Racing 101

AP Racing Ok, so this is where we at Arlington Park get to tell you how you can make money once you’re here. Don’t let the crazy lingo scare you, once you read this you’ll be betting Box Superfectas and Wheeled Exactas like an expert handicapper. (Want to know what that actually means? Follow along below.)

First let’s start with odds:

Understanding the Odds

The odds listed on the tote board are a representation of the approximate payoff for a win wager based on the totals in the win pool at the current time. The odds will change as additional monies are wagered. The more money bet on a particular horse, the lower the odds, and therefore the lower the payoff if the horse wins. The actual payout is determined by the totals in the win pool at the close of the race. When you win, you also get paid your wager back.

Win Payouts based on a $2.00 Wager

Odds	Pays	Odds	Pays	Odds	Pays	Odds	Pays
1-9	$2.20	1-1	$4.00	2-1	$6.00	5-1	$12.00
1-5	$2.40	6-5	$4.40	5-2	$7.00	6-1	$14.00
2-5	$2.80	7-5	$4.80	3-1	$8.00	7-1	$16.00
1-2	$3.00	3-2	$5.00	7-2	$9.00	8-1	$18.00
3-5	$3.20	8-5	$5.20	4-1	$10.00	9-1	$20.00
4-5	$3.60	9-5	$5.60	9-2	$11.00	10-1	$22.00

Lets Start Betting!!

AP Starting Gate Wagering- Lets begin with straight wagers- bets that you put at least $2 on and have to hit exactly

Win - Pick a horse to run FIRST
Place - Pick a horse to run FIRST OR SECOND
Show - Pick a horse to run FIRST OR SECOND OR THIRD
Across the Board – This bets an equal amount on one horse in all three of the above pools

Then we have the exotic wagers – Oolala!

These are wagers that combine multiple horses running in the same race. You can bet differently on the order in which they will finish the race.

Exacta - Pick two horses in one race to run FIRST and SECOND in EXACT ORDER
Trifecta - Pick three horses in one race to run FIRST, SECOND and THIRD in EXACT ORDER
Superfecta - Pick four horses in one race to run FIRST, SECOND, THIRD and FOURTH in EXACT ORDER

Now…say you don’t want to bet them in exact order. We have a bet for that! This is called a BOX.

AP Racing When you box your bet you are essentially betting that your chosen horses can come in any combined order. However, the cost of your bet increases and multiplies by the number of possible combinations in your bet.

Here’s some examples:

Exacta - Pick two horses in one race to run FIRST and SECOND in EXACT ORDER – A boxed exacta will cost twice as much as an exacta not boxed: A $1 bet on an exacta box will cost $2 because there are 2 combinations of outcomes, a $2 bet will cost $4 and so on…

Trifecta - Pick three horses in one race to run FIRST, SECOND and THIRD in EXACT ORDER – A boxed trifecta will cost six-times as much as an exacta not boxed: A $1 bet on a trifecta box will cost $6 because there are 6 combinations of outcomes, a $2 bet will cost $12 and so on…

Superfecta - Pick four horses in one race to run FIRST, SECOND, THIRD and FOURTH in EXACT ORDER – A boxed superfecta will cost twelve-times as much as an exacta not boxed: A $1 bet on a superfecta box will cost $12 because there are 12 combinations of outcomes, a $2 bet will cost $24 and so on.

Now, lets move on the multiple bets:

Pick 3 - Pick a horse in each of three races, all must run FIRST

Pick 4 - Pick a horse in each of four races, all must run FIRST

Pick 6 - Pick a horse in each of six races, all must run FIRST

Daily Double - Pick a horse in each of two races, both must run FIRST

Just like boxing your bets, you can also Wheel, Partial Wheel, and Key bets as well:

WHEEL- You can wheel a Double, Exacta, Trifecta, Superfecta, Pick3, Pick4, or Pick6

This covers all combinations in a particular leg of a wager with the selected horses in the other legs.

Example: $1 Trifecta Wheel 6-All-4 costs $9.00 (in an 11 horse field) because it covers the following 9 different trifecta combinations: 6-1-4, 6-2-4, 6-3-4, 6-5-4, 6-7-4, 6-8-4, 6-9-4, 6-10-4, and 6-11-4.

PARTIAL WHEEL- You can partial wheel a Double, Exacta, Trifecta, Superfecta, Pick3, Pick4, or Pick6

This covers some of the combinations in a particular leg of a wager with the selected horses in the other legs.

Example: $1 Trifecta Partial Wheel 6 with 3, 8, and 11 with 4 costs $3.00 because it covers the following 3 different trifecta combinations: 6-3-4, 6-8-4, and 6-11-4.

KEY - You can key a Trifecta, and Superfecta

This is a specific type of partial wheel where one, and only one, horse is selected to win, and the same horses are selected in the other 2 (or 3 in a Superfecta) legs.

Example: $1 Tri Key 6 over 3,8,11 costs $6.00 because it covers the following 6 trifecta combinations: 6-3-8, 6-3-11, 6-8-3, 6-8-11, 6-11-3, and 6-11-8.

Don’t worry if you’re still a bit confused. Use our handy betting guide and after a few trips out to AP you will be betting like a pro; and winning money like one too!