|
Types of Bets
Win Single
This bet is where the punter needs to correctly predict the horse, which ends up winning the race. The
punter selects the horse and indicates the amount they wish to bet on that selected horse (stake).
If the selected horse fails to win then the punter loses the staked bet. If the selected horse wins the race then the punter wins the staked amount multiplied by the 'Starting Price' (SP) odds of the winning horse.
Punters can take fixed odds prior to the race commencing if they believe that the odds of that horse may shorten, hence giving them less of a return if the horse wins. However if the odds of the selected horse lengthen and the punter has taken fixed odds and the horse wins, then the punter will only win the fixed odds taken (and the stake placed) not the final SP odds.
A punter can elect to take the Tote Price rather than the standard SP at bookmakers. If the punter does not clearly mark on the betting slip that they wish to take the Tote Price then the SP odds will automatically be applied to the bet. Fixed odds cannot be taken against Tote Prices; these are determined at the start of the race.
Each Way Single
The Each Way Single bet is similar to that of a Win Single with regards to taking fixed odds, SP odds or Tote Prices.
The difference between the Each Way Single bet and the Win Single bet is that the punter is gambling on a horse to both win the race and or be placed in the race. The Each Way Single bet should really be viewed as 2 separate bets and hence the punter has to multiply their stake by 2 to cover the bet.
If the selected horse wins the race then the punter wins the amount of the first staked bet multiplied by the odds of the winning horse (fixed, SP or Tote Price) and gets the first staked bet back. The punter also wins a percentage of the placed value of the odds (percentage determined by the number of runners in the race and type of race) and the second staked bet.
If the selected horse does not win the race but is placed within the race then the punter loses the first staked bet (because the horse failed to win the race), but wins the percentage of the placed value of the odds along with the second staked bet.
If the selected horse fails to win or get placed in the race then the punter loses both staked bets.
This bet is often selected by punters who wish to take on a favourite in a race and where the odds of the horse selected would typically return a profit even if the horse is placed but does not win the race.
Example:
Punter selects a horse and takes the fixed odds before the start of a race at 10/1.
The punter places a £5 each way single bet on this horse. This bet will therefore cost the punter £10 (£5 for the first staked bet (for the win part of the bet) and £5 for the second staked bet (for the placed part of the bet)).
Assuming the race offers a fifth of the odds for a placed horse and the selected horse wins the race then the punter will win the following.
Win staked part of the bet
£5 x 10 (the odds taken were 10/1) = £50 + £5 win stake returned = £55
The horse was also placed therefore the punter also wins
£5 x 2 (fifth of the odds 10/1) = £10 + £5 place stake returned = £15
Therefore the total return for the bet was £70. The punter won £60 + the £10 stake for the bets were
returned.
If the selected horse failed to win but was placed then the place part of the bet would only be taken into
consideration. Therefore the punter would still earn a profit of £5 based on the original total stake of £10.
Win Doubles
A Win Double has all the characteristics of a Win Single except that the punter selects 2 horses from 2
different races. Both horses have to win in order to collect any winnings.
Assuming that both horses win, the stake, which is, originally betted by the punter is multiplied against the odds of the first horse (whether fixed odds were taken or SP odds or Tote Prices) and then the original stake is added to that. The total sum produced from the first race then becomes the stake betted on the second horse. If that wins then stake produced from the first race is multiplied against the odds of the second winning horse and again the total stake produced from the first race is added to the win total of the second horse.
Example:
A punter selects 2 horses from 2 races and takes fixed odds. Assuming the first horse has odds of 3/1 and the second horse has odds of 4/1 and the punter bets a stake of £5 and they both win, then the punter would win the following amount:
£5 x 3 (1st horse odds were 3/1) = £15 + original stake of £5 = £20
£20 now becomes the stake betted against the second horse.
£20 x 4 (2nd horse odds were 4/1) = £80 + new staked bet of £20 = £100
Therefore the punter would be in profit to the sum of £95 and would gain back there original stake of £5.
Please note: Both horses have to win and the punter cannot terminate the bet part way through, i.e. after knowing that the first horse has won its race.
Each Way Doubles
Each Way Doubles can be viewed as a combination of a Win Double but using the characteristics of an Each Way Single bet.
The punter still selects 2 horses from 2 races but rather than striving for a win only the punter is chasing the win and or the horses to be placed.
As with an Each Way Single bet the punter needs to double his named stake to cover the win part of the bet and the placed part of the bet.
In an Each Way Double both horses must at least be placed in order for the punter to see a return on their bet. If one horse fails to be placed then the total bet is lost.
In order for the win part of the bet to be successful both horses have to win there races. The total amount returned would be reflected in the same way as the example provided under the Win Double.
However as both horses won they would also qualify for the placed part of the bet and depending on the percentage odds available in each race for placed horses would determine the total that would be returned in that part of the bet. Then both the win part of the bet would be added to the placed part of the bet and this would be the total winnings returned to the punter.
If a horse loses the race but is placed and the other horse wins the race, then the win part of the bet is lost because the first horse failed to win. However the 2 horses were placed and the punter would get a return on the placed part of the bet.
Example:
A punter selects 2 horses from 2 races and takes fixed odds. Assuming the first horse has odds of 4/1 and the second horse has odds of 5/1 and the punter bets a stake of £5, then to cover the win and place parts of the bet, the total stake would be £10.
Then assuming the first race offers a quarter the odds for a placed horse and the second race offers a fifth of the odds for a placed horse and both horses win there races, then the punter would win the following amount:
Win Part of the Bet:
£5 x 4 (1st horse odds were 4/1) = £20 + original win stake of £5 = £25
£25 now becomes the stake betted against the second horse.
£25 x 5 (2nd horse odds were 5/1) = £125 + new staked bet of £25 = £150
Therefore the punter would get £150 back from the win part of this bet. But as both horses were also placed the punter would also get the placed amount shown below
Placed Part of the Bet:
1st horse odds were 4/1 and a place earned a quarter of the odds in that race. Therefore a quarter of 4 = 1
Therefore:
£5 x 1 (placed odds of 1st horse) = £5 + original place stake of £5 =£10
£10 now becomes the stake betted against the second horse.
