Understanding the Race Build Up

One of the reasons why motorsport events tend to differ from other sports, like football, tennis, or boxing, is the fact that racing events tend to feature multiple components – practice sessions, qualifying sessions and the race itself. Understanding these elements can play a key role in any betting strategy. Qualifying sessions are likely the single biggest determining factor for bookmakers setting race winner odds. For punters, this information, combined with information from practice sessions, can help to establish patterns and provide a stronger evidential basis for betting on a particular racer or team. Often, the trick is to identify a pattern or trend the bookmaker has not noticed.

Using Data From Previous Races

In addition to paying attention to the immediate build up to a race, however, it is also important to look at previous race data. For example, if Lewis Hamilton has won the past four F1 races and seems to have the best car, it may be worth backing him, even if he qualifies in 3rd or 4th position on the grid. Moreover, it is worth paying attention to form from previous years. Across all motorsport, you will find examples of tracks that a particular driver excels on, or tracks where a particular race team dominate. Looking at this past data can provide invaluable insight, which can inform your bets and improve your chances of success.

Red Rum

Considered to be the best steeplechaser of all time, Red Rum won the Grand National not once but three times – a feat that has never been repeated. As a foal, he was passed around from buyer to buyer until finally Ginger McCain took him on. It was soon discovered that he had a bone disorder, which McCain sought to fix through training in seawater. It worked and Red Rum went on to win the Grand National in 1973, ’74 and ’77. In the middle years between victories, whilst not winning, he still came second; a remarkable career all round.

Secretariat

An American born flat racehorse, Secretariat won the American Triple Crown in 1973 becoming the first horse to do so in 25 years. Named the fastest horse on dirt in history, he was fast over distances from 1 2/16 to 1 5/8. The records he set still hold today for all those distances. His record win at the Belmont Stakes saw him lead the field by a massive 31 lengths, a feat he was to perform on a regular basis against any field. He didn’t just win races, he destroyed the field.Of course, these are just two of many, with other notable inclusions being Man o’War, Seabiscuit, Phar Lap and War Admiral. These horses all showed great heart and exceptional talent, bringing joy to thousands of race goers over the years.

Steeplechasing

Steeplechasing makes the outcome of a race that much more interesting. The fastest horse is not necessarily going to be the one to cross the finish line first. Huge hedges, ditches and fences block the way. The horses are required to show speed and stamina in getting around the course first, but they also need to avoid being taken down by the obstacles or indeed another flailing horse, as happens all too often.

Origins

Primarily found in Ireland (the place of its origin), the United Kingdom and North America, the name came about because the sport used to take place across open countryside. Rather than a specific racetrack, horse and rider were required to simply head for the church steeple crossing any obstacles that were in their path. Nowadays this is not allowed and the sport has been transferred to maintained tracks with carefully placed obstacles.

The Grand National

The most famous race in this genre is the English Grand National. Run every year at Aintree racecourse, it has provided a severe test for every horse and rider since its inception in 1836. The race is over four miles long, and there are thirty fences that the horses have to jump, including the infamous Becher’s Brook, an obstacle that has taken down many a horse. Known for the difficulty in predicting a winner, the Grand National remains the race that any steeplechaser wishes to win. Sadly though, due to the severity of the course, a number of horses do get injured and are subsequently put down.Due to their extreme difficulty, jump races are considered to be the ultimate test for both rider and horse.