Horse Betting Strategy

How to Bet on Horses - Multiple-Race Wagers - Pick 4 Betting

Pick 4 betting is offered at all major racetracks and requires you to pick the winners of four consecutive races on one ticket. Like the Pick 3, the Pick 4 is one of the best value bets in racing, not only because it has its own separate betting pool, but because the payoffs can be extravagant.

An ‘across the board’ wager is wagering on a horse to either, win, place or show. For example, if you like the No. 2 horse in the second race (Race 2) at Delaware Race Track. You bet $2 on the 2 horse across the board. The total amount of the wager is $6. The horse finishes second and pays $5 to place and $2.60 to show. Fortunately, Contemporary Art loomed boldly on the turn and flattened out like usual. Unfortunately it was for 5 th place. By looking at the chart some big prices landed in the top 2 spots of the trifecta, the suspect favorite ran poorly and the trifecta returned a handsome sum.

Pick 4’s paying $500 to $1000 occur on a daily basis. Pick 4s paying $2,000-$5,000 occur several times a week and Pick 4s paying $10,000 or more occur often enough to make this type of bet worthy of serious consideration.

Horse Betting Strategy Formula

Similar to the Pick 3, the Pick 4 has only one takeout (a percentage of each dollar wagered which is removed from the betting pools to pay the racetrack and various levels of government taxes), usually in the range of 20-25 percent, applied to its betting pool before the payoffs are calculated. This one-time takeout allows you to skirt the individual takeouts that would be applied to separate win bets on each of the races in the Pick 4. Like other multiple-race bets, the Pick 4 gives you a shot at finding good betting value on otherwise tough race cards loaded with short fields and low-priced favorites.

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For example, if you think a horse has a 50 percent chance of winning a race, a $2 win bet on the horse would have to pay at least $4 and preferably more to represent good value. But because of the takeout applied to the win bet and the fact that the public often overbets these types of horses, the horse is more likely paying $3.20 to $3.80, which represents a poor value underlay - and thus no win bet. But while that horse may be poor value as a win proposition, it can still have value in a Pick 4 bet, partially due to the one-time takeout and partially due to the fact that the public may not bet the horse to the same degree in the Pick 4 - and the fact that the public must also select the correct horses to win the remaining races in the Pick 4.

A $2 straight exacta bet 3-4 would require that horse 3 win the race and horse 4 finish second in order for you to cash a winning ticket. Exacta Boxes The second and most popular exacta wagering strategy is an exacta box combining 2 or more horses to finish first or second in either order. The Beginners Guide for Betting Horse Racing. Betting on horse racing, now more convenient than ever due to the advent of TwinSpires.com, is often viewed as complicated and too complex for a relative newcomer to understand. In reality, while there are number of ways in which to play an individual race, the basic wagers that have been the sport.

And even if a short-priced horse does win one leg of the Pick 4, the payoff can still be substantial depending on the horses that win the remaining three legs. An additional edge is the fact that the Pick 4 generally includes some of the better races on the card, which favors sharp handicappers able to find value and combine the correct horses properly - something that lazy bettors will not or cannot do on a regular basis.

Types of Pick 4 Bets

The $1 minimum Pick 4 wheel offered by most tracks makes it affordable for the average bettor to tie up numerous horses without having to spend a fortune.

A $1 Pick 4 wheel combining horses 1,2 to win the first leg, with horses 4,5,6 to win the second leg, with horses 3,6,7 to win the third leg, and horses 9,10 to win the fourth leg, represents 36 possible combinations (2 horses * 3 horses * 3 horses * 2 horses) at a cost of $36 and would appears as:

$1 Pick 4 wheel 1,2 with 4,5,6 with 3,6,7 with 9,10 = $36

A straight Pick 4 that includes one horse in each leg can also be bet for a minimum of $2 at most tracks. For example, a $2 straight Pick 4 selecting horse 2 to win the first leg, horse 5 to win the second leg, horse 6 to win the third leg and horse 9 to win the fourth leg would appears as:

$2 straight Pick 4 - 2 with 5 with 6 with 9 = $2

Profitable and Unprofitable Pick 4 Wagering Scenarios

The most profitable scenarios regarding the Pick 4 occur when you have identified weak favorites in the first two legs. The majority of bettors like to be alive after the first leg of the Pick 4 and they often over bet combinations that include the favorites in the first two legs. If you can get the favorite beat in the first leg or two of the Pick 4 with one of your value plays you are usually on your way to a good payoff.

