How to Bet On Horses
Have a look at our complimentary guide below explaining how to bet on horse racing. We've included images from a sample online horse racebook.
How to bet on HorsesThe most basic horse bets are the Win, Place, and Show bets. Other bets include the Trifecta, Superfecta, Exacta, Quinella, Daily Double, or Pick 3, 4, 5, or More bets. The following are the definitions of each bet and how to place a horse bet at your online racebook:
WIN BET
The Win bet is picking the horse that will place first in a horse race. The win bet has a good payout, especially if you pick a winning horse that had long odds (not favored to win). Favored horses that place first tend to produce lower payouts. If you make a Win Bet, the wager only pays if the horse you pick wins the race (finished in first place).
PLACE BET
The Place bet is picking the second place finisher in a horse race. The payout is modest compared to a Win bet, but still worthwhile. The bet also pays out if the horse places first in the race.
SHOW BET
The show bet is picking the third place finisher in a horse race. Of the Win, Place, and Show wagers, the Show bet pays out the least amount because the risk involved with this wager is much lower. The bet also pays out if the horse places first or second in the race.
Sample for how to place a win, place, or show bet from a horse racebook.
1. Note the horses listed in the race, usually on the left hand side of the screen. The column to the right lists the odds, the "ML" column in the above diagram.
2. To pick a horse for a "WIN" wager, point your mouse at the checkbox in the "WIN" column that corresponds to your horse. In this case, the bettor has chosen "Atiello" with 6:1 odds as a "WIN" bet.
3. Use the same procedure for making "PLACE" and "SHOW" bets: point your mouse at each column, checking the box that corresponds to your horse.
4. *** Notes: You can pick multiple horses for each bet type, but remember that these additional wagers cost more money and will decrease your net profit gained from a successful wager on the Win, Place, or Show horse. A good analogy is roulette: if you put a chip on every number, you'd obviously win your bet, but the amount of winnings you earn is drastically reduced by the amount of money you used to cover the entire board.
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TRIFECTA BET
The trifecta bet is an advanced type of horse wager but is easy to understand. To make a trifecta bet, select the horse that you think will place first; then the horse that will place second; and finally the horse that will place third . You will win your trifecta bet if and only if the horses finish in the exact order you specified in your bet. Otherwise, you lose your wager completely.
Sample for how to make a Trifecta Bet from a horse racebook.
1. First, make sure you select the "Trifecta" betting option from your horse racebook's wagering menu.
2. Note the horses listed in the race, usually on the left hand side of the screen. The column to the right lists the odds - the "ML" column in the above diagram.
3. Make your picks for the horse that will place first,
second, and third in the exact order you specify. In this diagram, the horse with 2:1 odds has been picked to win, followed by the horse with 10:1 odds for second place, followed by the horse with 12:1 odds for third place.
4. ***Notes: To make a successful trifecta bet, you must pick three horses and those horses must finish in the order you specified. Advanced horse bettors might choose to place a Trifecta Wheel bet by choosing more than one horse to finish in a certain position. For example, horse "Jones" is selected to win, horses "Smith" or "Charlie" are BOTH selected to take second place, and horse "William" is selected to take third place. To learn more about advanced Trifecta betting, please see our Trifecta Betting page.
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SUPERFECTA BET
The superfecta bet is an advanced type of horse wager but is easy to understand. To make a superfecta bet, select the horse that you think will place first ; then the horse that will place second; the horse that will place third; and finally the horse that will place fourth. You will win your superfecta bet if and only if the horses finish in the exact order you specified in your bet. Otherwise, you lose your wager completely.
Sample Procedure for how to make a Superfecta Bet from a horse racebook.
1. First, make sure you select the "Superfecta" betting option from your horse racebook's wagering menu.
2. Note the horses listed in the race, usually on the left hand side of the screen. The column to the right lists the odds - the "ML" column in the above diagram.
3. Make your picks for the horse that will place first,
second, third, and fourth in the exact order you specify. In this diagram, the horse with 4:1 odds has been picked to win, followed by the horse with 5:1 odds for second place, followed by the horse with 6:1 odds for third place, and finally the horse with 12:1 odds to place fourth.
