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.
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".
- Advise the teller WHICH TRACK & RACE NUMBER (in addition to our live races, we offer simulcast races from tracks around the world).
- State the DOLLAR AMOUNT of your bet.
- State the TYPE OF WAGER (Win, Place, Show, Exacta, Quinella, Trifecta, Daily Double, or Pick Three).
- State the PROGRAM NUMBER OF HORSE, OR HORSES.
- Example: "Albuquerque, race 5, $2 to Win on number six".
- *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
