How to pick a winning horse at Echuca Races
Give yourself the best odds with this easy guide to picking a winning racehorse when you go to the Echuca Racing Club for a great day of thoroughbred racing.
Book ahead with Discovery Parks - Moama West to make the most of your time in Echuca.
The Course
Some horses prefer certain courses. When deciding which horse you are going with, check it’s racing history and which direction the horse prefers to race in versus how the Echuca Race Course is set out. This will help to eliminate horses immediately from your winning pool.
Note: Racecourses in Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania and Western Australia are designed for anti-clockwise races, whereas Queensland and New South Wales racecourses are clockwise.
The Form
Pick up the official race card on the day you visit the Echuca Races; take everything on this form into account, comparing each with the conditions of the race day and weight carried. Things to look at:
- How the horse performed: did it win or place? How much did it win/lose by?
- What was the distance it ran?
- What weight did it carry?
- Is the same jockey racing the horse?
The Horse
Head down to the paddock inspection at Echuca Racing Club to have a good look at the horses you have your eye on. Things to check:
- The horses’ gait: Is it walking confidently and comfortably? Is there a sense of direction?
- The muscle tone/weight: Is the horse carrying excess fat on its belly? Can you see muscle defined behind the ribs and on the rump?
- Is the horse alert? Are its ears pointed and up? Note: If they are flat to its head that suggests the horse is agitated.
- Look into the horses’ recent performance: Did it perform well in the last three races? What are its odds?
- Is there a handicap?
The Jockey
It’s good to know who’s behind the wheel of the horse at the Echuca Races. While you’re checking the horse over, you can have a look at the jockey, and answer the following:
- Are they interacting well with the horse and the trainer?
- Do they look calm and collected?
If you have time, look into their recent racing history to see if the jockey has improved the race odds for the horses he has ridden.
The Going
The going is a term used for the racecourse’s surface. There are 10 types of track surfaces that can take form at the Echuca Racing Club. The track can range from dry and hard to very soft and wet; the heaviest category. Check the going on the race day and assess how this will impact the horses. Knowing the horse’s preference and the condition of the ground on race day will help you chose the right horse.
Weight
You can bet that the horses at the Echuca Races will be rated based on their previous performance. A low rating means lower weight will be added to the horse as it hasn’t performed well in the races. Well performing horses are given weight. The point of adding weight to the horses who do better are so that each horse has an equal chance to win the race.
The Echuca Races
Country Racing in Victoria is very popular and the Echuca Racing Club prides itself on being a relaxed club that has around 11 races per season.
Race Dates 2015-2016 Season:
- Monday 17 August 2015
- Saturday 5 September 2015
- Monday 5 October 2015
- Tuesday 3 November 2015 (MELBOURNE CUP DAY)
- Monday 16 November 2015
- Thursday 31 December 2015
- Friday 12 February 2016
- Sunday 10 April 2016
- Sunday 29 May 2016 (ECHUCA CUP DAY)
- Monday 27 Jun 2016
- Monday 11 July 2016
Get ready to win big!
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