2nd horse odds were 5/1 and a place earned a fifth of the odds in that race. Therefore a fifth of 5 = 1
£10 x 1 (placed odds of 2nd horse) = £10 + new staked bet of £10 = £20
This therefore means that the punter earned a return of £150 for the win part of the bet and a further £20 for the placed part of the bet a total return of £170 for the original £10 stake.
It's interesting to note that if one of the horses failed to win or indeed if both failed to win but both were placed, the punter would still have had a return of £20 which doubled the original stake placed.
Please note: That the punter should consider the odds of the horse before placing an Each Way bet and understand the percentages available for placed horses in the race. Selecting horses with short priced odds may not return a profit even if the horses are placed.
Win Trebles / Each Way Trebles
Win Trebles are exactly the same as Win Doubles except the punter selects 3 horses from 3 races and all
3 horses have to win.
Each Way Trebles are exactly the same as Each Way Doubles except the punter selects 3 horses from 3
races and all 3 horses must at least be placed for the punter to see a return.
Accumulator
An accumulator is a bet, which consists of selecting more than 3 horses all from different races. They
can be wagered as win only or as each way accumulators and they work in the same way as a Win
Trebles or Each Way Trebles except that they are assessed against the total number of horses selected.
Multiple Bets
There are a number of common Multiple Bets which bookmakers offer and they all consist of selecting a
specified number of horses from different races. However rather than simply calculating the accumulative wins / places, they also include doubles, trebles, along with possible four folds, five folds etc and an accumulator (depending on the type of Multiple Bet selected).
The type of Multiple Bet determines the number of total bets included and the punter will be required to stake an initial bet which is then multiplied by the number of total bets available for the selected Multiple Bet.
If the Multiple Bet includes singles then the punter will get a return if one horse wins. If the punter selects the Each Way option on a Multiple Bet then the total stake is doubled to cover the Each Way part of these Multiple Bets and assuming the bet selected allows singles then the punter would only need one placed horse to see any return.
The more horses that fail to win or be placed in the Multiple Bet means the more bets, which therefore automatically lose, in the overall Multiple Bet.
Example:
A Trixie requires a punter to select 3 horses from 3 different races. The bet consists of 3 doubles and 1 treble. As there are a total of 4 win bets included in this type of Multiple Bet, then if punter would need to multiply their initial stake by 4 to cover the bet for win only. If the punter wanted to go each way on this bet then the total bets would include 8 overall bets (4 win bets and 4 each way bets) and therefore the punter would need to multiply the initial stake by 8 to cover this type of Multiple Bet on an each way basis.
A Trixie only allows doubles and a treble. Assuming the punter has gone for a win only option and only one of the selected horses wins, the punter gets no return and the total bet is lost. The punter must at least ensure two horses win to get a return. This would return a similar payout to that provided in a Win Double bet explained earlier.
Therefore in a win only Trixie bet, if one horse fails to win its race 3 of the 4 available bets will be lost.
Below is a number of common Multiple Bets, detailing the total win bets available. The total bets outlined in each Multiple Bet are the amount the punter will need to multiply their initial stake by to cover the overall bet. If the punter wants to cover the bet each way, then they simply need to multiply by 2 the total win bets for the Multiple Bet selected.
| Trixie |
|
|
| 3 Selections |
|
|
| 3 Doubles + 1 Treble |
= |
4 win bets |
| Patent |
|
|
| 3 Selections |
|
|
| 3 Singles + 3 Doubles + 1 Treble |
= |
7 win bets |
| Yankee |
|
|
| 4 Selections |
|
|
| Doubles + 4 Trebles + 1 Fourfold |
= |
11 win bets |
| Lucky 15 |
|
|
| 4 Selections |
|
|
4 Singles + 6 Doubles + 4 Trebles + 1 Fourfold
|
= |
15 win bets |
| Super Yankee / Canadian |
|
|
| 5 Selections |
|
|
| 10 Doubles + 10 Trebles + 5 Fourfolds
+ 1 Fivefold |
= |
26 win bets |
| Lucky 31 |
|
|
| 5 Selections |
|
|
| 5 Singles + 10 Doubles + 10 Trebles
+ 5 Fourfolds + 1 Fivefold |
= |
31 win bets |
Heinz |
|
|
| 6 Selections |
|
|
| 15 Doubles + 20 Trebles + 15 Fourfolds
+ 6 Fivefolds + 1 Sixfold |
= |
57 win bets |
| Super Heinz |
|
|
| 7 Selections |
|
|
| 21 Doubles + 35 Trebles + 35 Fourfolds
+ 21 Fivefolds + 7 Sixfolds + 1 Sevenfold |
= |
120 win bets |
| Goliath |
|
|
| 8 Selections |
|
|
| 28 Doubles + 56 Trebles + 70 Fourfolds
+ 56 Fivefolds + 28 Sixfolds + 8 Sevenfolds
+ 1 Eightfold |
= |
247 win bets |
Forecast Bets
Computer Forecast / Straight & Reversed
In order for a punter to win a Computer Forecast bet, the punter must select 2 horses in the same race and for those 2 horses to finish first and second. A Straight Computer Forecast is when the punter has to select one horse to come first and the next horse to come second. A Reversed Computer Forecast is when either of the 2 selected horses can finish first or second. Because a Reversed Computer Forecast actually consists of 2 bets then the amount staked will need to be doubled to cover this type of bet.
If the selected horses do not finish first and second (and in the correct order for a Straight Computer Forecast) then the punter loses the bet.
The punter simply stakes an amount they wish to place on the Computer Forecast and if successful the amount wagered is multiplied by the Computer Forecast generated at the end of the race.
As it implies a Computer Forecast bet is actually generated by computer calculations based on the odds of each horse in the race and the number of horses running. A good conservative rule of thumb to try and estimate the payout of a Computer Forecast prior to a race is to multiply together the odds of each horse selected and then multiply that the staked wagered. Typically the computer calculation is higher than the 2 odds multiplied together but this is a useful yardstick when placing this kind of bet.
Please note that in a Computer Forecast bet (and assuming the punter has won), the punter only gets the Computer Forecast payout multiplied by the stake wagered. The punter does not get back the stake wagered as well as the return.
Also note that in a Reverse Computer Forecast bet the punter is paying for 2 bets and one has to lose (assuming the 2 horses selected do not dead heat in first place), so when calculating the return in a Reverse Computer Forecast bet the punter only calculates half the overall staked amount against the calculated return.
