What is NASCAR and where can you bet on it?

Posted on January 9, 2012 by admin| Leave a comment

NASCAR is the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing and it is the leading body on stock car racing in the USA. Mainly it is associated with the Camping World Truck Series, the Sprint Cup Series and the Nationwide Series. It is also the governing body of the Whelen All-American Series and Modified Tour. Overall there are 1,500 NASCAR sanctioned races and around 100 NASCAR race tracks in the USA. It is second only to American Football in terms of television viewer ratings.

The Sprint Cup Series is the main competition within NASCAR. The season lasts for 10 months and there are 36 races, which makes it much bigger than Formula One. In fact this series is what most people mean when they refer to NASCAR racing and that is what we will concentrate on in this article.

All the cars in the Sprint Cup Series are based on standard saloon cars (though of course in the US they call them sedans). Although they are called stock cars, they need only include three parts from ordinary manufacturing stock which are the bonnet (they call it the hood), the roof and the boot lid (trunk lid over there). However that is where the similarity to standard cars stops. There is a restricted wheel base, weight and fuel type (110 octane unleaded fuel). Typically these cars have a top speed of around 230 mph.

In 2011 four outstanding Sprint Cup drivers were: Tony Stewart, who won five races and collected the Sprint Cup; Kevin Harvick, who won 4 races; Carl Edwards who won one race and four pole positions; and Matt Kenseth, the winner of three races and at 40 is the oldest race drivers in the series.

Betting on NASCAR is very popular and one of the most popular places to do it is at Betfair as their model as a betting exchange rather than a standard bookmaker is ideal for this kind of sport. In play NASCAR betting is very exciting too.

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And the winner of the Cheltenham Gold Cup 2012 is…

Posted on December 20, 2011 by admin| Leave a comment

The 2012 Cheltenham Gold Cup is shaping up to be a very exciting race and although at the time of writing the ante post favourite is clearly last year’s winner Long Run (on which the best odds available are around 24/10 on Betfair) it is by no means certain that he will equal last year’s performance. Kauto Star, the winner of the Gold Cup in 2007 and 2009 is back in contention and is priced around 4/1 which makes him second favourite. Grand Crus is the third favourite at 9/1 and the fourth is Synchronised at 12/1.

Before the King George VI Chase at Kempton Park on Boxing Day 2011 it looked as if it was a fairly safe bet to pick Long run as the 2012 Gold Cup winner, but now choosing between Long Run and Kauto Star is a little bit more difficult.

Before his winning performance at the 2011 King George VI Chase it appeared that Kauto Star might be getting a little old, however horses that are getting a little past their prime rarely win races such as that one on the fifth occasion. According to his rider Ruby Walsh, Kauto Star is as fine a horse as once was Arkle. Long Run had been the firm favourite and it did seem that the smart money was on him. In the end he was beaten by one and a half lengths by Kauto Star in a remarkable and courageous run. Kauto Star and Ruby Walsh are a fine combination and the horse ran and jumped with all the appearance of a horse half his age. His blues of last year’s mid-season triple failures seem to be despatched to history; Kauto Star is back. The crowd was ecstatic.

In the Cheltenham Gold Cup Kauto Star and long Run will race against each other for the fifth occasion and each has won on two of the occasions. So which of them will win in 2012?

The Gold Cup is a particularly testing race and the final run up the Cheltenham Hill can be particularly gruelling; many horses have lost the race just there. If you bet with your heart then Kauto Star might be your choice, but if you bet with your head then you might consider that the younger legs on Long Run will propel him up the hill to be first past the post.

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Posted in Races

York Racecourse

Posted on October 19, 2011 by admin| Leave a comment

Aside from Aintree and Cheltenham, the York Racecourse is among the top racecourses you should visit whenever you want to watch top horse races and heart-pumping actions. Located just outside the city of York in North Yorkshire, England, the York Racecourse hosts some of the best races including the Ebor Handicap in August and top Group One races with a lot of actions to anticipate, the International Stakes, the Nunthorpe Stakes and the Yorkshire Oaks.

The York Racecourse held Royal Ascot for a year back in 2005, so it is obvious that this racecourse has all the qualities needed to host exciting top races. The Royal Ascot is not just an ordinary event at all, and York Racecourse successfully held the event in June 2005 while Ascot Racecourse was renovated.

If you are visiting the York Racecourse, you should really go all the way and enjoy the Ebor stand for the best views of the races. You wouldn’t have any problem at all enjoying top, heart pumping, races from this part of the racecourse, especially because the course is clearly visible from this part. Other enclosures as well as supporting amenities are also available, so superb times enjoying horse races are to be expected.