The best payoffs obviously occur when favorites do not win any of the races in the Pick 4 and excellent payoffs can occur even when second-favorites win in combination with medium-priced horses. Combinations of medium-priced winners will pay much more than they should. Good payoffs can also be had when two of the four Pick 4 races appear wide open on paper and lack heavy favorites.

The worst payoffs occur when favorites win more than one of the races in the Pick 4, but even then occasional monster payoffs result. At the 2004 Breeders’ Cup you could have scored to the tune of $23,395.60 in the late Pick 4 by wheeling two logical horses in two of the races with all the horses in the remaining two wide-open races for only $64. Of course the Breeders’ Cup is the biggest betting day of the year, the pools are huge and the handicapping is as tough as it gets, so the payoffs are generally higher - but you get the point. Playing a couple of singles in the Pick 4 with all the horses in the remaining two legs is neither expensive nor out of the question.

The Pick 4 is most attractive when you really like a number of horses you know the public won’t bet, or when you really hate horses the public is certain to overbet. If you like non-favorites to win two or three of the races in the Pick 4, you have found yourself an excellent betting opportunity. Now you just have structure your bet in a way that ensures maximum profit if your top selections win.

Betting the Pick 4 for Maximum Profit - Multiple Ticket Method

Wagering strategy and ticket structuring is very important when playing the Pick 4. One of the best Pick 4 wagering strategies is to find one key horse in each leg and tie them up with your key horses plus value-play contenders in the other three legs. If more than one of your key selections wins, you have a chance to cash multiple tickets. For example:

In the first leg of the Pick 4 horse 2 (4-1) is your top selection. Horses 3 and 4 are contenders.
In the second leg of the Pick 4 horse 6 (5-1) is your top selection. Horses 4 and 7 are contenders.
In the third leg of the Pick 4 horse 1 (2-1) is your top selection. Horses 9 and 10 are contenders.
In the fourth leg of the Pick 4 horse 8 (7/2) is your top selection. Horses 2,5 and 6 are contenders.

If you were to do what most unsophisticated bettors do and bet a $1 Pick 4 wheel combing all your selections on one ticket as follows: 2,3,4 with 4,6,7 with 1,9,10 with 2,5,6,8 = $108, you would cash one winning ticket if one of your horses won each of the races in the Pick 4.

Assuming you are a good handicapper with an edge on the public, you could structure your Pick 4 bets on several separate tickets - giving you the opportunity to cash multiple tickets if your top selections win, as follows:

$1 Pick 4 wheel 2 with 4,6,7 with 1,9,10 with 2,5,6,8 = $36
$1 Pick 4 wheel 2,3,4 with 6 with 1,9,10 with 2,5,6,8 = $36
$1 Pick 4 wheel 2,3,4 with 4,6,7 with 1 with 2,5,6,8 = $36
$1 Pick 4 wheel 2,3,4 with 4,6,7 with 1,9,10 with 8 = $27
$2 Straight Pick 4 2 with 6 with 1 with 8 = $2

Total Cost of Multiple Pick 4 Tickets: $137

Using the multiple ticket method and using your top selection once in each leg of the Pick 4, you would cash a $6 Pick 4 ticket if all your top selections won. This is in contrast to cashing only a $1 ticket if you had combined all your contenders on one ticket for $108.

