Famous Italian football coach Arigo Sacchi once said that he never realised that to become a jockey you had to have been a horse first. However, you need to be neither a horse nor a jockey first to be able to wager on horse races and win some money along the way.
But if you’ve never placed a wager on such events before, this guide is perfect for you. So, hop on, and let’s see what it takes to increase your chances of guessing the results of a horse race.
Offline vs. Online Horse Race Wagering
Both offline and online horse race wagering brings certain advantages and disadvantages. If you’re generally fond of online gambling and betting, you’ll probably want to check out some of the best online sportsbooks and make a bet or two on the go. In this case, make sure to double- and triple-check the website or mobile apps you’re planning to play through. It’s essential to choose only the ones with cutting-edge security measures and proper incentives. Credit your betting account with enough money, check out the odds, horses, and jockeys, and you’re good to go.
On the other hand, some people like the bustle and clitter-clatter of horse racing tracks and hippodromes. In some countries, horse-racing venues have a high cultural, economic, and even political value. For instance, don’t be surprised by the official stats that horseracing is the second most significant sport in the UK, right after football. From its business impact and attendance to employment figures, such venues and accompanying activities are important for the citizens of the British Isles.
As for the practical aspect, the drill is similar to the one online: approach the box office, state the race number you wish to bet on, pinpoint the horse name/number and wager type, make the payment, and check the betting ticket.
Our two cents: try both offline and online if you live near a racing track. If not, you always have numerous online options, from traditional iGaming platforms to offshore casinos and online betting parlors.
What Is Show, Place, Win & Co.?
Every sport has its specific jargon, both in terms of the gameplay itself and betting expressions. As jockeys, horse racing, and wagers go together like horse and carriage (pun intended) and have a long tradition, this combo has developed a certain lingo of its own.
To cut a long story short: if you play a show game, it means that the horse you’re bet on must gallop over the finishing line the first, second, or third. As a new kid on the horse track, choose a horse that’s been successful recently and give it a show. Even though the payoff won’t be spectacular, it will serve as a nudge for your further plays.
Then there’s the place game; the horse you choose must finish the first or second for you to win your wager.
If you want to play it more hazardously from day one, you’ll opt for win. You’ll win only if your horse ends up the first in the race. Logically, the earnings are much better than the ones in the place or show games, but the chances are lower.
The Most Popular Horse Combinations
Fast learners might want to move to more dynamic wager combinations in no time. Hence, we’ll finish with a short overview of ways to combine several horses on the same betting ticket.
Quinella is the elementary-level combo ticket. You wager on three different horses, two of which must come 1st and 2nd to make for a valid wagering ticket; it doesn’t matter which one is first and which one is second. It’s also possible to bet only on two horses, but it’s more common to combine three different studs.
Exacta is a bit bigger bite, as the punter typically bets on two horses that need to cross the race-end line in the exact order, as on the betting ticket. This bet is more expensive and much riskier but potentially brings much higher gains.
Finally, the trifecta is the most (tri)effective type of betting game, but it also costs more and includes a combination of several odds, but potentially generates the highest profit. In this play, you choose three different horses, make a guess which place each of them will take at the race end, and wait for the miracle to happen. If they finish the race in the exact order, you hit the bull’s eye.
