Horse race laying systems are a way to bet on horse racing. In traditional horse racing betting, bettors pick a horse they believe will win the race and they bet on it. In these systems bettors bet on a horse to lose. This is called “lay betting” and it can be used only in betting exchanges. Knowing some common lay systems and how they work can help bettors try more options and make more profit.
How Do Horse Race Laying Systems Work?
A laying system is a plan or a method to choose horses to lay. In normal betting, bettors pick a horse to win. In lay betting, bettors pick a horse that they think will not win. If the horse loses, the bet wins.
For such systems, it is necessary to use a betting exchange platform because regular sportsbooks do not support the lay feature, especially on horse racing. A betting exchange allows bettors to place bets against other people at agreed odds and stakes. It works differently from a bookmaker.
On a betting exchange, when a bettor lays a horse, someone else in the platform is betting that this specific horse will win. Both bettors are taking the opposite sides of the bet and together they form a matched bet. If the horse loses, the lay bet wins and the back bet loses. If the horse wins, the back bet wins and the lay bet loses and the lay bettor must pay the winnings to the other person.
Betting exchanges use odds, like bookmakers, but these odds they are not fixed. The odds show how much a bettor will win or lose depending on the amount of money they will bet. The odds on betting exchanges can be modified by bettors. If a bettor does not agree with the odds available, they can offer their own and wait form another bettor to match them.
When a horse has low odds, it means people think it has a high chance of winning the race. If a horse has high odds, it means people think it has a low chance of winning. As the odds are determined by the people participating in the market, they change very quickly.
Why Do People Use Laying Systems?
People use horse race laying systems because they want to find ways to make their profit consistent and steady. Sometimes, it is a lot easier to pick a horse that will lose a race rather than the horse that will win. There are many horses in a race, most of which will lose the race and only one will win it. This means the chances of a horse losing are much higher.
Some people believe that using a good system can help them win more bets over time. They do not rely on just mere luck and chances, but they do their research. They look for weak horses, they check past results, and they use statistics to decide which horses to lay.
How to Try Common Horse Race Laying Systems?
There are many laying systems for horse racing that have been developed over the years. Beginner bettors can try some simple ones.
Laying the Favorite
The favorite in a horse race is the horse that most people think will win. Therefore, it is the horse with the lowest odds in the race. Favorites do not always win, though. In fact, many favorites lose races. Some people lay the favorite when they believe it has a weak chance of winning.
In order to decide whether the favorite is unlikely to win the race, it is good to check the race conditions, how this horse has performed recently, and what the record of the jockey is. If the favorite looks weak, it is a good chance to place a lay bet on it.
Laying Horses with Bad Form
The form of a horse shows how well it has done in recent races. If a horse has finished in low positions in recent races, it means that is probably not in a good shape. Some people place lay bets on horses that have not done well in their last few races.
Looking at a horse’s form is an easy way to find weak horses and it doesn’t demand a lot of time and effort. Beginner bettors like to use this lay strategy. If a horse has finished last in its last three races, it is very likely that it might lose again.
Laying in Big Races
In big races, there are many strong horses. Even if a horse is a favorite, it still has tough competition. Some bettors place lay bets on horses in big races because there is more chance that the favorite will lose.
Big races also have more betting action. In betting exchanges, it is very important that be high liquidity. This shows that many people are participating and there is sufficient money in the market. This means bettors can often get better odds for their lay bets.
What Are the Risks of Using Laying Systems?
All betting has risks. Even when bettors use horse race laying systems, they can still lose money. Therefore, bettors should come to terms with this fact and not chase losses when they happen.
As mentioned, horses do win. If the horse a bettor lay wins, they lose the bet. They many have to pay a lot depending on the odds. It is important to keep the liability of the lay bet as low as possible.
The markets on a betting exchange move fast and the odds can change. The odds a bettor gets when they place a lay bet may change before the race starts. Therefore, it is good to place the lay bets just before the race starts, and choose betting exchanges where in-play betting is available, in order to adjust the bet during the race to minimize losses.
Mistakes can always happen. Horse racing needs a lot of research and race conditions checking. If a bettor does not check the race carefully, they may lay a strong horse by mistake.
To reduce risks, it is necessary for bettors to keep track of the race details, use a plan and never bet more than they can afford to lose.
In Short
Horse race laying systems are a way to bet on horse racing by choosing horses to lose instead of win. These systems are popular because it seems easier to pick the losing horse than the winning one in a race. There are some common laying systems to use that when they are used with careful research, they can lead to steady profit over time. It is important, however, to be mindful of the betting risks in order to avoid unnecessary mistakes.