For many of us (in fact half the adult population) having a bet on the Grand National is about the extent of betting on horseracing but what about if you fancy taking a jump into this jargon fuelled minefield? There is no question that being a beginner in horseracing betting is very daunting indeed as there are so many imponderables: the going, the draw, the handicap and, of course, the trip.
As with most jargon the reality is far less complicated than most would have you believe and for some reason the seasoned pro often sneers at the beginner which does little to encourage the novice. So lets explain some of these important factors.
The Going: this refers to the state of the ground that the horse will actually run on and is arguable the most important single factor. Picture yourself running on sand, tarmac and grass you will clock a very different time over the same distance on each type of ground this is the same for horses. Equally, if you challenged a friend of similar fitness you are likely to find that you are better on, say grass, and your friend is quicker on the sand. This is very true of horses, some love some cut in the ground softer ground and...