Betting Tips

Here's How:

1.   Pick your winner. You wager by the number of the horse and not the name, so be sure to check the program and get his official number.

2.   Pick your wager. There are many different wagers offered from track to track. The easiest wager to cash in on: a show bet. This means that if the horse you select finishes at least third you win!

3.   Pick the amount you want to wager. Since this is aimed at beginners, you should probably stick with the minimum of $2.

4.   Go to the window to place your bet. Most tracks will have a beginner's window so you may want to use that. Make sure you don't get in the $50 minimum line by mistake!

5.   Tell the teller the track name you want to wager on and the race number. Most tracks will be taking bets on several locations via satellite feed so make sure you tell them which you want.

6.   Tell the teller how much you wish to wager.

7.   Tell the teller what type of bet you selected in #2 above.

8.   Tell the teller the horse's betting number.

9.   Get your ticket from the teller.

10.   Make sure your ticket is correct before you leave the window.

11.   Watch the race and see if you win!

Tips:

1. Always have your bets and money ready when you go to the window so you don't hold up the line.
2. Write down your wagers, perhaps in your program, before you go bet. That way you don't get confused and forget your horses's number. This helps you keep a record of how much you wagered for the day.

The exacta requires you to select the first two finishers in order. Wheeling lets you minimize your wager while giving you more chances to win. The exacta usually offers higher pay-offs than win, place, or show wagers.

Here's How:

1.   Select the horse you think will win.

2.   Select two or more horses that you think have the best chance to finish second.

3.   Go to the betting window and tell the clerk which track and race you wish to bet on

4.   Tell the clerk '$1.00 exacta wheel 1 over 2, 3, 4' (or whichever horses you selected). Most tracks will take a $1 minimum on a wheel but some still require a $2 minimum.

5.   Make sure your ticket is correct before you leave the window.

6.   Take your ticket and watch and cheer for your selections.

Tips:

2.  The wheel will cost $1 per horse placed in second. $2 for 2, $3 for 3, etc.

3.  $1 is generally the minimum wager on an exacta wheel but some tracks still require a $2 minimum. You can wager a larger amount if you like.  

How to Box a Trifecta

The trifecta requires you to select the first three finishers in order and can lead to big pay-offs. Boxing lets your selections come in any order and still win.

Here's How:

2.   Go to the betting window and tell the clerk which track and race you wish to bet on

3.   Tell the clerk "$1.00 trifecta box 1, 2, 3, 4" (or whichever horses you selected).

4.   Make sure your ticket is correct before you leave the window.

5.   Take your ticket and watch and cheer for your selections.

Tips:

2.   A 3 horse box is $6, a 4 horse box is $24, a 5 horse box is $60, and a 6 horse box is $120.

3.   $1 is generally the minimum wager on a trifecta box but you can wager a larger amount if you like.  

 

How to Key a Trifecta

The trifecta requires you to select the first three finishers in order and can lead to big pay-offs. Keying lets you minimize your wager while giving you more chances to win.

Here's How:

1.   Select the horse you think will win.

2.   Select two or more horses that you think have the best chance to finish second or third.

3.   Go to the betting window and tell the clerk which track and race you wish to bet on

4.   Tell the clerk '$1.00 trifecta key 1 over 2, 3, 4' (or whichever horses you selected).

5.   Make sure your ticket is correct before you leave the window.

6.   Take your ticket and watch and cheer for your selections.

Tips:

2.   A 2 horse key is $2, a 3 horse key is $6, a 4 horse key is $12, a 5 horse key is $20, and a 6 horse key is $30.

3.  $1 is generally the minimum wager on a trifecta key but you can wager a larger amount if you like.

 

How to Bet the Pick Three

The Pick 3 requires you to select the winner of 3 consecutive races. This wager generally offers much a much higher pay-off than just betting the 3 horses to win in each race.

Here's How:

1.   Select the horse you think will win each race. You can select more than one in each race but this will increase the amount of your wager.

3.   If you only selected one horse per race, tell the clerk "$1.00 Pick 3: 1 with 2 with 3" (or whichever horses you selected). The minimum Pick 3 wager may be $2 at some tracks.

4.   If you selected more than one horse per race, tell the clerk "$1.00 Pick 3 wheel: 1, 2 with 1, 2 with 1, 2" (or whichever horses you selected).

5.   Make sure your ticket is correct before you leave the window.

6.   Take your ticket and watch and cheer for your selections.

Tips:

2.   You determine the cost of your wager by multiplying the number of horses in each race together then by the amount wagered. For example: 1 x 2 x 2 x $1 = $4

3.   The minimum wager on a Pick 3 is usually $1 or $2. Ask the clerk for the minimum amount at your track. You can wager a larger amount if you like.

 

How to Bet the Pick Six

The Pick 6 requires you to select the winner of 6 consecutive races. This wager generally offers very high pay-offs and occasionally tracks will offer a very high amount such as $1 million.

Here's How:

2.   Go to the betting window and tell the clerk which track and race you wish to bet on

3.   If you only selected one horse per race, tell the clerk "$1.00 Pick 6: 1 with 2 with 3 with 4 with 5 with 6" (or whichever horses you selected). The minimum wager may be $2 at some tracks.

4.   If you selected more than one horse in some races, tell the clerk "$1.00 Pick 6 wheel: 1 with 1, 2 with 1, 2 with 4 with 5 with 5, 6" (or whichever horses you selected).

5.   Make sure your ticket is correct before you leave the window.

6.   Take your ticket and watch and cheer for your selections.

Tips:

2.   You determine the cost of your wager by multiplying the number of horses in each race together then by the amount wagered. For example: 1 x 2 x 2 x 1 x 2 x 1 x $1 = $8

3.   The minimum wager on a Pick 6 is usually $1 or $2. Ask the clerk for the minimum amount at your track. You can wager a larger amount if you like.