How To Bet Horses - Straight Wagers ( WIN, PLACE, SHOW )
One of the most intimidating experiences for a new fan is learning how to place their first wager and how much they must invest. Below are the types of wagers offered on certain races as well as how much they will cost. We hope this step-by-step guide makes your trip to the races a winning experience.
Of course, the higher the payoff the more one's attention is attracted. While most newcomers don't realize, the higher the payoff, the harder it is to select the winning combination.
WIN
A "WIN" bet is just what it sounds like: betting that the horse you
pick will win the race. You win if the horse wins.
PLACE
For a horse to "PLACE" it must finish the race either first or second.
Obviously this bet is a little less risky so the return will not be as great.
SHOW
For a horse to "SHOW" it must finish the race either first, second
or third. This is a conservative bet but still can be profitable if you pick
your spots.
ACROSS THE BOARD
This is a quick and easy way to say that I want to play my horse in all three
positions. ($2 Across The Board = $2 to win, $2 to place, and $2 to show).
If the horse wins you collect all three bets. If the horse finishes 2nd then
you collect the place and show bets. If the horse finishes 3rd then you will
only collect the show bet.
Now that you know what type of bets you will be making you must decide how much you want to risk for the whole day. It is suggested that you separate the money you want to play with from the money you want to take home. This way, win or lose you can find the enjoyment that makes thoroughbred horse racing one of the most popular spectator sports in the world!
How To Bet Horses - Exotic Wagers
Examples of these are the Exacta, Quinella Trifecta, Daily Double, Superfecta and Daily Triple/Pick 3. Needless to say, these wagers are all more difficult than WIN, PLACE or SHOW because they require multiple selections to finish in the proper order.
Daily Double
The daily double involves picking the winning horse in two consecutive races.
All tracks offer the early daily double which involves races #1 and #2. Most
tracks also offer a late daily double which is the last two races of the
day. Some tracks also offer a rolling daily double which is on any two consecutive
races. To win a daily double you must pick the winning horse in each of the
two races. Multiple combinations can be used when playing the double. Wheeling
and keying horses in any leg of the daily is accepted.
Quinella
In the Quinella, you must pick the horses that finish first and second. Either
one can be first and the other one second. This bet is exactly the same as
the "Exacta Box". Although the Quinella has the same function as
the "Exacta Box" the payoff can vary substantially. You must remember
that there is no such wager of an exacta box, it is really two separate bets
on one ticket. The Quinella wagers are entered into their own pool separate
from the exacta pool. Not all tracks offer the Quinella wager, but to the
best of my knowledge all tracks accept the term exacta box where ever the
exacta wager is offered. If both the Quinella and Exacta wagers are offered
it is wise to check the tote board before making a Quinella or Exact Box
wager to see which one offers the greater payoff.
Exacta
With this bet you must pick the first two finishing horses in the
order of their finish. In other words, you must pick the horse that wins and
the horse that finishes second. Again a exacta can also be played using multiple
combinations. Wheeling, keying and boxing horses in exacta's is a popular
bet at the track.
Trifecta
With this bet you must pick the first three finishing horses in the order of
their finish. In other words, you must pick the horse that wins, the horse
that finishes second and the horse that finishes third.
Superfecta
With this bet you must pick the first four finishing horses in the order of
their finish. In other words, you must pick the horse that wins, the horse
that finishes second, third, and fourth.
Pick 3
In order to win a Pick 3 bet you are required to select the winning horse in
three consecutive races. Many tracks offer the pick 3 and most even offer
a rolling pick 3
Pick 4
Same as the pick 3 but you must successfully pick the winners of four consecutive
races. This is a relatively new bet and not all tracks offer it.
Boxing horses in exotics
A "box" Is when you use multiple horses taking all possible combinations
in that particular bet. If you have determined that two, three, or four horses
are the best in the race but you are not sure which one will win, run second,
third, or fourth the 'box' may be your best bet.
Example: A $1 dollar superfecta box using the 1-2-3-4-5. This means four of
your five horses must finish in the top four to be a winner. Same example applies
to Exacta (top two finishers) & Trifectas (top three finishers)
Keying horses in exotics
A 'key' is when you use a single horse to win, run second, or third
using multiple horses in front of him or behind him.
Example: A $1 dollar pick 3, the 2 horse with the 3-4-5 with the 3-4-5-6. This
means the 2 horse must win the first leg of your pick 3 either the 3-4 or 5
must win the second leg and the 3-4-5 or 6 must win the third leg to win your
bet. Same concept applies to exactas, Daily doubles, trifectas, superfectas,
and pick 4's.
