TRAINING TO WIN

Learn the ins and outs of handicapping with articles, videos, and expert guides.

What’s your Racing Experience?

Depending on your racing level, we’ve got a few tips for you!

You’re a beginner bettor looking to learn more about wagering, or maybe even making your first-ever horse racing bet while attending the track for fun or watching a major racing event, like the Kentucky Derby.

WHAT DOES PARI-MUTUEL BETTING MEAN IN HORSE RACING?

With very limited exceptions, a horseplayer bets against other bettors whereas a typical casino gambler is betting against the house. The track where the race takes place pools the money bet, takes a cut off the top for expenses (often referred to as takeout), and then pays the balance to the winners. With pari-mutuel wagering, the odds are not fixed and rather are determined by the amount bet on each numbers, so there is an opportunity to leverage your opinion against the odds.

You’re a knowledgeable and somewhat experienced bettor looking to improve your wagering strategies. You bet on the big races, like the Triple Crown series, and occasionally wager on weekday racing action or a particular meet as a recreational hobby.

PURSUE OPINIONS WORTH BETTING

Instead of sitting down to handicap with the question in mind of who will win this race, what if we begin our analysis with the question of how can we make money from this race? Example questions to ask yourself: If “x” horse wins, what is the most likely race shape that plays out, and who else would run well in that situation? If “y” horse doesn’t fire, then who will capitalize? What would have to happen for “z” horse to finish off the board?

You’re a skilled and experienced bettor looking for an additional edge. You regularly watch and analyze horse racing, employ advanced wagering strategies, and can read and understand a racing program and past performances.

MAKE A FAIR ODDS LINE

The key to creating a fair odds line is making sure all the percentages add up to 100%. After compiling your fair odds line, you can compare your fair odds with the actual odds as post time approaches. One side note—be careful not to overemphasize perceived value where high odds are concerned. It’s tempting to think a horse listed at 30-1 on your fair odds line is great value if he’s 50-1 in the actual betting, but we’re talking about the difference between a 3.23% chance of winning and a 1.96% chance of winning.

Video Library

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Training To Win – Win, Place, Show Betting

TwinSpires analyst Ashley Anderson explains how you can place the simple wager types of Win, Place, or Show on the TwinSpires app and what those wagers mean.

Training To Win – Expert Picks

To help you find a winner, TwinSpires has a stable of professional handicappers, offering their thoughts on each race and their Expert Picks selections are available to view on the race page within the TwinSpires app.

Understanding the Odds

TwinSpires racing analyst Ashley Anderson walks novice bettors through the basics of horse racing wagering, from the concept of pari-mutuel betting, to reading and understanding the odds, and how to calculate payouts.

Understanding the Race Program

To help you make more informed wagering decisions, a race book is available directly from the race field page on the TwinSpires app. Get detailed information and stats on horses, jockeys, and trainers right at your fingertips.

Training to Win – Brisnet PPs and Insider Picks & Power Plays

Expert Handicapper James Scully explains how to read and use two Free with Bet handicapping products on TwinSpires courtesy of Brisnet. First is Ultimate Past Performances with Comments and second is Insider Picks & Power Plays.

The Basic Tab

Ashley Anderson explains what the Basic tab on the TwinSpries app contains for you to make a more intelligent wager with TwinSpires.

The Speed Tab

Learn more about what the Speed tab contains for your wagering strategy from Ashley Anderson.

The Class Tab

Learn the how to access the Speed Ratings of horses that are offered in each race with the TwinSpires Class Tab.

The Pace Tab

Learn more from TwinSpires’ Ashley Anderson about the helpful handicapping tool available in TwinSpires app, the Brisnet Pace tab.

The Angles Tab

Find out more about the Angles tab that is available in the TwinSpires wagering platform. Ashley Anderson shares how to utilize the Angles tab to help you make a more informed wager with TwinSpires.

Training to Win – Exotic Wagers

Ashley Anderson explains different wager types that you can bet on TwinSpires known as Exotic Wagers. There are single race exotics like Exactas and Trifectas and multi-race exotics like a Pick 4.

Training to Win – Race Classification

Race classifications can help you identify the quality or experience of horses running in a particular event. Ashley Anderson explains how to find it in the TwinSpires app.