Tricast
A Tricast is the same kind of bet as that of a Computer Forecast except that the punter selects 3 horses
in the same race and all 3 horses have to finish in order as selected on the bet and in the first 3 places.
This is a single bet and therefore the amount staked is the total amount payable.
Tricast bets can only be placed on races, which have been predefined as Tricast races.
There is no Reverse Tricast bet as a Tricast consists of 3 selected horses. However a punter can cover
all 3 horses finishing in any order (but still having to finish in the first 3 places) and this is called a Combination Tricast bet. This bet consists of a total of 6 bets and therefore the punter will need to multiply the staked amount by 6 to cover the bet.
As with a Computer Forecast, a Tricast is also computer calculated after the race. The amount staked (again in a Combination Tricast only 1 bet will be successful the other 5 will be lost) is multiplied by the computer generated Tricast return, again the staked amount is not added to the final return.
As with a Computer Forecast bet a good yardstick to try and estimate the return on a punters Tricast bet is to multiply the odds of all 3 horses together and then multiply this by the stake wagered. Again typically the computer calculation is higher than the 3 odds multiplied together but this is a useful yardstick when placing this kind of bet.
Tote Bets
Tote Jackpot
A punter must try and select the winners of the first six races at a meeting nominated by the TOTE during the week. The Jackpot is then computer calculated after the sixth race and this is multiplied against the amount wagered.
Tote Placepots
A punter must try and select a horse in each of the first six races at a nominated meeting and for all the selected horses to be placed in there respective races. The horses do not need to win only be placed in the races. The Placepot is then computer calculated after the sixth race and this is multiplied against amount wagered.
Tote Quadpot
A punter must try and select a horse in each of the last 4 races that are in a normal Placepot. Like the
Placepot the 4 selected horses must be placed. The horses do not need to win only be placed in the
races. The Quadpot is then computer calculated after the last race and this is multiplied against amount wagered.
Tote Scoop 6
This is the Totes flagship bet. This bet consists of a £2 bet where the punter has to select a horse in 6
nominated races which typically occur at big meetings and every Saturday.
The payout for the Scoop 6 depends on how many punters across the country place a bet on the Scoop 6. If anyone gets all 6 winners then they win the win fund calculated that day or a share of the win fund if assuming they are not the only winners.
A punter can also win the placed return for the Scoop 6 if they have failed to secure wins in all the 6 races but all the 6 selected horses finish in placed positions in there respective races.
The Scoop 6 also has a further incentive and this is called the bonus fund. Assuming a punter or multiple punters win the Scoop 6 then they each have the right (the following week) to select 1 horse in a specified race and if that horse wins they win the bonus fund.
If the win fund or bonus fund is not won then these are rolled over to the following Scoop 6 event. Often punters win the win fund but fail to win the bonus fund and this has been known to grow to over £3 million pounds before it being won.
Bet in Play
This type of bet is typically offered by betting websites and a punter who has an account with the betting
site will have the ability to place bets on horses whilst the race is taking place. The odds for each horse
constantly change during the race and is determined by their original price and position in the race. The
punter takes the price when the bet is placed during the race and the aim is for the horse to win.
Let's assume the favourite in a hurdles race is 2/1 to win at the time the race starts. Let's assume the horse hits the first few fences and drops to the back of the field and it's looking unlikely the horse will win the race. The odds could lengthen significantly. A punter who still believes the horse can win (even at this stage) can place the bet in play and if the horse wins they win at the lengthened odds available at the time of taking the bet.
Lay Betting
Up until recently a punter would only have the option of placing a bet on a horse to win a race with their local bookmakers. However with online betting offices and now betting exchanges, the punter now has the ability to bet via the web but also to bet on horses they believe will lose a race rather than win a race.
Basically a punter who lays a horse is hoping the horse will actually lose the race. These bets can only be performed on betting exchanges online.
The punter who wishes to lay a bet is in affect not betting against the bookmakers but actually against other punters. As the lay punter only has to bet on one horse in a race unlike a bookmaker who has to cover all bets on all horses running in a race, the punter who lays a bet is only exposed on the one horse they select and this often means they can offer better odds than the bookmakers and this makes it a tempting bet for those punters who wish to take on a lay bet.
A lay punter logs into a betting exchange where they have an account setup. They then select a horse in a race they believe will lose the race, this is often the favourite in the race (but could be any horse in the race). They stipulate the amount they wish to lay on the bet (let's assume in this example its £100). All the punter has to do is to wait for another punter (who believes the layed horse will win the race) to take the bet. To encourage the bet to be taken the lay punter (who is in affect acting like a bookmaker) may offer better odds than the current odds being offered in betting offices etc. If the bet is matched i.e. another punter puts up the £100 in the hope the layed horse wins then both punters wait for the outcome of the race.
If the horse loses then the lay punter wins and only wins the £100 staked by the punter who took the lay bet offered.
If however the horse wins then the lay punter loses and pays the other punter the £100 staked multiplied by the odds, which were taken at the time of the bet. The other punter also gets back their £100 stake.
Once the bets are placed their is no way the punters can retract their bets as the staked funds and any potential win amounts are held by the betting exchanges and paid out automatically to either punter at the end of the race. Therefore a lay punter must have sufficient funds in their account to cover the amount stipulated as the lay bet and to cover that amount multiplied by the odds offered, in the event the horse were to win.
Its important note that the betting exchanges take a percentage of all the winnings of each bet placed. This is typically around 2% to 5%. A punter is not required to pay any money to the betting exchange for a bet they lose.
Spread Betting
There are numerous types of spread bets available and typically all offered online rather than at local bookmakers. Spread betting is basically where a bookmaker assigns a points system on a particular aspect of a race and a punter bets high or low on the spread bet offered.
One of the most common and easiest types of spread bets to understand is called a 'Match Bet'. This is where 2 horses are pitted against each other. Let's assume a bookmaker decides that there are 2 horses closely matched in a race and they decide that horse (A) will finish ahead of horse (B) and offer a 0 -1 length winning margin.
Now let's assume a punter decides to go high on horse (A) to beat horse (B) at a stake of £10 per length. If horse (A) beats horse (B) by 7 lengths in the race (note it does not matter what happens to any of the other horses in the race and horse (A) doesn't even have to win for the punter to be successful, it only has to beat horse (B) by more than 1 length) the punter will then win 6 times their stake and receive their stake back.
