Learn how to play horse racing

horse Betting

At all official horse races, there is a gambling station, where gamblers can stake money on a horse.

The three most common ways to bet money are: bet to win, bet to place, and bet to show. Bet to win means that you stake money on the horse, and if it comes in first place, the gambler will receive the money. In bet to place, the gambler will stake money on the horse to come in first or second place, and if the horse does, the gambler wins money, but not as much as he would have if he had bet the horse to win. Bet to show means the gambler stakes money on the horse to come in first, second, or third. If the horse does, the gambler wins money, but not as much as they would have if they had bet on the horse to win or to place. In betting to place and betting to show, there is less risk of losing money.

In the UK and Europe, betting to show is less commonplace since the number of "payout places" varies depending on the size of the field that takes part in the race. For example, in a race with seven or less runners in the UK, only the first two finishers would be considered winning bets with most bookmakers. Three places are paid for eight or more runners, whilst 14 runners or more will see the first four places being classed as "placed". Betting to place takes on a different meaning in the UK and Europe for this reason. In the US a place bet would only pay out if the horse in question finished first or second, whilst in the UK, a place bet would be deemed a winner based on the aforementioned criteria.

The term "Each Way" bet is used across the globe, but again has a different meaning depending on your location. An each way (or E/W) bet sees your total bet being split in two, with half being placed on the win, and half on the place. US bettors would only see a payout for a first or second place finish with this type of bet, whilst European and British bettors (or "punters") would receive a payout if the horse either wins, or is placed based on the place criteria as stated above. Most UK bookmakers cut the odds considerably for an each bet, offering the full odds if the horse wins but only a third, a quarter or a fifth of the odds if only the place section of the bet is successful.