Assuming you have all the horses in a Pick 4 that pays $500 for a $2 ticket, you would collect $250 for your $1 wheel ticket costing $108, even if all your top selections won. Using the multiple ticket method for an extra $29 you would collect as follows:

$250 if one of your main selections won with your other contenders.
$500 if two of your main selections won with your other contenders.
$750 if three of your main selections won with your other contenders.
$1500 if four of your main selections won ($1 ticket four times, plus your $2 straight ticket.)

What a difference $29 can make.

Related:
Pick 3 Wagering Strategies: Winning Pick 3 Betting

How to Bet on Horses

Read our Race Betting Guide to get insight on all of the types of wagering options in horse racing. Dig deeper below to get tips on the most popular exotic wagers with winning strategies provided by expert Kenneth Strong.

Horses are majestic creatures, and their beauty is a huge part of what makes watching them race around a track so exciting. Their speed and power are satisfying sights whether you’re cheering for your favorite horse from the stands or on your couch.

But what if you could get your heart racing a little more? Have you ever considered horse racing betting to up the excitement?

Horse Betting Strategies For Beginners

Learning how to bet on horse racing can take you from the sidelines and put you in the saddle. With numerous types of horse bets to choose from, you can take charge and make your favorite sport that much more fun to watch. Continue reading to learn about the most popular horse betting terms and more.

The Horse Racing Betting Basics

First things first — you need to understand horse racing odds. These are listed as fractions that show you how much you need to spend to make a profit.

For example, if Horse 1 has 20/1 odds, you’ll win $21 if you bet $1 (a $20 profit plus the recoup of your bet). On the other hand, if Horse 2 has 6/5 odds, you’ll only get $6 in profit if you bet $5, as they have a better chance of winning.

You’ll also need a few key pieces of information when placing a bet, especially since there can be a lot of races going on at once. Always have the racetrack, race number, and horse’s number written down, as well as how much you want to bet and what type of bet it is.

Different Types of Horse Bets

Basic Bets

There are a few different types of horse bets, but the main three are win, place, and show:

• In a win bet, you pick the winning horse. Because it’s harder to get right, this will net you the most profit.
• In a place bet, the horse needs to finish in either first or second (it doesn’t matter which). The earning potential here is still good, but not as high as a winning bet.
• Finally, a show bet is when the horse finishes in first, second, or third (again, placement doesn’t matter). This will net you the least money, but it’s a more secure option.

Can’t decide which bet you want to take? You can also go across the board, which is when you place three equal win, place, and show bets. If your horse wins first, you’ll win all the bets. If they get second, you’ll win the show and place bets. And if they get third, you’ll win the show bet.

Advanced Bets

There are also more combination horse bets you can place. One is an exact bet, which requires you to pick the first and second place horses in the correct order.

To make things harder, try the trifecta bet, which is when you pick the exact order of the top three horses. If you’re feeling super confident, go for the superfecta, which is the top four horses in the exact order of finish.

The payout for all of these bets is based on a pari-mutuel system, where all the money for a certain type of bet is collected into a pool and then split among the winners.

Multi-Race Bets

If you’re really feeling lucky, you can turn it up a notch with multi-race bets. These require you to pick the winner in numerous consecutive races, typically ranging from two to six in a row. That doesn’t mean you have to limit yourself to one pick for each race; feel free to choose multiple horses to be the winner (this will just increase the cost of your bet).

Keep in mind that if even one horse loses, you’ll lose your bet. These are very hard bets to win, but that’s what makes them so much fun.

How to Bet on Horse Racing in Vegas

Horse Racing Betting Strategy Pdf

Now that you understand how to bet on horse racing, it’s time to place your bets. Circa Sports is the ultimate sportsbook in Las Vegas for horse racing sports betting. Stop by the Golden Gate,the D, or soon at Circa Resort in Downtown Las Vegas to place your bets in person. Can’t make it into the sportsbook? Download the Circa Sports app on iOS or Android to have your bookie right in your pocket and bet wherever you are in Vegas.

Horse Betting Strategy

Whether in person or on the app, join Circa Sports for your premier place to bet on horse racing in Vegas.