Wagering 101

Let’s get down to business. The first thing you want to do when you get to the track is look at all the people around you. THEY are your competition! Unlike casino gambling where you’re betting against the house, horse racing is a “pari-mutuel” venture. In other, less fancy words, that means you’re betting against everybody else who’s betting. Sam Houston Race Park has no financial interest in the outcome of a race. We simply want everybody to have a great time!

1. Get a program - First things first, when you get to the track, buy a program for the track you want to bet on. Racing programs tell you the horse/rider combinations for each race and give you important information on how each horse has done in past races. Programs are available at each entrance.

2. Pick up a tip sheet - If you are new to betting, our tip sheets will show you our handicappers’ top picks. For more information on our handicappers, CLICK HERE.

3. Ask for assistance if needed - Studying a program for the first time might be a little overwhelming. Visit the "ROOKIE ROOM" after the first race every live racing day for a "BEGINNER’S SEMINAR" that will not only teach you the below information, but offer more detail on how read the program, introduce you to addtional types of bets and offer a VIP facility tour. We are here to serve you!

Win......................................................................You bet on a horse to finish first.
Place..................................................................Your horse must finish first OR second.
Show..................................................................Your horse must finish first, second OR third.
Across the Board...........................................This means you want to bet your horse to Win, Place AND Show

Race Track Takeouts:

Win, Place, Show.............................................18%
Exacta, Quinella and Daily Double...............21%
Trifecta, Superfecta and Pick 4.....................25%
Pick 3.................................................................12%

The Five Essentials:

Say the name of the track
The race number
The amount of your bet (For Win, Place and Show bets the minimum is $2).
The type of bet (Win, Place or Show)
The number of your horse

For example: "At Sam Houston Race Park, in the third race, I would like $2 to win on number 3."

FAVORITES win 33% of the time.
FAVORITES place (1st or 2nd) 53% of the time.
FAVORITES show (1st, 2nd, or 3rd) 67% of the time.
Always wager by the horse’s number in the program, not by the horse's name.
Always check your ticket before leaving the mutuel teller window.
State law prohibits any cancelation of a win ticket valued at $501 or more.
All patrons of Sam Houston Race Park must be 21 years of age to wager or consume alcoholic beverages.

Types of Wagers: Every race, Sam Houston Race Park offers a wide variety of wagers for you to choose from.
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Types of Wagers Include:

WIN - offered every race
When you wager to win, your horse must finish first in order to collect.
To wager to WIN, you say "I want $2 to WIN on number 3."

PLACE - offered every race
When you wager to place, your horse must finish first or second.
To wager to PLACE, you say, "I want $2 to PLACE on number 3."

SHOW - offered every race
When you wager to show, your horse can finish first, second, or third. A show wager is the most conservative wager, but it typically yields the smallest payoff.
To wager to SHOW, you say, "I want $2 to SHOW on number 3."

ACROSS THE BOARD - offered every race
When you wager across the board or combination, your horse must win, place, or show.
To wager ACROSS THE BOARD or COMBINATION, you say, "I want $2 ACROSS THE BOARD on number 1." Your wager will be $6.

DAILY DOUBLE - offered on the first and second races and on the ninth and tenth races
To win the daily double, you must select the winners of the first two races. Wagering must be done prior to the first race.
To wager on the DAILY DOUBLE, you say, "I would like a $2 DAILY DOUBLE, 1 with 2."

QUINELLA
This is a $2 wager in which you select two horses to finish in first AND second. For example, you wager $2 and pick two numbers (for example, 1 and 2), and you win if the race finishes either 1-2 or 2-1. Your two numbers must cross the finish line first and second, but they can finish in either order.
To wager the QUINELLA, you say "$2 QUINELLA on 1-2."
* A QUINELLA WHEEL or PART WHEEL involves "keying" one horse with several others in your wager.
* A QUINELLA BOX involves combining all possible combinations of a group of horses in the QUINELLA.

EXACTA
This is a $2 wager, in which your top two selections must finish in exact order for you to win. Exactas yield a higher return than quinellas.
To wager an EXACTA, you say "$2 EXACTA on the 1-2."
* An EXACTA WHEEL involves "keying" one horse with several others in your wager.
* An EXACTA BOX involves combining all possible combinations of a group of horses in the EXACTA.

TRIFECTA
This is a $2 wager like the exacta, but you must pick the first three horses to cross the finish line in exact order. Because this is more difficult, it will return more than an exacta.
To wager on a TRIFECTA, you say, "$2 TRIFECTA on the 1, 2 and 3."
* A TRIFECTA WHEEL involves "keying" one horse with several others in the wager.
* A TRIFECTA BOX involves combining all possible combinations of a group of horses in the TRIFECTA.

SUPERFECTA
This is a $2 wager where you must select the first four horses to cross the finish line in exact order. Once again, your return will be greater than the exacta and trifecta because it is a more complex wager.
To Wager a SUPERFECTA, you say, "$2 SUPERFECTA on the 1, 2, 3 and 4."
* A SUPERFECTA WHEEL involves "keying" one horse with several others in the wager.
* A SUPERFECTA BOX involves combining all possible combinations of a group of horses in the SUPERFECTA.

