What's the best bet in horse racing?

Question

Is Wheeling exactas, taking a number of low odd horses over other horses the best bet hedge?

Answer 1

By the "best", you probably mean what is the highest probability of getting a return on your investment? Good question, no easy answer. The safest bet would be the odds on favorite to show. Since the favorite wins about 35% of the time, you got a relatively good chance of getting a return with this bet. The problem here is that you're betting dollars to win dimes! And you could lose your hard earned $2. You mentioned wheeling an exacta. This is tough because you are picking a winner, and there's no guarantee that you're going to win more than you bet. Perhaps a more conservative "part-wheel" bet would be a better idea.
The exotics (D.D., triple,superfecta pick 3, pick 4, pick 6, whatever) can return big payoffs , but tend to be money burners.
Don't overdo these. I like to make exacta and triple "box" bets:
Example: 8 horse field, $1exacta box on four hourses = $12bet. Depending on how they finish, you've got a decent chance to make a significant profit. A $1 triple box on 4 horses =$24.
Obviously, betting like this too often can be hazardous to your financial health. Conclusion: The longer you bet on the horses, the more you'll realize that there are no best, or sure bets.
My advise; go to the track, relax, get a beer and hot dog, watch the beautiful horses in action, and bet conservatively. Enjoy.

Answer 2

You have to clarify your question a bit. Are you looking for the best pay out, the safest bet, the easiest for beginners? There are a lot of bets you can make. If you are starting off, the easiest and cheapest is to pick a horse and decide if he will come in #1 (WIN), #2 (Place), or #3 (Show). These can all be $2 bets and pay out well if the horse is a long shot. The worst the chances of a horse winning the better the payout is. A 2-1 horse is not going to pay out well, but a 40-1 horse would pay out extremely well. This can get borrig after a while, next try to do an EXACTA (picking the top two horses 1 and 2). The exacta pays well because you are multiplying the odds of the horses, even if you pick two favorites the exacta could pay $20-$40 on a $2 bet. BUT be careful, with an exacta you have to pick the horses in the correct order...unless you box the bet. The "box" will cost an extra $2 but give you a greater chance of winning. For instance a #4 and #2 exacta means that the 4 horse has to win and the 2 needs to come in second in order for you to win any money. BUT "exacta box" #4 and #2 allows the horses to finish in either order and you still win. If you are asking this question, there is no need to go any furter with additional bets...not yet anyways. =)

Answer 3

1

Answer 4

The best bet is when you can identify the two horses that will complete the exacta and then take all the horses to finish third and/or fourth in a tri or super. Sometimes a horse that shows nothing on paper will sneak in and blow the price up, especially in a case where the first two horses are clearly better than the rest of the field. The putative 3rd best horse will quite probably wear itself out trying to keep up and some hustling jock on a lesser animal will pour it on at the end to get third money.

Answer 5

Bet each way all day. It also depends on the race. It may only be worthwhile to bet for a win, others you may want to do some trifectas. Depends which horses are running.

Answer 6

the best bet is not betting at all!

but seriously the SHOW bet is the easiest bet to win because if your horse finishes in the top 3 positions your ticket is a WINNER!!

Answer 7

Place

Answer 8

I think the "Pick-3" is the most value as opposed to the "best" bet. If you're lucky enough to hit that bet, it usually pays alot higher than if you parlayed the 3 winners.

Answer 9

A Yankee in British betting shops