Most of us at some time or other will have been given a horse racing tip.
If it is the real thing it would have made its way to us having originated with somebody who knows something about the industry in general, and about either this race or this horse in particular. The word may have come from the stable, from connections, or just from somebody who knows a little bit of information that those setting the prices (indirectly other punters) may not.
Betting, essentially, is all about knowledge, coupled with a little bit of intuition. This need not necessarily mean “dodgy” insider knowledge (although of course it could do) but rather someone who knows enough about the sport and its ways to be able to provide sufficient intelligence to be able to counter the bookmaker’s built-in advantage (known as “the house edge”).
With the advent of online betting the wider betting public was introduced to what was for most of us a new source of information – the professional betting tipster. Or more precisely, in most cases at least, the professional horse racing tipster.
The gambler no longer has to depend upon the wisdom of an anonymous tipster of possibly dubious talent hiding behind a name in a racing newspaper. Instead there is now a plethora of experts from which to choose having taken the time and trouble to carefully consider their credentials.
There are also new ways in which to place a bet. Sports bets are no longer impromptu predictions as to which horse will lead the pack to the winning post hastily scribbled onto a scrap of paper. As well as conventional sports bets the punter may prefer to place lay bets, predicting which horse or horses will not be involved in the scramble for final places, giving the whole science of horse racing an entirely new dimension.
Many tipsters have a background in horse racing or other sports themselves, providing us with a reasonable expectation that they would understand how the industry works from the inside and be in a position to provide inspired UK and Irish horse racing betting tips. Others are simply individuals who have made it their business to research their subject thoroughly, thereby quite reasonably lending them the edge over those who haven’t.
All in all though the tipster’s background, however fascinating, matters less than a proven track record of success. It is when all is said and done the tipster’s horse racing systems and success or lack of it over a sustained period that should be the determining factor in whether or not we should respect the integrity of the advice we receive.
Mark Richards is a professional writer working for The Middle Man, a web-based business promotion agency. He also publishes A Blog About SEO.
One thing is for sure. You did a lot of research on this. It’s either that or you just have the knowledge. This is impressive.