For those interested in horse racing, there is a lot to learn and develop skills with in order to become an expert.
You can build a career as a racing tipster through a building experience and picking winners. Some writers choose to work with larger media brands.
They write columns for websites or newspapers, or they run a Horse Racing Tipster website or social media outlet for their own personal stake. You can find the best tips for horse racing in the UK and Ireland through a credible expert.
- TV Tipsters
Although the exposure they receive is huge, the presenters and tipsters you watch on horse racing channels are a very mixed bag. For some reason producers like asking presenters or ex-jockeys who could never make a living from betting to share their tips with the audience. This leads to thousands of people watching at home and betting on these opinions, which are often largely worthless and little better than a guess.
There are 4 basic types of pundits you watch on TV who might give you tips:
1. Presenters
When you watch a racing show on TV you’ll usually see a presenter in charge of talking you through the show. A small number of these presenters have a good understanding of racing and can come up with some pearls of wisdom that can help you turn a profit.
For the large part, however, these individuals are picked for their presenting skills. Not for their betting expertise. As such you’re usually better off disregarding the presenters’ opinions when it comes to choosing a bet.
2. Jockeys
Ex-jockeys regularly feature on televised racing shows and really are a mixed bag when it comes to their betting analysis. Because they range from awful to very good, it is impossible to make any sweeping statements about the opinions of jockeys as a group. Some are extremely knowledgeable and offer some good quality insight that offers value to watching punters.
For example, Jason Weaver, the former champion Flat jockey who works for Sky Sports Racing, has a shrewd analytical brain and understands how horses have campaigned. He produces some excellent opinions.
Equally, there are some ex-jockeys who were excellent and hugely successful riders but whose betting skill is almost non-existent. Successful gamblers will be able to easily identify and know offhand which jockeys should be listened to and which can be safely ignored.
Unfortunately, the many millions of casual racing fans and novice gamblers would not have this type of insight, so the sight of a former famous jockey on TV giving out tips can easily persuade them to bet on horses they shouldn’t. These individuals have great experience in the sport and some wonderful anecdotes that make for great TV but don’t follow their betting tips just because they’re likable people. You will lose.
3. Racing Personalities
Occasionally you’ll get the odd character who appears regularly on racing shows who is not necessarily a renowned presenter, tipster, or ex-jockey. In fact, it’s sometimes hard to know how these personalities landed the gig at all. However, their lack of obvious expertise does not prevent them from making good TV, regardless of the fact that many of their racing opinions can be questionable.
One good example from times gone by would be the late John McCririck. Essentially a failed bookmaker, the eccentric pundit cut a unique figure and was highly entertaining. McCririck was certainly a little outdated in some of his attitudes and was in no way an expert gambler.
That did not stop him from appearing on hundreds of Channel 4 Racing shows providing feedback from the betting ring and he became synonymous with British Racing TV.
As a rule, anyone on a racing show who demonstrates an excessive personality is probably on the show because of that personality. Not for the quality of their horse racing tips. Enjoy the spectacle and entertainment but look somewhere else for your betting inspiration.
4. Horse Racing Experts
Although it might take some time to identify them, these are the people you need to take notice of. Professional analysts and gamblers who have literally made careers out of finding and backing winners. Some racing shows employ some truly excellent punters with a vast knowledge of horse racing and betting on the sport. Obvious individuals that spring to mind would include the likes of Chris Dixon, James Willoughby, and Eddie Fremantle.
Although these guys have media jobs paying them an income, there is little doubt that if they could only bet to make a living that they would have as good a chance as anyone of making it pay. Once you’ve found a few genuine experts that you like it is usually a good idea to take full notice of their opinion, whilst paying less attention to their colleagues in the studio or at the racetrack.
Not only will these authorities on the subject of winning directly supply you with winning tips, but listening to them intently and understanding the factors they consider to choosing bets will quickly teach you to become a better gambler.
1. Tipster Websites & Newspapers
There is no shortage of betting tips on the internet and Horse Racing Tips are a particularly popular and well-populated part of the market. In 2022 there are very few viable horse racing newspapers, magazines, or other printed publications left that are worth considering The standout exception is the authority horse racing newspaper, the Racing Post.
Although it has nowhere near the sales of past decades there is little doubt that for keen gamblers and racegoers it is the premier printed resource available.
Far more prevalent in the present day, due to the amazing accessibility of the internet for both creators and consumers, are digital resources such as websites, social media channels, and private app channels using apps like Telegram and Discord.
1. Horse Racing Websites
Horse racing websites grow in number every year. Websites get cheaper to set up and the market offers constantly improved software to help anyone publish a professional-looking site. Whilst many Racing Tips websites are low-quality and created by inexperienced tipsters entering the market, some of the larger and more established brand websites offer great value to the racing public.
