Horse racing has been known for many years as the Sport of Kings. Every year, billions of dollars are bet at racetracks around the world, all based on the simple idea that one horse can run faster than another. Every May, the eyes of the sporting world turn to Churchill Downs in Kentucky for the race of the year, the annual Kentucky Derby, where fashion and sport meet to create an unforgettable sight beneath the towers of the racetrack. You, too, can participate in this exciting sport. All you need is a small betting stake, an eye for a fast horse, and the willingness to suffer some losses in search of a big payout. Many towns have their own racetrack, or at least a betting parlor that brings in races from around the world, and they would be very happy to take your bets.
Betting on races is simple. There are three standard bets, to win, to place or to show, plus several other more exotic wagers. Betting to win is self-explanatory; you are betting on a particular horse to win the race outright. Betting to place means you think the horse will finish second, and to show means they will finish third. The minimum bet in the United States is $2, and winning wagers are paid based on the odds posted on each horse. You can find the odds in the daily program for each racecourse, or posted on the scoreboard. If the odds posted for a horse are 2 to 1, for example, that means you will receive $4 for every $2 bet, and so on. The smaller the odds, the more likely the oddsmakers believe that horse will win.
Other bets include the quinella, where you choose the horses who will finish first and second in any order. The exacta requires that you pick their correct order, and the trifecta pays when your horses finish in first place, second place and in third - in correct order. The daily double pays for picking the winning horses of two designated races, usually the first and second, and there are bets with correspondingly high payouts for four races (the Pick 4) or six races (the Pick Six). These are very hard bets to win, but can pay thousands of dollars to the lucky bettor.
Your program has a guide on how to play the various bets. So you see it is easy and fun to get involved with betting on horse races. The best advice is to take no more money with you to the track than you are able to afford to lose, and to relax and enjoy the experience. Good luck!
