Come rain or shine, those of us who love horse racing will be at the track with our betting slips and a smile at the ready. Nothing will put enthusiastic bettors off heading for the racing cards and getting the tips ready for a day of racing. However, there are some things to take into account when it comes to rain and horse racing. Join us as we take a look at how to make the most of horse betting on wet days.
When there has been a lot of rainfall on turf courses, the conditions can be greatly impacted. If you think about the condition of your lawn, or the grass area at the local park after rain, you will be able to picture what the horses are running on. The mud beneath the grass can become very soft and this changes the way in which the horses race and the advantages and disadvantages that result. With soft ground to race on, the horses feet will sink deeper into the mud, and this will make it more difficult for them to take a step as they have to move the feet higher and it is more difficult to do so. For this reason, horses who are usually fast and agile can find themselves experiencing a harder race than usual. Due to the extra strength and stamina needed to navigate a race on a soft course affected by rain, horses who are more adapted to endurance racing tend to come out on top and perform better than expected.
If you are betting on a race that is taking place in the rain, or after rainfall, take a look at the horses that are more adapted to this type of racing and look at their form to discover whether they prefer a softer surface.
Racing in the rain doesn’t seem to bother horses – they are willing to race regardless of the rain. However, being pelted with rain is not ideal for jockeys and some really struggle with the distraction. Knowing how a jockey reacts to rain can be a good piece of information to take into account when you are looking to place your bets. If you have followed the jockey in the past, take a look at how they have performed in similar conditions and consider whether you think the rain will have an impact on their performance.
Dirt tracks are less affected by the rain. However, with a lot of rain the first can become very sloppy and tends to get kicked into the faces of the horses. So, getting out at the front of the race early is a big advantage. If your horse tends to run at the back and then move forward, it might be worth considering whether it is wise to bet on it running well in a race that takes place on a dirt track that has been subjected to a lot of rainfall.
