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SECTION 7
STRAIGHT OR BASIC WAGERS
There are a
number of different wagers you
can choose when wagering at the
track. All of these variations
stem from one core premise:
Bettors receive payouts based on
the first, second and third
place finishers. Or, in racing
terms, they are based on Win,
Place and Show.
Across the
Board
You are wagering
on a horse to Win, Place and
Show. You receive one ticket for
all three wagers. If your horse
wins, you receive Win, Place and
Show payouts. If your horse
finishes second, you receive
Place and Show payouts; and if
your horse is third, you receive
the Show payout. Because you are
actually placing three wagers,
the minimum wager is $6.
Daily
Double
To win, you must
select the winners of two
designated, consecutive races by
placing the wager before the
first of the two races.
Exacta
You win by
selecting the first two
finishers, in exact order, in a
designated race.
How to Place a Wager
Here's how to place your wager
at the mutuel window:
State the race number and the
track where the race is being
run
State the amount you wish to
wager.
State the type of wager you wish
to make.
State your choice or the program
number of the horse(s) on which
you want to wager.
For Example:
"Louisiana Downs, fifth race,
five dollars to win, on number
2."
Always make sure
to check your tickets for
accuracy before leaving the
mutuel window, and be sure to
hold on to your tickets until
the race is declared "official"
to ensure that you won't throw
away or tear up a winning
ticket. You may also choose to
place your wager using one of
the automated self-service
machines located throughout the
facility. Ask a representative
for assistance.
How to Collect Your Winnings
If you have made
a winning wager, take it to any
mutuel window after the race is
declared official to collect
your winnings. You may take full
amount in payment or wager back
all or part of it on upcoming
races.
If you are unsure whether you
have a winning ticket, do not
hesitate to have it checked at
any window. Also, try to avoid
cashing winning tickets within
five minutes prior to a race,
especially if you do not plan to
wager on that race. Many people
prefer to wait until the last
few minutes before a race to
place their wagers, and cashing
in during that time can slow the
process. There is ample time
between each race to cash your
winning ticket
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Approximate
Payoff
Approximate Payoff
for a $2 Win Bet |
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ODDS |
PAYS |
ODDS |
PAYS |
|
1-9 |
$2.20 |
2-1 |
$6.00 |
|
1-5 |
$2.40 |
5-2 |
$7.00 |
|
2-5 |
$2.80 |
3-1 |
$8.00 |
|
1-2 |
$3.00 |
7-2 |
$9.00 |
|
3-5 |
$3.20 |
4-1 |
$10.00 |
|
4-5 |
$3.60 |
9-2 |
$11.00 |
|
1-1 |
$4.00 |
5-1 |
$12.00 |
|
6-5 |
$4.40 |
6-1 |
$14.00 |
|
7-5 |
$4.80 |
7-1 |
$16.00 |
|
3-2 |
$5.00 |
8-1 |
$18.00 |
|
9-5 |
$5.20 |
9-1 |
$20.00 |
|
8-5 |
$5.60 |
10-1 |
$22.00 |
THE DAILY PROGRAM
As a fan,
your one real necessity is
the day's Official Program.
The program lists vital
information about each day's
races, including the
official numbers of horses
for wagering, and helps you
make informed wagering
selections.
ITEMS TO CONSIDER WHEN
WAGERING AT THE RACES
Here are some
simple tactics which may be
helpful to the newcomer:
1.
Wager on the favorite.
The favorite is the
horse with the lowest
odds or the one on which
the most money has been
wagered. Favorites win
approximately one third
of the time.
2. Check the
local papers, the Daily
Racing Form and the
program handicapper's
selections.The
observations and advice
of a recognized expert
are generally a good
guide for the newcomer.
They offer a popular
shortcut for the
newcomer and a helpful
learning tool for
developing handicapping
skills.
3. Purchase a tip
sheet. These are
prepared by professional
handicappers and may
provide useful wagering
selections.
4. Look in the
program for a list of
jockey and trainer
standings which include
the number of wins
todate. The top riders
generally ride the best
horses, and the hot
trainers generally have
a high win percentage.
5. View the
horses. Watch the TV
monitors while the
horses are in the
paddock and in the Post
Parade
GLOSSARY OF TERMS
Entry
- A horse entered in a
race is called an entry.
And on rare occasions,
two or more horses are
said to be "coupled" and
run as an "entry,"
comprising a single
wagering unit. A wager
on one horse of an entry
is a wager on both.
Furlong - One-eighth
of a mile or 220 yards.
Races are measured in
furlongs.
Infield Odds Board -
The board in the infield
of a racetrack is called
the totalisator board
and displays uptodate
odds along with the
dollar amounts wagered
on each horse in a race.
Morning Line -
Approximate odds printed
in the program and
posted on the Infield
Odds Board before
wagering begins. This is
a forecast of how the
morning linemaker
believes wagering will
occur In a particular
race.
Paddock - The area
at the racetrack where
the horses are saddled
and viewed prior to a
race.
Post
position - A horse's
position in the starting
gate, numbered from the
inner rail outward.
Purse
- The amount of prize
money distributed to the
owners of the first five
or six finishers in a
race (varies by state).
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