How to Track Belmont Stakes Odds for Show

By betting on a horse to show in the Belmont Stakes, you are wagering that the horse will come in either first, second or third place. While a show bet is one of the most conservative bets possible in all of horse racing, yielding potentially minor winnings, you can still track the odds on various horses and determine whether you want to take a chance on a long shot.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

1. Track the odds for a horse to show at the Belmont Stakes by visiting Belmont-Stakes.info and observing the show pool total and total amount bet on your horse (see Resources below).
2. Find the figures for the total show pool and the total amount bet for a particular horse when you arrive at the racetrack. This can be accomplished by viewing the tote board or by asking any available ticketing agent. Note that these figures may fluctuate wildly in the minutes leading up to the post time.
3. Take the total show pool figure at the Belmont Stakes, and subtract the take. The take is deducted to pay for all taxes, licensing, banking fees and maintenance costs. While the percentage of the take is usually anywhere from 15 to 20 percent, depending upon the state, the take at Belmont Stakes, which is located in New York, is a reasonably low 14 percent for straight betting.
4. Divide the show pool total by three, since your chances for winning your bet are tripled over a straight-win bet.
5. Determine the total amount bet on your particular horse to show, and divide it into the amount of the pool. For instance, if $1500 is left in the show pool after the take has been deducted, you will have $500 left after you have divided by three. If $250 has been bet on your particular horse, then $500 divided by $250 is $2.
6. Convert the $2 amount into an odds ratio to track the actually show payout. A $2 payout therefore becomes two to one odds while a $3 payout becomes three to one odds. Note that most tracks round up to the nearest nickel or dime.

Tips & Warnings

• Many horse-racing experts suggest that you combine a show bet with various place and win bets to increase your chances of covering the field. This betting method, where you bet on as many horses as possible, is known as a Dutch-betting system.