Used to assign how much weight a horse carries in Handicap races. See our full guide to handicaps here.
J
Jockey
The person who rides the horse in the race.
L
Length
A unit of distance the same as the length of a horse, used to describe how far apart horses have finished in a race.
M
Maiden
A horse which has never won a horse race under Rules before.
Mare
A female horse aged five or older
N
NAP
A horse racing tipster's best bet of the day. See our NAP of the Day here.
Non Runner
A horse which had been expected to take part in a race but now won't be competing.
O
Odds On
Betting odds where the profit for a winner will be less than the original stake placed on (which the bettor also receives back)
P
Pedigree
A horse's lineage and ancestry. Being a direct relation to other quality racing horses is seen as a plus.
Photo Finish
When two horses finish close together, the judge will call a Photo Finish to inspect the official photograph of the finish and work out who has won.
Placed
When a horse finishes behind the winner in the official "places" - normally 2nd or 3rd, but see our full guide here.
R
Rule 4
When a horse in a race is a Non Runner, a Rule 4 deduction will be made to all other runners to compensate. See our full guide here.
S
Staying On
Describes a horse which is making up ground late in its races when other horses are often tiring.
T
Tongue Tie
A piece of equipment which ensures the horse's tongue doesn't obstruct the airway. Denoted by a "t" on the racecard. See our full guide here.
Trainer
The person in charge of looking after the horse - think football manager.
U
Unseated
When the jockey fails to stay in the saddle, but the horse doesn't fall. More common in jumps races than Flat races.
V
Visor
This equipment prevents a horse from looking backwards. Dennoted by a "v" on the racecard. See our full guide here.
W
Wind Op
Short of wind operation, a medical procedure which can help a horse breathe - and therefore perform - better.
Y
Yearling
A horse which is under the age of one - all ages for race horses are calculated with a birthday of 1st January.
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