OK, you don't know a fetlock from a furlong and horse race betting, with is hieroglyphic past performances and many variables can be a bit intimidating. But even novice gamblers should take the rubber band off their sports betting bankroll when the Breeders' Cup makes a stop at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky, Nov. 5-6.
The Breeders' Cup, now offering its 27th (oh, excuse me, XXVII) edition, is a 14-race extravaganza where a mix of rarely seen quality and quantity offers bettors a chance for wagering success that infrequently is present during the daily horse racing grind, let alone any other sports betting experience.
For example, while football, basketball and baseball basically limit a gambler's winnings to what he wagers, horse race betting allows a person to start the day in the outhouse and end up in the penthouse. Why lay 10/11 to when you can take 10/1?
What makes the Breeders' Cup unique is the large number of horses in each race. Spreading $25.5 million around usually does draw a crowd so that's not surprising. Nor is it surprising that size really does matter in thoroughbred racing, especially if you're a bettor. Full fields mean that more horses are bet which in turn means that many runners who have no shot or are "dead money," help to elevate prices on those horses who do have a chance of standing in the winner's circle. It's what professional horse bettors call "value."
So, where the favorite in a typical eight-horse field might go off at odds of 8/5, that same horse, because of money wagered on other horses in a 12, 13 or 14-horse Breeders' Cup field, might be a significantly more attractive 5/2. Likewise, popular 5/1 shots become 8/1 and 20/1 longshots may be 40/1.
In fact, while the average per race field size in North America in 2008 was 8.24 horses (source: The Jockey Club), the average size of every Breeders' Cup race has been greater than that, often by a significant number of horses.
The Classic, the $5 million finale of every Breeders' Cup and one of seven original BC races along with the Turf, Sprint, Juvenile, Juvenile Fillies, Ladies Classic/Distaff and Mile that have been run consecutively for 26 years, has averaged 11.5 starters and an average payoff of $29.70 for a $2 wager. The $3 million Turf has averaged 11.4 starters with an average mutual of $21.20; The Sprint has averaged 12.6 runners and a $22.00 return; the Juvenile has averaged 12 colts and a payout of $17.10; the Juvenile Fillies has averaged 11.7 fillies and a pari-mutuel of $16.70; the Ladies Classic, which originally was called the Distaff, has averaged 9.2 starters and an average payoff of $20.70; and the Mile has averaged 12.7 starters and $19.20.
Last year alone, winners lit up the tote board to the tune of $63.20 (Juvenile), $52.60 (Sprint) and $44.60 (Dirt Mile). There also were four payouts between $14.80 and $21.60 and, to be fair, five favorites won, too. So, not matter what type of bettor you are, longshot hunter, mid range speculator or chalk devotee, there is money to be made betting this year's Breeders' Cup.
After back-to-back sessions racing on Santa Anita's synthetic surface, the Breeders' Cup returns to the dirt of Churchill Downs this year, a change in footing and climate that is bound to have an impact on the proceedings. Horses who flourished on rubber may not take to the dirt while some who floundered on synthetics may welcome a change to natural footing. The cooler temperatures in Kentucky and shorter journey across the Atlantic should benefit a typically powerful contingent of European runners but no one can predict with certainty whether a giant jackpot, as happened when French-based Arcangues paid a record $269.20 winning the 1993 Classic, or Great Britain's Lashkari paid $108.80 in capturing the 1984 Turf, awaits some bravely ambitious bettors.
Another reason to play the Breeders' Cup races is the potentially life-changing Pick Six gimmick wager. In 1999, the Pick Six payoff on a $2 wager was worth a staggering $3,058,138. In 2003, two fortunate ticket holders each won $2,687,611. Last year, a half-dozen bettors took home $1,838,305 each and in 2006 the return was $1,450,707. Try winning that by betting six football games.
Even if you're not a regular at the track, with its large fields and accompanying value, plus its chance at a life-altering score, horse racing betting should be part of your wagering menu when the Breeders' Cup comes to Churchill Downs, Nov. 5-6.
This article was written by Luken Karel for http://www.thegreek.com. The Greek Sportsbook & Casino is host to one of the top online sportsbooks offering college football betting and sports betting on NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL and all other major sports. The Greek is a must have sports betting and entertainment portal with one of the largest wagering menus available online. Article reproductions must include a link pointing to http://www.thegreek.com
