Tips for getting the most bang for your buck on betting on the Melbourne Cup
Knowing your horses, jockeys, odds and bookies... knowledge is the key ingredient to walking away a winner.
Jockeys - the skilfull men in the driving seat - or saddle!
Generally speaking, the better horses get the services of the better riders. A capable jockey can help an ordinary horse, but an ordinary jockey may hinder a capable horse.
Be sure to check the current standings. The seasoned handicapper will learn which jockey and trainer combinations are most successful. Riding a 1,200-pound horse at speeds up to 40 mph is an extremely difficult and very dangerous job. Unfortunately, jockeys tend to be blamed for much more than what they are actually responsible for. Remember the narrow-minded bettor never prospers. Keep and open mind and you and be prepared to learn as much as you can. Start of small, practice your strategies and you will be able to grow and prosper.
The Melbourne Cup is one of the "big" races, so if you are a first timer, start of with some small races, open an account with an online sports book (see a list here), and practice, practice, practice. By the time the Melbourne Cup comes around, you will be in a lot better of a position to make good judgement calls.
TRAINERS - the men behind the scenes, but perhaps the biggest influence of all
Trainers that consistently win races tend to attract the best racing stock. Not only do they get their fair share of the race money, but they also attract the cream of the crop when it comes to racing stock. No good breeder wants to give a potentially good horse to a poor trainer.
The responsible trainers usually have their horses looking good when they are brought to the races and don't run their horses against far superior competition. Not all of the capable trainers are at the top of the standings. Look for their win and in-the-money percentages listed in the program. A good trainer is a lot like a good poker player: knowing when to push for the win and when to fold. Because of it's prestige and media coverage, the Melbourne Cup attracts some of the biggest names in horse training from around the world.
Race Types - Not really applicable to the Melbounre Cup, but good for reference
- Stakes - These races offer the largest purse money and generally attract the highest quality horses.
- Handicap - The Racing Secretary assigns a weight to each horse in order to equalize the winning chances of all the runners. The high weight is usually considered the best horse in the race. The assigned weight includes the weight of the jockey and any additional lead pads that may need to be added to the saddle to fulfill the weight assignment.
- Allowance - A non-claiming race usually designed for lightly raced or above average horses.
- Claiming - The most common of all races. Each horse is entered at a specific price and may be purchased, or "claimed" by any licensed owner. The claiming price serves to balance the competition within that particular race. A horse valued at $25,000 isn't likely to run in a $5,000 claiming race as it will probably be claimed for less than its value. A $5,000 horse isn't likely to run against $25,000 claimers as it would be overmatched or out-classed.
- Maiden - Races for horses, which have never won. Maiden Special Weight races lure the best of the non-winners.
- The Melbourne Cup, is itself, a handicap race.
The Melbourne Cup Race Itself
- Pace - One of the oldest expressions in racing is: "...pace makes the race.." The expression is actually a reality and a very simple one to explain. The rate of speed of the front runners (the pace) in the first half of the race has a direct effect on the second half of the race. A fast pace usually tires the speed horses and helps the late runners catch the pacesetters. However, a slow pace allows a speed horse to conserve energy for the run to the wire.
- Speed Horses - The type of horse that prefers to move directly to the front after breaking from the gate. These horses get the early advantage but may not run well if they don't make the lead or are part of an intense pace.
- Stalkers - Are usually just off the pace by their jockey and are very versatile. They can be on or near the lead if the pace is slow or they can be lengths behind if the pace is fast.
- Late-Runners - Perhaps the most exciting to watch, but they must rely on the pace. This type of horse is uncomfortable on the lead and prefers to settle into stride while dropping back. They can make a dramatic rush from the back and catch tiring speed horses, or they may not make any impression if the leader gains an easy lead.
- Post Position - The stall in the starting gate from where the horse will start. A horse, which draws an outside post, will be at a disadvantage if the jockey does not work the horse near the rail to save ground on the turns. Generally, a speed horse benefits from an inside post. An unfavorable post position may compromise a jockey's tactics to win.
- Track Condition - The racing surface is extremely important. The ideal track condition for most horses is a dry or "fast" track. Rain will change the track condition depending on the intensity of the precipitation. A "sloppy" track is one that has received a downpour and still has puddles of water. A track is "muddy" if the water has drained off the top but is still rain soaked. A "good" track is one that has dried from being muddy but the race times suggest it hasn't dried completely. A track is said to be "off" if it is anything other than fast. Some horses run better over an off track due to their bloodlines or the type of horseshoe they are wearing.
- Distance - Much like the categories of runners and races in the sport of Track, in horse racing there are also sprinters and long-distance athletes. Some horses perform best at sprint distances, which are races at seven furlongs or less. Others have more stamina and do their best in route races, which are at one mile or longer. Most tracks have the circumference of one mile. One furlong equals one-eighth of a mile, or 220 yards.
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