TwinSpires Inside Track on Brisnet Past Performances

Expert handicappers James Scully, Scott Shapiro, and Ashley Anderson join TwinSpires host Andrew Brown for the first installment of the Inside Track video series. They discuss the ins and outs of Brisnet Past Performances and how they use the wealth of information provided in them to make smart wagering decisions. Learn from the best and take their strategies to win by betting with #TwinSpires.

TwinSpires Inside Track on Multi-Race Ticket Structure

Expert handicappers James Scully, Darin Zoccali, and Kevin Kilroy join TwinSpires host Andrew Brown for the second installment of the Inside Track video series. They discuss how they properly create "Pick N" tickets to maximize their value and save money by not playing chalk defensively. Learn from the best and take their strategies to win by betting with #TwinSpires.

Training to Win – Watching Replays

Expert handicapper James Scully shares his top tips to consider when watching replays for your handicapping. TwinSpires offers historical replays for over 300 tracks worldwide.

Training to Win – Multi-Race Ticket Structure

Expert handicapper James Scully explains some major tips you should follow when building a “Pick N” ticket in horse racing. Leverage your strongest opinions and fade vulnerable favorites.

Training to Win – Graded Stakes Race Analysis

Expert handicapper James Scully is here to provide you with some key tips to follow when analyzing a graded stakes race. Follow these tips to find the best value and Bet with #TwinSpires!

Training to Win – When to Toss Speed Ratings

TwinSpires expert handicapper James Scully discusses different scenarios in which you should toss out a horse’s speed ratings in the past performances. Handicap with the best using these tips!

TwinSpires Stable Alerts Desktop Video

Learn all of the features and how to use the NEW Stable Alerts on TwinSpires desktop! Keep track of all of your favorites and Bet with #TwinSpires!

Power Box Modifier Feature on TwinSpires

Learn how to use this powerful bet modifier on your single race exotic wagers.

How to Use Bet Share with TwinSpires

Create group tickets with ease using Bet Share on TwinSpires. Let us handle all of the money collecting and splitting of payouts as you can focus on handicapping and creating a winning ticket!

Training To Win – Win, Place, Show Betting

TwinSpires analyst Ashley Anderson explains how you can place the simple wager types of Win, Place, or Show on the TwinSpires app and what those wagers mean.

Training To Win – Expert Picks

To help you find a winner, TwinSpires has a stable of professional handicappers, offering their thoughts on each race and their Expert Picks selections are available to view on the race page within the TwinSpires app.

Understanding the Odds

TwinSpires racing analyst Ashley Anderson walks novice bettors through the basics of horse racing wagering, from the concept of pari-mutuel betting, to reading and understanding the odds, and how to calculate payouts.

Understanding the Race Program

To help you make more informed wagering decisions, a race book is available directly from the race field page on the TwinSpires app. Get detailed information and stats on horses, jockeys, and trainers right at your fingertips.

Training to Win – Brisnet PPs and Insider Picks & Power Plays

Expert Handicapper James Scully explains how to read and use two Free with Bet handicapping products on TwinSpires courtesy of Brisnet. First is Ultimate Past Performances with Comments and second is Insider Picks & Power Plays.

The Basic Tab

Ashley Anderson explains what the Basic tab on the TwinSpries app contains for you to make a more intelligent wager with TwinSpires.

The Speed Tab

Learn more about what the Speed tab contains for your wagering strategy from Ashley Anderson.

The Class Tab

Learn the how to access the Speed Ratings of horses that are offered in each race with the TwinSpires Class Tab.

The Pace Tab

Learn more from TwinSpires’ Ashley Anderson about the helpful handicapping tool available in TwinSpires app, the Brisnet Pace tab.

The Angles Tab

Find out more about the Angles tab that is available in the TwinSpires wagering platform. Ashley Anderson shares how to utilize the Angles tab to help you make a more informed wager with TwinSpires.

Training to Win – Exotic Wagers

Ashley Anderson explains different wager types that you can bet on TwinSpires known as Exotic Wagers. There are single race exotics like Exactas and Trifectas and multi-race exotics like a Pick 4.

Training to Win – Race Classification

Race classifications can help you identify the quality or experience of horses running in a particular event. Ashley Anderson explains how to find it in the TwinSpires app.