Terms: The name of the game is wagering. Here are some of the wagering terms you might hear at Sam Houston Race Park:
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Wagering Terms Include:

WAGERING TERMS

The name of the game is wagering. Here are some of the wagering terms you might hear at Sam Houston Race Park:

ACROSS THE BOARD
Three equal wagers placed on one horse to win, place and to show.

CLOSING ODDS
The odds displayed on the tote board after wagering closes.

COUPLED
Two or more horses running as an entry in a single betting unit. Example "1 and 1A", "2 and 2B" and so forth.

DAILY DOUBLE
A type of wager calling for the selection of winners of two consecutive races, usually the first and second races, prior to the first race.

HANDICAPPING
The art of evaluating horses' past performances to determine the outcome of a race for selecting the best wagering options.

HANDLE
The total amount of money wagered in the pari-mutuel on a race, a program, a meeting, or a year.

MORNING LINE
The track handicappers' estimate of the probable payoffs for each horse at post time.

ODDS-ON
Odds that are less than even money ($1 to $1)

PARI-MUTUEL
The wagering format which allows players to compete against each other ("among ourselves") rather than against the track.

PARLAY
A wagering technique whereby the bettor reinvests the proceeds from a wager in one race into another race or races.

PAST PERFORMACES
A compilation in Daily Racing Form of a horse's record, including all pertinent data, as a basis for handicapping.

POOL
The total amount of money wagered on any one type of wager (win, show, exacta pools, etc.)

TOTALISATOR (TOTE)
The system of computers and electronic components tied to the pari-mutuel ticket issuing machines that calculates the odds to $1 and computes the various winning payoffs.

TOTE BOARD
An electronic board displaying approximate odds, amount wagered, track condition, post time, time of day, results of race, running time and payoff prices.

WHEEL
The betting term in which one horse is selected to finish in a certain position with several other horses in the remaining positions. To make an exotic wager (e.g. exacta or daily double) using a single "key" horse with the balance of the field (in the case of an exacta) or all the horses in the other race (in the case of a daily double).

HORSE RACING TERMS

ALLOWANCE RACE
A race other than claiming for which the racing secretary drafts certain conditions to determine weights.

APPRENTICE
Rookie jockey who is allowed a reduced weight as they gain experience. Often referred to as a "bug boy".

CLAIMING RACE
Race in which horses are entered subject to claim for a specified price.

GRADED RACE
Races designated as the most prestigious in the United Stated and Canada (Grade I, Grade II, Grade III).

INQUIRY
Reviewing the race to check into a possible infraction of the rules.

MAIDEN RACE
A race for non winners.

OBJECTION
Claim of foul lodged by rider, patrol judge or other official.

POST PARADE
Horses going from paddock to starting gate past the stands.

PURSE
The total prize money awarded in a race, usually among the top five finishers.

STAKES RACE
Highest class of race, reserved for the best horses. Owners have to pay an entry fee or "stake" for these races.

DIRT TRACK CONDITIONS

FAST
A track that is completely dry and at optimal efficiency.

SLOPPY
A track that continues to accumulate moisture during or immediately after a heavy rain, which begins to seep into the base. The base is still solid, but the surface water is evident.

MUDDY
A track whose base has been permeated by moisture. Times are somewhat slower, and running tires the horses more.

SLOW
A track surface that has begun to dry out. The base is still soft, but surface drying is evident. Times are generally slower than normal.

GOOD
The track's drying out process continues, and some flying dust is evident. Times improve and the track is approaching a Fast condition.

TURF TRACK CONDITIONS

FIRM
A turf course that is completely dry and at optimal efficiency (equivalent to Fast on a dirt track.)

YIELDING
A track surface with some moisture that creates a softer surface on which the horses run. Many European imports prefer a softer track like this for their optimal performance.

SOFT
A turf course becomes boggy (spongy) after prolonged rain. Horses' hooves sink in and dig up the course, and times are considerably slower.

EQUIPMENT & MEDICATION

BANDAGES
Wrappings used on a horse's legs to protect them from injury.

BIT
Metal bar in horse's mouth to which reins are attached by which the horse is guided and controlled.

BLINKERS
Eye cups attached to a hood to limit a horse's side vision and prevent distraction.

BRIDLE
Piece of equipment placed on the horse's head used by the jockey to steer and control the horse. The bit is part of this equipment.

BUTE
A horse medication allowed in many race jurisdictions that is used to control inflammation.

COLORS (SILKS)
Distinctively patterned and colored jacket and cap worn by the jockey to identify the horse's owner.

HALTER
A piece of equipment placed on a horse's head, similar to a bridle but lacking a bit and reins, used in handling horses around the stable and when not being ridden. A long leather shank is attached to the halter for walking the horse.

IRONS
A term commonly used for the rider's stirrups.

LASIX
A horse medication allowed in many race jurisdictions that is used to control bleeding, a condition which occurs when tiny blood vessels in a horse's respiratory system are damaged by exertion.

TACK
Equipment used for riding a horse, i.e. saddle, bridle, blinkers, whip, irons, etc.

TONGUE STRAP
Strap or cloth bandage used to tie down a horse's tongue to prevent him from swallowing it, or to place the tongue over the bit in a race or workout.

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