EquinePost.com - Horse Racing & Betting Guide

Welcome to Equine Post, your online reference point for all things related to horse racing and betting. The idea of starting Equine Post was simple: to provide all things related to horse racing and betting under one single roof.

Horses have been part of our lives from almost the early days of civilization. Horse racing too has been around, in different forms, from a very long time, be it informal racing or regulated racing. It has been a popular sport all across the world, and the intermingling of cultures has seen different horse racing influences cross over from one part of the world to the other. Over time, it evolved into various forms of racing, including chariot racing, bare back racing, dash racing, flat racing, thoroughbred racing, and more.

While there is evidence showing horse racing to be a part of the Greek Olympics from 700BC – 40 BC, professionally organized racing has been around for a few centuries now. New technology has upgraded the sport to make it more competitive as well as audience-friendly, but the basic concept – of the winning horse taking it all – has still remained unchanged.

Horse betting was a traditional practice that involved a trip to the race track or the local betting shop until the end of the last century, but the arrival of the Internet revolutionized the whole concept of betting. Earlier, technological advancements like the radio and television had successfully brought horse racing into the living room. With the Internet, betting too came right into the home.

Today, you do not need to go to a race track to bet on a horse in a horse race; the Internet allows you to do it right from your home. And the best thing is it also gives you all the tools you need to make that decision - which horse do I pick – and then go ahead and wager on it online. There are websites that you can refer to check on the different aspects of horse racing online. Equine Post is our contribution to bringing horse racing and betting closer to you.

So what do you get at Equine Post? We provide you with all the information you need on horse racing. The information we offer is comprehensive, and offered in a way that is simple and uncluttered. There are different sections that you can go to check out different types of information. We have a section on the general aspects of horse racing, including history, a beginner’s guide, racing and betting terminology, and online betting. The review section provides you reviews of some of the best race tracks in the world. We also have a section that discusses horse racing based on different countries, apart from general interest articles.

We hope you have an interesting and informative time with us. Do feel free to let us know your thoughts and feedback.

Introduction to Horse Racing

Horse racing is a sport that is popular all across the globe, and involves riders – commonly referred to as ‘jockeys’ – riding their horses over a specified distance, with the one crossing the finish line first being the winner. The global popularity of horse racing in all its different forms has resulted in this sport finding inclusion even in the most prestigious global sporting event – the Olympic Games.

Horse racing has always been an outdoor sport, from the time it first came into being right till today. In the olden days, it used to be organized in open air arenas or stadiums. That is so even today: all horse racing events, regardless of type, are held in stadiums specially designed for the sport.

As with most competitive sports today, horse riding has not just the sporting angle to it, but an equally important angle to it – the gambling angle. The gambling angle to horse racing is as old as the sport itself. A study in 2008 indicated that the global horse racing and betting market had grown to a staggering $112 billion.

Betting on Horse Races

Horse racing has, as mentioned earlier, always involved betting regardless of the type of race. In the earlier days, betting on horses was done in the traditional way, i.e. at the venue of the race. People came to the race track, bought the racing program, which contains information about the different horses featured for the day’s races, and placed their bets on their favorite horse. This happens even today. But there is a new trend nowadays powered by the arrival of the Internet – online betting.

The first option is to be at the venue and place your bets there. This also gives you the chance to see the race, feel the excitement, and savor the winning feeling at the venue when you see your horse beat the rest to the win. To do this, you must buy the racing schedule at the race track you are attending. This gives you information about the different parties in the race – the horses, the jockeys, the trainers, and the owners. It also gives you data about their past performance and overall track record, along with basic information about the race you are at. You need to choose your winner based on the information provided in the schedule, and also factor in the general mood at the race on that given day – the ground conditions, weather, the general buzz in the crowd, and more.

The other option that is available nowadays is to bet online. This is a fairly new option that has become available only after the Internet came along. You can bet online by visiting any one of the online sports books or other websites that offer online betting on horse races. Once you are at the website, go to the race you want to be part of and then get down to selecting your choice for winner. You will find all the information you need about the horses, trainers, jockeys, and the event itself at the sports book and will be able to make an informed decision after going through it.

Horse Racing & Horse Betting Articles

Below are links to articles added here to EquinePost.com related to horse racing and betting that may be of interest to read:

A Brief History of Horse Racing - Outlines the history of horse racing in brief and provides a general overview and introduction.

An Introduction to Online Horse Betting - Provides an outline of online horse betting and how one can to about betting on horses.

Deposit Methods for Online Horse Betting - Discusses the different methods available for placing horse racing bets online.

Horse Racing – The Need for Handicapping - I - Provides an outline of handicapping and why it is necessary for placing bets on horses.

Horse Racing – The Need for Handicapping - II - Provides some more insights on the need for handicapping while placing wagers on your favorite horse.