How to bet on horse racing
Perhaps your horse racing betting has so far been limited to the odd flutter on the Grand National or the Derby? You may have only placed a couple of win or each-way bets and would like to know more about the various types of bet on offer. This section will help you to make the most of your winners and horse racing tips.
Win or Each-Way
The most common horse racing bet is the straight forward “win” bet. Many professional punters maintain that this is the only way to make regular profits but each-way betting certainly has its merits.
Each-way betting gives punters a return if their horse finishes second or third in races of eight runners or more. In handicap races of 16 or more runners, bookmakers pay down to fourth place. For selected races, they will even offer enhanced terms and pay out on fifth place. Your returns are calculated at one fifth of the odds in non-handicaps and a quarter of the odds in handicap races.
Multiple bets
We are regularly told of punters winning a lot of money for a small stake by linking several winners together. The multiple bet or accumulator can be anything from a simple double to a seven or eight-horse accumulator. The obvious risk with these bets is that just one loser means that you have lost your stake.
There are a wide range of special bets that allow you to link horses together in doubles, trebles and accumulators. The Patent links three horses in three singles, two doubles and a treble, totalling 7 bets. The Yankee combines four horses in doubles, trebles and a four-horse accumulator totalling 11 bets. The Canadian is five horses in 26 combinations and the Heinz is six horses in 57 combinations.