Basically in the example above horse (A) beat horse (B) by 7 lengths and the punter went high on the spread bet. Therefore any additional length that horse (A) beat horse (B) by after the first length is multiplied by the staked amount. The first length is not counted as the spread bet was offered at 0 - 1 length and going high means anything above the 1 length offered in this spread bet.
The punter would have won £60.
Now let's assume horse (B) finishes in front of horse (A) and the punter went high on the spread bet offered again at £10 per length. Then let's assume horse (B) beat horse (A) by 5 lengths, this would mean the punter would have lost 6 times the staked amount. The punter would have lost £60.
In the above example because horse (B) beat horse (A) by 5 lengths the punter would have to cover each length that horse (B) beat horse (A) by. This because the punter went high on horse (A) beating horse (B). However because the spread bet was offered at 0 -1 length for horse (A) to beat horse (B) the punter has to also cover the 1 length offered because they went high on the bet. This means the punter has to cover a total of 6 losing lengths. This is why the initial stake is multiplied by 6 lengths and not the 5 lengths that horse (B) beat horse (A) by.
Types of Horse
| Colt |
- |
A male horse no older than 5 years old which has not been gelded |
| Dam |
- |
The mother of a thoroughbred horse |
| Filly |
- |
A female horse up to 4 years old |
| Foal |
- |
A male or female horse that is no older than its date of birth up to January 1st
of the following year. |
| Gelding |
- |
A male horse that has been castrated |
| Juvenile |
- |
A horse which is 2 years old |
| Maiden |
- |
This is a horse, which has not won a race |
| Mare |
- |
A female horse that is older than 5 years old |
| Sire |
- |
The father of a thoroughbred horse |
| Yearling |
- |
A horse aged from the 1st January to 31st December following the year of its birth.
The horse could be male or female. |
Types of Races
Steeplechases
This is a race contested on a turf course and which requires the field of horses to jump over obstacles known as fences. The fences used in a Steeplechase race are higher than those used in a Hurdles race. Typically larger and more experienced horses that have shown a real aptitude to jumping take part in Steeplechases. A horse may be an excellent hurdler but when it attempts a Steeplechase race it can often be found wanting. Not all good hurdlers become good Steeplechasers. A good Steeplechase horse must have strength, stamina and excellent jumping ability. The top class Steeplechasers are those that also possess a high cruising speed and jump efficiently over fences i.e. jumping flat over the fences just doing enough to clear the fence but maintaining its momentum and rhythm.
Hurdles
This is a race contested on a turf course and which requires the field of horses to jump over obstacles known as fences. The fences used in a hurdle race are lower than those used in a Steeplechase race. Typically younger or less experienced or smaller horses are run over hurdle races. Some of these are then turned into Steeplechase horses assuming they show a real aptitude to jumping and the trainer believes they can cope with the larger obstacles presented in a Steeplechase. A horse may be a poor hurdler but could well become an excellent Steeplechaser in time. Also some flat horses become very good hurdlers assuming they take to jumping as they often possess very good cruising speed.
Bumpers
These are flat races held on turf courses as part of a National Hunt meeting. These races are aimed at horses that are primed to be become either hurdlers or steeplechasers in time. These races are designed to give a horse some experience of racing and over the sort of distance that would be tackled over some of the shorter distances in hurdle races. Typically horses have one or two attempts at a bumper before being tried over hurdles and less commonly over steeplechases. Bumpers are typically the last race run at a National Hunt meeting which also consists of a selection of both hurdle and steeplechase races.
Turf
These are races which simply take part on a turf racing course i.e. not on an artificial surface and can relate to either Flat or National Hunt meetings.
All Weather Surfaces
These are races that are run on artificial surfaces and these surfaces can very from one racecourse to another. Some horses act better on all weather racecourses than turf race courses and vice versa, it all depends on the horses style of running.
These types of surfaces are only used in flat racing and not in National Hunt meetings.
The advantage an all weather racecourse has over a turf racecourse is that it's easier to ensure the surface is consistent and less susceptible to poor weather conditions.
Allowance
This is a race where horses are given a weight concession to compensate for an inexperienced jockey or due to conditions applied to a race by the racing secretary. These races are not claiming races.
Amateur
An amateur race is one where only amateur jockeys are allowed to ride in. Prefixing a jockeys name with Mr, Mrs, and Miss etc identifies them as an amateur
Apprentice
An apprentice race is one where only apprentice jockeys are allowed to ride in.
Claimers
This is a race where the owners are allowed to advertise the horse for sale for a specified sum, prior to the race being run. If the claimed horse is purchased then the horse becomes the property of the new owners once the race has started. However any prize money won by the claimed horse in that race goes to the previous owner.
What makes claimers very interesting is that the horse is basically handicapped by the owner / trainer based on what the owner / trainer feels the horse is valued at. An owner / trainer can reduce the weight to be carried by their horse as long as they reduce the value of their horse.
For instance assuming that the maximum selling price was £10,000 for a race and the race allowed for a reduction of 3lbs for every £1000 reduction of the horses value, then an owner / trainer could reduce the weight their horse would carry in the race by 6lbs if they valued their horse at £8000.
Conditions
Conditions races are those, which are not classified as Handicap races. A conditions race is where the horses are required to carry weights dependant on a number of criteria, such as the horse's age, sex and its past racing abilities. Basically all Group races (highest quality flat races) are conditions races.
Handicaps
This is a race where a Handicapper allots varying amounts of weights to be carried by each horse in the race. The weight allotted is based typically on the horses past performances and the goal is to try and get all the horses running on equal and fair terms. Therefore in handicap races if a horse appears to be well handicapped this should be noted by the punter. This is because the Handicapper may have underestimated the horses past performances or due to lack of information available has allotted the horse a weight which could be viewed as a low handicap weight.
Hunter
These are steeplechase races, which are open to horses that have been used in hunts and are eligible to take part in Point to Point races.
Maiden
This is a race specific and exclusive to horses which have never won a race. As soon as a horse wins a race they are no longer eligible to run in Maidens and must run all subsequent races in one of the other race types mentioned in this section.
Novice
These are typically National Hunt races, which are only open to horses that have yet to win that particular type of race (whether it be a steeplechase or hurdle race) prior to that season.
Nursery
This the term given to a Handicap race for two year old horses only
Point to Point
These are steeplechase races only open to amateur jockeys. These races can provide a useful insight into horses, which could well become good steeplechasers in the future.