Let’s not forget that the York Racecourse also won 2003 Racecourse of the Year title after The Times’ survey examined all Britain’s racecourses. The racecourse is also child-friendly and disabled-friendly, so it is definitely suitable for group or family travel with friends and relatives. You will enjoy exciting times for sure.

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Posted in Racecourses

Picking a Winner for the Cheltenham Gold Cup

Posted on April 5, 2011 by admin| Leave a comment

The Cheltenham Gold Cup seems to attract more speculation regarding which horse will win it than any other race. Perhaps this is because of the importance of the race. It is the most important jump race on the National Hunt calendar and the most prestigious. As a result it attracts many of the very top horses.

The defending Champion is Imperial Commander and this season he has been going great guns. He has been performing very well. He won the Betfair Chase with relative ease and he won at Haydock against a strong field. The result of these wins was a shortening of his Gold Cup odds but he has also had a small set back. He injured his leg and although the wound is healing well, he is unlikely to run again before the Gold Cup so he might find that he has not got the staying power this year for such an arduous race.

Naturally many punters favour Kauto Star, and who can blame them. He has been going reasonably well this season and he got off to a flying start at Down Royal; he won the JNwine Champion Chase comfortably victory which started people favouring him for the Gold Cup. Unfortunately, it has not all been good. In the King George VI Chase at Kempton he lost out to Long Run who won the race with ease and generally looked the superior horse. Long Run is trained by Nicky Henderson and seems to be in tip top form to take the Gold Cup. It is certainly worth keeping an eye on his price. It could be that this year he will be the new champion.

Naturally we must still consider Denman’s chances Naturally many Cheltenham betting punters favour Kauto Star. He has already won the cup on two occasions, in 2008 and 2009, losing out to Kuato star in 2009. In 2010 he came second to Imperial Commander, and although many of his fans were disappointed, second is only one place of victory. However he has not been in great form this season. In the Hennessy Gold Cup he carried the top weight and started very well, however he ran out of steam in the closing stages and lost out to Diamond Harry.

Diamond Harry, trained by Nick Williams, is another horse worth watching and could easily spring a surprise.

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Posted in Races

Aintree Racecourse

Posted on February 28, 2011 by admin| Leave a comment

The Aintree Racecourse is famous for hosting Aintree Grand National. It is located in Aintree, Merseyside, England, surrounded by beautiful natural sceneries. You will also find the air temperature and humidity at this racecourse superbly comfortable during spring and summer, offering top horse races and superb ambience. If you love enjoying up-close actions, make sure you time your visit to the Aintree Racecourse properly to witness the Aintree Grand National yourself. You will be amazed by the number of actions and excitements – not to mention interesting twists – you will find throughout the race weekend.

The Aintree steeplechase course is noted to be one of the most difficult courses in the world, even for top horses. There are tricky parts and fences to go through, including the famous The Chair, Canal Turn and Becher’s Brook. Even professional jockeys and trainers are more than just careful when it comes to these three fences.

Aside from the majestic Grand National, the Aintree Racecourse also hosts the Topham Chase, Fox Hunters’ Chase at the Grand National Meeting. Of course the Grand Sefton Handicap Chase and Becher Handicap Chase are also equally exciting, so be sure you catch them as well. With top seats and amazing amenities waiting to keep you comfortable throughout the race weekends, you will find visiting Aintree Racecourse superbly indulging. If you are a true horseracing fan, be sure to visit the racecourse and witness the famous Grand National at least once in a lifetime; it is the utmost horserace viewing experience for sure.

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Posted in Racecourses

Cheltenham Racecourse

Posted on December 19, 2010 by admin| Leave a comment

The Cheltenham Racecourse is one of the best racecourses in the UK. It features unique horseracing ambience with soothing surrounding views, making visiting the track superbly enjoyable. It is also the home of infamous Cheltenham Gold Cup, featuring top horses competing for the title of champion. Let’s take a look at the Cheltenham Racecourse, shall we?

The Cheltenham Racecourse is located at Prestbury Park, just outside Cheltenham, Gloucestershire. The Cheltenham Racecourse is famous for its natural amphitheater, featuring superb view of the track and 67,500 seating capacity. You will notice how the Cheltenham Racecourse is highly challenging even for top horses, so exciting races are to be expected.

If you see the Cheltenham Racecourse from Cleeve Hill, you will see the beautiful racecourse and amazing view of the surrounding area. If you are visiting the racecourse, make sure you take your time to enjoy a nice stroll around the surrounding area. There are also top amenities you will find at Cheltenham Racecourse, including some of the best restaurants and of course the famous Steeplechase Hall of Fame.

