Newmarket has a rich history of horse racing that goes back to the 16th century. The racecourse was first established in 1636, and today a lot of training yards and leading horse racing organisations are located here.
Hosting the first two Classic Races of the season, the 1,000 Guineas and 2,000 Guineas, and nine out of Britain’s 36 Group 1 flat races, Newmarket is often called the headquarters of British horseracing.
An interesting historic fact about the Newmarket Racecourse is that it was here that King Charles II became the first and only reigning British monarch to ride a winning horse.
As a flat racecourse, Newmarket stays active in the summer season, from April to October, and offers racing events that would satisfy the taste of any racegoer. The season starts with a bang when the Guineas Festival opens its gate, culminates at the July Festival, and gives one last colourful spectacle in the form of the Future Champions Festival right before the end of the season.
Newmarket races betting has always been an indispensable part of the race going experience. In this article we will review common types of horse racing bets, break down what factors form betting odds, and discuss some tips for responsible horse betting.
Types of Bets Available at Newmarket
If you would like to place any bet during one of the Newmarket meetings, you can do so either at the venue if you are visiting, or online. Any major bookmaker that offers horse racing on their platform will include Newmarket races in their options. Some of the most popular horse racing betting markets you can place your wager on are the following:
- Win: This is probably the most straightforward bet in horse racing. If you think you know which horse has it in them to become the winner of the race, you can place your stake on it. If your prediction comes true, your bet wins.
- Place: This bet is also easy to understand, and it puts a little less pressure on your prediction. Here you place your stake on a horse that you think can reach the finish line within the winning top (this can vary between top two and top four depending on how many horses run in the race). The horse can take any of the winning places for your stake to win.
- First Two (or First Three): If you think that you know how all the winning places will be distributed, you can place your wager on the first two or first three horses (depending on the number of runners) to come to the finish. Here naming the horses is not enough, you also have to be right about the order in which they will finish the race to win your bet.
- Two From Three: This bet follows the lines of the previous one, but makes things slightly easier for you as a punter. You have to name any two out of the first three horses to reach the finish line. Here the order in which they complete the race isn’t important.
What Influences Betting Odds?
Newmarket betting odds are formed in the same way as the odds for any major horse racing event. They depend on various factors, some of which can be universal for any type of sports, but some only matter in horse racing. Below are some of the essential aspects that all experienced bookies take into consideration when offering betting odds. If you want to make an informed decision when placing a wager you should also be aware of them.
- Form of the horse and jockey. If you have ever placed a bet on any sport, you know that one of the main aspects that affects the outcome of the competition is the physical form of the athlete. In horse racing, both the horse and the jockey play an important role in who is going to win. Check in advance if any of the contestants (animal or human) is coming back after an injury or has been recently showing less than satisfactory results.
- Track conditions. Any race card will show the track condition (or “going”) because it influences the horse’s performance quite a bit. Track conditions can be standard, good, soft, hard, or mixed (for example, you will see something like “good to soft in places”). It is not uncommon for the track conditions to change several times throughout the race day and affect the odds.
- Draw bias. Before the race starts, horses are placed in various stalls. Depending on which stall the horse will be starting the race from, it may either gain a huge advantage or be in a less favourable position. Draw bias is not universal and depends on the racecourse layout and size. Its influence is more prominent in larger fields.
- Trainer and owner history at Newmarket. Besides the horse and the jockey, there are two other people behind the race performance and results, and that is the trainer and the owner. If they have prior history of producing a Newmarket winner or are known for regularly showing outstanding results during Newmarket meetings, their current charge will likely be considered as a favourite (especially, if other aspects support this).
- Market sentiment and late changes in the odds. And last but not least, the overall disposition of the bettors and their expectations, expressed in the bets they place, also factor into how bookmakers make later adjustments to the odds.
Where to Bet Online on Newmarket Races
Newmarket betting will be a big part of any major bookie platform that lists horse racing among its specialties. At 7bet, we offer a wide range of horse race betting markets.
Horse betting odds at 7bet are published a few days prior to the event, so don’t forget to visit our horse betting page.
