This bet can be used with all bets except Win, Place and Show, an can be wagered in $1 increments. Please consult the front of the live program, a teller or a self-bet machine for cost of box wagers as each additional horse adds to the cost. Betting horse races legally from the comfort of your home has never been easier! Bet horse racing on our premier desktop site or on the go with our fast mobile app. Never miss betting a race at the Kentucky Derby, Preakness, Breeders’ Cup, Gulfstream Park, Santa Anita, Churchill Downs, Saratoga, Belmont, Del Mar and more! The bookies will typically be organized into a betting ring where each bookmaker displays colorful banners and digital signs which list the racing odds offered for each horse. You will approach the bookmaker and tell him the bet you wish to place.

We want your visit with us to be not only enjoyable, but also rewarding. When betting the horses, you are playing against other bettors, not the house. This is called “pari-mutuel wagering”. The track handles the bets and redistributes the money to the winners.

The Meadows Racetrack & Casino provides both teller-staffed windows and self-service wagering machines. Whichever you choose, the way to bet is the same.

• Stating the track name
• Race number
• The dollar amount
• The type of bet
• The horses’ program number or numbers

For example: The Meadows, Race 3, $5 to Win on Number 4.

Winning tickets may be cashed at any window the day of the race or up to March 31 of the following year.

You can also wager with vouchers. Vouchers are just like cash but are easier and more convenient to use. They can be used for wagering at any live teller or self wagering machine. They can be exchanged for cash at any teller window.

WIN
The horse must finish first to collect.

PLACE
The horse must finish either first or second to collect. Generally the payoff is less than a win payoff.

SHOW
The horse must finish either first, second or third to collect. Generally the payoff is less than for Win or Place.

DAILY DOUBLE
You must pick the winners of two consecutive races to collect. Most tracks have this bet on the first two races of the card. Some tracks also have this bet on the last two races of the card.

EXACTA
You win by picking the first two horses to cross the finish line in exact order.

TRIFECTA
You win by selecting the first three horses to cross the finish line in exact order. This payoff is generally higher than an Exacta, but is a tougher bet to win.

SUPERFECTA
You win by selecting the first four horses to cross the finis line in exact order.

PICK 3 / PICK 4 / PICK 5 / PICK 6
Must pick winners of the number of consecutive races stated in the bet's name. For example a Pick 3 is for three consecutive races, a Pick 4 is for four consecutive races, etc.

You can increase your chances of winning by using boxes and wheels. Here is how they work:

BOX
This wager combines your selections to finish first and second in every possible combination. Example: If you be a 'Trifecta box 3-4-5,' you win if those three horses finish in any order first, second and third. This bet can be used with Exactas, Trifectas and Superfectas; it can be wagered in $1 increments and at lower increments at some tracks.

WHEEL
Combines one horse with all the others in a race. Example: If you wager an 'Exacta wheel 5-All,' you win if the five finishes first no matter whom finishes seconds. This bet can be used with all bets except Win, Place and Show and can be wagered in $1 increments.

PART-WHEEL
Lets you pick only the combinations you want. This is often used by very experienced bettors. Example: If you bet a 'Trifecta part wheel - 3 with 1, 2, and 4, with 1, 2, and 4,' you win if the 3 wins and 1, 2 or 4 finish second and third. This bet can be used with all bets except Win, Place and Show, an can be wagered in $1 increments.

Please consult the front of the live program, a teller or a self-bet machine for cost of box wagers as each additional horse adds to the cost.

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

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.

How To Put A Bet On Horse Racing

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.

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

How To Place A Bet On Horse Racing

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.

How To Place A Bet On Horse Racing Kentucky Derby

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.