HOW DO I PUT A BET ON?
At the Racecourse, you can place a bet with the Tote or with the Bookmakers.
- The tote offer what is known as 'pool betting'. All the money placed on a particular race is put into a 'pool'. The tote take out a percentage for their takings and then the remaining money is shared between the winning ticket holders. While the figures that appear on the tote screen are a guide to the price at the exact moment that you put your bet on, the actual price isn't known until the pool closes at the start of the race. The minimum bet with the tote is £2.
There are tote betting points around the Racecourse and details of the various tote bets are listed below:
They offer a range of bets which can be viewed by clicking the link below
Range of bets available with Totepool
For a general guide to Tote betting or to find out how to actually put a bet on, please click the links below:
Your guide to Tote betting at the races
How to place a bet with Totepool
It is important to check your ticket thoroughly when you put your bet on, but if you have any disputes with your Tote bet, there is a Tote Raceday Manager at every race meeting. Simply come to the Raceday Office and asked to be directed to the Tote betting office.
- Alternatively, you can visit the Racecourse Bookmakers. Bookmakers offer 'Fixed Odds Betting'. The bookmakers are located in designated Betting Areas which are at the front of the stands in all Enclosures. The Bookmakers display their best 'price' or 'odds' for every horse and are in competition with each other to provide the most competitive price. When you put a bet on with a bookmaker you get the odds on display at that time, therefore you know exactly how much you will win when you place the bet, but you run the risk of losing out if the price of the horse gets bigger!
To help out the punter, a customer service charter for bookmakers has been set up! When you're looking in the betting ring (the place where all the bookmakers are gathered), look out for those flying a Gold Flag as that means that they have agreed to abide by certain standards of which we approve!
The betting ring can be a very daunting place for the first time punter. However, it needn't be. Just follow these straightforward guidelines and you'll discover how easy it is to bet with a bookmaker.
- Pick your horse, look around for the best odds. Try to offer the correct stake money for your bet.
- Consider the way you want to bet
eg WIN - you win if your horse is officially the first past the post
EACH WAY - you win if your horse wins or is placed
BETTING WITHOUT THE FAVOURITE - you can back a horse and collect if it wins or finishes second to the favourite
AWAY BETTING - with several race meetings taking place on the same day, some bookmakers choose to bet on races at other racecourses. - Check with your bookmaker what terms he is offering - not all bookmakers accept 'Each Way' or 'Without the Favourite'
- Some bookmakers have minimum stakes eg £1, £5, £10
- Tell the bookmaker the name of the horse (he won't necessarily know it's number). Listen to the bookmaker repeat your bet to his clerk, correct the bookmaker if he makes a mistake. Collect a betting ticket as a receipt. Make sure you check this ticket!
- If your horse wins, present your betting ticket to the same bookmaker that you placed the bet with and check your winnings!
- Never destroy your ticket until you hear the 'Weighed In' announcement which will be made over the PA - there may still be a steward's enquiry and the first past the post may be disqualified.
- If there are any disputes with your bet, we have a 'BETTING RING MANAGER' at EVERY race meeting. He will be outside the Raceday Office straight after each race.
Most important is to have fun - wander around the betting ring and make sure you get a great price. Compare the price that the tote are offering and then find a place in the stands to make sure that you shout your horse home in first place!
Still in the dark? For an easy guide to betting, click on the Go Bet Guide for some simple instructions!
