When you first think about it, when you are handicapping horse races, the toteboard seems to be one place where the truth can be found. It seems that since the amounts of money wagered on a horse are apparent, it is fairly easy to get a rough idea of how good the horse is and where it might finish. That is why the more wagered on a horse, the more likely it is to win.

But the transparency of the toteboard is something of a myth, because once you get into deciphering the exotics and place and show pools, the clues are harder to understand. For instance, let’s say the favorite in the race is at 2-1 and there is 3,000 in the win pool and 1,000 in the place pool. On the other hand, the second favorite is at 3-1 and there is 2,000 in the win pool, but 1,00 in the place pool. To further complicate the situation, the third favorite is at 7-2 with 1,500 in the win pool and 1,100 in the place pool.

Does this mean that the third favorite is more likely to be second than the second favorite? If so, does that mean it is a better bet to play as the place horse in the exacta? Looking at the exotics may be even more confusing. You may find that the lowest paying exacta is the favorite over the third favorite or even the fourth favorite.

Obviously, every one can’t be right. The handicappers who back the fourth favorite as the place horse under the favorite, therefore backing it to place, have made that the lowest paying exacta. The place bettors seem to think the third favorite is most likely to place. Both groups can’t be right.

If the third favorite or fourth favorite is being backed heavily to run second, does it mean the fix is on? Or does it mean that an astute handicapper has backed it heavily figuring it is a bargain? This disparity in the pools and exotic payoffs can present problems to handicappers who like to see things neat and tidy and to make sense.

On the other hand, this situation can also present a possibility of finding an overlay, and therefore a good bet, in something other than the win pools. As a general rule, I think it is the crowd, the average or recreational bettors, who wager heavily on a second favorite to place. It just seems to make so much sense to them and require very little thought. The horse is the second favorite and therefore they think it will come in second.

On the other hand, they also usually bet it heavily in the place position under the favorite. If you find that exacta isn’t the lowest paying exacta, you may have found some smart money hiding in the exacta pools. Look closely at exactas that are heavily backed when they don’t have the second or third favorite in the place spot. They are often a tip off that some other horse is being over looked by the crowd for some reason, but it figures to be a factor in the race and has a good chance of completing the exacta or maybe even winning the race.

If you want to learn how a horse owner and insider handicaps just go to http://williewins.homestead.com/truecb.html and get the truth. Bill Peterson is a former horse race owner and professional handicapper. To see all Bill’s horse racing material go to http://williewins.homestead.com/handicappingstore.html, Bill’s handicapping store.

If you’ve been around the race track for a while, trying to make money betting on horses, you probably know that most tips are worthless. But the handicapper who works for the track and sets the morning line, has little to gain by steering you wrong. He or she keeps his or her job because of a certain amount of reliability and credibility.

While reading the track handicapper’s comments can often point out something you might have missed, they can also point out things that weren’t even in the past performances. So I always advise handicappers to read the public handicapper’s comments and morning line.

You still have to think for yourself, but every bit of information is important and it is easy to miss something that he or she may point out. Another good reason for reading the morning line is because it will also give an indication of where the money will flow in a race and why. The morning line can be used as a gauge to judge whether or not there is a mystery in a race of it is playing out as a WYSWYG (what you see is what you get) race.

If the morning line puts the odds of 10-1 on a horse and you see it bet down to 4-1 there is obviously something amiss. While it is possible that the handicapper just misjudged the runner’s abilities or missed a crucial factor, it is also possible that you are seeing inside money bet on the horse. The first step is obviously to take another look in the past performances to see if you can figure out why the horse is getting that action.

If you don’t see a reason for the horse getting that kind of money you may want to take certain steps.

1. First of all, you can bet on it figuring that the smart money is on the horse and it will therefore perform well.

2. Secondly, you can not bet on the race figuring that something is up, but you’re not sure what it is.

3. The third option is disregarding the odds on that horse and trusting your own handicapping, after all, it may just be that a zealous, over confident owner has dumped a pile on the horse.

Whatever you decide to do, make a note of the whole situation and each it closely. Use whatever you learn from that experience to help you in the future when the same situation presents itself again. After a while you will have a good handle on what is going on and why.

If you want to learn how a horse owner and insider handicaps just go to http://williewins.homestead.com/truecb.html and get the truth. Bill Peterson is a former horse race owner and professional handicapper. To see all Bill’s horse racing material go to http://williewins.homestead.com/handicappingstore.html, Bill’s handicapping store.

If you have ever been involved in horse race betting it is likely that at some time you will have purchased a horse racing system. These systems claim to be able to turn you into an instant and regular winner if you use their system to make your selections.

Common sense will tell you that a large majority of these so called systems are a load of rubbish and the only winner will be the person who sold it to you. Never the less there will be a small voice in the back of your mind which keeps telling you that perhaps this might just be the one. The one horse race system that could turn you into a winner.

