Watching horses race around the track can send a huge adrenaline rush down your spine. Horse racing is a popular hobby that can be enjoyed at both racetracks and online. Many online betting services offer promotional deals and enhanced payouts and odds on big races. Take advantage of these opportunities to win it big, even if you’re not a highroller.

If you don’t have time to head down to a racetrack, go online and check out the Grand National free bets offers that are available. When betting on a horse, here are 3 tips to keep in mind.

Keep an Eye Out for Recent Beaten Favorites
When choosing a horse to bet on, you should take a look at not only the top winners, but also for recent beaten favorites as well. Keep track of past races to figure out which horses were close to winning. Often times, they’re the ones to make a huge comeback and performance in the next few races. You should also find some good odds for them.

It’s also a good idea to stay away from horses that are constantly favored. These horses don’t tend to offer valuable and worthwhile odds.

Consider the Amount of Off Time that the Horse Has Had
Most horses will usually get some off-time after large races. The amount of off-time that the horse has had may affect its overall performance. Studies have shown that the ideal amount of off-time that the horse should have falls between 30 to 60 days. Horses that return to the track within this time will usually do pretty well, as they have had enough race to recover from past performances.

With that said, horses that have had too much time to relax will usually need some time to get used to racing again. If the horse has had a substantial amount of off-time, it’s best to let them get used to the race tracks again.
Reflect on the Horse’s Overall Performance on the Track
Each horse may consistently perform better on certain tracks. Pay attention to the strengths and weaknesses of each horse to determine which tracks they are more likely to do well. Consider the track surface, the race length, the post position, among many other factors.

Some gamblers also take into consideration whether the horses are racing on smaller or larger fields. Smaller fields may have handicapes, stakes, and different allowances than larger fields. It’s important to familiarize with the features of each field, and to factor those considerations into your final decision.
Conclusion
Choosing a winning horse isn’t merely a gamble. It’s more than that. Those who are consistently choosing the right horses have learned how to process all of the data provided to them to determine which horses have a better shot at winning first place. If you’re not familiar with the tracks or the horses, it’s best to do some research first before betting at a racetrack or online. You might even want to sit in and watch several races before placing a bet.