As we discussed above, formation of horse racing betting odds is influenced by a number of dynamic factors. This means that odds will be changing quickly multiple times before the start of the race. If you are a bettor, make sure to take a look at the updated bets before you place a wager, so that you can make an informed decision.
Betting at Racecourse
As most major racecourses, Newmarket offers betting options for its visitors during the horse race meeting days. If you are planning a visit and would like to try your luck and place a wager on your favourite horse, the venue will offer multiple opportunities.
As a rule, major bookmakers will set up their booths and kiosks on the grounds. You will also see bookmaking stands in front of the racing tracks. They add a bit of an old school vibe, writing odds on a blackboard and dealing with bets the way it used to be done traditionally. They will normally offer fixed odds.
A very popular betting method in many British horse racing events is tote betting. Working essentially as a lottery, you don’t bet against the bookmaker but place your wager in a pool. At the end of the race, everyone who placed their money on the winner will share the pool. Of course, the fewer people backed the winning horse, the larger the winning portion will be.
Before you visit Newmarket, check their official website to know what specific betting options will be available on the day of the meeting.
Betting at the venue will add to the overall excitement and provide a fun experience for the day at the races. Here you get one huge advantage: you don’t need to keep checking for updates on the odds at the bookmaking platform because all the changes are displayed live where you can see them. Plus, if your bet wins, you don’t have to wait for the payout.
It is always recommended to arrive at the racecourse well before the races begin, but even more so if you want to participate in horse race betting. Take your time to check out various bookmakers and the odds they offer to see who you want to bet with.
Check the minimum stake requirements in advance to avoid damaging your budget. Don’t forget to bring some cash with you. While all amenities at the Newmarket Racecourse, including concessions, are operating on a cashless basis, you can use cash when placing a bet with on course bookmakers.
Newmarket Betting Tips
At 7bet, we advocate for responsible gambling, that is why we wanted to share some tips for Newmarket races that will enhance your overall experience and ensure safe gambling practice.
- Watch past races and trends at Newmarket. Past trends and developments at any competition or venue can give you a good insight into what to expect from the current race. If you are trying to predict any of the results, this can be an essential betting tip for a responsible bettor who wants to make an informed decision.
- Use form guides and race previews. There is no shortage of online resources that share information on the physical form of both horses and jockeys participating in major races. They also provide an expert preview of what chances each horse may have to win the race. This is a good source for both experienced and novice horse racing bettors. Additionally, if you bet with the Newmarket on course bookies, take a look at the race card to get an idea on who to bet on. You can also visit the Parade Ring to see the horses and jockeys for yourself.
- Follow trainer/jockey records at the course. We already discussed that the results jockeys and trainers show will vary from racecourse to racecourse. This is not to say that if they lost in Newmarket once, they will never win there again, but if they have a certain history with this particular racecourse, it can factor into the upcoming result as well.
- Pay attention to draw bias and field size. The advantage or disadvantage a horse gains based on its stall position in the race can significantly affect the final result. To take this aspect into account, you will need to know how each position reflects on the horse. Draw bias depends on several factors: race distance, field size, condition of the track, as well as the track layout. That’s why you will need to learn the specific conditions of the Newmarket Racecourse to calculate the draw bias correctly.
- Consider the timing of your bet. Market move is a big part of sports betting. In general, it means how the odds change for an athlete, or for a horse in case of horse racing, before the start of the event. Remember that no one can give you a foolproof answer as to whether you should bet early or late. As betting markets keep moving and changing right until they are locked before the start of the event, it is pretty much impossible to know for sure what odds you will have at any given moment. The only thing you can do in this regard is to consider such aspects as track conditions, market percentage, and prices provided by informed sources. If you know how these factors work, it might help you to decide whether an early or a late bet will be more beneficial for you.
These betting tips work not only for betting at the Newmarket Racecourse but also at other horse racing events. You will be better prepared to make informed decisions and practice responsible and safe gambling.
Betting is only available to participants above 18 years. Please bet responsibly. BeGambleAware.org