4. ***Notes: To make a successful superfecta bet, you must pick four horses and those horses must finish in the order you specified. Advanced horse bettors might choose to place a Superfecta Wheel bet by choosing more than one horse to finish in a certain position. For example, horses "Matt" OR "James" are selected to win, horses "Smith" or "Charlie" are BOTH selected to place second, horse "William" is selected to place third, and horse "Craig" is selected to place fourth. To learn more about advanced Superfecta betting, please see our Superfecta Betting page.
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EXACTA BET
The Exacta Bet is a wager on the horse that will place first followed by the horse that will place second in a race. In order to make a successful Exacta bet, the horses must finish in the order you specified, meaning first and second position consecutively.
Otherwise, you lose your wager completely.
Sample procedure for how to make an Exacta Bet from a horse racebook
1. First, make sure you select the "Exacta" betting option from your horse racebook's wagering menu.
2. Note the horses listed in the race, usually on the left hand side of the screen. The column to the right lists the odds - the "ML" column in the above diagram.
3. Make your picks for the horses that will place first and second in the order you specify. In this diagram, the horse with 2:1 odds has been picked to win, followed by the horse with 5:2 odds for place.
4. ***Notes: To make a successful exacta bet, you must pick two horses and those horses must finish in the order you specified. Advanced horse bettors might choose to place an Exacta Wheel bet by choosing more than one horse to finish in a certain position. For example, horses "Henry" and "Bill" are BOTH selected to place first, with horses "Smith" and "Charlie" BOTH selected to place second. To learn more about advanced Exacta betting, please see our Exacta Betting page.
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QUINELLA BET
The Quinella Bet is a wager on a horse that can place either first or second in a horse race followed by another horse that can place either first or second. Unlike the Exacta Bet, the order in which these two horses finish is unimportant. All you have to do is pick the top 2 horses in a race. If either of your picks does not place first or second in the race - ie. if one of horses places 4th - you lose your wager entirely.
Sample procedure for how to make a Quinella Bet from a horse racebook
1. First, make sure you select the "Quinella" betting option from your horse racebook's wagering menu.
2. Note the horses listed in the race, usually on the left hand side of the screen. The column to the right lists the odds - the "ML" column in the above diagram.
3. Make your picks for the horses that will place either first or second. In this diagram, the horse with 5:2 odds has been picked to place first or second, followed by the horse with 8:5 odds which can ALSO place first or second.
4. ***Notes: To make a successful quinella bet, you must pick two horses and those horses must finish in the top 2 positions at the end of the race. The order in which they finish is unimportant. Advanced horse bettors might choose to place an Quinella box bet by choosing more than one horse to finish in a certain position. For example, horses "Henry", "Bill", or "Moe" are selected to place first or second. To learn more about advanced Quinella betting, please see our Quinella Betting page.
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DAILY DOUBLE BET
The Daily Double bet is picking the first place finishers of two consecutive horse races. In other words, you must pick the winner of BOTH Race 1 and Race 2 to win your Daily Double bet. If either of the horses fails to win their respective race, you lose your wager entirely.
Sample procedure for how to make a Daily Double bet at a horse racebook
1. First, make sure you select the "Daily Double" betting option from your horse racebook's wagering menu. You should see a list of multiple races.
2. Note the horses listed in the race, usually on the left hand side of the screen. The column to the right lists the odds - the "ML" column in the above diagram.
3. Make your pick for the horse that will win Race 7, followed by the horse that will win Race 8 (Race numbers from diagram above). In this diagram, the horse with 5:1 odds has been picked to win Race 7, followed by the horse with 6:1 odds to win Race 8.
4. ***Notes: To make a successful daily double bet, you must pick two winners of two consecutive races. Advanced horse bettors might choose to place a Daily Double wheel bet by choosing more than one horse to finish in first place. For example, horses "Jack" or "Jane" are selected to win the first race, followed by horses "Dan" or "Sam" to win the second race. To learn more about advanced Daily Double betting, please see our Daily Double Betting page.
PICK 3, 4, 5 or MORE BET
The Pick 3, 4, 5 or more (n) bet is similar to the Daily Double bet, except you are picking the winners of three races (Pick 3), the winners of four races(Pick 4), the winners of five races (Pick 5), or the winners of n races(Pick n). Like the Daily Double, ALL of your picks must win in order to collect a payout. The odds of winning a Pick 3, 4, 5, or more bet are remote, but if you are sucessful, you will win a substantial amount of money, much like a successful Trifecta or Superfecta Bet.
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Tracks Supported: All major North American tracks (including Canada). Tracks have tiered maximum payout limits.