Football and horse racing are the two most popular sports in the United Kingdom, meaning that it is little surprise that betting on both is extremely popular.
Both sports take place daily throughout a calendar year, which means that there is always an opportunity to try and gain returns on potential wagers. However, despite being prominent betting selections for many, there are similarities and differences when it comes to wagering on the action in the sport.
But, what are the most notable factors that bettors should be aware of before making a wager on either?
Study The Form
One of the key similarities between the two sports is the fact that research must be completed in order to make the best prediction. That includes looking at latest results in football matches, and assessing the latest team news that could impact a team’s performances.
Research is also vitally important when it comes to wagering on horse racing, as bettors must examine the recent runs of all horses in the race, and assess whether the distance that they are competing over will enhance or diminish their chances of victory.
With both sports, it is advised not to simply wager on a selection purely because you support a team or like the colours that they are wearing, as these choices typically lead to poor decisions.
Short Term Gain in Football
There is the opportunity for short term gains when betting on football, as parlays or accumulators can pay high returns. Due to the biggest teams being in action every week in football, it’s likely that fans will always keep tabs on what is going on, and the latest news that could impact results.
However, when it comes to horse racing, it can often be more tricky to keep tabs on what horse should I bet on today, as the very best Grade One performers will only run three or four times per year.
Added to this is the fact that outside issues could impact how horses run from month-to-month, as some would prefer to run on better ground than others, while issues within stables are a recurring issue that typically come to surprise bettors.
Long Term Gain in Horse Racing
While betting on football has the most upside in a short-term capacity, it is easy to argue that the long-term value comes from horse racing. Whether it be the flat or the jumps, the season revolves around one major race for a runner.
Over jumps, every race up until the Cheltenham Festival will be to prime the horse to have the best opportunity of winning, while flat horses could be targeted at major races such as the Derby, or big purse handicaps. Long term gains can be achieved in horse racing by studying all the form and listening to trainer interviews, as these could pinpoint the race that the yard is targeting with their star.
Bets can then be placed on these selections in the ante-post market, which could see bettors get huge odds in comparison to short prices on the day of the race. The most experienced bettors in horse racing keep their ears to the floor and catch the value in the market when it is there.
Types of Bets
As you would expect, there are a wide range of betting options when it comes to betting on horse racing and football. For the latter, bettors can expect to wager on the match result, over/under total goals, and handicap markets. The most similar market between the two is the match result, which is similar to the win market in racing.
However, it is arguably much harder to find a winner in this racing market, as there will be more than three possible results. In racing, bettors can expect to wager on the forecast and tricast, which revolves around accurately predicting the runners that finish first and second, and first, second, and third, respectively.
As well as this, match-specific markets are now available when betting on football, as gamblers can wager on players to pick up cards, record shots on target, and score goals.
Added Engagement
Betting on any sport raises the excitement levels that the viewer can expect to enjoy, and that marks one of the biggest similarities between horse racing and football betting.
Making bets on the action will immediately increase the engagement level that you experience with the event, and you will be watching closer to see how close your bet is to winning.
With racing, you can easily follow the horse that you have wagered on by following their silks or number, while football bettors can sit back and hope that their picks come in, whether it be the match result or needing a player to be carded. Overall, betting on both sports is a hugely entertaining option if done responsibly.