Horse race betting is a popular form of gambling that has been enjoyed by people for generations. It can be a fun and exciting hobby, but it’s important to remember that there is no such thing as a racing certainty and to only bet what you can afford to lose. There are many stories out there about “horse racing tips” that people staked huge sums on, only to see the horses lose in the race.

I’ve been around gambling since quite a young age (maybe 18 or so), and whilst casino games are definitely my thing, I have popped into the local bookies/race bookmakers/Tote/TAB offices from time to time. I do like watching live horse racing, whether that’s in person or on TV, but I’ve never found it to be a “good bet” or of any true interest to me. But I can see why some people get hooked on this gambling.

Over my time as a gambler I’ve met a LOT of people, and from talking to them (and my own experiences) I’ve learned that sometimes even the best-laid plans can go awry. This blog post is a story about a time when a friend lost a lot of money on a horse that was supposed to be a racing certainty.

One night, while out drinking with friends, I met an old school friend named Brian. We caught up on old times and soon our conversation turned to our mutual interest in gambling. Brian told me about some of his most successful betting days, and I shared some of my own experiences. He then revealed that he was good friends with a local trainer who had some valuable information to share with me.

Brian told me about a horse that was running in ten days and was thought to be unbeatable. The trainer wanted the horse to have an easy victory in order to build its confidence. I expressed that I don’t normally bet on horses, as I find them unpredictable. My other friend Paul who was with us drinking was intrigued however and placed a significant amount of money on the horse, thinking that this would be an easy win.

Unfortunately, things did not go as planned for Paul. On race day, the horse was in the lead with only two fences left to jump, but it fell at the second to last fence. Paul was devastated (and I was devastated for him), as the horse would have won if it had just been able to complete the race. Even though it wasn’t my own money backing that horse, it taught me a valuable lesson about horse race betting: there is no such thing as a racing certainty. The only certainty I saw is that you’ll likely lose betting on random outcomes.

Gambling can be fun, but it’s important to be responsible and only bet what you can afford to lose. Personally, I treat gambling as a hobby and over the years I’ve decreased the amount I bet, especially with the costs of food, electricity, phone bills, and council rates going up constantly. It’s important to have fun in life – and gambling can be fun… but it must be balanced. Always pay your bills first! If you’re going to take up horse race betting, be careful, and keep your bets low. There are no “guaranteed wins” on offer.