If you’re new to the world of horse racing, you’re probably wondering what SP stands for. In short, SP stands for starting price. The meaning of SP in betting refers to the odds that a horse has at the start of one of its races. These are fixed odds calculated by a range of variables including previous performance, physical condition, and racing environment.
SP odds and SP horse racing are some of the most common components in the horse racing world, as they’re simple to understand and place wagers on. Whether betting on Royal Ascot, or looking at Cheltenham Festival odds, SP bets are usually mentioned first, and given the most visibility.
What Does SP Favourite Stand For?
You might also ask yourself: What does SP favourite mean in horse racing? SP favourite refers to the horse that has the highest starting price odds. This will be the horse considered the most likely to win, which the odds reflect. Because of higher odds, a winning bet placed on an SP favourite will tend to offer lower payouts than a winning bet placed on a less-favoured SP horse.
How is the SP Decided?
The SP is governed by the Starting Price Regulatory Commission. This organisation has been developed to ensure the integrity of SP betting, so wagers remain safe and fair.
Calculations around SP are based on odds offered by bookmakers which are ordered into a list containing the longest and shortest odds. The list is divided into two, and the starting prices are applied to the shortest odds in the half of the list which contains the longest odds.
When is the Starting Price Calculated?
Starting price is calculated in the time coming up to the race day. This gives bookmakers ample time to explore all the relevant information, some of which isn’t available until close to race time. If you place a bet on the Grand National for a horse that only performs in certain weather, for example, a sudden change could affect SP odds.
Why Bet on SP Instead of Ante Post?
An ante post bet is one that is placed before the official betting market for a race course has been opened. This makes it available before an SP bet, which can incur additional risk. The early horse prices for betting on an ante post will tend to be better, but many punters will still avoid this approach.
If a horse is unable to race, an SP bet will be returned to the punter. With an ante post bet, this wager will be lost. Ante post betting prices will also tend to be more varied depending on the bookmaker, so it can be more difficult to maximise your winnings, even on a successful bet.
Whether looking at Arc de Triomphe odds or those of any other horse races without a best odds guaranteed promotion or a non-runner no bet promo, SP bets may be a more appealing choice than ante post bets.
Is it Good to Bet on an SP?
What does SP mean in horse racing? Now that the question is settled, you have to wonder whether it’s a good approach. Betting on SP can be a great way to start wagering since it’s an easy-to-understand introduction to the horse betting world. It can also be a solid choice for veteran punters because it’s a quick and efficient way to bet that works well off accumulated knowledge.
Like any wager, SP bets come with associated risks. As long as you are comfortable with these risks and enjoy the process, betting on SP can be challenging and fun. If you need advice on how to bet within your means, visit our Safer Gambling Portal.
What is Best Odds Guaranteed and How Does it Affect Starting Price?
Best odds guaranteed is a special offer made by bookmakers which helps punters receive the highest payout possible. This applies when SP odds on a bet change to become longer than those applied when the wager was placed. Best odds guaranteed only apply if the change of odds would lose you money on a winning bet.
For example, consider if you placed a best odds guaranteed bet on a 4/1 wager. If the odds right before the race changed to 3/1, you would still be paid at the 4/1 level on a win. If the odds right before the race changed to 10/1, however, you’d receive a 10/1 payout on a win.
Where Can I Get Best Odds Guaranteed?
You can find the Best Odds Guaranteed promotion at an online bookmaker which offers Horse Racing Betting and luckily, at talkSPORT BET, we have just the offer for that with our Best Odds Guaranteed promo. Wagers are easy to place and armed with the knowledge of what SP means in horse racing, you can make a better-informed wager.
What Happens When You Bet on SP?
Once you’ve taken part in SP betting, all that’s left to do is wait. Your wager will remain with the service you used to bet, and it can be checked at any time. From this point, all that’s left to do is watch the race and cheer for your horse.
Using SP to Study a Horse’s Previous Form
Starting price is informed by many factors, including the horse’s previous performance. The meaning of SP in horse racing involves studying history to better predict future outcomes. Racecards help by usually featuring a line of numbers that reference key components that savvy punters could study. These run left to right, with the most recent races on the right, and the oldest on the left.
Some of the following data is included on these tickets, though ticket information can vary, and some only applies to jump racing:
- Numbers 1-9 relate the horse’s finishing position, with 0 meaning it finished outside of the first 9.
- – separates different racing seasons.
- / shows a horse missed a whole season.
- P or PU shows the jockey stopped the horse and did not finish.
- F shows a horse fell.
- BD shows the horse fell because of another racer.
- R indicates a horse refused.
- U or UR means the horse threw its jockey.
- D indicates a horse that has previously won that distance.
- C shows a horse has won on that course.
- CD shows both C and D.
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