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

Filters

2024 Breeders' Cup Handicapping Live Stream Show

Join the TwinSpires 2024 Breeders' Cup LIVE handicapping livestream with Darin Zoccali, James Scully, Vance Hanson and Ashley Anderson as they debate their best bets and top picks in the Breeders' Cup Classic, Turf, Mile, Sprint, Juvenile and Juvenile Turf.

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!

Quick Bet Feature for Android

Looking to quickly place a bet close to post time? Quickly build bets using our expert’s guidance! We are now offering the ability to click on expert picks which automatically constructs an exacta box wager leveraging our expert’s guidance.

2024 Breeders' Cup Handicapping Live Stream Show

Join the TwinSpires 2024 Breeders' Cup LIVE handicapping livestream with Darin Zoccali, James Scully, Vance Hanson and Ashley Anderson as they debate their best bets and top picks in the Breeders' Cup Classic, Turf, Mile, Sprint, Juvenile and Juvenile Turf.

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!

Quick Bet Feature for Android

Looking to quickly place a bet close to post time? Quickly build bets using our expert’s guidance! We are now offering the ability to click on expert picks which automatically constructs an exacta box wager leveraging our expert’s guidance.

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!

Del Mar Scenic
The Smartest Bet in Horse Racing: 4 Strategies for Success

Fri Jul 26 2024J. Keeler Johnson

What is the smartest bet in horse racing? The answer is both incredibly complex and surprisingly simple.

Kentucky Derby starting gate (Photo by Coady Media/Churchill Downs)
Coming to You Live: A History of Broadcasting the Kentucky Derby

Sun Jul 21 2024Jennifer Kelly

The 150 years of the Kentucky Derby have seen this famous test follow the evolution of media, where this racing experience has gone from words on a page to images on our screens, creating a day at the races unlike any other.

TwinSpires Tournaments Logo
Expert advice for playing tournaments from the TwinSpires team

Wed Jul 24 2024TwinSpires Staff

Tournaments at TwinSpires are better than ever as the horse racing industry's authoritative betting solution presents a new experience for our horseplayers.

The Impact of Horse Age on Speed and Performance

Sun Jul 14 2024J. Keeler Johnson

It’s long been understood that the age of a racehorse impacts their speed and performance.

The role of jockey techniques in maximizing horse speed

Sat Jul 06 2024J. Keeler Johnson

There are many ways jockeys can maximize the speed of the racehorses they ride. Some can be analyzed mathematically.

Each-way bets in horse racing explained: places, payoffs, and examples

Fri Jul 05 2024J. Keeler Johnson

What is an each-way bet in horse racing? American fans might not be familiar with the term. It’s a common bet in the fixed-odds bookmaking world of the United Kingdom, but pari-mutuel betting in the U.S. lacks a direct equivalent.

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.

SEE MORE