Betting the ponies has become a worldwide phenomenon and the popularity continues to grow. Sportsbooks everywhere are getting in on the action and now you can bet from the comfort of your own home. straight bets that involve only one horse, and exotic bets that involve two or more horses. The standard bet for all wagers is $2. You can bet any amount, starting with $1, but the payoff prices shown on the infield tote board and TVs around the track are always based on a $2 wager. That means if you bet $1, you will get half the amount shown on the tote board. If you bet $4, you get twice the amount shown. Online sportsbooks love to accommodate horse bettors and they are building horse betting supersites. Check out some of the better ones that come with outstanding reputations for easy and quick payouts.
Becoming a bookie is easy, maintaining a book is the hard work
STRAIGHT BETS
Win: You win if the horse you bet finishes first.
Place: You win if the horse you bet finishes first or second.
Show: You win if the horse you bet finishes first, second or third.
Exacta
This bet involves picking the horses that will finish first AND second — in the right order. If you bet an exacta of 5 and 4, you win only if the 5 finishes first and the 4 finishes second. At the betting window, let the teller know which race you are betting, which track, the amount of the bet, that you want an exacta, and the numbers of the two horses you are playing. Make sure to name the horses in the right order.
Exacta box
An exacta also can be played as a “box,” which costs more but gives you more chances to win. When you box an exacta, any 1-2 order of finish involving the horses you have bet is a winner. You can include as many horses in the box as you want, although if you use more than three, there’s a good chance the bet will cost you more than it pays. An exacta box of two horses costs $4. An exacta box of three horses costs $12. An exacta box of four horses costs $24.
Trifecta
This bet, commonly known as the triple, involves picking the horses that will finish first, second AND third — in the right order. If you bet a trifecta of the 4, 3 and 5 horses, you win only if the 4 finishes first, the 3 finishes second and the 5 finishes third.
Trifecta box– As with exactas, trifectas can be “boxed” — allowing you to win with any 1-2-3 order of finish involving the horses you have bet. A $2 triple box of three horses costs $12. A $2 triple box of four horses costs $48. A $2 triple box of five horses costs $120. As with exactas, if you use too many horses, the bet may cost more than it pays.
Not All Racebooks Are Created Equal – 3 Tips for Finding a Great One
The bookies want you business and they are willing to pay you for it. Take advantage of the great offers and have fun betting on the horses the rest of the season. There is a pile of money at stake, why not win a little.