TwinSpires Inside Track on Brisnet Past Performances

Expert handicappers James Scully, Scott Shapiro, and Ashley Anderson join TwinSpires host Andrew Brown for the first installment of the Inside Track video series. They discuss the ins and outs of Brisnet Past Performances and how they use the wealth of information provided in them to make smart wagering decisions. Learn from the best and take their strategies to win by betting with #TwinSpires.

TwinSpires Inside Track on Multi-Race Ticket Structure

Expert handicappers James Scully, Darin Zoccali, and Kevin Kilroy join TwinSpires host Andrew Brown for the second installment of the Inside Track video series. They discuss how they properly create "Pick N" tickets to maximize their value and save money by not playing chalk defensively. Learn from the best and take their strategies to win by betting with #TwinSpires.

Training to Win – Watching Replays

Expert handicapper James Scully shares his top tips to consider when watching replays for your handicapping. TwinSpires offers historical replays for over 300 tracks worldwide.

Training to Win – Multi-Race Ticket Structure

Expert handicapper James Scully explains some major tips you should follow when building a “Pick N” ticket in horse racing. Leverage your strongest opinions and fade vulnerable favorites.

Training to Win – Graded Stakes Race Analysis

Expert handicapper James Scully is here to provide you with some key tips to follow when analyzing a graded stakes race. Follow these tips to find the best value and Bet with #TwinSpires!

Training to Win – When to Toss Speed Ratings

TwinSpires expert handicapper James Scully discusses different scenarios in which you should toss out a horse’s speed ratings in the past performances. Handicap with the best using these tips!

TwinSpires Stable Alerts Desktop Video

Learn all of the features and how to use the NEW Stable Alerts on TwinSpires desktop! Keep track of all of your favorites and Bet with #TwinSpires!

Power Box Modifier Feature on TwinSpires

Learn how to use this powerful bet modifier on your single race exotic wagers.

How to Use Bet Share with TwinSpires

Create group tickets with ease using Bet Share on TwinSpires. Let us handle all of the money collecting and splitting of payouts as you can focus on handicapping and creating a winning ticket!

Betting with Twinspires

Finding a winner is simplified when you have the right tools.

Handicapping – Obtain runner data and past performances

With TwinSpires, you get a wealth of handicapping information right on your screen with just a simple click. You can click on any North American horse’s name in the program to open loads of data pulled directly from Brisnet. You can also view that horse’s race replays and add that horse to your Stable to get notified of the next time it runs directly from this view!

Jason Beem Thursday Thoughts feature
Thursday Thoughts with Jason Beem for March 20, 2025

Thu Mar 20 2025Jason Beem

Jason discusses "psychological bias" in our handicapping and betting decisions we make at the races.

Loves Only You in the winner's circle after the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf
How to pick the winner of a horse race: Step-by-step guide

Tue Mar 04 2025J. Keeler Johnson

Picking the winner of a horse race isn’t as hard as it seems. Even in races with many horses, thorough analysis can consistently uncover winning horses.

Beginner’s guide: How to read horse racing form lines

Tue Feb 25 2025J. Keeler Johnson

In Thoroughbred horse racing, analyzing “the form”—the past performances of each horse in a race—is simpler than it appears.

Best sites for horse racing statistics, data, form, and more

Fri Feb 14 2025J. Keeler Johnson

There are many online options for horseplayers seeking horse racing statistics, data, form lines, etc. to aid their handicapping and betting.

Data Link wins the 2012 Citation Handicap at Hollywood Park
Horse racing data analytics: What data matters most for betting?

Wed Jan 29 2025J. Keeler Johnson

Betting on horse races is a data-driven endeavor. Data analytics is a huge component of handicapping. The number of data points that can be compiled, crunched, and considered is almost endless.

Del Mar Scenic
How to handicap horse races in 5 easy steps

Wed Jan 22 2025J. Keeler Johnson

Handicapping horse races doesn’t have to be difficult. A few simple guidelines can steer you down the path to picking winners and placing smart bets.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I turn off Expert Picks and more?
To turn off certain features in the TwinSpires program, navigate to your account settings and look for Preferences.


How can I save a bet?
To save a bet, first select the runners you would like in your bet. Then, located on the bet slip, there will be an option called SAVE BET.

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