Did Jim Crowley used to be a National Hunt jockey?

Nowadays, Jim Crowley is best known as first-choice jockey to leading owner Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, having replaced Paul Hanagan in that role in November, 2016. His appointment came shortly after he had been crowned Champion Jockey for the first and, so far, only time the previous month.

However, while Crowley began his career as an amateur, riding on the Flat for the like of John White and Ron Hodges, in the late Nineties he switched his affiliation to National Hunt racing. Riding predominantly for West Yorkshire trainer Sue Smith, Crowley racked up over 250 winners in that sphere and once rode in the Grand National, albeit parting company with his mount, 150/1 outsider Art Prince, at the very first fence.

In 2006, at the behest of his father-in-law, Guy Harwood, Crowley switched back to the Flat and began riding for his sister-in-law, Amanda Perrett, based in Pulborough, West Sussex. In 2007, Crowley rode 92 winners, nearly double his previous seasonal best under National Hunt Rules, 47, recorded in 2004/5, and rode over a hundred winners in 2008 and 2009, before joining Ralph Beckett as stable jockey in 2010. He recorded his first Group One winner, Prohibit, trained by Robert Cowell, in the King’s Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot in 2011 and went freelance in 2014.

The history of the Royal Ascot festival

Horse racing remains quite a popular sport in the United Kingdom, and within this, the Royal Ascot races are the most prestigious and famous on the calendar. There is good reason for this, as they are over 300 years old, and have a close association with the Crown, as the Ascot Racecourse was founded by Queen Anne in 1711, with a race called Her Majesty’s Plate, where the winner was awarded a huge sum of 100 guineas. Of course, today, the prize money for the races is in the millions of pounds, with many more being wagered at the venue itself as well as online – you can check out this Betway review to find the best online bookmakers for the Royal Ascot event.

Greencoats and Gold cups

Ascot quickly became a tradition and by the early 19th century, it was considered a place ‘to be seen’ already, with a formal dress code having been established by this time as well – a tradition that is in place till today. The Gold Cup, which is the blue riband race at Royal Ascot, was first run in 1807, and it has become the most anticipated race of the festival since then. It was at this inaugural Gold Cup race that the first Royal Enclosure was established as well, for King George III and his guests to view the race. The origin of two other of Royal Ascot’s major traditions, meanwhile, can be traced to the 1820s. 1823 saw the first mention of a Ladies’ Day at the meeting, and now on Ladies’ Day Ascot is as much about fashion and style as it is about racing. Two years later, in 1825, came the first Royal Procession which has grown to become another of Royal Ascot’s most beloved traditions.

Another long tradition is that of the Greencoats, who have formed the ceremonial guard for the Monarch since 1744. Their green uniforms have become iconic and are as much a part of the Royal Ascot festivities as anything else. Their role was developed in the early nineteenth century to include crowd control – they used their prickers to move racegoers off the course. Today, Greencoats offer their unrivalled experience to assist guests throughout the Royal Meeting.

The height of decadence

The Royal Enclosure has the strictest dress code, with men wearing morning dress and a top hat, and women in dresses and hats as well. There are strict colour requirements for these, while it is also extremely difficult to make it into the Enclosure in the first place – first-time applicants must apply to the Royal Enclosure Office and gain sponsorship from someone who has attended the Royal Enclosure for at least four years. Until 1783, jockeys were permitted to wear whatever they liked when racing. This caused a great deal of confusion when attempting to pin down the winners of each race. Jockeys were thus instructed to wear the colours of their horse’s owners. Each jockey’s colours are unique to the owners of each horse. The BHA states that there are 18 colours to choose from when creating a new racing colour, and keeps a register of those combinations already used.

Lester Piggot has the record for the most winning rides at Royal Ascot with an incredible 116. The equally iconic Sir Henry Cecil, meanwhile, trained a record 75 Royal Ascot winners, including a Queen Anne Stakes for ‘horse of a lifetime’ Frankel. In terms of horses, Brown Jack was one of the earliest equine phenomena to grace Royal Ascot. A former Champion Hurdle winner, the horse switched codes to the flat and went on to make a winning appearance at seven straight royal meetings between 1928 and 1934. In more recent times, the legendary Yeats also made the Royal Ascot turf his own by winning four consecutive Gold Cups between 2006 and 2009.

On Basic Do’s And Don’ts When Betting On Horse Racing Online

Horse Race betting is one of the best entertainment sources for keen gamblers, where they can bet on the final placement of their preferred horses. However, the COVID-19 pandemic partially restricts this activity from taking place in real-time.

Horse race betting is now prevalent online. Like real-world experience, you must still follow specific guidelines on what to do and what not to do when virtually placing your bets. Whether you are a beginner in horse betting or an already inexperienced one, these do’s and don’ts will undoubtedly help you succeed.

Do: Research

Understanding the odds in horse betting is probably the essential thing that every newbie should know how to bet on horse racing. Before placing your bets, it is essential to make your research to be updated on the recent betting odds. If you understand what you’re doing and can beat the odds, it can be both entertaining and profitable.