Stakes
These are races, which can require an entrance fee to be paid by the owners of the horses taking part in the race, either to nominate, enter or run their horse. This increases the overall prize money for the race. Normally on good quality horses are entered into these races and typically Stakes races provided some of the highest prize money available.
Horse Race Classifications
Horseracing in Britain and other countries have there own categorisations for all their races. In Britain it's the responsibility of The British Horseracing Board (BHB) to provide the definitions of each categorised horse races. These categories are based the value of each race and the ratings of the horses taking part in those races.
In 2005 the categories were changed by the BHB but a punter will probably need to understand the older categories as well as the new categories as a number of horseracing sources of information still tend to refer to the older categorisation.
The older categories started with the best class of races and these were defined as Group races. The highest level of a Group race was a Group 1, followed then by Group 2 and finally Group 3 races.
The next level of racing was classed as Listed races, which were also, referred to as Class A races. Then the following racing categories were known as Class B, C, D, E, F, G and H.
The new categories now start with Class 1 races and these include all the previous Group 1, 2 and 3 categories but now also include Listed races.
The next level is Class 2 races and these include those races which were previously known as Class B races. Following this model the new Class 3 races reflect the old Class C races, Class 4 (Class D), Class 5 (Class E), Class 6 (Class F and G races including some Selling, Apprentice and Amateur races) and finally Class 7 (Class H races also known as Banded Stakes or Regional Races).
Form Cards Explained
A punters key aid to selecting a winner is using the form guides available in most national newspapers and horse racing specific newspapers such as 'The Racing Post'.
Each race at each meeting will be depicted using the newspapers own style of form card but these are typically standardized, however horse racing specific newspapers will often contain more information and the more information a punter has the better chance they have at picking winners.
The form for each race will start off with the name of the race, the type of race e.g. 2 mile Amateur Novice Hurdles and the prize money offered for the race.
Then below the race details will be listed the horses declared for that race. An example of the kind form displayed for each horse is as follows and below that is a definition of what these details mean:
4 PUF241 Delaney's Donkey (B) 26 C&D V Doonican 9 10-11 P Riley
1.The '4' in the horse form line indicates the horse number, i.e. this horse will be # 4 in the race.
2.The next set of letters and figures are an indication of the horses form in its last 6 races. A 'P' indicates the horse was 'Pulled Up' in the race. A 'U' indicates the jockey was 'Unseated' in the next race. An 'F' indicates the horse 'Fell' in the following race. The last 3 races show the position where the horse finished i.e. in 2nd place then 4th and in its last race the horse won a race.
3.'Delaney's Donkey' is the name of the horse.
4.(B) Indicates that the horse will be wearing blinkers.
5.'26' indicates the length of time in days since the horse last ran a race.
6.'CD' indicates that the horse has run and won on the course its running at today and won over the same distance its running over today.
7.'V Doonican' is the name of the trainer.
8.'9' indicates the age of the horse.
9.'10-11' indicates the amount of weight the horse will have to carry in the race i.e. 10 stone, 11lbs.
10.Finally 'P Riley' is the name of the jockey who will be riding the horse.
Horse Racing Glossary
Accumulator:
A bet consisting of more than one horse selection in more than one race and where any winnings gained in the first race is used as the stake for the next race.
Action:
The Action of a horse refers to the manner in which the horse moves.
All Out:
This is the term given to a horse, which has given its maximum effort in the attempt to win a race.
Allowance:
This is where a horse is given a weight concession to compensate for an inexperienced jockey or due to conditions applied to a race.
All Weather Racing:
Traditional Racing takes place on a turf surface whereas All Weather Racing that takes place on artificial surfaces.
Also Ran:
This is the term given to a horse, which finishes outside of the money being offered in a race.
<
Amended:
This is where the finishing positions of horses in a race are changed due to one or more horses having been found to have impeded another horse or where some infraction of the rules and regulations has occurred.
Amateur:
The term Amateur (in horse racing) typically refers to the jockey and indicates that the jockey is not a professionally paid jockey. On a horse racing card an Amateur is identified by prefixing their name with Mr, Mrs, and Miss etc.
Ante-Post:
This is where a punter is able to place a bet on a race in advance of the race date and where they can take a price on the odds offered at the time of placing the bet. Typically the odds provided will be significantly higher than on race day especially for those horses considered being the favourites. The reason for this is that the punter is taking a risk that the horse is not going to be pulled out of the race prior to race day, or that the form of the horse selected deteriorates in races which takes place before the race being wagered on. If the selected horse is pulled out of the race for any given reason then typically the bet is already lost without the punters selected horse even having a run.
Apprentice:
The term Apprentice (in horse racing) typically refers to a jockey who is training to become a professional jockey and is on an apprenticeship to a licensed trainer. Apprentice jockeys typically only ride flat races not jumps.
Apprentice Allowance:
This is the weight allowance that is given to an apprentice jockey. Typically an apprentice will receive a 10lb weight allowance until they have secured their fifth win. The apprentice is then entitled to a 7lb weight allowance until they have secured their 35th win. The apprentice is then entitled to a 5lb weight allowance for one calendar year after their 35th win was secured.
Backward:
This is a term typically used to indicate that a horse is either not fully fit or relatively immature.
Bandage:
In order to support or protect a horse's lower legs from injuries, strips of cloth are sometimes used and these are known as Bandages.
Bit:
A Bit is a bar, which fits in a horse's mouth and enables the horse to be led and controlled.
Blanket Finish:
This is a term used when a number of horses in a race finish so closely together that you could almost through a blanket over all them.
Blaze:
This is a white marking on a horses face.
Bleeder:
This is a term given to a horse which ruptures blood vessels during a race or whilst training.
Blinkers:
In races some horses have a tendency to panic causing swerving and this could be as a result of the horse seeing an object or another horse coming upsides them whilst in running. To try and prevent this reaction Blinkers are applied and limits the horse's side vision so they concentrate on what's ahead of them.
Blow Out:
This is a short workout performed on a horse a few days prior to a race to help sharpen a horse's speed.
Bolt:
This is when a horse veers suddenly from its original course.
Breakdown:
This is the term given to a horse, which has gone lame in a race or in training or if the horse has suffered some offer injury.
