Horse racing has been a cornerstone of Australian culture for decades, with the sport rivalling cricket and rugby in the popularity stakes.
Aussie sports bettors love to experience the thrill of horse racing, and the excitement is hard to match when you add wagering to the mix.
Betting on horse racing in Australia is one of the easiest forms of gambling. However, if you are looking to place your first horse racing bet, you are in luck.
Read on as we provide all the essential information you will need to get started.
Top Horse Racing Events in Australia
The Melbourne Cup is the biggest event in Australia’s sporting calendar. Known as ‘the race that stops the nation’, it has been held annually since 1861.
The iconic event takes place at Flemington Racecourse on the first Tuesday in November and is a global spectacle that attracts high-profile figures from across the world.
The Melbourne Cup’s popularity is rivalled by The Everest. Since the inaugural edition in 2017, The Everest has become a fan favourite in Sydney.
The 1200-metre sprint race takes place at Randwick Racecourse every October, with a $13 million prize money up for grabs.
The Cox Plate is another one of the most iconic horse racing events in Australia and is held at the Moonee Valley Racecourse in late October.
Some of the other major horse racing events worth noting in Australia are the Caulfield Cup, Victoria Derby and The Championships.
Key Factors to Consider When Betting on Horses
Before jumping head-first into horse racing, here are a couple of things to consider. Horse racing in Australia runs year-round, with events held almost every day except Christmas.
The vast majority of Aussie horse racing takes place on a flat grass surface, although synthetic tracks are also used occasionally.
When trying to predict a horse’s chances of success, you must consider numerous factors, including the track and weather conditions. These could have a significant impact on a horse’s performance.
You should also take note of the assigned weight, the distance of the race, the track record of the jockey and trainer, and the horse’s recent form.
Scouring through the data gives you a more comprehensive look into the horse you are planning t bet on.
Choosing Your Bet
There are a wide variety of bet types for Aussie punters to choose from. These include:
- Win: Your horse must finish first for the bet to pay out.
- Place: Your horse must finish placed. The number of places paid varies dependent on the number of runners in a race.
- Quinella: Pick the first two horses to finish in any order.
- Exacta: Pick the first two horses in the exact finishing order.
- Trifecta: Pick the first three horses in the exact finishing order.
- First 4: Pick the first four horses in the exact finishing order.
- Quadrella: Select the winner of four nominated races at a meeting.
When placing a win or place bet, you can choose between a fixed price – locked in at the time of the bet – or a Tote price – determined after the race begins based on the total pool of bets.
Pay attention to fluctuations in the odds, as they indicate how popular a horse is with other punters.
How to Place a Bet
The emergence of online platforms has made it easier than ever to bet on Australian horse racing. Sportsbooks have user-friendly interfaces that make it easy for punters to navigate.
They can see all races available for betting on the current day and beyond. Bettors can access detailed information about each horse, including statistics on wins, placings and track performance.
Before throwing your weight behind a preferred candidate, it is wise to get expert insights and predictions to help guide your wagers, especially if you are wagering for the first time.
They will be useful in maximising your chances of winning until you find your feet. To place a bet, simply select your preferred horse, click on the displayed odds and enter your stake in the bet slip.
Opening an account with a licensed and regulated betting platform is usually straightforward, so you can get started in just a few minutes.