There is a small body of racing enthusiasts who spend hour upon hour studying statistics and past results. Based on these some produce very good systems. Not surprisingly the developers of these systems tend to either keep them for themselves or only offer them to serious gamblers who are prepared to pay large fees for exclusive or semi exclusive use of the system.

Fortunately a few system developers do offer their products to the general public for a reasonable fee. It is not the purpose of this article to promote any particular system. IF you go on to the search engines and type in horse race system reviews you will be able to see what is available and see some independent reviews. Another good place to get feedback regarding systems is to visit some of the many horse racing forums.

The trouble even with the very best systems is that there will be occasions when they do not produce the goods. It happens at some tome or other to every system and there will be periods when they have a losing run. If a system can show a profit over a 12 month period then to my mind it is a good system. However, I know some people who will abandon a system if it has a couple of losing day.

If you have ever done this then why not get out that old discarded system and try it again. Do not rush in and put real money on the selections but for a month just have paper bets and see what you would have won or lost if you had been using real cash. I have come across a couple of systems that I tried and then discarded that are now performing quite well. So if you have any old dead systems lying about maybe it is time to bring out your dead.

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Western style horse back riding is perhaps a riding style most associated with rough and tumble cowboys and the storied Wild Wild West. Certainly, that is where this style got its start. In those times, due to the needs of the American cowboy, riders would train their horses to obey without the presence of heavy rein contact. This training provided a rider with the freedom to steer the horse with only one hand, while freeing up the other hand for roping and cattle work. Although born of the long gone golden era of cowboys, Western style riding is still quite popular today.

Like its counterpart, English riding, the Western style is still widely used in sport and can be commonly seen in horse shows and rodeo competitions. Rodeos, in fact, originated from the aforementioned roping and cattle work, and can be found not just in the U.S., but all over the world — Spain, Mexico, Canada, and even as far away as Australia. While there are some differences, surprisingly the equestrian equipment used in Western riding is not dramatically different from the equipment used in English riding.

Like English riding, the Western style requires a secure and solid saddle. However, the saddle is typically deeper and designed to remain comfortable to the rider for longer periods of time. Additionally, unlike its English counterpart, Western saddles generally feature a saddle horn that was historically used to hold and secure rope. Heavier and hard to replace stirrups are also typical of the Western style. A good Western style saddle is made up of a combination of both high quality wood and leather. Perhaps not surprisingly, many of the most well known Western saddle manufacturers are headquartered in the American South — particularly Texas where cowboy culture is still a beloved tradition. Popular manufacturers include Tex Tan, Timberline, Southern Trails, Blue Horn, and Alamo Saddlery.

Additionally, Western riding equipment also bears some similarities to the equipment used in dressage, or competitive horse training. The saddles used in dressage also need to be both secure and solid, but the style of dressage saddles are decidedly more formal. Saddle manufacturer, Germania, offers a stylish and sophisticated model at an affordable price that meets the needs of the professional dressage rider. Lastly, manufacturer Henri de Rivel offers both Western style and dressage saddles suitable for almost every rider.

Nicole Rousseau owns and operates http://www.allaboutequestrians.com.

The sport of horse racing has been around for centuries. Ancient Romans famously popularized chariot races that were widely enjoyed by large groups of spectators. In North America, the late 1800s marked the opening of many major racetracks and equestrianism fever took hold. Horse racing is indeed a sport and requires vigorous dressage, or training, for both horse and rider. Skilled riders can eventually enter prestigious competitions, in hopes of earning rewards for their accomplishments. Considerable time must also be spent selecting the correct equestrian equipment. Depending on the style of riding that the rider and horse will be engaging in, the equipment needed will vary.

The English riding style is the most commonly used, and perhaps most easily recognized, style in competition today. The English riding style requires the use of an English saddle, designed to allow more flexibility in the horse’s movement than its Western counterpart. One of the more popular English Saddle manufacturers, Germania, offers attractive saddles that are both flexible and comfortable. Another English saddle manufacturer, Henri de Rivel — sometimes shortened to HDR, offers several attractive saddle options for both adult and child alike. HDR’s saddles come in several different styles and colors for all riders, from novice to professional, to choose from.

The English riding style also features horses outfitted with English bridles. These bridles are the headgear that the horse wears, allowing the rider to control them. In the English style of riding, the bridle actually includes three pieces: a headstall, the reins, and the bit in the horse’s mouth that the reins are attached to. Bridles come in several styles, and different types of bridles are typically used for dressage vs. actual competition. Henri de Rivel is again a popular manufacturer for these pieces. HDR has a reputation for quality, and its equipment is designed with both the horse and rider in mind.

Additionally, the stirrups used for English riding can differ from the styles and types used for dressage, exercise, or Western riding. The stirrups used in English riding are typically made of iron, stainless steel, or another kind of metal. Ideal stirrups are designed to easily allow the rider to mount the horse, while providing as much safety as possible during dismount, through proper leg positioning. As a result, stirrup fitting, size, and selection must not be taken lightly. Improper sizing and placement of the foot could unfortunately lead to serious injury.

Nicole Rousseau owns and operates http://www.allaboutequestrians.com.