Horse racing stands as one of the longest-running pastimes for spectators, a
sport that has literally sustained through the ages. Even today, with so much
competition for the attention of the public, the sport draws an incredible
amount of interest. That interest ranges from local events to the kinds of races
that capture the imagination of entire nations and even beyond that.

Many people might be acquainted with a certain style of horse racing,
something that they grew up watching at a local track or on television. They
might not realize the scope of horse racing, how it ranges to several different
styles and even sub-categories within those narrower groups. Each style is
exciting in its own way, as proponents debate on which types of horse racing are
among the best.

Types of Horse Racing Bets: Straight Bets and Exotic Bets Horse betting is what makes this event one of the most popular sports in the world. And knowing how to bet on horses can keep you coming back for more. Horse bets can be put into one of two categories; straight bets and exotic bets. I have been looking at the different types of bets on horse racing and been paper trialling loads of different bets. They range from multiple bets like the Goliath, lucky 15 to single win bets. From my paper trial I have found that the eachway double is a bet that has been most profitable.

One thing that is a similarity between just about every style of horse racing
is the fact that betting acts as a major part of the lure for people watching.
Whereas the legality of betting on other sports has been an open question in
some jurisdictions, horse racing betting has generally been accepted throughout
history. People can bet on the races and perhaps walk away from an afternoon or
night at the races with a bankroll significantly larger than when they came to
the track.

Horse racing has evolved in many ways since the earliest days of chariot
races and the like. But in many ways, it hasn’t changed, as it still comes down
to the athletic prowess of the horses and the savvy and skill of the men and
women in charge of riding or driving them. That ageless allure, coupled with the
betting aspects
of the sport, should ensure that all types of horse racing thrive into the
foreseeable future.

Separate Styles

As history has proven, there are many ways to conduct a horse race. Over
time, certain characteristics have come to distinguish certain styles from
others. In addition, certain styles have managed to sustain popularity and
betting interest, while others have become obscure. For the sake of this
article, we’re going to concentrate on the most popular styles, with both
spectators and horse racing bettors, still in play today.

Thoroughbred Racing

Thoroughbred racing stands as the most popular type of horse racing over its
competitors by a significant margin. The biggest races in each particular region
are cultural events, hot topics in the news, and the focus of intense betting
interest. For hundreds of years, Thoroughbreds have been a marvel to the sport’s
enthusiasts on account of their speed, grace, and power.

What sets a Thoroughbred apart is the breeding, as they can all be traced
back to a small group of horses from the 17^th and 18^th
century. The horses are then trained in racing on flat, mostly round tracks.
They generally begin racing as two-year-olds and can sometimes race until they
are nearing double digits in age, although owners can often retire them before
that to take advantage of their ability to breed other race horses.

Extreme fan interest in the Thoroughbreds generally heightens as they reach
age three and beyond, as this is the point where they tend to hit their full
peak of physical maturity. It is at this point when they are eligible for the
most expensive and prestigious races in the various countries around the world
that host the sport.

While racing, Thoroughbreds are controlled by jockeys, who sit atop a saddle
on their backs. Other important human figures in the sport of Thoroughbred
racing include trainers, who are in charge of the horses’ exercise, feeding, and
training regimens to prepare them for the actual races. The owners are in charge
of footing the bill for the horses’ upkeep (and they also get a large share of
the winnings), while breeders do the job of matching studs and mares so that
more race horses can be born and brought into the racing pipeline.

The finest horses can bring their handlers great winnings because of the
ability to earn purse money. Those successful horses also can garner large fees
for the privilege to breed them. Purses can range from a relatively small amount
to huge sums for the biggest races.

Some of the most lucrative and famous Thoroughbred races include the Kentucky
Derby in the United States, the Epsom Derby in Great Britain, and the Melbourne
Cup in Australia. Many countries also host a so-called
Triple Crown,
which is a trio of designated races for a certain age group (usually
three-year-olds) that is extremely difficult for one horse to sweep.

Distinctions in Thoroughbred Races

Thoroughbred racing is not just a free-for-all where any horse can enter any
race they want. There are ways in which they are classified. In addition,
certain horses are specialists that perform certain races better than others.
Horse racing bettors have a firm handle on these distinctions, which helps them
to determine how to bet.

