Sample Article: How and When to Spot Long Shots

It is rare when it happens, but sometimes the horse that gets ruled out first is the one that cleans up the most triumphantly. Betting the long shot is not only the riskiest bet on the board, it is often the most ignored option.

There are some specific tips one should follow when betting any horse race and the long shot should only be bet when the circumstances are right. Insiders will tell you that odds don’t apply as much if one or two big favorites are really skewing the odds. The betting odds are the key in any long shot bet. From a pure investment perspective, the long shot is the most rewarding bet out of every race. The smart money rides on long shot horses that have had improving success in previous races. Long shot bettors also look for late additions and horses that seem ignored or misrepresented in the odds. It helps to have an eye for spotting overrated favorites as well.

Jockey’s and trainers another key factor that bettors will focus in on. Most bettors recognize that most races (especially the bigger ones) are one by a very tight pool of trainers and drivers. They also recognize that chasing the long shot against these big name horses is quick way to lose your bankroll, however it doesn’t mean that they won’t jump on a long shot for the same reasons. Like the case of last year’s winner Mine That Bird, Jockey Calvin Borel decided that he wanted to ride Mine That Bird because he thought she was the best horse in the race despite the odds. Those who know and believed in Calvin, jumped on this long shot because in hopes they could cash in Borel’s lucrative instinct. If they didn’t get on board the first time, you almost have to ask why any bettor wouldn’t follow Borel into the next leg of the triple crown when he took The Preakness Stakes aboard Rachel Alexandra?

The jockey factor can sway bettors toward both extremes, but remember that although trainers and drivers are extremely important, the fastest horse will still win. Things that can cripple a favorite are simple and plentiful. Even the best jockeys will report that they can’t always get the best performance out of their horse, even though they believed that same horse was the best contender. There is no guarantee that the “fastest” horse can be compelled to run their hardest.

Another great long shot wonder was Giacomo, who took his 50-1 odds across the finish line at his Kentucky Derby Victory in 2005. Will this year add another longshot winner to a decade already packed with the unexpected? The Run For The Roses is les than two weeks away!

Watch The Photo Finish and Longshot victory at the 2005 Kentucky Derby!