If you are new to placing bets on the horses it is wise to know a bit about horse racing betting terms. A well informed punter is always going to stand more of a chance against the bookmaker. Online betting has made horse race betting so much easier. The days of wondering what to write on the shop’s betting slip are long gone.
Today, punters can place their bets online with more betting options than ever before. In this article we will cover the meaning of some of the more popular horse racing betting terms and their use.
Flat or Jumps Horse Racing? – You Choose
Horse racing in the United Kingdom is divided into two different branches. The first, straight (flat) racing is easy: ponies start, they run, either round a curved path or in a straight track, then they finish – the champion being the first horse past the finish line.
The second category (National Hunt racing) is slightly more complicated. This race is divided into two main branches: steeplechases and hurdles.
The difference between the two is that ponies running in steeplechases must jump fences that are much higher and stronger than the hurdles in the hurdle races. Steeplechases also include water jumps and open ditches. Thus adding just a little more excitement/danger, depending whether you are riding or watching.
In both National Hunt and flat, races are also categorized by the experience and age of the horses. As well as the distance over which they race.
Common Horse Racing bets explained
The main objective of horse betting is to beat the “Odds makers” and win some money. What’s more, placing a bet on your favourite horse makes the event exciting and more enjoyable. Betting is done through Bookmakers. You can bet on the outcome of horse races and multiple other sporting events.
Types of Horse Racing Betting Terms
There are many different types of horse racing betting terms. Here are some of the most common types of UK horse racing betting:
WIN: This type of bet is by far the simple one. You just need to pick the horse that will win the race. If the pony crosses the finishing line in first place, then you will win all your stakes.
PLACE: When you bet on your horse to “place”, you are betting that your pony will come in first or second. If your horse finishes in the second or first place, you get to collect. Pay-outs for a place bet is less than a win gamble, but you do have the advantage of being able to collect if your horse finishes in the top two positions.
SHOW: Here, you need to choose the pony that you think will come in the third place. If the chosen horse finishes in the first, second or third position, you will win the bet. The pay-out for a “show “ bet is much less than a place or win bet since you have a higher chance of winning.
ACROSS THE BOARD: This is the most popular betting type in horse racing. This allows bettors to choose a pony that may come either at first, second or third position. In simple terms you are betting the pony to win, place, and show. If the horse wins, you get paid on all the three wagers. If the horse comes in second, you get paid on the show and place wagers. However if the horse comes in third place, you get paid on the show bet only.
EXACTA: This wager involves placing a bet on specific horse to come in first and second position. For example, if a bettor places a wager on horse number 2 or 4, to win the exacta bet, horse number 2 has to come first and horse number 4 has to finish second.
EXACTA BOX: Here, the order by which the ponies finish the race does not matter, until and unless you have picked the two right ponies. For example, you bet £5 exacta box on number 2 and 4, then the total stake will be of £10, as there are two possible results.
QUINELLA: With a Quinella bet, you are betting on two horses to come in first and second position respectively. As long as your horses finish in the top two positions, you get to collect.
TRIFECTA: The Trifecta bet takes the Exacta wager a step further. This bet requires the punter to choose the ponies, in order, that finish in the top three positions in the race. It’s very difficult to predict comapared to an Exacta, and accordingly will pay out much more for a winning wager.
SUPERFECTA: This wager requires the punter to forecast the first four finishes, in order. Forecasting a superfecta bet is very hard and will always require the punter to take several combinations of ponies so that there are more chances of winning. The payoff is usually high.
DOUBLE: This is the simplest type of bet that spans multiple races. This wager requires the punter to pick the winning horse in two consecutive races.
PICK 3/PICK4/PICK6 (CLASSIX): These wagers are all similar to the Double bet, only differing in the number of consecutive races that a punter needs to predict the winner. The greater the amount, the more difficult it is to pick, as well as the higher the payoff. For these wagers, it’s advisable to take several combinations of ponies in each race to increase your chances of winning.
PLACE PICK ALL: This wager is similar to a pick-x-wager, except that you need a pony to place (come in first or second) in each race, instead of to win. With this wager, you must pick a horse in every race on the card (usually 8 or 9 races).
YANKEE WAGERS: If you are looking for something fascinating to do with four horses rather than three, then a Yankee bet is worth considering. There are 11 wagers in a Yankee bet (22 if each way), consisting of six doubles, four trebles, and a fourfold accumulator. Two of your ponies have to be successful for you to get a return.
LUCKY 15 BET: A lucky 15 is a multiple wager that has four horses, but the amount of wagers increases to 15 by the addition of four single wagers to the Yankee. Therefore, a Lucky 15 bet will consist of 4 singles, 6 doubles, 4 trebles and one fourfold accumulator.
LUCKY 31: A lucky 31 bet is made up from five horses in different races. This wager includes five singles, 10 doubles, 10-trebles, 5-fourfolds and a fivefold accumulator. As with the Lucky 15, if only one pony wins then you will get a consolidation bonus. If all 5 ponies win then you will also get the bonus of 10/15% applied to your returns. This is like a Lucky 15 bet.
Difference Between Betting Options and Odds
Betting options and odds are integral parts of horse racing. Betting options refer to the various types of wagers you can place, like single or accumulator bets.
In contrast, odds represent the probability of an outcome and determine how much you win if your bet is successful. Understanding both is important as they help punters make informed decisions and potentially maximise returns.
Calculating Payouts on Horse Racing Bets
Calculating potential payouts is important for bettors. To determine your winnings, multiply the odds by your stake. Fractional odds like 5/1 mean you'll get five pounds for every pound staked, plus your original stake.
Decimal odds simplify this process, as 6.0 means a £1 bet returns £6 in total. A clear understanding of these calculations helps punters set realistic expectations.
When placing multiple bets, consider how combinations affect total payout, as accumulators can significantly increase potential returns. Understanding each bet's value within larger combinations ensures more strategic bet placement.
Factors Influencing Horse Racing Odds
Many factors can influence horse racing odds, including the horse's recent form, jockey skill, and track conditions. Bookmakers adjust odds based on how much money is being staked on each horse.
Even slight changes in weather can alter the race dynamics, affecting the odds. Being aware of these factors allows bettors to better assess the risk and potential reward of their bets.
Hopefully having read this article you will feel more informed and confident in your understanding of the types of horse racing betting terms. A good place to start would be a dedicated horse racing (and greyhound) betting site like Betfred.com. You will also discover a good resource of information on horse racing bet types at the site.
Betting Exchanges vs. Bookmakers
Betting exchanges and traditional bookmakers are two platforms where bets can be placed. While bookmakers set odds and handle bets themselves, betting exchanges allow punters to bet against each other.
On an exchange, you can both back and lay bets, and this flexibility often comes with competitive odds. The platform charges a small commission only on winning bets, which can make exchanges a cost-effective option for experienced bettors. Betting exchanges also provide transparency, as odds reflect real market demand and supply, offering bettors additional insights into market trends.
Responsible Gambling in Horse Racing
Responsible gambling ensures that betting remains enjoyable. Set a budget before betting and stick to it, and never chase losses.
Look out for signs of problem gambling, such as betting more money than you can afford to lose or feeling anxious about your bets. Many resources are available, including helplines and support groups, which can help you maintain a healthy betting practice.