The fun of picking winning longshots in horse racing

Horse racing has been a popular pastime in the UK and Ireland for hundreds of years. There are a lot of different ways people look to bet on these events, and there are many different races in the UK and Ireland every month.

There are also a huge number of events that can easily be followed online, and the choices for people who want to bet on horse racing are more prevalent than ever.

People who like picking a longshot have a lot of different choices. Some people choose to play slot games, and though there’s no “choosing” involved, some casino sites in Ireland provide things like progressive jackpots and other longshot options that can potentially lead to long odds and dream returns.

A longshot can be compared to a lottery. People may not think that they have the highest chances of winning but joining in the fun and potentially having a chance to win is fun enough. Some people even combine their long shots to make it an even longer set of odds. Using accumulators or other forms of betting can lead to bigger odds than individual bets, of course.

Can longshots win in horse racing?

So, do people even have a chance when they bet on a long shot? There are bettors who would never go anywhere near a long-odds horse. The outsiders and less-fancied horses are not necessarily the best way of getting a return, but they do have larger returns when they come in.

There are also plenty of examples through history where the longer odds horses have won—even in huge races like the Grand National, where there are a lot of different horses in the race. Long odds don’t mean a bad horse or one that doesn’t have a chance at all, but the more runners there are, the longer the odds.

Among the standout victories is He Knows No Fear, who shocked the racing world in 2020 by winning a Leopardstown maiden race at an unprecedented 300/1, the longest odds ever in British and Irish racing. Despite his poor debut performance, the horse surged to victory, leaving bookmakers and punters stunned.

Another unforgettable horse racing upset occurred in 1990 when Equinoctial won a novice hurdle at Kelso at odds of 250/1 (setting the record for the longest-priced winner in Britain). In Ireland, Killahara Castle matched 200/1 odds in 2017, triumphing in a mares' novice hurdle at Thurles, an impressive feat for both horse and jockey!

These do set a precedent, and the fact is that there are a lot of different options for people who are looking to gamble, and occasionally, the long shots do come off.

Horse racing is an interesting sport when compared to some other forms of gambling—it is something people can study and look at the form for. There is some level of skill in understanding the horses. Even things like the ground surface and whether or not it is suitable for a specific horse can help people to try to gain an insight. Obviously, there are many random elements, and this is especially true in some forms of horse racing, like steeplechases.

Longshots can be place or “each way” bets

Choosing a very long shot to win a race can sometimes be tricky. It is not like 300/1 shots are always winning the big races. There are some different ways that people can bet, and a “place” or “each way” bet can make it a little more likely that a player will get a win (though it can also impact the returns).

A place bet involves wagering on a horse to finish in one of the top positions (e.g. 1st, 2nd, or 3rd). The number of places paid depends on the size of the field and the bookmaker’s terms. For example, in a race with 8–15 runners, the bet typically pays out if the horse finishes in the top three.

An each-way bet combines two separate wagers—one on the horse to win and one for it to place. The stake is doubled, as you're effectively placing two bets. If the horse wins, both parts of the bet pay out, if the horse only places, you receive a return on the place portion of the bet. This type of betting is especially popular for longer-odds horses, as it provides a chance to secure a return even without a win.

Choosing long shots

There are over 70 race meetings next spring alone, which gives some idea of just how many different options people have. Each of those has multiple different horses involved, and this can equate to a lot of different options.

When it comes to long shots, there are two main approaches—some people choose to look over all the statistics and do their research. They may be able to gain some insight from former results, as well as a lot of other factors like the weather and the “going” in a specific track. Some people just choose a horse at random! It isn’t always the most effective strategy, but people should only bet what they can afford to lose, so they may just choose to put a small bet on something like their favourite colours being worn by the jockey or things like the name of the horse.

Historically, a lot of people have picked in this way. Someone who only occasionally wants to put a bet on might not want to spend a long time doing research.

Conclusion

Calling a long shot correctly can be one of the most fulfilling aspects of sports betting. People are often looking to add a bit more entertainment to watching the racing, and both random picks and researched outsiders may have a chance of winning the race. Nobody ever knows exactly what is going to happen, so make sure you gamble responsibly and only bet what you can afford to lose.