Guide to Betting

The Newcomer's Guide To Wagering

Betting the ponies is not as difficult as many think. It just takes a little time and experience. The following information is designed to assist the casual race fan and the newcomer with the terms and strategies used in horseracing.

Pari-Mutuel Wagering

A term with its origins in France, pari-mutuel refers to the form of betting utilized in the horse racing industry. Simply stated, it means bettors play against each other, rather than the house. The track merely "handles" the bet, computes the odds based on the amounts wagered on the individual horses, and of course pays off the winners according to those odds.

Pari-mutuel betting is truly an exciting and fun way in which the fan actually participates in the sport of horse racing. Unlike most casino games, where the bettor plays against "the house", racing literally allows one to "get involved".

How to Make a Bet

  1. Advise the teller WHICH TRACK & RACE NUMBER (in addition to our live races, we offer simulcast races from tracks around the world).

  2. State the DOLLAR AMOUNT of your bet.
  3. State the TYPE OF WAGER (Win, Place, Show, Exacta, Quinella, Trifecta, Daily Double, or Pick Three).
  4. State the PROGRAM NUMBER OF HORSE, OR HORSES.
  5. Example: "Albuquerque, race 5, $2 to Win on number six".
  6. *Always check your tickets and money BEFORE leaving the teller window! Always keep your tickets until the race has been declared OFFICIAL before returning to the window with winning tickets, or discarding non-winning tickets.



Win, Place, Show Bets, The Simplest Wagers


Win-- Collect if your horse finishes first. (All examples are based on a $2 wager)
Place -- Collect if your horse finishes first or second.
Show -- Collect if your horse finishes first, second, or third.

Example: You bet $2 on horse # 6 to place. You collect the place payoff if # 6 finishes first or second. Cost: $2

Across The Board Bets


One horse may be bet to Win, Place, or Show. Just tell the teller "$2 Across the board on # 4". If # 4 finishes first, you collect the Win, Place and Show payoffs. If # 4 comes in third, you collect only the Show payoff. Cost $6

Quinella Bets


A popular type of wager that allows the player to collect more at the window by beating higher odds. In this case, two horses are picked to finish first and second, IN EITHER ORDER.

Example: Bettor picks the # 6 horse & # 8 horse to finish first and second. Bettor collects if either comes in first with the other finishing second; I.e. 6-8 or 8-6. Cost: $2.

Exacta Bets


Another popular bet, winning Exacta tickets often pay a good deal more than Quinellas. In this case, the player chooses TWO horses to finish FIRST and SECOND in EXACT ORDER.

Exacta Example: Bet horse # 4 to finish first and # 8 to finish second in exact order. Collect if 4 wins and 8 is second. Cost: $2

Trifecta Wagers


Involving three horses, the Trifecta can pay large dividends by correctly picking the first three finishers in exact order.

Example: Bettor picks horses # 4, # 9, and # 3 to come in first, second, and third in that exact order to finish. Cost $2.

Boxing


Boxing is a betting strategy used to increase the number of horses involved in a variety of wagers, such as in Quinellas, Exactas, and Trifectas. By boxing, the player also increases the chances of returning to the window with a winning ticket. Of course, boxing also costs more and the cost increases with each additional horse included in the wager.

Quinella Box Example: Box #5, #2, and #7. Bettor collects Quinella payoff on the following combinations: 5-2, 5-7, 2-5, 2-7, 7-5, 7-2. Cost: $6.

Quinella Box Example: Box # 1, # 3, #7, and # 9. Bettor collects Quinella payoff on the following combinations: 1-3, 1-7, 1-9, 3-1, 3-7, 3-9, 7-1, 7-3, 7-9, 9-1, 9-3, 9-7. Cost-$12.

Exacta Box Example: Boxing an Exacta is like betting a "straight" Quinella, in that the two chosen horses must come in first and second, but not in exact order. Box # 6 and # 9, collect Exacta payoff for 6-9, or 9-6. Cost: $4.

Exacta Box Example: Box #1, #3, #4, #6, #8, #10. Collect Exacta payoff for any combination of included horses. Cost: $60.

Trifecta Box Example: Box # 1, # 6, # 8. Collect Trifecta payoff if any combination of the three finish first, second, and third in any order. Cost: $12.

Trifecta Box Example: Box # 1, # 6, # 7, # 11. Collect if any three finish first, second, and third in any order; i.e. 1-11-7 or 6-1-11, etc. Cost: $48.

"Wheeling" or "Keying"


Like Boxing, this strategy can include more wagering interests, or horses, in a bet. It can also increase one's chances of winning. However, when Wheeling, or Keying, the bettor typically "Wheels", or "Keys" a particular horse in a certain finishing position, normally first or second. Wheeling is usually used when playing Exactas and Trifectas.

For instance, in an Exacta, the player may like # 6 to finish first. He would then Key # 6 on top of a combination of other horses. That horse, # 6 would have to finish first and one of other choices second for the bettor to collect.

Exacta Wheel Example: Player Keys # 6 on top (to win), and #'s 1, 2, and 4 in second. Bettor collects if # 6 wins the race, and any of the others finish second. Cost: $6.

Exacta Wheel Example: Key # 9 on top, and #'s 2, 5, 6, 7, 10, and 11 in second. Collect if 9 finishes first and any of the others places. Cost: $12.

Trifecta Wheel Example: Key # 7 to win, #'s 1, 3, 4 to place, and #'s 1, 3, 4 to show. Collect if # 7 wins, and any combination of the others place and show, i.e. 7/1/3 or 7/1/4 or 7/3/1, etc.. Cost: $6.

Computing the Cost of Your Wager


Figuring the cost of your exotic bet is simpler than you might think. The following formulas are to help you take the guesswork out of a sometimes confusing task. They are all based on a $2 wager, however many tracks offer a $1 bet.

Quinellla Box

Formula: Number of horses boxed X the next lowest number
Example: Box 4 horses: 4 x 3 = $12.00
Example: Box 6 horses: 6 x 5 = $30.00

Quinellla Wheel

Formula: Number of horses wheeled X 2
Example: Wheel 1 horse with 4 other horses: 4 x 2 = $8.00
Example: Wheel 1 horse with 7 other horses: 7 x 2 = $14.00

Exacta Box

Formula: Number of horses boxed X next lowest number X 2
Example: Box 4 horses: 4 x 3 x 2 = $24.00
Example: Box 6 horses: 6 x 5 x 2 = $60.00

Exacta Wheel

Formula: Number of horses wheeled X 2
Example: Wheel 1 horse with 4 other horses: 4 x 2 = $8.00
Example: Wheel 1 horse with 8 other horses: 8 x 2 = $16.00

Trifecta Box

Formula: Number of horses X next lowest number X next lowest no.
Example: Box 4 horses: 4 x 3 x 2 = $24.00
Examples: Box 6 horses: 6 x 5 x 4 = $120.00

Trifecta Wheel

Formula: Number of horses wheeled X next lowest number
Example: Wheel 1 horse with 4 other horses: 4 x 3 = $12.00
Example: Wheel 1 horse with 8 other horses: 8 x 7 = $56.00