How to Bet
Many people play their favorite numbers and that's great! Others enjoy the challenge of handicapping -- the art of analyzing the past performances to determine which runner will win! Past performances are just that -- a record of each runner's past races. This information is contained in the programs that are on sale. By reviewing this information, you'll be able to analyze the ability and chances of the contestants competing in the race. Learn how to read the past performances. It may take a long time to grasp the fundamentals of handicapping, but it's worth it. There is nothing more exciting than picking a winner.
The program and Daily Racing Form have a section that explains how to read the past performances. Review this information.
| Type of Wagers |
WIN The horse must come in first.
PLACE The horse must come in first or second
SHOW The horse must come in either first, second or third. |
| Reading the Payoff |
|
WIN |
PLACE |
SHOW |
| Sezyou |
$10.80 |
$6.20 |
$3.20 |
| Lucky Touch |
|
$5.20 |
$3.00 |
| Belle Borne |
|
|
$2.20 |
| If you bet $2 to win and place on Sezyou, you collect $10.80 for the win and $6.20 for the place. Your total wager is $4 and you collect $17. If you bet $2 to place on Lucky Touch, you receive $5.20. If you bet Belle Borne to show, you receive $2.20. |
|
| Odds |
The odds on the tote board reflect a horse's price to win. To calculate the winning payoff for a $2 bet, multiply the odds by two and add $2, which is your original wager. For example, if a horse goes off at 3-1, he will pay $8. (3 x 2) = 6 + $2 = $8.
| ODDS |
$2 BET RETURNS |
| 1-10 |
$ 2.20 |
| 1-5 |
$ 2.40 |
| 2-5 |
$ 2.80 |
| 1-2 |
$ 3.00 |
| 3-5 |
$ 3.20 |
| 4-5 |
$ 3.60 |
| 1-1 |
$ 4.00 |
| 6-5 |
$ 4.40 |
| 7-5 |
$ 4.80 |
| 3-2 |
$ 5.00 |
| 8-5 |
$ 5.20 |
| 9-5 |
$ 5.60 |
| 2-1 |
$ 6.00 |
| 5-2 |
$ 7.00 |
|
| ODDS |
$2 BET RETURNS |
| 3-1 |
$ 8.00 |
| 7-2 |
$ 9.00 |
| 4-1 |
$10.00 |
| 9-2 |
$11.00 |
| 5-1 |
$12.00 |
| 6-1 |
$14.00 |
| 7-1 |
$16.00 |
| 8-1 |
$18.00 |
| 9-1 |
$20.00 |
| 10-1 |
$22.00 |
| 12-1 |
$26.00 |
| 15-1 |
$32.00 |
| 20-1 |
$42.00 |
| 40-1 |
$82.00 |
|
|
| Daily Double |
| Traditionally, the daily double was the first two races on the card, but now there may be several daily doubles or doubles on a card. You have to select the winner in each of the two designated races. For example, most tracks have an early daily double on races one and two. You must pick the winner of race one and the winner of race two. If you like the 8 horse in the first and the 3 in the second race, you would say to the teller: $2 Daily Double 8-3.
If the 8 wins the first race and the 3 the second race, you win! |
| Exacta |
| The two runners you select must come in the exact order. For example, if you select horse 3 to run first and horse 1 to finish second, they must finish in that order.
You would give the bet as follows: $2 exacta 3 -1. |
| Quinella |
| In this wager, the two horses you select may come in either first or second. For example, if you bet a 3 - 8 quinella, you win if the finish is 3 - 8 or 8 -3.
Make the wager by saying: $2 quinella 3 - 8. |
| Trifecta |
| The runners you select must finish one, two, three in the exact order.
Make the wager by saying: $2 trifecta 6 - 8 - 10. |
| Pick Three |
| You must select the winners of the three designated races. For example, if there is a Pick 3 on races 4, 5, 6, you must pick the winners of all three races. |
| Pick Six |
| This wager is similar to the Pick 3, except you must pick the winners of six consecutive races. |
(updated 10/11/2006)
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