Horse Racing Rules Aren’t as Straightforward as You’d Think

Horse racing gambling rules are fairly intuitive, but it’s worthwhile to review them because there are no direct comparisons with different sports. Oftentimes the lingo and intricacies of horse racing can make certain betting rules simple to confuse. Additionally, it is important to learn how to bet on horse racing generally.
In this guide, you’ll learn all you need to know about horse racing’s most basic rules.
Horse Racing Rules
It is necessary that you understand the precise rules are surrounding your bet, regardless of what that wager could be. In regards to horse racing, you have to be exact to avoid winding placing a bet on the wrong horse at the wrong moment.
While some of these information may seem obvious, it’s necessarily the better play to quickly clarify the rules.
Post Time
The time a race is assumed to start is”post time.” It refers to the time the horses arrive at the post which is just another term for the starting gate.
Bets are taken until the horses have been discharged from the gate. After the horses are off, all betting is cut away.
Post Positions and Entry Numbers While every horse has a name, it would be very difficult and time-consuming for fans in the track to go to the window and say”Two dollars to win Sporty Girl,” and then have the ticket writer look up what amount and what race and what track Sports Girl is operating in. Instead, every horse is given a number that normally corresponds to their post position.
Normally number one breaks nearest to the railing, number two is out of quantity one, and so forth. Before you gamble, consult with the app or hurrying form and make sure to understand the number(s) of the horse(s) you want to bet on.
Number of Allowed Entries
When multiple horses are owned by precisely the exact same individual or group and are running in precisely the same race, they are coupled as one gambling interest. When you gamble on one of them this means, you get both. Entries are nearly always number 1 and 1A, even though they don’t necessarily break out of the railing. If you would like to wager on the entrance only signify number one.
It would be unfair for a owner to have two horses in the same race and also be in a position to bet on one rather than another. Worse is an owner entering a horse to aid another, but jeopardize its own chances. That’s why we have entrances; when an owner wants multiple horses in the exact same race that is okay, but they’re a combined betting entry: wager on a single and you get .
Bet by Race Number
Even when you are planning on betting the Kentucky Derby, even if you’re phoning in a bet, talking to a teller in person, or wagering online, every race is identified by number.
If the Kentucky Derby is the 11th of 13 races on Derby Day at Churchill Downs, indicate you want to bet on race 11. There are races and numerous tracks ! On weekends there may be a few dozen tracks running on the same day, and half of these at precisely the same moment. Knowing that you need #3 in race 6 is not good enough, you have to indicate which track you are wagering on.
In the event the Kentucky Derby is race 11, be certain you are gambling the ideal horse in the ideal race at Churchill Downs. Make certain to do your due diligence.
Scratches: When Listed Horses Don’t Race
It’s completely in an owner or trainer’s discretion to determine that they don’t need their horse to run in a race that they had entered in. For health reasons, the track vet can opt to scrape a horse too.
If you bet on a horse that scratches in a single race you are going to get a refund. If you bet on a horse which scratches into a multi-race bet (a parlay style bet) you receive a refund, consolation payout, or in some instances your wager will shift into the race favorite when the gates open.
Dead Heats
Ties may not happen in the NBA or baseball, but occasionally a couple of horses hit the wire at exactly the same moment. In the event of a tie, known as a dead heat in horse racing, bets on tied horses are declared winners. However, as there are far more winning tickets than if only one horse wins, the payout goes down based on the odds.
The higher priced horse will still pay more than the reduced priced horse, proportionately, because it is more difficult to reach a 10/1 shot that gets to the cable at precisely the exact same period as a 2/1 horse. The last odds still matter in dead heats.
In the event of dead heats, the losing stakes are redistributed so that cash is allocated to the winners equally. For example, if there’s $10,000 to divvy up, $5,000 goes towards individuals who chose the 2/1 horse and $5,000 goes to the 10/1 tickets, however because there are five times as numerous 2/1 tickets than 10/1 bets, the payout is five times as big to people who had the 10/1 horse.
If these pari-mutuel odds and payouts sound confusing, have a look at our guide to horse racing language in addition to our guide on the best way best to comprehend sports odds and payouts.
Inquiries
If a horse or jockey plays out the principles during the course of a race, an inquiry could be enforced by the officers.
A horse which dangerously dismisses another horse, bumps a competitor or obstructs a horse from having a fair opportunity to finish higher in the race can be disqualified or placed contrary to the horse that they interfered with at the final finishing order.
There’s Always More to Learn!
Now that you know the fundamental horse racing rules, you are ready to bet!
All betting can be intimidating at first, but given some time they become second nature. To ease the transition, then take a look at our how-to guides or our betting 101 guide for all sorts of sports gambling.