Horse Racing – The types of bets you can place

This article outlines some of the more common types of bet used mainly for betting on horse racing in the UK.

You can check out out Bet Calculators page to find further kinds of bets, and an in depth explanation to each. Of course work out how much you have won.

Placing a bet on horse racing is very easy, doing it online is a breeze without complicated slips to fill out with tiny pens.

Single Bet

This type of bet is a stake on one horse in one event. The selection must win the race to achieve a profit on the stake.

Double

This type of bet is a stake on two horses to win, but in separate events. Both selections must win their respective races to achieve a profit on the stake.

Treble

This type of bet is a stake on three horses to win, all in separate events. All three selections must win their respective races to achieve a profit on the stake.

Accumulators

Once four or more horses are chosen to win in separate events, this is known as an Accumulator or ‘Acca’. A bet with four selections is known as a ‘Four-Fold Accumulator’, with five selections known as ‘Five-Fold Accumulator’, and so on.

The more selections that are in an Accumulator, the more return/profit on a stake can be expected. Winnings are calculated by placing all the stake on the first horse, then once that selection has won, all the winnings are staked on the next horse. If that selection also wins, all the winnings from the first two race are staked on the next horse… and so on.

Each Way Bets

This type of bet is when a stake is bet on a horse to ‘Win’ or be ‘Placed’ in a race. However, the term ‘Placed’ can vary depending on the type of race and the number of runners in it.

Using an example where the place portion of a bet pays out at 1/4 of the win odds:

A £1 stake ‘Each Way’ bet would cost £2 (£1 on the horse to win + £1 for the horse to place as a cover bet).
If the horse goes on to win at odds of 8/1, the £1 ‘win’ part of the stake is multiplied by 8, and including the original £1 ‘win’ stake, a return of £9 will be expected, just like a normal ‘Single’ bet.
The £1 ‘place’ stake is multiplied by 1/4 of the odds, so 8/1 becomes 2/1, and including the original £1 ‘place’ stake, this pays out £3.
Therefore, a total win of £12 will be achieved.
However, If the horse finishes in second, third or fourth, the £1 ‘win’ stake is lost and ONLY the £1 ‘place’ stake is multiplied by 1/4 of the odds, resulting in a total win of £3.

Horse racing ‘Placed’ positions
2 to 4 runners = each way betting does not apply.
5 to 7 runners = first two places pay out.
8 or more runners = first three places pay out.
16 or more in a handicap race = first four places pay out.

Straight Forecast

This type of bet is a stake on two horses in one event, betting on one selection to win the race, and the other selection to finish second in the race. The selections must finish in the correct order to achieve a profit on the stake.

Reversed Forecast

This type of bet is a stake on two horses in one event, betting on either selection to win the race, and the other selection to finish second in the race. The selections must finish in the top two places, but in either order to achieve a profit on the stake. However, as this is effectively two Straight Forecast’s, a Reversed Forecast stake is double that of a Straight Forecast.

Combination Forecast

This type of bet is a stake on three or more horses in one event. Any two of the selections must finish in the top two places, but in any order to achieve a profit on the stake.

Straight Tricast

This type of bet is a stake on three horses in one event, betting on one selection to win the race, one selection to finish second and the other selection to finish third in the race. The selections must finish in the correct order to achieve a profit on the stake.

Combination Tricast

This type of bet is a stake on three or more horses in one event. Any three of the selections must finish in the top three places, but in any order to achieve a profit on the stake.

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