Breather:
On occasions a jockey may try and conserve the stamina or energy reserves of horse during a race for short periods of time in an attempt to ensure the horse has enough strength to finish the race.
Bridle:
A bridle is a piece of head equipment put on horse to control it when ridden. The bridle has a 'Bit' which fits in the horses mouth and when the jockey pulls on the reins which is fitted to the bridle which in turn is fitted to the bit, it puts pressure on the horse's jaw thus enabling the jockey to guide the horse one way or another or stop the horse.
An experienced jockey and horse will not require the bridle to be used excessively as the jockey can also use their legs and body position which the horse's senses to enable them to move in the correct direction.
Canter:
This is one of four distinct movements a horse uses. A Canter is faster than a trot but slower than a gallop. Its probably best expressed as a horse jogging, where a Gallop is when the horse is in full racing mode.
Checked:
This is where a jockey has had to temporarily pull up a horse whilst in running because another horse has crossed its path or it's trapped in close proximity to other horses in the race (to avoid collisions or injuries).
Cheek Pieces:
These are similar to blinkers in that these are used to prevent horses from being spooked by objects and other horses racing upsides them and hence preventing the horse from swerving or drifting off course.
Claiming Race:
This is a race where the owners are allowed to advertise the horse for sale for a specified sum, prior to the race being run. If the claimed horse is purchased then the horse becomes the property of the new owners once the race has started. However any prize money won by the claimed horse in that race goes to the previous owner.
Classic:
These are typically traditional races, which hold key significance in the racing calendar. Examples of a Classic are the Derby, The Cheltenham Gold Cup etc.
Clerk of the course:
This is the person who is responsible for the race meeting and the races taking place at that meeting.
Climbing:
This is a term given to a horse that has an unusual high leg carriage whilst in running. Instead of the horse reaching out as it runs its action appears to be one of climbing. This makes the horse's action extremely inefficient.
Closer:
This is a horse which is more effective at the end of a race and typically needs to sit off the pace to enable it to finish and pass other horse's that are more effective at the beginning of a race.
Colours:
This refers to the shirts worn by the jockeys. These shirts are also known as the 'Silks'. Typically horse owners and trainers will have their own colours. For example the Queen has her own horse racing colours so that they are easily identifiable during any race where one of her horses is running in.
Colt:
This is a male horse no older than 5years old, which has not been gelded.
Conditional Jockey:
The term Conditional Jockey (in horse racing) refers to an apprentice jockey who is also allowed to ride in jump races as well as flat races.
Conditions Race:
Conditions races are those, which are not classified as Handicap races. A conditions race is where the horses are required to carry weights dependant on a number of criteria, such as the horse's age, sex and its past racing abilities
Connections:
The term Connections refers to anyone generally involved with a specific horse. These include the owners, trainer, and other key personnel involved in the horse's wellbeing, training etc.
Course Specialist:
This term relates well to the term 'Horses for Courses'. Horses come in varying sizes, builds and have their own style of running. Therefore it should not be to surprising that horses are typically found to perform significantly better on some types of racecourses than others. A Course Specialist is a horse which has shown they like running on a specific race course and has typically won or produced some good times at that course.
Dam:
This is the mother of a thoroughbred horse.
Dead Heat:
This is where two or more horses finish across the finish line and have been judged to have crossed the line together. Bookmakers pay out on bets placed on both horses, however typically the punters stake is halved and multiplied by the selected winning horse's odds and then the full stake is added.
Declared:
This is the term given to horses that are confirmed to start a race.
Distance:
The term Distance in horse racing typically refers to either the 'length of a race' but it can also refer to the distance by which horses finish within a race, i.e. either the distance in which a horse has won the race (in relation to the other horses in the race) or the distance a horse has been beaten by (in relation to horses finishing ahead of them in the race).
Disqualification:
This is where a horse or horses have been disqualified from a race due to a breach or infraction of the horse racing rules and regulations.
Ditch:
This is a type of Fence used in Steeplechase racing, where the Fence is accompanied with a ditch to make the jump more challenging.
Draw:
The term Draw in horse racing on refers only to flat racing and refers to where a horse will be placed in the starting stalls. The Draw in each race is drawn at random.
Driving:
This is where a jockey pushes relentlessly to get the best out of a horse or to encourage it to try harder if the horse is hitting a flat spot or known to be a lazy horse, which needs additional encouragement.
Dwelt:
This is where a horse has failed to leave the stalls (in short distance flat racing) or jumps off (in longer distance flat racing or jump racing) in a timely manner.
Eased:
This is where a jockey has deliberately slowed a horse down either during a race to prevent a potential injury or at the finish if the horse is so far ahead of its rivals and there is little benefit in driving the horse to the finish line.
Eligible:
Horses that are qualified to start a race as defined by the race conditions.
Extended:
This is where a horse has had to reach its optimum speed in order to win the race.
Extra Weight:
This is where a horse is carrying more weight in a race that it's required to carry. This is often as a result of the jockey not being able to make a low weight allowance.
False Favourite
This is horse that has been bet into favouritism when other horses in the race appear to have better form.
Fence:
This is the term used to describe an obstacle that a horse is expected to jump in a Steeplechase or Hurdles race. Fences used in Hurdles races are lower in height than those used in a Steeplechase.
Field:
The term used for all the horses taking part in a race.
Filly:
This is a female horse up to 4 years old.
Flat Spot:
During a race a horse may start to struggle to maintain its stride pattern and it appears to have utilised all its strengths, when in fact with some encouragement from its jockey the horse soon recovers and starts to regain its position. The period in the race where the horse appears to be struggling is known as the flat spot.
Flatten Out:
This is a term given to a horse when its head carriage appears to drop in running so that it looks to be inline with its body and is often a good indication that the horse is tired and has little left in reserve.
Foal:
This is either a male or female horse, which is no older than its date of birth up to January 1st of the following year.
Form:
This is typically the term used to describe the past performance of a horse and can be used to gauge its chances in a race.
Fresh:
This is when a horse has been rested for a period of time before its next race. This can often work wonders for a horse and indeed some horses have been known only to win a race after they have been freshened up.
Furlong:
In UK horse racing the distance of a race is still depicted in imperial measurements such as a 1-mile or 2 miles etc rather than using kilometres. A Furlong is one eighth of a mile i.e. 220 yards.
Gait:
This is the term used for the way a horse moves, in relation to it walking, trotting, cantering, galloping etc.
