Ultimate Horse Racing Guide for South Africa

Horse betting has existed since they have been ridden, and South Africa has a rich history of horse racing. Although not every local bookmaker offers odds and markets, horse racing is the most popular sport for bets in South Africa.

One of the few sports, where bets are still frequently made in person at the track, is horse racing. But more horse racing wagers are now being put online than ever before because of the rapid growth of mobile and online betting on Bookies like Hollywoodbets which has become easier for South African gamblers.

How to read a race card

Your first indicator of which horse might prevail in a race is the form. A racecard will provide a list of the competing horses and jockeys, their names, silk numbers, and race time.

A string of numbers and letters next to each horse’s name on the racecard includes some of the most crucial information.

These are essential to reading a horse’s form since they show how well the horse has done in recent races. You will also find the oldest races on the left and the most recent races on the right.

Types of Horse Racing Bets

The horse racing wagers you choose will depend on how you anticipate the race to unfold. Win Bets, Place Bets, and Show Bets are quite common across the board, albeit not all South African internet bookies provide horse racing and even fewer still offer the complete range of betting options.

Fixed Odds vs the Opening Price

You have the option of betting on Fixed Odds or the Starting Price when wagering on horse races in South Africa. Fixed odds have the advantage of letting you know in advance how much you can win based on the horse’s current odds.

But if you wager on the Starting Price, you’ll get the odds that were offered for your horse at the start of the race.

Bookmaker Betting vs Tote Betting

Tote betting entails placing a pool wager on horse racing, as opposed to bookies who will provide you Fixed Odds or a Starting Price. Similar to a lottery, the money from all the wagers is pooled in this sort of wager, and a share (or “dividend”) is given to each of the winners.

Additionally, you can wager on the Tote through an online bookmaker like Upsure. They give you the same payout on winning bets as announced by the Tote, which is how this works.

How To Choose Your Horses Using Form

Even if a horse is in good form going into the race you want to bet on, it doesn’t matter as much if their rivals have performed even better in identical circumstances.

A horse who has won its last five races, but who has suffered in the past on soft going (ground), which is the situation of the next race, would be an example of evaluating form. So despite its present form, this horse might not be a smart pick to win the race.