If you’re new to horse racing, you’re in for a treat.
Here’s everything you wanted to know about horse racing but were too afraid to ask.
Races and runners
You’ll find yourself at one of three racing events in New Zealand:
- Thoroughbred meetings where thoroughbred horses are raced by jockeys
- Harness meetings where drivers take the reins from a sulky, a super-lightweight cart
- Greyhound meetings where purebred dogs race lightning-fast after an artificial rabbit on a rail
Whichever race event you’re at, the animals racing are referred to as runners.
How do I get a bet on?
Go to the Tote, or betting window, and speak to a TAB operator. You’ll find these scattered all over the racecourse.
Handy hint: Skip the queues and get in early to put your bet on.
What type of bets can I choose?
Hop over to Hoof to Heel for a Beginner’s Guide to Betting. We’ll have you looking and sounding like a betting pro in no time.
What do I say?
Three simple things:
- The number of the race (or just say “next race” if that’s the one you want)
- The number of the runner (that’s the number on the horse’s saddlecloth or dog’s vest)
- How much you want to pay for your bet
How do I pick a winner?
There’s no magic formula – even the experts can’t always get it right. But we’ve got some handy hints. Hop over to Hoof to Heel for a Beginner’s Guide to Picking a Winner.
All about the Racebook
Once you get the hang of it, Racebooks are actually easy to refer to.
The Racebook lists:
- All the races for the day
- The runners in each race
- The form for each runner (that’s how they’ve been performing recently)
The Racebook gives you the all-important race numbers and runner numbers that you’ll need to have a punt.
How do I read the form?
There’s a wealth of information in the string of numbers beside each runner’s name in your race form (found in your Racebook).
Here’s a thoroughbred example:
2 3X021 No Hero 5 65 Jonathan Riddell
The 2 at the start of the line is the runner number. This is No Hero's runners number. It's the number you'll give the TAB operator.
The numbers in the form column refer to the last five races No Hero has run, and they read from right to left. It's the same for a harness or greyhound race.
- 1 = 1st (he came 1st in his most recent race)
- 2= 2nd (he came 2nd two races ago)
- 0 = 10th or more (he came in 10th position or worse three races ago)
- X = He had a three month break from racing
- 3 = 3rd (he came third in his last race before the break)
No Hero is obviously the horse's name.
5 is the barrier number – that's where he'll start from in the starting gates. Barrier 1 is the closest to the inside rail and is considered the best starting position; the higher the number the worse the draw.
65 is the number of kilos the horse will be carrying in a thoroughbred race. The handicapper at the racing club sets these weights for each horse, to equalise their chances. There is no handicap weighting in harness or greyhound racing.
Jonathan Riddell is the name of No Hero's jockey for the race. In harness racing, of course, the name listed is the driver.
Got your ticket? Check it!
Check your ticket before you leave the Tote window to make sure it’s correct.
The rules are, in the 30 minutes before the race starts, you have two minutes to cancel a win, place or quinella bet if a mistake has been made.
Some canny punters advise that, if the ticket issued is wrong, keep it and put another bet on what you were supposed to. Why? You’d kick yourself if the bet you cancelled won!
You won? Fantastic!
After the official announcement of the race results, head to the Tote to collect. Happy days.
