How to Wager
State the Race # that you would like to wager on.
State the DOLLAR AMOUNT of your wager.
State the TYPE OF WAGER you wish to make (Win, Place, Show, Trifecta, etc. ).
State the NUMBER of the horse or horses from the program, on which you wish to bet.
Example: "I would like to make a wager at Tampa Bay Downs, Race 2." "I would like to bet $2 to win on number 3." "Please give me a $2 Exacta, 7 and 3."
Remember to check your tickets and count your money before leaving the window, and always keep your tickets until the race is declared OFFICIAL.
Then, if you are a winner, go to any pari-mutuel window and collect your winnings!
Types of Wagers
Win - When you bet a horse to win, you win if your horse finishes first.
Place - When you bet a horse to place, you win if your horse finishes first or second.
Show - When you bet a horse to show, you win if your horse finishes first, second or third.
Daily Double - To win the Daily Double, you must choose the winners of two races. Wagers must be placed prior to the first race of the Daily Double.
Quinella - Choose two horses in a race. You win if either horse finishes first and the other finished second.
Exacta - To win an exacta bet, you must choose the two horses finishing first and second in exact order.
Trifecta - You must choose the first three finishers in their exact order.
Superfecta - You must choose the first four finishers in their exact order.
Pick 3 - You must choose the winner of three consecutive races. Wagers must be placed before the first of the three races.
Pick 6 - You must choose the winner of six consecutive races. Wagers must be placed before the first of the six races.
Twin-Trifecta - You must choose the first three finishers in their exact order in the first leg to be eligible to wager on the second leg where you must also pick the first three finishers in order.
Horse Racing Terms
Across the board - a bet made on one horse to win, place or show
Age - all race horses in the northern hemisphere arbitrarily celebrate their birthday on January 1
Backstretch - the straightaway of the track away from the grandstand
Colors - color designations in horses:
Bay - brownish body coat with black points (legs, mane and tail, and ears)
Black - black with no brown or tan patches
Dark bay or brown - brown coat with areas of tan and black points
Chestnut - a reddish brown color varying from a dark liver color to coppery-gold
Gray or roan - a combination of white hairs with any one or several of the above-noted colors
Colt - a male horse (four years old or younger)
Dark day - day at a racetrack when there is no racing
Derby - stakes race for three-year-olds
Distaff - a race for female horses
Fast - the preferred rating for the racing surface; at its best, it is dry, firm and even
Filly - a female horse (four years-old or younger)
Furlong - a distance measuring one-eighth of a mile
Gelding - a male horse of any age that has had both testicles removed
Good - a track surface that is still drying out, but is almost "fast"
Handle - the sum of all wagers bet on a race or a card or during some period of time
Horse - in racing, a horse is narrowly defined as any male five years or older with genitalia intact
Inquiry - is a claim of foul lodged by a racing official
Juvenile - two-year-old horses
Length - measure of distance based on average length of a horse
Mare - a female horse (five years old or older)
Maiden - a horse which has not won a race
Muddy - a wet, sticky racing surface
Objection - is a claim of foul lodged by a jockey or trainer
Parimutuels - a betting system whereby bettors collect on the total money wagered after deduction of the house percentage
Route - in Thoroughbred racing, any distance greater than one mile
Scratch - a horse that has been withdrawn from a race
Sloppy - a track so saturated with rain that it has water lying on the surface
Slow - a slow track is a muddy surface which is beginning to dry out
Sprint - in Thoroughbred racing, any distance less than one mile