Wheeling horses in exotics
A wheel is when you use a single horse in a position with multiple horses finishing
ahead or in some cases behind the horse your wheeling. In many cases a 'wheel' and
a 'key' can be considered the same thing
Example: A $2 dollar Exacta, the 1 horse with the 2-3-4. This means the 1 horse
must win the race and the 2,3,or 4 must run second to win the bet. Another
example might be a $2 dollar Exacta the 2-3-4 horse with the 1 this means the
2,3,or 4 must win and the 1 must run second. The same theory applies when betting
Trifectas, Superfectas and multi race exotics.
Part wheels
Part wheels are offered at a $1 minimum bet per combination -- $2 minimum total
cost. Part wheels are when you use multiple horses in different positions
Example: A $1 dollar Trifecta part wheel the 1-2 horse with 1-2-3 with 1-2-3-4-5
this means the 1 or 2 must win the race the 1-2-3 must run second and the 1-2-3-4-5
must finish third for the bet to win. Same theory applies to the exacta and
Superfecta. A part wheel can be used in the pick 3's and 4's but
obviously the hoses used must win the race.
Good Luck!
A
Across The Board - (See 'Place') a bet on a horse to win, place or
show. Three wagers combined in one. If the horse wins, the player wins all
three wagers, if second, two, and if third, one.
B
Box - A wagering term denoting a combination bet whereby all possible
numeric combinations are covered.
C
Chalk - Wagering favorite in a race. Dates from the days
when on-track bookmakers would write current odds on a chalkboard.
Chalk Player - Bettor who wagers on favorites.
D
Daily Double - Type of wager calling
for the selection of winners of two consecutive races, usually the first
and second. See 'Late Double'
Daily Triple or Pick Three - A wager
where the bettor must select the winner of three consecutive races.
Daily Racing Form - A daily newspaper containing racing
information including news, past performance data and handicapping.
Dead Heat - A tie. Two or more horses finishing equal in
a race.
E
Even Money Bet (or Evens) - A 1:1 bet. A $10 wager wins
$10.
Exacta - (Also, Perfecta) A wager that picks the first two
finishers in a race in the exact order of finish.
Exacta Box - A wager in which all possible combinations
using a given number of horses are covered.
Exotic (wager) - Any wager other than win, place or show.
F
Favorite - The most popular horse in a race, which is quoted
at the lowest odds because it is deemed to have the best chance of winning
the race.
Field - 1) All the runners in a race. 2) Some sportsbooks
or bookmakers may well group all the outsiders in a competition under the
banner headline of 'Field' and put it head to head with the favorite. This
is known as favorite vs the field betting and is common in horse and golf
betting.
Fixed Odds - Your dividend is fixed at the odds when you
placed your bet.
Futures - (Also, Ante Post) Bets placed in advance predicting
the outcome of a future event.
H
Handicapper - The official who decides the weights to be
carried in handicap events, and the grading of horses and greyhounds
I-J-K-L
In The Money - Finishing first, second or third.
Jumper - Steeplechase or hurdle horse.
Key Horse - The main expected winning horse used in multiple
combinations in an exotic wager
Late Double - A second daily double offered during the latter
part of the program. See 'Daily Double' above.
Lock - (As in 'Banker') US term for an almost certain winner.
Easy winner.
M-N
Mare - Female horse five-years-old or older.
Morning Line - Approximate odds quoted before wagering begins.
Mutual Pool - Short for 'Pari-mutuel Pool'. Sum of the wagers
on a race or event, such as the win pool, daily double pool, exacta pool,
etc.
Neck - Unit of measurement about the length of a horse's
neck.
O
Objection - Claim of foul lodged by rider, patrol judge
or other official after the running of a race. If lodged by official, it
is called an inquiry.
Odds - The figure or fraction by which a bookmaker or totalisator
offers to multiply a bettor's stake, which the bettor is entitled to receive
(plus his or her own stake) if their selection wins.
Oddsmaker - A person who sets the betting odds. (Sportsbooks
or Bookies don't set the odds. Most major sportsbooks use odds set by Las
Vegas oddsmakers.)
Official - Sign displayed when result is confirmed. Also
racing official.
Off-Track Betting (OTB) - Wagering at legalized betting
outlets.
P
Pari-mutuel(s) - A form of wagering originated in 1865 by
Frenchman Pierre Oller in which all money bet is divided up among those who
have winning tickets, after taxes, takeout and other deductions are made.
Oller called his system 'Parier Mutuel' meaning 'Mutual Stake' or 'betting
among ourselves'. As this wagering method was adopted in England it became
known as 'Paris Mutuals', and soon after 'Parimutuels'.
Parlay - (Also, Accumulator) A multiple bet. A kind of 'let-it-ride'
bet. Making simultaneous selections on two or more races with the intent
of pressing the winnings of the first win on the bet of the following race
selected, and so on. All the selections made must win for you to win the
parlay.
