With the Cheltenham Festival approaching fast, it’s time to head to the racetrack or to online betting sites to bet on the best horses in the race for the best trophies. Especially since in England, horse racing has a loyal following! Bet serenely on each race knowing the mythical history of equestrian sport.
The History of Equestrian Betting
Since ancient times, spectators have had the chance to see horses staged through races mounted among the Greeks and harnessed for the Romans with their famous chariot competitions in the historic arenas. In the Middle Ages, it was preferred to organise horse races in the streets of cities, especially thanks to riders who rode animals bareback, or without a saddle. We can easily imagine the sensational spectacle that these equestrian events could bring. This is how in the 18th century, racetracks multiplied to become one of the most popular sports in England! It was during the Industrial Revolution that we saw the development of horse betting organized by bookmakers. These bets were popular in the United Kingdom but remained reserved for the aristocracy and the land nobility. Betting was not yet regulated and betting on races operated on a credit system. From then on, bookmakers were bound to be imaginative, introducing cash bets and then offering fixed odds against every horse in a race. Now, in addition to the betting houses that still exist in the UK, the strong point of bookmakers is their online presence.
The Cheltenham Festival: An Institution for Bookmakers
If you love to bet or feel like a horse racing bettor, we recommend the big race organized by the Cheltenham Festival to bet on. The Cheltenham Horse Racing Championship is one of the most important in England. It regularly coincides with Saint Patrick’s Day. For four days, the best English and Irish horses compete in races. The championship opens on the first day with a race called “Champion Day”, the second day is “Ladies Day”, then comes the “Saint Patrick’s Thursday” race, finally the championship closes with the famous “Gold Cup Day”. The 2021 Cheltenham Festival is scheduled to start on Tuesday March 16 and end on Friday March 19. Things will be a little different at Prestbury Park this year, but there shouldn’t be a drop in quality, with some fascinating clashes! For four days, jumps fans will be able to participate in 28 very prestigious races. The most seasoned punters like to make predictions during this event and the bookmakers are going wild! Some are already offering free bet offers for Cheltenham 2021.
How to Bet on Horse Races?
Horse racing does not depend on pure chance. It is a sport with many parameters. A punter must take into account the state of form of the horse, if it is ridden by his usual jockey, if the distance suits him well. The turf combines three types of horse racing: the flat, the trotting and the obstacle course. The flat is the most famous race, it opposes horses which must gallop over one to several kilometres. The obstacle course also pits galloping horses against each other, but on a longer race with many obstacles to overcome. The trot is a very restrictive race, since the horse must never gallop under penalty of disqualification (only a few strides whose authorized number decreases as the final post approaches). Another difference with the flat and the obstacle course: the jockey does not ride directly on the horse but on a sulky pulled by the horse. Unlike traditional sports betting, the horse racing betting system is based on the principle of pari-mutuel: the player does not bet against the operator. If you are just starting out, we recommend that you start with the easiest bets and go find tips at Cheltenham Festival tips from racingtips.com.