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Betting at Goodwood
If you're new to racing or betting, our simple and easy guide will help you to enjoy your day and have a ‘flutter’ at Goodwood
A beginner's guide to racing & betting
Before placing your bet, study your racecard to see which runners are in form and be sure to visit the Parade Ring to assess which horse looks the most likely to win. Our guide gives you the tips you need, from spotting the best horse to placing a bet.
18+ only. Goodwood Racecourse is committed to ensuring that your day remains fun at all times and we therefore advocate safe gambling practices, explore more at BeGambleAware.org
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So, how well do you know your horseracing?
It’s pretty straightforward really; a group of horses race over a set distance and the fastest one wins. Except, there are a few other factors to take into account. Much like ourselves, horses’ characters vary greatly and no one can really know how they are feeling on a given day.
Add in the tactics employed by the jockeys, varying ground conditions, undulations in the track and good old-fashioned bad luck and what you have is a spectacle that is far from predictable. That’s what makes racing so addictive, so Glorious.
Trainer
The person responsible for preparing a horse for the races. They plan everything, from the day to day feeding and exercise to the races in which the horse will run.
Owner
The backbone of racing, owners invest their hard-earned money in a horse and pay for it to be trained. They get the majority of the prize money.
Groom
The lads and lasses who work in stables looking after the welfare and exercise of the horses.
Furlong
Racing’s unit of distance measurement. There are eight furlongs to a mile.
Stalls
Horses are loaded into the stalls to ensure a clean start.
Going
The underfoot conditions. This varies from ‘heavy’ to ‘firm’.
Paddock/Parade Ring
The area where the horses walk round before racing to warm up. It’s a great place to see the horses and make your selection.
Rating
Horses are afforded an official rating by the sport’s governing body (the BHA) according to their previous performances.
Handicap
A handicap race is where horses are allocated different weights to carry according to their official rating. A higher rating = more weight.
Group Races
These are the most prestigious races on the calendar, with Group One races being the pinnacle.
Steward's Enquiry
This occurs when there has been an interference in the race and the racecourse stewards are investigating. Bookies won’t pay out until the results of the enquiry are announced.
Weighed In, Weighed In
The stewards are happy that the race has been run fairly and by the rule book. Go and collect your winnings you lucky one!
Spotting a Good Horse
There is no real rule to what makes one horse faster than another, sadly, so spotting a nice ‘type’ in the paddock is far from straightforward. But choosing a horse with a bright eye, shiny coat, pep in his step and a calm demeanour is definitely a good start.
Our jargon buster below can help you to understand the terms used to describe our horses within our racecards.
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Colt
A male horse four years of age or less.
Horse
A male horse over the age of four.
Gelding
A male horse of any age who is no longer ‘entire.’ (The poor chap).
Filly
A female horse of four years or younger.
Mare
A female horse over four year of age.
Front-Runner
A horse who tends to race from the front.
Maiden
A horse who has never won a race.
Sire and Dam
The horse’s father and mother.
Blinkers
A piece of headgear worn by horses to help them concentrate. Alternatively, ‘Cheek pieces’ or a ‘Visor’ may be used.
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Jockeys
Jockeys must ensure that they can be a given weight when they ride in a race. For example, if a horse carries 9st 3lbs, the jockey must be able to stand on the scales before the race with the saddle, wearing full kit and colours and be that exact weight.
This works hand in hand with spotting a good horse. Once you've collated everything, you can head over and place your bet on your 'preferred' horse for each race. If you're lucky enough to be within one of our Hospitality or private boxes, you can receive tips for the day’s racing from our resident tipster*.
*This varies per fixture and select Hospitality packages
Overweight
This is when a jockey cannot make the specified weight and carries a few extra pounds. Don’t judge them too harshly, they’re probably already several stone under their natural bodyweight.
Colours
The coloured silks worn by the jockey to distinguish each horse. The colours are chosen by and registered to the owner.
Apprentice
An apprentice jockey is a rider under the age of 26 who is attached to a particular stable. They will claim a weight allowance according to the number of winners they have ridden. This allowance (7lbs, 5lbs or 3lbs) is taken off the horse’s allocated weight in a race and acts as an incentive for owners and trainers to use them over more experienced professionals. The allowance is in brackets next to their name in the racecard.
Champion Jockey
The rider who has won the most races in a complete season.
Everyone's Turf
Horseracing offers something for everyone, and at Goodwood Racecourse, it’s no different. Whether you want to dress up or dress down, take your family for a fun day out, dance to live music or enjoy great food, there's a fixture that's right for you.
What are you waiting for? There really is something for everyone with over 400 fixtures across 49 racecourses this Summer. A day at the races can be everyone’s turf, come see for yourself!
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