How to Bet on Horse Races
Going to the horse races is a lot of fun. The atmosphere is great for all ages and the excitement of watching these magnificent creatures is thrilling. When you bet on the horse, it can be even more exciting, as you watch with baited breath hoping your picks cross the finish line first. The betting system may seem confusing to an outsider, but it is actually quite simple.
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Instructions
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Go to the race track and purchase both a program and race book. Make sure you have a pen or pencil to make notes and write down results. Find a seat where you have some room to place your race book and program.
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Look at the program to see what kinds of races will be run that day as well as when the posted start time of each race is. Decide which race you want to begin on. Read the comments from the writer about each horse. This will give you some insider information.
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Read how long the race will be. Read the times of each horse's latest races and workouts. Look for races and workouts where the horse ran the same distance as the actual race distance. This will give you a good idea of how fast each horse typically is. Read about each trainer, owner and jockey. As you get to know racing, you may find you like particular breeders, owners or jockeys. Next, look at the odds for each horse.
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Decide what kind of bet to place. You can pick any horse to win (first place), place (second place) or show (third place). These are each individual bets. If you want to pick the first and second place horses you want an exacta. If you like two horse but don't know which one will win and which will be second you want an exacta box. If you want to pick the top three horses that is a trifecta.
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Proceed to the betting window and declare your bets. Start with the amount you want to bet on each individual bet; $1, $2, $5, etc. Then declare the type of bet; exacta box, trifecta, show or another option. Say the number of the horse(s) for the bet. Repeat with each bet you want to make for a particular race. Pay, take your tickets then go root for your horse(s) to win. To claim your earnings, simply take the ticket back to the betting window and give it to the attendant. They will pay you accordingly.
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Tips & Warnings
Go with your instincts, they're usually right
Don't bet a ton of money on a long shot; it will likely be a waste. Bet on them, sure, but only a little. You'll be more likely to come out on top that way.
