The Economist Horse

Each to his own. Know the old saying? In a way, it sums up betting. Some punters like to bet for a win, others for a place, still others love the quinellas or trifectas, or doubles. It's all a mat...

Victoria can proudly boast many of the best country racetracks in Australia. Quite a number of them offer spacious, testing courses which offer every runner a chance. The best courses, in my opi...

I’ve spent years trying to beat the TAB and bookies and I’ve lost my bank more times than I can remember. There have been a few big wins; as many as a man with only three fingers could count on ...

The late Don Scott once wrote that the best form of exotic betting is the trifecta. I think he was right. Don said picking a trifecta winning bet was a test of skill rather than a game of chance. ...

Greyhound racing is probably the best system under which a punter in Australia can risk - or rather, invest - his hard earned dough. To my way of thinking there is nothing so good as a standout "...

Can any Practical Punting Monthly readers remember back to the 'dark' days before 1985, when there wasn't such a magazine as this? Doesn't bear thinking about, does it? In those bygone days, punt...

Thousands of British racing fans will converge on Paris this weekend for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, and any who take a copy of The Economist to read on the Eurostar may arrive at the Gare du No...

The term 'overlay' betting has been used a great deal in recent times. What it really means is 'value' securing a better price about a horse than its true chance reflects. It attempts to take the...

The term 'overlay' betting has been used a great deal in recent times. What it really means is 'value' securing a better price about a horse than its true chance reflects. It attempts to take the...

A rich businessman once gave me some advice. "Always remember," he said, "that 80 per cent of everything is usually controlled by 20 per cent. In my business, I always know that 80 per cent of my ...

Are you a clever punter? Or perhaps you're a mug punter? Or perhaps something in between? Melbourne form analyst Paul Segar has advice for all punters in his excellent new book "Horse Racing Theor...

One of the grumbles I hear from punters is that they don't understand the "money side" of gambling. They're okay at just about everything else but why, they ask, can they rarely make a killing? M...