Where do I bet?

The Tote

Have selling points throughout the racecourse.

The Bookmakers

The bookmakers display their odds for each race and compete to offer the best price to customers.

Minimum bets

This varies but it is usually £2. Usually shown on the boards displaying the odds but if in doubt- ask.

Types of bets

Win

The simplest and most rewarding bet. Your horse must finish first with the jockey intact.

e.g “£5 on 6 to win” (6 being the number given to the horse and jockey which is represented in the race card or on the boards above the betting station, if you aren’t placing a bet on the next race to take place make sure the bookie is aware of this)

Each Way

This incorporates two bets in one- you are betting on your horse to win or be placed. (so a £5 each way bet will cost £10 as you are betting £5 on it to win and £5 for a place.)

e.g “£5 each way on 6”

Each way bets are as follows:

• Up to 4 runners- no place betting
• 5-7 runners- 1st & 2nd
• 8+ runners- 1st, 2nd & 3rd
• Handicap 16+ runners - 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th.

Return on bet:

If your horse wins you get a return on £5 with the stated odds. If your horse finishes in one of the lower positions within your boundaries your return is based on a fixed proportion of the winning odds, usually 1/4 or 1/5 depending on the number of runners.

If you put the entire bet on the horse to win you will claim back a higher return but the beauty of an each way bet is that it acts an insurance policy and used as an overall betting strategy.

Place

(only accepted at Tote) If you think that the horse is unlikely to win a race, but will still put up a good show then place betting is perfect. You are betting the horse will finish in the top 2,3 or 4 depending on the number of runners in the race.

e.g “£5 place on 6”

Return on bet:

• 5-7 runners- 1st & 2nd- 1/4 of winning odds
• 8+ runners- 1st, 2nd & 3rd- 1/5 of winning odds
• Handicap 16+ runners- 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th- 1/4 of winning odds

'the odds' and placing a bet

Odds against

(e.g 2/1. 7/1, 15/2, 50/1)

If your horse’s chance of winning the race is less than 50/50 it is described as odds against. You will receive your stake back plus your stake multiplied by the odds against it.

Example:

• Your horse wins at 2/1 (pronounced two-to-one)
• If your stake was £10 you will receive:
• Your £10 bet back
• Plus your stake multiplied by the odds of 2/1 = (£10 x 2) = £20
• So you will receive a total of £30.

Sometimes the numbers may appear more complicated e.g 15/2 or 9/4. This is simply because odds are normally expressed as fractions so can’t include half numbers. So for ease of working out how much your bet would return, think of 15/2 as 7.5/1

Even money

If your horse’s chance of winning the race is 50/50 it is described as evens. In this case if your horse wins you will receive your stake back doubled.

Example:

• Your horse wins at 1/1 (pronounced ‘evens’) if your stake was £10 you will receive:
• Your £10 back
• Plus your stake multiplied by the odds of 1/1 = (£10 x 1) = £10
• So you will receive a total of £20.

Odds on

(e.g 1/2, 4/7, 3/10)

If your horse’s perceived chance of winning the race is more than 50/50 it is described as odds on. In this case if your horse wins you will receive your stake back plus your stake multiplied by the odds on it.

Example:

• Your horse wins at 1/2 (pronounce one-to-two on)
• If your stake was £10 you will receive:
• Your £10 bet back
• Plus your stake multiplied by the odds of 1/2 = (£10 x ½) = £5
• So you will receive a total of £15.