Nearly 20% of sports fans admit they pick horses to bet on based solely on the name, according to a survey by Kentucky Derby Betting Sites.
Noble Yeats is back at Aintree on Saturday (Pic – Supplied)
The survey, conducted by market research firm Censuswide on behalf of Kentucky Derby Betting Sites, asked more than 1500 sports fans in the UK and Ireland what determined their choices on race day.
They were asked: “What, if anything, is the biggest deciding factor for you when picking a horse?”
According to the results, 19.64% admitted they picked a horse based on the name, which was evidently more important than the jockey actually riding the horse.
When breaking down the survey by gender, men were less likely to pick a horse based on its name. Instead, the odds, the trainer and the jockey were all far more important when determining a winner.
However, female voters were more likely to pick a horse based solely on the jockey riding the horse as opposed to the trainer of the horse, unlike their male counterparts.
The odds of the horse were also a determining factor, with the trainer ranked as the third most important factor when picking a horse – ahead of the name of the horse.
A spokesperson for Kentucky Derby Betting Sites said: “Whilst betting on a horse solely for the name might not be the most scientific method, there is plenty of evidence to suggest that it can be successful.
“For instance, any literary fans out there would have won big betting on Noble Yeats in 2022, with the Irish-bred Thoroughbred returning to Aintree for this year’s edition.
“Similarly, I Am Maximus is fancied by bookmakers to perform well after running a superb trial at the Bobbyjo Chase, named after the main character of Sir Ridley Scott’s epic movie Gladiator. And for football fans looking to bet on the race, Harry Redknapp’s horse Shakem Uparry is also competing.”
www.kentuckyderbybettingsites.net
