Should You Follow Horse Racing Tipsters? A Smart Bettor's Guide
The internet is full of people telling you which horse to back. TikTok, Telegram groups, X threads, dedicated tipster services — the volume of predictions available to a bettor in 2025 is enormous. But volume isn't the same as value. The real question isn't where to find tipsters. It's whether following them actually helps you bet smarter.
The answer is: sometimes. Here's how to tell the difference.
What Is a Horse Racing Tipster?
A tipster is anyone offering predictions on upcoming races — from data-driven analysts running subscription services to social media personalities posting free picks for engagement. Some focus on form, others on track trends, trainer patterns, or inside knowledge. The quality, methodology, and transparency varies enormously.
Following a tipster means placing bets based on someone else's reasoning. That's not inherently a problem. The problem is doing it without understanding what you're actually following.
Should You Follow Horse Racing Tipsters?
Not blindly — no. But as one input among several, a good tipster can be genuinely useful.
Three things separate a tipster worth following from one to avoid:
Track record — Reputable tipsters publish their historical results, including losing runs. If someone only shares their winners, that's not transparency — it's marketing. Look for verified, long-term records before putting any weight on their selections.
Honesty about losses — Every tipster loses. Racing involves too many variables — going changes, jockey errors, interference, bad draws — for anyone to call it consistently right. A tipster who presents their service as a winning machine is either misleading you or misleading themselves.
Independence — Some tipsters have financial relationships with betting platforms or affiliate programmes that create an incentive to push certain horses regardless of merit. Check whether their advice is genuinely independent before trusting it.
Why Bettors Follow Tipsters
For newer bettors, tipsters simplify a complex process. Racing form takes time to learn, and following someone with more experience can be a practical shortcut while you develop your own reading ability.
For experienced bettors, a good tipster serves as a second opinion — a way to stress-test your own selections or get exposure to races you haven't had time to analyse yourself.
The social element matters too. Following a tipster and tracking their reasoning turns solitary betting into something more engaged and educational.
Where Tipsters Go Wrong
The biggest risk isn't backing a loser on a tipster's advice. It's what happens next — doubling down on the following selection because you're chasing a loss, or abandoning your own judgement entirely because you've handed the decision to someone else.
Emotional betting follows naturally from blind tipster following. You're invested in their outcome, not your own analysis. When a losing run hits — and it will — bettors who haven't developed independent thinking have nothing to fall back on.
Use tipsters as a starting point, not a destination.
How to Use Tipsters Without Losing Your Edge
Combine tips with your own research. If a tipster's selection makes sense when you check the form yourself, that's a stronger signal than either alone.
Track performance before staking real money. Follow a tipster's picks for several weeks without betting. Log the results. Only then decide if their strike rate and reasoning justify following with real stakes.
Stick to your bankroll. A tipster having a bad week is not a reason to increase your stakes. Discipline over your own money is yours to maintain regardless of whose advice you're acting on.
Final Thoughts
Tipsters are a tool — and like any tool, their value depends entirely on how you use them. The best ones offer reasoned, transparent analysis that helps you think through a race more clearly. The worst create dependency, mask losses, and push selections for reasons that have nothing to do with your interests.
At MyWinners, you'll find expert analysis and race insights designed to inform your betting decisions — not make them for you. The goal is always to help you develop the kind of independent thinking that holds up long after any single tip is forgotten.
Place bets at app.mywinners.com, or download the MyWinners: Racing & Sports app on iOS here or Android here.
Read more in the Help Center:
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a horse racing tipster do?
A tipster analyses race data, form, and trends to recommend horses to bet on, sharing their reasoning either free via social media or through paid subscription services.
Should you follow horse racing tipsters every time?
No — tipsters offer a useful perspective, but smart bettors combine that input with their own research and sound bankroll management rather than following blindly.
How do I evaluate whether a tipster is worth following?
Check for a verified long-term record that includes losses, clear reasoning behind selections, and confirmed independence from bookmaker affiliate arrangements.
Can I make money just by following tipsters?
Occasionally, but consistent returns come from discipline and independent thinking — tipsters are one input, not a substitute for developing your own betting judgement.
Are all horse racing tipsters trying to make money from me?
Not all, but many operate affiliate or subscription models that create commercial incentives. Always check how a tipster is funded before deciding how much weight to give their advice.