Part Wheel - Using a key horse or horses in different, but
not all possible, exotic wagering combinations.
Photo Finish - A photo is automatically taken as the horses
pass the winning line and when the race is too close to be judged the photo
is used to determine the order of finish.
Pick Six (or more) - A type of wager in which the winners
of all the included races must be selected.
Place - Finish in the top two, top three, top four and sometimes
also top five in a competition or event. A Place bet will win if the selection
you bet on is among those placed. Usually, a horse runs a place if it finishes
in the first three in fields of eight or more horses. If there are only six
or seven runners the horse must finish first or second to place. Different
sportsbooks have different Place terms and you should check their rules before
placing a bet. (See 'Each Way' UK.)
Post Time - Designated time for a race to start.
Price - The odds
Punter - Bettor or investor.
Q-R
Quiniela (Quinella) - Wager in which the first two finishers
must be picked in either order. Payoff is made no matter which of the two
wins and which runs second. ('Reverse Forecast' in the UK. See Wagers for
Quiniela variants.)
Racecard - A program for the day's racing.
S
Scratch - To be taken out of a race before it starts. Trainers
usually scratch horses due to adverse track conditions or a horse's adverse
health. A veterinarian can scratch a horse at any time.
Show - Third position at the finish.
Show Bet - Wager on a horse to finish in the money; third
or better.
Sportsbook - The person, shop or website who accepts bets.
Sprint - Short race, less than one mile.
Superfecta - A bet placed on four
horses to cross the finish line in exact chosen order.
T
Thoroughbred - A Thoroughbred is a horse whose parentage
traces back to any of the three 'Founding Sires' the Darley Arabian, Byerly
Turk and Godolphin Barb, and who has satisfied the rules and requirements
of The Jockey Club and is registered in 'The American Stud Book' or in a
foreign stud book recognized by The Jockey Club and the International Stud
Book Committee. Any other horse, no matter what its parentage, is not considered
a Thoroughbred for racing and/or breeding purposes.
Ticket - The betting slip or ticket which is received by
the bettor from the bookmaker or totalisator, as proof of his or her wager.
The ticket is necessary to collect the dividends.
Tote Board - The (usually) electronic totalizator display
in the infield which reflects up-to-the-minute odds. It may also show the
amounts wagered in each mutuel pool as well as information such as jockey
and equipment changes, etc. Also known as the 'Board'.
Trifecta - A wager picking the first
three finishers in exact order. Called a 'Triactor' in Canada and a 'Triple'
in some parts of the U.S. ('Tricast' in the UK.)
Trifecta Box - A trifecta wager in which all possible combinations
using a given number of horses are bet upon. The total number of combinations
can be calculated according to the formula (x3)-(3x2)+(2x), where x equals
the amount of horses in the box. The sum of the formula is then multiplied
by the amount wagered on each combination.
Triple - (Also 'Treble') See 'Trifecta' above.
Trotting - A term for harness racing in general. It also
describes the specific gait of a trotter.
U-V-W-X-Y-Z
Underlay - A horse racing at shorter odds than seems warranted
by its past performances.
Wager - Another term for bet.
Wheel - Betting all possible combinations in an exotic wager
using at least one horse as the key. See 'Part Wheel'
Win Bet - Wager on a horse to finish first.
Yielding - Condition of a turf course with a great deal
of moisture. Horses sink into it noticeably.
How To Bet Horses - Additional Information
Approximate Payoff For A $2 Win Ticket
| Odds | Pays | Odds | Pays | Odds | Pays |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1-9 | $2.20 | 6-5 | $4.40 | 3-1 | $8.00 |
| 1-5 | $2.40 | 7-5 | $4.80 | 7-2 | $9.00 |
| 2-5 | $2.80 | 3-2 | $5.00 | 4-1 | $10.00 |
| 1-2 | $3.00 | 8-5 | $5.20 | 9-2 | $11.00 |
| 3-5 | $3.20 | 9-5 | $5.60 | 5-1 | $12.00 |
| 4-5 | $3.60 | 2-1 | $6.00 | 6-1 | $14.00 |
| 1-1 | $4.00 | 5-2 | $7.00 | 7-1 | $16.00 |
Cost For Multiple Horse Boxes
If you wish to box 3 or more horses in an Exacta or Big Triple here's what it would cost:
| Number Horses | Exacta | Big Triple |
|---|---|---|
| 3 horses | $12.00 | $12.00 |
| 4 horses | $24.00 | $48.00 |
| 5 horses | $40.00 | $120.00 |
| 6 horses | $60.00 | $240.00 |
| 7 horses | $84.00 | $420.00 |
| 8 horses | $112.00 | $672.00 |