The "Chickens" How To Guide (vol.2): Bettin' on the ponies
The first thing you need to learn about bettin' on the ponies is how to read the racing form. 
Racing forms are sort of like the periodic tables of horse racing. There is a whole bunch of information crammed into a small space but it is only useful if you already know what numbers are where and what they mean.
Yes you can just go and randomly pick a number (which I have done), or colour (which I have also done). FYI the same numbers are always the same colours. Or, if you are a little more advanced, on the coolness of the horse name. But I feel it is important not be ignorant (or at least attempt to be conversant with basics of anything you are going to spend money on) so here is an interactive tutorial on racing form literacy.
At the top of the page for a given race will have the number of the race (say 2 if it is the second race), the type of race it is (say 6 furlongs), what sorts of horses are competing, what the purse is, weights, and any other general info about the race itself, as well as any allowed combination or multiple bets. See the tutorial for the rest.
Now that you know all the info you need to pick your winners (like if it has a cool name), here's how to bet.
Straight or Single bets:
This is the simplest and most common bet placed on a single horse. Obviously the more complex (and unlikely) the bet, the higher the payoff (that's why they call it gambling boys and girls). But this isn't always the case because the payoff is based on the odds given, but also on how many people make the same bet as you do. So, for example, sometimes the payoff on a bet to show on a favorite horse to win is higher than the to place payoff. Straight bets include:
Win bet. Simple, you bet on which you think will win. If they do, you collect. Usually the posted odds are based on returns on a win bet.
Place bet. A wager for place means you collect if your selected horse finishes either first or second.
Show bet. A wager to show means you collect if your selected horse finishes either first, second or third.
Place bet. A wager for place means you collect if your selected horse finishes either first or second.
Show bet. A wager to show means you collect if your selected horse finishes either first, second or third.
Combination Bets:
Combinations cover from two to four horses to win in chosen order. Any given race will always allow all straight bets, but will only allow certain combination bets (these will be listed on the racing form next to the number of the race). Combination bets include:
Quiniela. A bet placed on two horses to finish first and second in either order.
Perfecta or Exacta. A bet placed on two horses but they must cross the finish line in exact chosen order.
Trifecta. A bet placed on three horses to cross the finish line in exact chosen order.
Superfecta. A bet placed on four horses to cross the finish line in exact chosen order.
Quiniela. A bet placed on two horses to finish first and second in either order.
Perfecta or Exacta. A bet placed on two horses but they must cross the finish line in exact chosen order.
Trifecta. A bet placed on three horses to cross the finish line in exact chosen order.
Superfecta. A bet placed on four horses to cross the finish line in exact chosen order.
Multiple bets:
Bets across multiple races different races. Low odds, high pay outs. You won't win these unless you drugged the horses. Some common multiple bets include:
Daily Double: Similar to an accumulator you select the winners of the first and second races on that day. You must place your bet before the start of the first race.
Pick 3. This wager requires the player to pick the winners of three consecutive races. Some race tracks have a rolling pick 3, which is when the player must pick three races in a row and it continues for the next three races. Also comes in pick 4 or even 6.
Parlay or Accumulator. A kind of 'let-it-ride' bet. Making simultaneous selections on two or more races with the intent of pressing the winnings of the first win on the bet of the following race selected, and so on. All the selections made must win for you to win the parlay. If a race is a tie, postponed or cancelled, your parlay is automatically reduced by one selection; a double parlay becomes a straight bet, a triple parlay becomes a double. A parlay bet can yield huge dividends if won, but good luck with it.
OK so you know what race you are betting on, what horse(s) you want, and what kind of bet you want to make. So now what? Well, the minimum bet is usually $2, you go up to the nice people behind the counters who want to take your money and say, "number 3 to win in the 5th" and give them your toonie. Well, don't say that EVERY time unless you only ever go to race number five and only like to bet on 3. Anyway, you get the idea. For a quiniela you might say "$2 quiniela, numbers 5 and 6". If the results of the first two horses are either 5-6 or 6-5, you win.
Parlay or Accumulator. A kind of 'let-it-ride' bet. Making simultaneous selections on two or more races with the intent of pressing the winnings of the first win on the bet of the following race selected, and so on. All the selections made must win for you to win the parlay. If a race is a tie, postponed or cancelled, your parlay is automatically reduced by one selection; a double parlay becomes a straight bet, a triple parlay becomes a double. A parlay bet can yield huge dividends if won, but good luck with it.
OK so you know what race you are betting on, what horse(s) you want, and what kind of bet you want to make. So now what? Well, the minimum bet is usually $2, you go up to the nice people behind the counters who want to take your money and say, "number 3 to win in the 5th" and give them your toonie. Well, don't say that EVERY time unless you only ever go to race number five and only like to bet on 3. Anyway, you get the idea. For a quiniela you might say "$2 quiniela, numbers 5 and 6". If the results of the first two horses are either 5-6 or 6-5, you win.
There are also special sorts of bets in which you box out multiple horses for a bet. These cost more, but you are slightly more likely to win. For example in a Quiniela Box you pick three or more horses. You win if any two of your selections finish first and second. To bet you say "$2 quiniela box on 4,5 and 6". You are making three separate bets so your minimum bet is $6. If they finish 4-5, 4-6, 6-4, 6-5, 5-4 or 5-6, you win. You can box as few as three or as many as the field (all the horses in the race) but this costs more.
With a Trifecta it is much the same. For a straight Trifecta you say "$2 trifecta numbers 7,4 and 5" and you win if they finish in that order, but with a Trifecta Box you pick three horses to finish first, second and third, in any order. To bet you say "trifecta box 2,3 and 5." You are actually making six $2 bets, so your total bet is $12. If they finish 2-3-5, 2-5-3, 3-2-5, 3-5-2, 5-2-3 or 5-3-2, you win. More commonly there is a Trifecta Key in which you pick your favorite horse to win, then two or more others to place and show in any order. To bet you say "trifecta key on 1 with 2 and 3." You are actually making two $2 bets so your total bet is $4. To win your Key horse must win and the other two must finish either 1-2-3 or 1-3-2.
With a Trifecta it is much the same. For a straight Trifecta you say "$2 trifecta numbers 7,4 and 5" and you win if they finish in that order, but with a Trifecta Box you pick three horses to finish first, second and third, in any order. To bet you say "trifecta box 2,3 and 5." You are actually making six $2 bets, so your total bet is $12. If they finish 2-3-5, 2-5-3, 3-2-5, 3-5-2, 5-2-3 or 5-3-2, you win. More commonly there is a Trifecta Key in which you pick your favorite horse to win, then two or more others to place and show in any order. To bet you say "trifecta key on 1 with 2 and 3." You are actually making two $2 bets so your total bet is $4. To win your Key horse must win and the other two must finish either 1-2-3 or 1-3-2.
Anyway, I've never made one of these kind of crazy bets myself. I like to stick to my little $2 bets and hope to break even and maybe make a few pennies to pay for a snack. This isn't too hard to do making easy bets and, even if you do lose all night, if you stick to your little bets you won't be out more than the price of a movie and popcorn (as D would say). Well that's it for this installment of how to do fun stuff. I couldn't find a horse racing clip but at least I can say that gambling is better with the Simpsons:
p.s. Just think of them as big dogs!
2 comments:
i think it's time you start copywriting your how to guides. there's money to be made, damn it.
and i want a cut.
k.
I really like the word Quiniela.
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