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Step 1
Put your money on a straight bet to "win," "place" or "show." With a "win" bet the horse you picked must be in first place, with a "place" bet you win if the horse comes in first or second, and with a "show" bet you win if the horse comes in third place or better. Beginners often place this simple bet.
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Step 2
Pick two winning horses with a "quinella" bet. The two horses must come in first and second in any order for you to win. There are different variations on the quinella. With the quinella box, you pick three or more horses and you win if any combination of two come in first or second.
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Step 3
Place an "exacta" bet if you think you know which horses will finish first and second. You must pick the horses in the order they win (the horse you pick for first must get first and the horse you get for second must place second). The exacta box and exacta wheel are variations on the exacta bet.
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Step 4
Experiment with a "trifecta" if you have some experience with betting on horse races. You must pick the three horses that will finish in first, second and third in the correct order. A "superfecta" requires picking the first four finishers in the correct order.
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Step 5
Select the winning horses in the daily double. The daily double is two specific consecutive races, usually the first two and/or last two races of the day. Some tracks offer a rolling daily double which is bet on any two consecutive races.
