HOW TO CHOOSE A HORSE

Once you’ve picked your wager, it’s time to select your horses. This can be as simple or as complicated as you want to make it. If it’s your first time, there’s nothing wrong with simply selecting horses by their name or color. There’s also nothing wrong with using every statistic available to try to weigh the odds in your favor. If that’s your strategy, the race-day program will be quite helpful.


Below is not an exhaustive list, but as a beginner or intermediate bettor, these are the stats/signs we recommend you look for.

Beginner

  • Pick your favorite color (either the horse’s saddle cloth or the driver’s colors).
  • Pick by the horse’s name.
  • Pick by the horse’s attitude in the paddock or post parade.
  • Pick the same as the track race analyst.


Intermediate


  • Check the horse’s last 5 performances- especially the final times recorded and the speed ratings, if available.
  • Check the horse’s driver and trainer and their win percentages
  • Check for equipment changes
  • Check to see how the horse is moving in the pre-race warmup
  •  Check the odds


HOW TO READ A RACING PROGRAM

The U.S. Trotting Association’s Strategic Wagering Program is a partnership among the USTA and its member tracks, as well as with horsemen’s associations in some cases, to provide financial support for tracks to offer guaranteed pool wagers, which offer bettors better value in their wagering options. Click here

In addition, the USTA has partnered with TrackMaster to provide free past performances for most of these strategic wagers. Click here

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