Surface

Most people think of Thoroughbred racing as being contested on dirt because
that is the surface which is featured on the vast majority of races. Yet in
certain parts of the world, racing on grass surfaces is extremely popular. As a
matter of fact, many famous race tracks feature both dirt and grass, or turf,
tracks in the same location.

In addition, as more and more attention is paid to keeping horses healthy, a
new class of synthetic surfaces has risen in popularity. These surfaces mimic
traditional surfaces but are created with the intention of providing a much
smoother ride for the animals, creating less stress on their bodies. Such
surfaces go by a variety of names, and some tracks even have their own
proprietary type of surface.

Distance

In the case of Thoroughbred racing, you can generally break the races into
two distinct distances: sprints and distance races. Sprints are generally
shorter than a mile and usually require one turn or less. Distance races are
longer than a mile and usually require two or more turns. (This is not to be
confused with endurance racing, which is a specialized type of race conducted at
great distances that can range up to 100 miles or more.)

In general, most horses have bloodlines which favor one distance over
another. This is not to say that a horse can’t break from their pedigree, nor is
it impossible for a horse to be skilled at both sprints and distance races.

Classifications

Many race tracks host specific races for horses based on their gender and
age. For example, there might be a race conducted which only two-year-old
fillies can enter. The idea is to promote fairness in racing and also to ensure
excellent opportunities for bettors with fewer mismatches.

Along those lines, track officials also try to classify horses with the races
that they include on their programs. The three main types of races are claimers,
allowances, and stakes races.

Claimers are races in which every horse is essentially up for sale. In
allowance races, the field is usually limited to horses who have won a certain
amount of money or number of races over a specified period of time. Finally,
stakes races are those which require owners to pay a portion of the purse
beforehand for their horses to participate, knowing that the rewards for winning
are greater than any other race.

Another way that race officials try to keep fields even is with handicap
racing. This usually means that the horses considered the best in the field are
asked to carry more weight than the lesser horses. This ideally gives every
horse in the field a legitimate chance to win, encouraging bettors.

Harness Racing

Although it might not garner the prestige of Thoroughbred racing, harness
racing can boast of impressive history, spectator interest, and betting money of
its own. The sport is mainly distinguished by the fact that horses pull drivers,
not jockeys, behind them on a bike-like cart called a sulky. In addition, the
breed of horses that competes in harness racing is the Standardbred.

The ancestry of harness racing can be traced back to Roman chariot racing.
The sport as we know it today began to percolate in various parts of the world
in the 18^th and 19^th century. Sometimes known as trotting
because of one of the distinct gaits used by the horses in the sport, harness
racing has grown into a worldwide phenomenon.

It may not have quite the following of its Thoroughbred counterpart, but
harness racing makes for an exciting spectacle. In addition, you can bet on
harness racing, whether you’re at the track or doing some online horse betting,
with the same kind of fervor. Here are some of the ways that it mimics
Thoroughbred racing, along with how it distinguishes itself.

Similarities

The basic ways in which the horses are classified for harness races are
similar to Thoroughbred races. There are claimers, allowances (which, in harness
racing, are usually called conditions), and stakes races.

You can even occasionally find handicap races, although in harness racing,
the handicap comes in the form of a more difficult post position, not extra
weight to carry. In addition, Standardbreds are often separated by their age and
gender for certain races.

Another main way that harness racing is similar to Thoroughbred racing is
the way that the
races are bet. You can bet simply by picking horses to finish first, second,
or third (win, place, and show bets). Or you can try for exotic wagers (such as
exacta, trifecta, and Daily Doubles), which include multiple horses. These bets
are harder to win, and as a result, they generally pay more if you do come up
with a winner.

In addition, the human involvement is very similar between the two styles of
horse racing. There are owners, breeders, and trainers involved in harness
racing as well. The driver in harness racing is analogous to the jockey in
Thoroughbred racing.

Differences

In addition to the way that the drivers are pulled along by the horses
instead of sitting on their backs, there are several major differences between
harness and Thoroughbred racing. Thoroughbreds are allowed to gallop and
basically use any running style they can to get to the finish line ahead of
their competitors. Standardbreds must conform to a certain gait.

