Huntingdon Betting Guide

FANCY A FLUTTER?

KNOW YOUR WAY AROUND THE RING

While a day at the races doesn't have to include having a bet, for many racegoers it is all part of the experience.

It's always best to have a look at the horses in the Parade Ring before placing a bet. There are lots of online options for before-the-day betting but it's best to shop around!

Cash may be used when placing bets with the Tote and all on-course bookmakers at our Racecourses.

WHERE TO BET

THE TOTE

There are totepool betting points throughout the racecourse. With the tote, you're not betting against a bookie; your stake goes into a pool, and like the lottery, your win depends on how many other winning tickets there are.

Fill in a form with your stake, the type of bet and your horse – minimum bet £2 or tell the tote attendent what you want to bet on and how much you wish to stake. 

THE BOOKMAKERS

This is perhaps the most common form of betting at the races; you’ll see the bookmakers with clear signs indicating their minimum bets alongside odds screens for the next race.

All you need to do is pick your horse by its number, choose what stake you want to put down and what bet you want to place!

If you want to go for a straight win, you might, for instance, say to the bookmaker “£5 on Number 3 please”.

If you want to bet each way to increase your chances of winning, you could ask for “£5 each way on Number 3”, which means you’ll effectively be placing two bets on the same horse: £5 on it winning the race and £5 on it being placed. If it finishes first, you’ll be paid out on both bets.

You can also find on-site betting shops which work just like your typical high-street betting shops do, so you can bet on anything. 

Always bet an amount you feel comfortable with. 

BETTING SHOPS

There are also standard betting shops at various locations in the grounds. They'll accept bets on the races and on any other events – useful if you also want to place simultaneous bets on races at other courses.

TYPES OF BET

The two main types of bet are win-only and each-way. For win-only, your horse needs to win the race outright.

An each-way bet is effectively two bets – one for your horse to win and one for it to be placed (1st, 2nd or 3rd). So a £5 each-way bet will cost £10. 

Each bookmaker will display the terms on which they accept each-way bets on the top of their board.

TYPES OF BET

The two main types of bet are win-only and each-way. For win-only, your horse needs to win the race outright.

An each-way bet is effectively two bets – one for your horse to win and one for it to be placed (1st, 2nd or 3rd). So a £5 each-way bet will cost £10. 

Each bookmaker will display the terms on which they accept each-way bets on the top of their board.

KNOW YOUR BETTING LINGO

Accumulator:  bet involving two or more selections in different races – winnings from one are placed on the next.
Allowance: the weight concession the horse is given to compensate for its rider’s inexperience.
Also ran: any horse not finishing 1st, 2nd, 3rd or 4th in a race or event.
Bar: a betting term that denotes that all horses not already listed in the betting market for a race are at the bar price or longer odds.
Each-way: a bet in two equal parts – one backing a horse to win and the other backing it to finish in the first three.
Evens or even money: betting odds where your stake exactly equals your winnings – £5 at evens wins a further £5.
Form: A horse's race record. This is denoted by figures next to its name on a racecard: 1=1st, 2=2nd etc. 0=unplaced, P=pulled up, R=refused to race, F=fell, U=unseated rider, SU=slipped up, BF=beaten favourite.
Odds on: odds where the winnings are less than the stake – thus a winning £2 bet at 2-1 on wins you £1.
On the nose: betting on a horse to win only (not to place).
Penalty: the extra weight carried by horse which has won since the weights for a race were originally published.
Placed: when a horse finishes in the first three.
SP/starting price: the official price (odds) of the horse at which the bets are settled in betting shops.