Basics

Win, Place & Show Explained

The three straight bets every horseplayer starts with — when to use each and how the pari-mutuel pool sets the payoff.

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Basics

Pari-Mutuel Betting Explained

How the pool system works: your bet goes into a shared pot, minus takeout, split among the winning tickets.

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Handicapping

How to Read a Racing Program

Class, distance, surface, workouts — the codes on your program deciphered line by line.

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Handicapping

Speed Figures Explained

Beyer, Timeform US, Racing Post Ratings — the numbers that quantify a horse’s fastest performance and how to use them.

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Exotics

What Are Exotic Bets?

Exacta, trifecta, superfecta and the multi-race Pick bets — the wagers that pay real money when you nail the order of finish.

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Payouts

How the Win Payoff Is Calculated

See exactly how the $ figure next to the winner is computed from the odds and pool size — and why it changes right up to post.

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