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Horseplayers have a veritable array of exciting bets available to them every day of the year, and 24 hours per day. Intervals between local races are filled with races from meetings across the world, from Australia to the United Kingdom, Hong Kong, The United States and other leading racing jurisdictions. The armchair punter is never without options!
Let’s look at the standard Totalisator Bets available. The Betting unit for all bets in South Africa is R1, with a minimum of R6 per bet placed.
The Win Bet
The purpose of the Win bet is to select the winner of a specified race, and for its simplicity it is the most popular bet in racing. Study the form factors of a given race, make your selection and place your bet. There are punters who select two or more horses for Win Bets in races which are considered wide open and closely contested. In such cases the totalisator pools will reflect the open nature of the race, allowing for sizeable pay-outs and profits to be made even if more than one horse is backed to win.
The Place Bet
The purpose of the Place Bet is to select a horse placed first, second, third or fourth in a specified Race, and the potential payouts are subject to certain tote rules. Place betting only applies in races with six or more runners for which the FIRST and SECOND runners qualify. For 8-15 runners the FIRST, SECOND and THIRD runners qualify; for 16 or more runners the FIRST, SECOND, THIRD and FOURTH runners qualify. The Place Bet is considered the easiest of racing’s bets, because the horseplayer stands a better chance of winning with sometimes up to four places being paid.
The Eachway Bet
The Eachway bet means that you are putting an equal amount of money on a horse to Win and Place. If your selection wins you will receive a Win dividend and a Place dividend. If your selection finishes 2nd or 3rd then you are only entitled to the Place dividend but since you’ve hedged your bet you get a return. There are punters who use a variation of the Eachway Bet by wagering double their Win Bet on a Place, e.g. R50 for a Win and R100 for a Place. This is seen as a form of ‘cover’ for those who are not fully confident that their selected horse will win.
The Exacta
The Exacta requires you to select the first two horses past the post, in the correct order, so selecting Number 1 from Number 3 means that 1 has to win and 3 has to run second. The Box Exacta allows you to combine two selections for a finish in any order, or to add as many other numbers as you like, which will add to the cost of the bet but also gives you a wider spread for a potentially bigger payout.
The Trifecta
The Trifecta requires you to select the first three horses past the post, in the correct order, so selecting Number 1 from Number 3 from Number 8 means that 1 has to win, 3 has to run second and 8 has to take third. But naturally it is never easy to predict the first three runners in the correct order, so variations of this bet make it easier to win. The tote offers a Box Trifecta, which allows you to combine three selections or more for a 1-2-3 finish in any order. In a multiple Trifecta, a banker is selected to fill one or more positions and a number of horses are selected to fill the other place or places. Example: Number 1 to win, numbers 2 and 7 to run second; numbers 2,7,8 and 9 to run third. A floating or roving banker can also be used. In such case, one or two horses are selected to float (to fill any of the first three positions), with a number of others to fill the outstanding place or places.
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The Quartet
The Quartet requires you to select the first four horses past the post, in the correct order, and it’s popular due to consistently high payouts. Selecting Number 1 from Number 3 from Number 8 from Number 4 means that 1 has to win, 3 has to run second, 8 has to take third and 4 has to run fourth. But this is never an easy bet to win, so variations are offered to make it easier to get the cash. The tote offers a Box Quartet, which allows you to combine four selections or more for a 1-2-3-4 finish in any order. In a multiple Quartet, a banker is selected to fill one or more positions and a number of horses are selected to fill the other place or places. Example: Number 1 to win, numbers 2 and 7 to run second; numbers 2,7,8 and 9 to run third and Numbers 2,7,8,9 and 12 to run fourth. A floating or roving banker can also be used. In such case, one, two or maximum three horses are selected to float (to fill any of the first four positions), with a number of others to fill the outstanding place or places.
