There are lots of different places to place a bet. Some like the hustle and bustle of the on-course bookmaker, some like the camaraderie and tradition of a betting shop, and some like the simplicity of online betting. Whichever you prefer, hopefully this guide can lend you a helping hand in your betting endeavors.

On-course bookmaker

How To Place A Bet On A Horse Race Online

Place: Bet a horse to finish first or second. Show: Bet a horse to finish first, second, or third. Across the board: Bet a horse to win, place, and show. If the horse wins, you get win, place, and show money. If it finishes second, you get place and show. If it comes in third, you get show. Exacta: Bet the first two finishers in a race in exact. It even has a calculator to work out how much you need place on each part of the bet and how much you will win. Then you place a bet with the relevant bookie shown by the software and lay off the bet on Betfair for guaranteed profit, whatever happens. If the horse wins or loses, you still make a profit.

If you are at the racecourse, then one of the most popular ways to bet is with the on-course bookmaker. These are bookmakers who have “pitches” along the racecourse offering odds on the outcome of each race. Should you elect to bet with an on-course bookmaker, the best way to proceed is to note down the number of your selection, approach the bookmaker and say for example “£10 on number 6, please.” The bookmaker will then hand you a slip with the details of your bet on.

On-course bookmakers often have a minimum bet, and some are win only, so it is a good idea to note any stipulations before approaching.

Betting Shop

If you are not at the racecourse but would still like the physical aspect of placing a bet, then perhaps visiting a betting shop should be your modus operandi. Betting shops allow you to bet on the majority of sporting events.

Once you have chosen your selection and the amount you are comfortable staking, you should take a slip and write down exactly that. If you are betting on horse racing, make sure you include the time of the race, the course the race will be run at, the name/number of the horse and the amount you wish to stake. If you would like to take the Early Price, then write the horse’s current odds on the slip, if you are happy to accept the Starting Price then do not write any price on the slip. It is good to note that a lot of betting shops offer Best Odds Guaranteed (where if you take a price and the SP is bigger, they settle at that bigger price), so it is worth checking if that’s the case.
One you have written this down, hand it over to the person behind the counter, along with the money, and they will provide you with a slip detailing your bet.

Online

Online betting is fast becoming the norm for modern-day gamblers, and it is easy to see why. Online betting is fast, easy and you can do it all from the comfort of your own home.

As before, once you have picked out your selection and stake, as well as identifying the best odds available, you should proceed to the online bookmaker who is offering those odds.

To bet online you will need to first create an account, and then deposit money into said account before you can place a bet.

Once you have completed these tasks, simply select the sport you would like to bet on, then the event (meeting if horse racing), then simply click on the selection to add it to your virtual “betting slip”. This will often appear in the right-hand-side of the screen.

There will be a blank box underneath the selection in the betting slip for you to enter your stake. Once you have done so your potential winnings should appear below (detailing how much you stand to win should you have identified the correct selection).

Once you are happy with your selection, odds and stake, you are ready to place your bet. Click the button that states eight “Bet”, or “Place Bet”, or something along those lines, and your bet will be placed.

How To Place A Bet On Horse Racing Kentucky Derby

It is always a good idea to check your bet once it has been placed to ensure everything is correct.

Collecting any winnings

Should you manage to pick out a winning selection then you will need to collect your winnings. This is relatively simple.

If you have placed your bet with an on-course bookmaker, simply hand over your betting slip once the race has finished and he/she will pay you your winnings, plus your stake.

If you have placed your bet in a betting shop, then similarly, just hand over your betting slip to the cashier, who will in turn pay you your winnings, plus your stake.

If you have placed your bet online then your winnings, plus your stake, should be automatically credited to your account once the event has completed.

Editor's Note (2/19/21): The New York Racing Association (NYRA) has announced that the 2021 summer meet at Saratoga Race Course will take place from July 15 through September 6. The information below reflects 2020, but we will update it with 2021 details as soon as they are released by NYRA and New York State.

Are you new to the track? Is it your first visit in a long time? Whether you're a brand new bettor or a track veteran, it never hurts to have a refresh on the basics of betting at the Saratoga Race Track!

If you're looking for guidance on how to choose the best horse at the races, this infographic isn't going to help you much. But if you just want to know the differences between types of bets, how to place your bet, and what wagers you can place, you've come to the right article!

The infographic on the basics of betting at the Saratoga Race Course covers where to place your bet, what order you should say your bet in at the counter, and the difference btween straight wager bets and exotic wager bets like the Exacta, Trifecta, and Superfecta. By the time you get to the end of the infographic, you'll be a betting pro for your next visit to the track!

How to Place a Bet at the Saratoga Race Course

Note: The 2020 meet at Saratoga Race Course took place without fans in attendance, so on-track betting was not available.

When you place your bet, you will need to place it in a certain order. Tell the clerk the following information (or enter it on the automated betting terminal):

1. What track (in this case, Saratoga, which can be assumed if you are placing the bet at the track)
2. Race number
3. Dollar amount of your bet
4. Type of bet
5. Number of the horse(s) you are betting on.

When you place your bet, it will sound something like: 'At Saratoga, Race 3, $5 to win on number 6!'

Types of Bets You Can Place at the Saratoga Race Course

Straight Wager Bets

• Win - Pick a horse to finish first. This is the most common and simplest bet you can place.
• Place - Pick a horse to finish first or second.
• Show - Pick a horse to finish first, second, or third.

Exotic Wager Bets

• Exacta - Pick the first and second place finishers in exact order.
• Trifecta - Pick the first, second, and third place finishers in exact order.
• Superfecta - Pick the first, second, third, and fourth place finishers in exact order.
• Box - You can also box any of the exotic wager bets, which will place a bet on any combination of the horses you have chosen. This increases your chances of winning, but also increases the cost of the bet. For example, a $1 Trifecta Box costs $6 because you are effectively placing 6 bets.

Multi-Race Bets

Multi-race bets are pretty much what they sound like. You will choose the winner in X number of consecutive races. These bets are called

How To Bet On Horse Racing Online

• Daily Double - Pick the winner in two consecutive races.
• Pick Three - Pick the winner in three consecutive races.
• Pick Four - Pick the winner in four consecutive races, and so on...

How to Calculate Your Payout

Your payout is going to be determined by the number of horses in the bet, the odds on the horses you chose, and it almost goes without saying, the wager amount.

Straight Win Bets are easy to calculate, for example, as you simply multiply the amount wagered by the odds, and add the amount wagered.

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