The two distinct gaits are known as pacing and trotting. Pacers must have
their front and back foot on the same side of their body hit at the same time
each step. Trotters must have the opposite feet (front left/back right, front
right/back left) hit in tandem throughout the race.

If a horse breaks the required gait, it must retreat and lose ground to the
other horses until it retains the proper steps, or gets back “on stride.” In
general, pacers are faster than trotters because trotting is a much more
difficult stride to maintain throughout the race.

What that ultimately means is that harness races tend to be slower than
Thoroughbred races. But because of the sulkies and the general similarities in
speed levels, harness races tend to be contested very tightly. That means the
closing portion, or stretch run, of a harness race often is an extremely close
battle with less decisive winners than in the Thoroughbred game.

Other differences include the fact that harness races are generally conducted
over at least a mile or sometimes more, meaning that there really aren’t harness
racing sprints. Also, a Thoroughbred race usually generates from a stationery
starting gate. Because the harness bikes need some momentum to reach top speed,
harness races are generally started by a moving gate attached to a car or other
vehicle.

Steeplechases

Steeplechasing can sometimes be referred to as jump racing or, in the United
Kingdom, national hunt racing (although nothing is being hunted except the
finish line). It is not nearly as widespread as Thoroughbred or harness racing,
although there are some areas of the world, such as the UK, where it still
possesses undoubtedly impressive popularity. The basic distinguishing
characteristic of this sport is that horses must, at various points during the
race, jump over obstacles on their way to the finish line.

The Grand National in Liverpool, England, is an example of a steeplechase
that continues to draw spectator and betting interest that matches the likes of
any major Thoroughbred or harness race. In many areas of the world, concerns
about horses being injured during the jumps have curtailed the popularity of
this style. Steeplechase horses can sometimes be bred specifically for that
purpose, while, in some cases, they can also be Thoroughbreds simply trained for
the jumps.

Other Breeds

There are other breeds of horses that ride with jockeys on their backs but
are not Thoroughbreds. Arabians are horses that are better for longer distances
such as endurance, but they sometimes race at Thoroughbred venues as well.
Quarter Horses are bred for speed races, which often are contested at a quarter
of a mile or less at tracks designed specifically for these races.

Betting on the Various Types of Horse Racing

Although there might be subtle differences in terms of types of bets
surrounding the various styles of horse races and the regions in which they are
held, the mechanisms for betting are pretty similar throughout the entire realm.
The easiest way to bet is to go to a horse racing track. At most tracks, you can
bet not only on the races held there but also at tracks elsewhere in the country
and world.

There are off-track betting facilities that can help you place bets, or, in
some areas, licensed bookmakers, if you are not at the track in question. But
these days, with the advent of the internet,
horse racing betting
sites are easily accessible. Considering that many areas of the world might
not be near a horse racing track but still have internet access, this is the
perfect method of wagering for horse racing enthusiasts regardless of their
address.

Conclusion

Horse racing spans many different styles. You might have several of those
taking place at a track near you. Failing that, you can always view and bet on
them with modern technology such as internet horse betting. In any case, you’ll
likely find out why this sport has been so enticing to so many for so long.

Of all the sports in existence today, horse racing might have the closest, longest relationship with gambling. Whether you’re a sports betting purist or just looking to have fun on the weekend, you need to understand the hype that surrounds the track.

Be it the lack of media coverage or simply different interests, younger sports bettors are often unfamiliar with how betting on horses works. If that’s the case for you, as they say, “You don’t know what you’re missin’!”

The good news? Betting on horse racing isn’t as intimidating as it might seem at first. While it might be a little more difficult to win than betting on a football game, the payout and the excitement make it all worth it.

Here are six types of bets to know before you get started.

1 – Win, Place, Show

Win, place, or show bets are some of the more common options available online or at the track. If you choose a “win” bet, you’re simply trying to predict the first-place horse. You’ll only get paid if you choose correctly.

If you choose a “place” bet, you get a little bit more leeway. As long as your horse finishes in first or second, you’ll win the bet. Keep in mind that the amount paid out on the bet does not change regardless of if your horse finishes in first or second place.

A “show” bet gives you even more wiggle room. As long as the horse you wagered on finishes in the top three places, you’ll cash in. Again, the payout is the same whether the horse finishes first, second, or third.

