Online Racebooks

Most of the success in betting on horse racing involves handicapping, so that whether you place a bet at the track, in a brick-and-mortar race book or online, the handicapping still has to be superior to that of the general betting public in order for you to win. Likewise, structuring bets correctly must be done both in the live and in the virtual setting. Online race books can help with both of these tasks that precede placing the bets. Many online race books provide quick and useful access to handicapping information, and they offer advice on both the handicapping and on how to structure bets for the most “bang for the buck.”

In most other respects, online race books are similar to the physical window at the track or elsewhere. The main difference is that the money needs to be in your online account already, and you need to know the layout of the Internet page to be able to place the wager.

One of the tempting aspects of online race books is that they provide action on a very wide spectrum of races of all types. Naturally, if you have not done the research, you should not place a bet; but the range of choice is broad.

Likewise, online race books usually offer the same exotics as at the track: Daily Double, Trifecta, etc. Be sure to check to see if the online book gives track odds on all the bets. Be careful to read all the details: many sites offer bonus money for signing up or for reloading, but there are conditions. Promotions of all kinds will come your way, and you can also earn bonus money for referring another person to the site.

Some sites even offer special software that permits the running of “virtual” races with horses that have known histories, connections and pedigrees. A random element is inserted as well, of course, to provide life-like simulations of real races. Many such races do not require real bets, so it can become a good tool for gaining experience.