Because horse racing is unpredictable, things can and do go wrong. All the studying in the world cannot guard against them.
Horses can have off-days too
Horses can be unpredictable. Even the most well-behaved horses can have off-days. If they don’t want to cooperate with a jockey they will:
• dig their heels in and refuse to run
• not go into the starting stall
• refuse to jump fences
• attempt to throw the jockey.
You may know in advance that a horse has a reputation for being difficult, so it’s best to avoid betting on it. Save your money for the runners you are certain of.
Other horses
It is common for horses to bring down others at jumps. A horse may be the best jumper in the world but if another horse gets in its way, it can easily fall. Loose horses can cause all sorts of problems. They can box in your selection, bump into it or run across its path, all of which can cause a horse to lose a race.
Weights
Weights can and do occasionally fall off in the course of a race. Jockeys also sometimes forget to weigh in after a race. Either of these situations results in disqualification.
False starts
A false start can ruin a horse’s chance of winning – he may have run half of the race before being recalled. However, safeguards have been put in place to prevent a repeat performance of the 1993 British Grand National fiasco when several horses completed the course after a false start.
Other factors
Jockeys do occasionally take the wrong course. Horses can also escape from the jockey before the race. This can result in their being withdrawn from the race, particularly if they have used up a lot of energy running all over the course. Although you wlll have your stake refunded (unless, you’ve bet ante-post) if that horse is your selection, It can mean your hard work has been wasted, Alternatively, if your horse is still running, it can mean that adjustments to the bettmg make your bet unprofitable (if, for example, you have bet each way).
Although these incidents happen infrequently, you should bear them in mind as possibilities. It’s tempting to stake a lot of money on a horse when you think it can’t fail to win. By keeping your stakes to a reasonable level on each race, you will minimize your losses when these events do occur.