Betting odds are created to show the potential outcome of an event or a game. It displays the amount of money wagered on a specific horse; the higher the stakes, the shorter the odds. Try visiting a sports betting site that can provide you the latest updates on horse betting odds.

Do: Check The Website First Before Placing A Bet

The online betting site is where the horse race betting newcomers should check first. Check out the site’s reviews before placing a bet to prevent you from getting scammed by a shady online betting site. Look for good reviews coming from bettors who have experience on the site firsthand.

Don’t Wager All Your Cash

Over 95% of online gamblers lose after betting their entire bankroll. This is not an advisable option. The key here is to limit your investment. Create a budget and efficiently control your betting bankroll. Never wager all the money you currently have, as we are unsure what the racing outcome will be.

Managing your bankroll is something that each bettor should learn. Always check your financial status before you start betting. You have to ensure that you have enough cash for your groceries, rent, and other monthly bills. Once managed, you have to decide how much you’d like to save and how much you’re ready to risk.

Do: Make A Record Log

Make a record of every bet you place. Keeping track will help you find out whether you’re doing things correctly or tell you if there is something wrong with your methods. This may also assist you in determining the cause of your loss or success.

Know your objectives and track your progress toward achieving them. There are three essential details that you should include on your record log: the date of the race, the track’s condition, and the type of the race.

Don’t Overlook Minor Details

Online betting isn’t just about picking random horses and sacrificing a large sum of money on them. You have to look for a few essential considerations before placing your bets. Never overlook any minor details.

Know the horse’s competition level, previous performance, and history with the jockey. Also, pay close attention to the horses’ behavior in the paddock before the competition.

Do: Understand The Main Types Of Betting

There are numerous things you have to be aware of when it comes to horse betting. Thus, before placing your bets, do some research or observe its nature. This is specifically useful if you are a newbie. Horse racing bets usually boil down to straight wagers and exotic wagers.

Straight Wagers

Straight wagers are a win, place, and show. Players who bet to win will only receive a payout if their horse wins the competition. In place bets, the player will receive a payout if his selected horse wins the race or comes in second. Lastly, a show bet payout is if the player’s horse comes first, second, or even third.

Exotic Wagers

Exotic bets allow the player to place numerous wagers on multiple horses in a single wager. This type of bet is considered more challenging to win as they necessitate a high level of expertise and knowledge in pony picking. They are also more expensive than the straight bets. However, when played right, the profit is much higher than the straight ones.

Don’t Bet On A Whim

One of the tips that you should remember when placing bets is to avoid betting on a whim. Either because a punter saw a name they like at the races or believes that a particular player in a team is lucky, it can put your success at risk.

Do: Manage The Quality Of Your Decisions

You cannot avoid risks after engaging yourself in horse race betting. However, if you want to be a successful gambler, you must find ways to mitigate these potential risks. This implies that when you place bets, you should prioritize quality over quantity.

Final Thoughts

If you know the rules, how to play it well, and know-how to reduce any potential risks, and how much money you are willing to risk, the rest will fall into place. Online betting can be tricky, but following these dos and don’ts will help you succeed in the gambling industry.

Betting on Horse Racing: Tips for Beginners

Watching horse racing can be very exciting. Everyone waits in anticipation to see who is going to make it over the line and win the competition. Indeed, this is what makes it a popular sport to bet on. Gamblers like to read the odds, do their research and pick a horse and rider to back for the race.

But, if you are new to betting on horse racing, you might not know where to begin. This guide is going to give you some horse racing betting tips for beginners. So, let’s get started.

Know the Terminology

First of all, you need to know horse racing terminology. This is going to lead to a better understanding for betting. For instance, do you know what all weather racing is? This is a surface that is used in the UK especially during winter. It is not turf and it is designed to work well in poor weather conditions. In addition, you should know terms like an apprentice jockey. This means a rider who has only been in a few competitions before. You can brush up on the terminology online with a lot of good sources available.

Do Not Automatically Back the Favourite

There is always going to be a favourite horse and rider to win a race. If you are new to betting, you might think that you should back them. Indeed, this can be a way to win money. But, something you should realise is that they are not always the most valuable. In other words, the winnings will be smaller. So, it is recommended that you check statistics and look for a horse that has a good chance and is worth more money. Indeed, there can be more risk. But, there can also be more reward when you do the right research.

Look into the Trainers

Before you enjoy MrPlay sports betting or similar, you need to do your research into the trainers. Of course, you want to know the records of the jockeys and horses. But, the trainers are equally important in this equation. If they have a good record, it is going to count for something when it comes to a horse race. So, take your time and find out information about the trainers, including their track records and how they operate. There are a lot of details out there online so this should be easy to find. You will notice that some trainers perform better on different surfaces, which leads onto the next point.

Examine the Surfaces

There are horse race tracks up and down the country. This is something you need to look into before making a bet. Indeed, the surface is going to play a big part in the race and who is going to win. For example, the race is going to be faster on a dry or firm course. Thus, daintier horses are going to perform better here. So, the surface is another element to take into consideration. This goes hand in hand with the weather, as rain can affect how the ground is underneath the horse.

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