The Swinger
The purpose of the Swinger is to select any two horses finishing in the first three places irrespective of the order in which they finish in a race. There are three Swinger combinations in each race, being 1st and 2nd; 1st and 3rd; 2ndand 3rd. A single Swinger with two horses means you select two horses to finish in the first three, in any order. In a box Swinger, you can select more numbers and combine them, which will add to the cost of the best but increases your chances of winning.
The Double
The purpose of the double is to select the winning horse in each of two successive races designated in the official Race Card as a double pool. There are invariably rolling doubles designated, for example on Races 1 and 2; Races 2 and 3; Races 3 and 4 and so on. Double permutations are offered, in which the player selects numerous horses in the first leg and numerous horses in the second leg to enhance chances of winning.
The Pick 3
The purpose of the Pick 3 is to select the winning horse in each of three successive races designated in the official Race Card as a Pick 3 pool. There are invariably rolling Pick 3’s designated, for example On Races 1 and 2 and 3; Races 3 and 4 and 5; Races 5 and 6 and 7, so on. Pick 3 permutations are offered, in which the player selects numerous horses in the first leg and numerous horses in the second and third legs to enhance chances of winning.
The All To Come Bet
This bet allows horseplayers to make an ‘all-on;’ investment covering different races, and using Wins or Places. Your winning amount on your first leg gets placed on the second leg and the winnings of both go onto the third leg, and so forth. There are no limits to how many races are picked, but you only win if all your horses win or place, as you stipulated. A typical All-To-Come Bet could be, for example, Number 3 to Win the first race; all to come Number 1 to win the third race, all to come Number 10 to place in the fifth race. This accumulating multiple can yield spectacular returns.
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The Bi-Pot
The Bi-Pot is a totalisator accumulator that runs over six legs and requires the player to predict at least one of the first two horses past the past the post. It normally runs from Races 1-6 (on an eight-race card) or races 2-7 (on a nine-race card). This is a popular ‘straight line’ bet, because many punters fancy their ability of picking at least one runner per race to run in the first two. In reality of course, things are never that clear cut and most punters employ two or three bankers while using a number of runners in the remaining legs. Fractional betting is available from 1% upwards. If the bet comes to R1000, for example, a R10 investment will buy you 1% of the bet, and the resulting payout.
The Place Accumulator
The Place Accumulator is a totalisator accumulator that runs over seven legs and requires the player to predict at least one of the first three runners past the past the post. It normally runs from Races 2-8 (on an eight-race card) or races 3-9 (on a nine-race card). This is a popular ‘straight line’ bet, because many punters fancy their ability of picking at least one runner per race to run in the first three. But the highly popular P/A produces many an outsider, favourites often finish unplaced and the potential payout grows with every completed leg. Most punters employ two or three bankers while using a number of runners in the remaining legs. ‘Doubling Up’ or even ‘Trebling Up’ is the aim where a few runners are selected in a single leg. Fractional betting is available from 1% upwards. If the bet comes to R1000, for example, a R10 investment will buy you 1% of the bet, and the resulting payout.
The Jackpot
The ever-popular Jackpot runs over four legs and requires the player to select the winners of each of the four Legs constituting the Jackpot, as designated in the official Race Card. It is normally offered from Races 4-7 (on an eight-race programme) or 5-8 (on a nine-race card). Two Jackpots per day are also offered. Punters take ‘straight-line’ Jackpot bets on days when hot-pot favourites look unbeatable, but permutation Jackpots bets with a number of horses in each leg are the most popular. The cost goes up with every runner selected, but it follows that tote returns can be high when outsiders win one, or two, or more of the Jackpot. Fractional betting is available.
The Pick 6
The purpose of the Pick 6 is to select the winners of each of the six Legs constituting the Pick 6, as designated in the official Race Card. It is normally offered from Races 3-8 (on an eight-race programme) or 4-9 (on a nine-race card). The brave punters take ‘straight-line’ Pick 6 bets to invite sheer luck, but permutation Pick 6 bets with a number of horses in each leg are the most popular. The cost goes up with every runner selected, but it follows that payouts can be astronomical when outsiders win one, or two, or more of the six legs. Fractional betting is available.
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