| Would you like to bet on horse races, but you're not | | | | chosen a horse, we'll say the 2 in the third race, to bet |
| sure about how to do it? Maybe you've been to the | | | | on and you want to collect no matter whether it wins, |
| race track once or twice and had fun, but didn't know | | | | places, or shows. For six dollars you can bet a $2 |
| what you were doing, or maybe you've been more | | | | across the board bet. You simply walk up to the |
| than a few times, but still want to learn more about | | | | teller and say, "Two dollars across the board on the |
| how to bet on horses. Reading a racing form or past | | | | two in the third race." You might also have to specify |
| performances and then wagering can be confusing, | | | | the track if there is simulcasting going on and people |
| especially if you're picking winners. These tips are | | | | are betting on more than one track. |
| mostly for North American tracks, but some of the | | | | I don't recommend more complicated bets such as |
| advice is good no matter where you go to the races. | | | | exactas or daily doubles because they are harder to |
| 1. The first tip is also a bit of a caution and disclaimer. | | | | win. |
| It is fun to bet on horses and win money, but it is also | | | | 3. The third horse racing tip is how to choose a good |
| very risky. Unless you're a great handicapper, have a | | | | horse to bet on. The most likely winner is usually the |
| real good horse racing system, or have some very | | | | horse with the most money bet on it. They are called |
| good inside information, a lot of it is luck. Therefore, | | | | the favorite and on the average win about a third of |
| never risk more than you can afford to lose. | | | | the time. They place about half the time and show |
| Because it can become an emotionally charged | | | | almost three quarters of the time. Therefore, betting |
| experience, I advise that you only take as much | | | | the favorite across the board results in some kind of |
| money into the track or OTB as you can afford to | | | | payoff in almost three out of four races, that's the |
| lose. Leave the rest of your money at home. | | | | good news. The bad news is that if you keep betting |
| 2. The second tip is about betting. This is where you | | | | the favorite, you'll wind up cashing a lot of tickets, but |
| figure out which type of wager to make. There are | | | | losing money. |
| many kinds of wagers that you can make. | | | | If you don't know how to handicap and don't have a |
| Obviously, if you bet on a horse to win, it has to win | | | | good horse racing system, I recommend you get a |
| the race in order for you to collect. If you bet on a | | | | racing form or local paper that has a sports writer |
| horse to place, it has to finish first or second and you | | | | who handicaps the races, and read the comments |
| get whatever it pays to place. Horses usually pay | | | | about the horses made by the experts. This will do |
| less to place than to win because they have a better | | | | two things. It will tell you which horses are most likely |
| chance of placing. The third straight bet, as these | | | | to win and it will also start to teach you how |
| wagers are called, is a show bet. It means if your | | | | handicappers choose winners. Their comments will |
| horse manages to come in first, second, or third, you | | | | quickly educate you about class, speed, and jockeys. |
| get whatever it pays to show and be prepared | | | | If you go with their second or third choice you will have |
| because it is usually less than the win or place payoff. | | | | a lot of winners and also get some pretty good prices |
| If you only want the thrill of cashing tickets and | | | | at times. |
| cheering on a horse and you lack confidence, there is | | | | Those three tips will get you started and you will have |
| nothing wrong with betting to show or place. If you | | | | an enjoyable day at the track. Going to the horse |
| want a chance at each one of those bets, you can | | | | races and betting on horses should be fun as long as |
| bet the horse "across the board." Let's say you have | | | | you use common sense and follow those guidelines. |