In addition to these plays, you can also make a “win-place” or “win-place-show” bet. These are similar to the other bets, but the payouts are different depending on the exact finishing position within the top three.

In what’s known as an “across the board” bet, you’ll select a single horse but will get paid out differently based on where the horse finishes.

If your horse comes in first, you’ll cash out on the “win, place, and show” portion of the bet.

If the horse comes in second, you’ll win the “place and show” part of the bet.

A third-place finish will still give you a win in the “show” portion.

This “across the board” bet is technically three bets, so if you wanted to bet $4 across the board, the ticket would be $12.

2 – Trifecta

Once you’ve mastered the more basic win-place-show bets, you can move on to some more complex plays. The “trifecta” would be the logical next step.

A winning trifecta bet can have a huge payoff, although it isn’t easy to win.

Don’t worry — there’s another way to make this play that increases your odds.

The most popular way to play a trifecta bet is by “boxing” three or more horses in various combinations. This allows you to choose more horses than just three. It works like this: with 10 horses in the field, you might think horses 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 have a chance to finish third or better. A five-horse box would cost $30 if there is a 50-cent minimum.

That math works out like this:

• (5 x 4 x 3 x .5)

3 – Quinella and Duet

A quinella bet involves picking two horses. In order to win, they must come in first and second place, although it doesn’t matter which order they finish.

Similar to a trifecta, you can box your bets in order to give yourself a higher chance of winning.

In a quinella box, you choose three or more horses, and if two of the three (or two of the number of you picked) finish first or second, you win!

The catch is that not all tracks offer these types of bets. It’s also important to keep in mind that the more horses you choose, the lower your overall payout will be if you win.

If you think getting the top two exactly right is too much risk, you have the option of the Duet play. This type of wager requires you to accurately choose two of the three place-getters (top-3 finisher), with correct order not important.

4 – Pick 3, 4, 6

These types of bets involve multiple races. A pick 3 bet is when you choose the winner in three consecutive races before the first race begins. In order to cash in on this type of bet, all three horses must win the race.

You might think that a bet like this is nearly impossible to hit, but if you do your homework and find out which horses are the favorites, you’ll find it’s more winnable than you may have anticipated.

A pick 4 is a newer type of bet at most tracks and is even more of a longshot than a pick 3, but the payout might make you think it’s worth the risk.

How To Bet Horse Racing

Keep in mind that choosing longer-shot horses will give you higher payoff than selecting all favorites, although there’s no question it’s more difficult to win.

How much exactly are we talking? If you had wagered just $0.50 on a pick 4 at the 2013 Breeders’ Cup, you would have taken home nearly $30k.

A pick 6 represents one of the most difficult wagers to win but also one of the highest payouts available. If you haven’t picked up on the theme here, in a pick 6, you must correctly choose the winner in six consecutive races.

As with the other types of bets, the play of choosing multiple horses is still available. You’re allowed to select more than one horse in each (or every) leg of your bet.

5 – Each Way

An “each way” is considered two separate bets, although they’re placed together.

• The first bet is on the horse to win.
• If your horse wins, you win the bet.
• The second bet is on the horse to place.
• If your choice finishes in the top three, you also win.

For example, if you bet $3 each way on a horse, your total wager would be $6 ($3 on the horse to win, and $3 on the horse to place).

It’s important to consider the odds on this type of bet on both the winning and placing aspect of the wager.

The advantage of an each way bet is, obviously, an increased chance of winning as you have essentially two different ways to win. If there is no big favorite and you can find favorable odds, it might be a good idea to spread out your money.

6 – Daily Double

The “daily double” is pretty simple to understand.

In the past, the daily double option was only available on the first two races of the day, but nowadays, it’s usually available on any two consecutive races.

While it may not seem that complicated, daily doubles can have huge payoffs if you find a lower-odds horse that has a great day!

Horse Racing Types Of Bets Explained

Conclusion

Different Types Of Horse Racing Bets

Getting into horse racing can be a little tricky at first, but the low-risk, high-reward nature of betting the sport can be a thrill.

Just a few dollars can go quite a long way at the track or betting on horse racing online if you’re able to get lucky and hit on a multiple-leg wager. As with any other sport, plenty of information is available online about the horses you’ll be betting on, so be sure to do your research and give yourself the best chance at a big payday!