Gallop:
This is one of four distinct movements a horse uses. A Gallop is faster than a walk, trot or canter. Its probably best expressed as a horse running in full racing mode.
Gelding:
This is a male horse, which has been castrated. On occasions a horse, which has been gelded, can often improve its performance.
Going:
This is the term given to describe the racing condition of the racecourse. Horses often perform to their optimum potential when they race on their preferred going. Therefore if a horse has its preferred going and is known to be a Course Specialist then it should be assumed that the horse is likely to run a good race. The going conditions are reflected in condition of the racing surface just prior to racing. The conditions on a turf course are defined as:
Heavy - Yielding - Soft - Good to Soft - Good - Good to Firm - Firm.
It's often the case that horses that possess good speed prefer good ground and where horses that may not generally have good speed but possess good staying powers prefer heavier ground conditions. The going at a meeting can make a great deal of difference to a horse race, as it could play into the hands of horses that would normally have limited appeal under good conditions. A lot of trainers do not like running horses on firm ground as it can cause injury to horses legs, this is why some courses decide to water the course if their has been limited rainfall prior to a meeting and no rain is forecast before the start of the meeting.
Green:
This term refers to a horse which either appears to look or indeed runs like an inexperienced horse.
Groom:
This is an individual who is responsible for the care and wellbeing of a horse back at its stable.
Group Races:
These are races in Europe of the highest quality where only the best horses run. A Group One race is the highest level of race possible which a horse can win and therefore provide the highest amounts of win money. In North America these races are called Graded Races. Group races in Britain were re-categorised in 2005 and are now classed as Class 1 races.
Hand:
Horses are measured in a unit of length called a 'Hand' and this is equivalent to four inches. The horse is measured in hands from the bottom of its hooves right up to the horses shoulder.
Handicap:
This is a specific type of race where a Handicapper allots varying amounts of weights to be carried by each horse in the race. The weight allotted is based typically on the horses past performances and the goal is to try and get all the horses running on equal and fair terms. Therefore in handicap races if a horse appears to be well handicapped this should be noted by the punter. This is because the Handicapper may have underestimated the horses past performances or due to lack of information available has allotted the horse a weight which could be viewed as a low handicap weight.
Handicapper:
These are experienced horse people who are responsible for allocating weights that need to be carried by horses in handicap races and based on the horse's previous performances.
Head:
This is one of a number of measurement definitions used to reflect the finishing position of horses in a race. A horse, which is beaten by head, is simply beaten by approximately the length of a horses head.
Hurdle Race:
This is a race contested on a turf course and which requires the field of horses to jump over obstacles known as fences. The fences used in a hurdle race are lower than those used in a Steeplechase race. Typically younger or less experienced or smaller horses are run over hurdle races. Some of these are then turned into Steeplechase horses assuming they show a real aptitude to jumping and the trainer believes they can cope with the larger obstacles presented in a Steeplechase. A horse may be a poor hurdler but could well become an excellent Steeplechaser in time. Also some flat horses become very good hurdlers assuming they take to jumping, as they often possess very good cruising speed.
In Foal:
This is the term used for a horse, which is pregnant. Its worth noting that some horses who run when just in foal can have a marked improvement in performance, believed to be directly related to the build up of hormones generated by the pregnancy.
Irons:
These are also known as Stirrups and are basically footholds linked to the saddle in which the jockey places their feet. If you hear the term 'the jockey has lost their irons', it means the jockey's feet have slipped out of the stirrups.
Jolly:
This is the term given the favourite in a race
Judge:
At all race meetings there will be an official who is called the Judge and it's the Judges responsibility to determine the finishing order of a race.
Juvenile:
This is horse, which is two years old.
Length:
This is one of a number of measurement definitions used to reflect the finishing position of horses in a race. A horse, which is beaten by a length, is simply beaten by approximately the length of a horse from its nose to tail, which is roughly 2 ½ metres.
Lengthen (in reference to odds):
This is when the odds of a horse increases, meaning that the punter will get a larger return if the horse wins (assuming the punter has not taken a price).
Maiden:
This is the term given to a horse, which has not won a race.
Mare:
This is a female horse, which is older than 5 years old.
Neck:
This is one of a number of measurement definitions used to reflect the finishing position of horses in a race. A horse, which is beaten by a neck, is simply by approximately the length of a horse's neck or a quarter of a length.
Non-Runner:
This is where a horse, which has been declared for a race, is taken out prior to the race for a specific reason, whether it be health related, wrong conditions for the horse to run in etc.
Nose Band:
This is another piece of equipment a trainer can apply to a horse to ensure the horse is focused on its racing a little like Cheek Pieces or Blinkers. On accessions some horses have been known to leap forward whilst running almost as if it were jumping a hurdle for what appears to be no reason at all. In actual fact what tends to happen is that the horse sees a shadow on the ground and believes it's a hurdle and hence attempts to jump it. The noseband is fitted to the horse on the bridge of its nose just before its nostrils and is large enough to prevent the horse from looking directly down its nose whilst running and hence inhibiting its visibility of the ground directly in front of them.
Novice:
These are horses that have yet to win a particular type of race (whether it be a steeplechase or hurdle race) prior to that season
Nursery:
This the term given to a Handicap race for two year old horses only
Objection:
If a jockey feels a breach of the horse racing rules and regulations has occurred during a race they have the opportunity to complain to the 'Stewards' at the race meeting. This complaint is known as an 'Objection' and can on occasions mean the finishing positions of a race is amended and a jockey can be awarded a penalty if found guilty of any rules or regulations breached.
Odds On:
This term refers to the odds of a horse providing profit less than the stake placed. An example being that if a horse had odds of 1 to 4 and a punter placed £40 win on the horse. The punter would win £10 back as profit and would also get their stake returned.
Off the bridle:
This a term used to describe horses that have lost contact with the bit in its mouth when being pushed or driven.
On the bridle:
This a term used to describe horses that still have contact with the bit in their mouths and are driving themselves forward
Open Ditch:
This is where a fence in a steeplechase race has a ditch in front of it, so the horse and rider sees the ditch before the jump.
Over the Top:
This is where a horse has been deemed to have past its peak for that season.
Paddock:
This is an area at a racecourse where horses are kept before a race and where they are also saddled up.
