Horse Racing Betting Terms Explained
FAIRYHOUSE 18 April 2022 Boylesports Irish Grand National A view of the packed enclosure on Irish National Day HEALY RACING
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It is important before placing a bet that you get to grips with horse racing betting terms. While the vocabulary used by those familiar with betting terminology may be difficult to understand at times, we are here to help you decipher the weird and wonderful world of betting jargon.
The most common betting terms are explained below. You may also find our horse racing terminology, types of bets and how to bet pages useful.
AAccumulator
A bet on more than four horses. The winnings from one selection rolls on to the next.
Ante post
Betting on a horse in advance of the declarations.
BBack
To bet on a horse.
Banker
A horse considered to have a very good chance of winning.
Betting Exchange
Punters bet against each other rather than against the bookmaker. Betfair is the most famous betting exchange.
Betting In Running
Betting on horses during the live race.
Bookie
Casual term used for ‘bookmaker’.
CCanadian
Fancy five horses in different races? The Canadian is a multiple bet comprising 26 bets in total - 10 doubles, 10 trebles, 5 fourfolds and a fivefold.
Cash out
Taking a payout before a bet has been completed - offered by the bookmaker.
DDividend
The returns you receive from a bet to a €1 level stake. This term is most synonymous with the Tote.
Double
A multiple bet comprising two selections in two different races - both horses must win to yield a return.
Drift
When a horse’s odds lengthen before the race.
Dutch
Placing a bet on two or more horses in a race at shorter odds.
EEach-way
Placing a bet on a horse to win and place. Half of the bet is to win and half the bet is to be placed.
Evens
A bet placed at 1-1. If you place a bet of €5, your return will be €5 plus your stake.
FFavourite
The shortest-priced horse in a race.
Fold
The fold is the number of selections in one accumulator. If you choose four horses, it is known as a ‘fourfold’ bet.
GGoliath
The Goliath places a mammoth 247 bets on eight horses in eight different races. It comprises 28 doubles, 56 trebles, 70 fourfolds, 56 fivefolds, 28 sixfolds, 8 sevenfolds and an eightfold accumulator.
HHeinz
This bet is made up of 57 bets placed on six different horses. It consists of 15 doubles, 20 trebles, 15 fourfolds, 6 fivefolds and a sixfold accumulator.
IIn Running
A bet placed during the live race.
In the frame
A horse that finishes in the places.
JJoint favourite
Two horses that have the same odds at the top of the market.
Jolly
A slang word for the favourite in a race.
LLay
A bet on a horse to lose a race rather than to win.
Longshot
Refers to a horse whose price is bigger in the market.
Lucky 15
A bet that consists of four horses and places fifteen different bets on the four horses - 4 singles, 6 doubles, 4 trebles and a fourfold accumulator.
MMarket mover
This refers to a horse whose price changes prior to the race, either lengthening or shortening.
Multiple
A bet consisting of more than one selection.
NNap
Refers to a tip which is a person’s strongest fancy in a race.
OOdds
The price of a horse to win a race.
Odds-against
The price of a horse is longer than evens. Your winning profit is more than the amount you staked.
Odds-on
The price of the horse is shorter than evens. Your winning profit is less than the amount you stake.
On the nose
When you place a bet ‘on the nose’ you are betting on the horse to win only.
PPatent
A bet comprising 7 bets - 1 single, 3 doubles and 1 treble. It is made up of 3 selections and one horse must win to yield a return.
Place
You are betting on a horse to finish in the places for which bookmakers pay out. Places in a race differ according to the number of runners in a race and bookmaker terms.
Price
The price refers to the odds of a horse.
RPunter
A person who bets.
Return
The return on a bet is your stake plus your profit.
SSelection
The horse that a punter has chosen to have a bet on.
Stake
The amount you bet.
Starting Price
The odds at which a horse starts for a race. This determines the return on a punter’s bet unless they took a specified price.
Steamer
A horse which has shortened significantly in the market prior to a race.
TTips
Selections offered by experts on horse racing.
Tote
Most famous for its Placepot and Jackpot, the Tote offers pool betting where all stakes go into a pool and a dividend is paid out if you place a winning bet.
Trixie
A bet comprising 4 bets - 3 doubles and a treble. The bet is made up of 3 selections.
WWinnings
The amount of profit returned following a successful bet.
YYankee
A bet comprising 11 bets - 4 doubles, 4 trebles and an accumulator. The bet is made up of 4 selections.
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More Reading
There is plenty more advice and guidance on types of bets and horse racing terminology available to you here. Check out our other pages:
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