The Centaur, an on-site auditorium, noted to be one of the best function halls in the South West of England. There are several interesting events being held here, including the annual Greenbelt festival and Wychwood Music Festival. The two racecourses, the Old Course and New Course, will provide tons of exciting races to enjoy. Make sure you have enough energy whenever you are visiting Cheltenham Racecourse, because there will be so many things to enjoy.

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Posted in Racecourses

Royal Ascot Festival

Posted on March 7, 2010 by admin| Leave a comment

Royal Ascot Festival or simply the Royal Ascot is noted to be the biggest flat racing meeting for the year. It is of course held at the Ascot Racecourse, featuring the best flat racing tracks as well as unique ambience. The best way to enjoy the Royal Ascot Festival is to visit Ascot Racecourse directly, since you will be able to get utter excitement throughout the event.

Since Royal Ascot is a highly anticipated event, it would be best to book your seats or enclosures early if you plan on attending the race directly at Ascot Racecourse. The trip will be well worth it indeed, although you might want to book early if you want to get the best seats in the house. The Ascot Racecourse is capable of welcoming thousands – no less than 300,000 to be exact – of horseracing fans from around the world at their amazing facilities, with amenities and other excitements to keep you amused at all times.

The Royal Ascot consists of 7 Group One races and 10 other group races. You will certainly be able to watch top horses compete against each other, especially because these Group One races are superbly prestigious. Aside from the St. James Palace Stakes, you can also watch King’s Stand Stakes, Queen Anne Stakes, Prince of Wales’ Stakes, Coronation Stakes, and the Golden Jubilee Stakes. Let’s not forget the highlight of Royal Ascot, the Ascot Gold Cup, which guarantees exciting 2 miles 4 furlongs run; exciting moments are to be expected.

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The Aintree Grand National

Posted on February 15, 2010 by admin| Leave a comment

Grand National is one of the most anticipated horse races in the world. Held at the Aintree Racecourse, the Grand National is captivating indeed, offering superbly interesting and action pumped races as well as nice – often surprising – twists to make the event that much more interesting. This year’s Grand National will be even more interesting as a lot of top horses are preparing for the event.

The Tricky Trickster is favored to win the Grand National, but this doesn’t mean we have a sure winner at all. We all remember how Mon Mome, a horse that was not favored at all – with no less than 100 to 1 odds against him – compared to other contenders, won the 2009 Grand National and surprised everyone watching. This is exactly the kind of twists that would make Grand National always interesting to watch.

Aside from Tricky Trickster, we will see top horses such as Big Fella Thanks as well as Niche Market competing for the title of champion this year. Vic Venturi, State of Play, and last year’s winner Mon Mome will also be competing in this year’s Grand National, so this will be an interesting race for sure.

If you are also a horseracing punter, you should really start calculating odds and placing your bets today. The Grand National is still several months away, but you will certainly get the best odds if you place your bets early. Make sure you compare horses properly to avoid surprises and to stay profitable at all times.

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Cheltenham Gold Cup

Posted on January 12, 2010 by admin| Leave a comment

The biggest racing day in the world of horse racing would have to be Cheltenham Gold Cup. Designed to be a spectacular race entertaining thousands, if not millions, of horseracing fans across the globe, the Cheltenham Gold Cup is a race you wouldn’t want to miss for sure. This year’s Cheltenham Gold Cup is even more interesting with several rivalries towards becoming the 2010 Cheltenham Gold Cup champion already heating up since several months ago.

For the top three contenders, we have Kauto Star, Denman, and of course the experienced Imperial Commander. These three horses will be competing with other quality horses including Cooldine, Tricky Trickster, What A Friend, Carruthers, the Calgary Bay, and many more. These are top horses indeed, so action pumped race is to be expected.

There is nothing better than witnessing the majestic Cheltenham Gold Cup directly, so make sure you get your hands on some cheltenham tickets in good time. The racecourse has tons of amenities to enjoy and amazing enclosures available, you will have the best time enjoying Cheltenham Gold Cup for sure.

Let’s not forget that betting is also a huge aspect of horseracing. If you want to place bets on your favorite horses competing in the Cheltenham Gold Cup, make sure you compare odds and place your bets early. This way, you can be much more profitable and get better odds on your bets. Who knows, you might win handsome cash rewards from your beta. Make sure you use available free bets offered by top online bookmakers as well to place risk-free bets easily.

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Posted in Races