Parade:
This is where the horses in a race make their way from the paddock to the starting post and parade past the stands, allowing punters to check the condition of a horse and how well it seems to be moving.
Penalty:
This is where additional weight is added to the weight of a handicapped horse.
Photo Finish:
As soon as a horse passes the winning line in a race a photograph is automatically taken. In the event that more than one horse crosses the winning line at the same time and its too close for the stewards to decide on the finishing positions, the photograph is reviewed and the used to determine the final positions.
Placed:
This is the term given to horses, which finish a race in positions where each way bets are deemed successful. A placed horse depends on the number of runners in the race and the type of race being run. A break down of what an each bet would typically pay out on is depicted below:
For races where only 2 - 4 runners are declared no place betting is usually accepted, only win bets are allowed.
Races, which have a field of 5 - 7 horses, accept the 1st and 2nd positions as placed horses and this pays a quarter of the selected horses odds for the place. Of course on an each way bet the punter would also gets paid the full odds on the winner if that was the horse the punter selected.
For races with more than 8 runners the 1st, 2nd and 3rd positions are deemed placed and this pays a fifth of the odds on the horses placed.
For races which are handicaps and have between 12 - 15 horses the 1st, 2nd and 3rd positions are deemed placed and this pays one quarter the odds on the horses placed.
Finally for races which are handicaps and have 16 or more horses in the field 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th positions are deemed placed and this also pays one quarter the odds on the horses placed.
Please note that on occasions online bookmakers and those bookmakers on course sometimes offer the 5th horse past the post as a placed horse. This tends to happen in some of the more recognisable handicaps with more than 16 runners. An example of this is the Grand National at Aintree.
Plate:
This is the term given to a horseshoe worn by a racehorse.
Pole:
Around a racecourse are staked poles with distances depicted on them indicating the distance they are from the winning line, which is also known as the finishing post.
Post:
This is the starting position of a race whether it's a starting line as in a jumps race or the starting gates in a flat race.
Profit:
This is the amount of money won by a punter after deducting any initial stake returned.
Punter:
This is simply a person who places a bet on horse races or indeed any other sporting bets.
Race Card:
This is a programme covering the day's racing which can be purchased at the race meeting.
Refuse:
This is where a jumps horse refuses to jump off at the start of a race or refuses to jump a fence during the race. It can also refer to a flat race horse, which refuses to jump out of the starting gates.
Return:
This is the total amount of money a punter gets back including any winnings and staked amount.
Run Free:
This is where a horse is going too fast typically at the beginning or in the early stages of a race and which could be utilising too much of its energy.
Schooled:
This is the term given to a horse, which is being trained to jump.
Scope:
This can either mean the potential a horse may have or can refer to a test that a vet can perform on a horse to determine if the horse is either fit to run or is indeed suffering from an ailment.
Selling Race:
This is a race where the winner of the race is then sold at auction, once the race has completed.
Short Head:
This is one of a number of measurement definitions used to reflect the finishing position of horses in a race. A horse, which is beaten by a short head, is simply beaten by the smallest length in racing terms, which is approximately anything smaller than the length of a horse's head.
Shorten (in reference to odds):
This is when the odds of a horse decreases, meaning that the punter will get a smaller return if the horse wins (assuming the punter has not taken a price).
Sire:
This is the father of a thoroughbred horse.
Slip:
This is the term often referred to as the piece of paper the punter retains once they have placed their bets at a bookmaker. It records the details of the bet wagered. If the bet is successful then the punter takes the slip back to the bookmaker who pays out on the bet and the bookmaker then retains the slip.
Spreading a Plate:
This is when a horse loses a racing horseshoe
Stake:
This is the amount wagered by a punter on a bet.
Starting Price (SP):
These are the odds available of all the horses running in a race when the race starts. This may change slightly when the final SP is returned after the race (to account for any last minute bets placed on the race at the off).
Stewards:
Theses are a group of officials at a meeting who ensure the rules and regulations are not breached and who determine any amendments to race positions if a breach has been proven and indeed who also impose any initial penalties on jockeys or trainers who are found to have also breached any of the rules and regulations.
Stewards Enquiry:
This is an enquiry lodged by the stewards into what they believe maybe a breach of the rules and regulations in a race.
Stirrups:
Please see 'Irons'.
Stud:
This is a horse, which is used for breeding but can also refer to the farm where horses are bred.
Supplemented:
This is where a horse who has failed to meet the qualification requirements of a race can be entered into the race for a fee. This is only typically performed in the best-classed races where owners and trainers believe a horse could secure some of the prize money on offer, which outweighs the supplemented fee. It's a risk as often the supplemented fee can be tens of thousands of pounds. Therefore it should always be noted if a horse has been supplemented in a race it's a good indication of how confident the horse's trainers and owners are of the horse performing well in the race.
Trot:
This is one of four distinct movements a horse uses. A Trot is faster than a walk but slower than a canter or a gallop. Its probably best expressed as a horse walking quickly or skipping.
Tote Price:
Rather than a punter taking the Starting Price odds on a horse they can tell their bookmaker that they wish to take the Tote Price and this is marked on the punters betting slip. The Tote is a betting organisation, which uses the entire Tote wagered money in a race to determine the odds of all the horses in that race. On occasions a punter can get better odds on the Tote than the Starting Price, but the opposite can also be true. It simply depends on the punters preference.
Under Orders (Under Starters Orders):
This is when the field is ready to start a race and waiting on the starter of the race to officially start the race.
Unexposed:
This is a horse that has not been exposed over a specific course and distance where other horses in the field have been and often if the field appears to be weak then siding with an unexposed horse can be a wise decision.
Walkover:
This is where a race only has one entrant due to withdrawals etc. However in order for the one remaining horse to win the prize on offer they have to complete the race and therefore the horse and jockey ride out the race in there own time.
Walk:
This is one of four distinct movements a horse uses. A Walk is the slowest movement of a horse and is simply the description given to the action of a horse as it's walking.
Water Hazard:
This is a type of Fence used in Steeplechase racing, where the Fence is accompanied with a section of water directly in front of the fence to make the jump more challenging.
Weighed In and Weighed Out:
This is to ensure that all jockeys are carrying the correct weight allotted in the race for each horse before they ride their horses and after the race has finished.
Yearling:
This is a horse aged from the 1st January to 31st December following the year of its birth. The horse could be male or female.
|
|
