Sometimes the horse bettor just really wants to cash a winning ticket. To win consistently you have to make the smartest wagers each and every time. When you make bets at an online racebook you are in direct competition with other race bettors. And when you apply the principles of good handicapping and only play horses that are offered at 3-1 or better, the profit difference is even more substantial. Yes, you are taking more of a risk but the reward for your bet is greater. Now you don’t have to be a mathematician to see the difference.

Now let’s look at the straight win wager of $6 at odds of 2-1:

Your horse wins the race at odds of 2-1 and you collect on all three bets Here is a breakdown of what your ticket will pay: You bet $2 across the board for a total bet of $6. Your return when the horse wins will be much greater than it will if you bet across the board. Instead of making the $6 across the board wager, make a $6 bet on the horse to win. If a horse is good enough to merit an across the board racing bet, it is good enough to merit a larger win bet. If you have used your handicapping skills to pick the winner, you should have some confidence in your selection. It begins by asking yourself if the horse that you have chosen has a chance to win the race outright. There is a pretty simple way that you can avoid falling into the across the board trap. The Alternative to Across the Board Horse Betting But if you are that certain the horse that you have chosen will win a race, it makes more sense to bet it another way. It is true that if a horse wins you will collect all three bets, thereby making an extra profit. You will not stay in the business of horse race betting for very long when you make these kinds of bets. A $2 bet on a horse to show could return as little as $2.20! You can see where spending $6 on a ticket to win back $2.20 is a losing proposition. So, a $2 bet on a horse to place could return $3. Instead you receive a portion of the parimutuel pool that has been wagered by your fellow bettors. But on a place and show bet you do not receive the odds that are listed on the tote board. If you bet $2 on a horse that pays 2-1 you will receive a little under $6 back when that horse wins. On a win bet you are receiving the odds on the tote board. You do not have complete confidence in the horse to win and are trying to hedge your bets against failure.Īnother problem with this type of horse race betting is that it lowers your rate of return. When you bet across the board you are stating that you think a horse can run third or better. If you do not have a strong opinion then you probably should not be making a bet. The problems with this bet begin with its assertion that you do not really have an opinion on the talent of a horse. The Problem With Betting Across the Board But if you expect to win in the long run it is a bad bet to make. All they want to do is make a few bets for fun and enjoy the races. These individuals are not interested in horse handicapping tips. If it finishes third you will win the show bet only.Īn across the board bet is favored by many novice horse racing fans who do not understand the complexities of gambling for profit. If it finishes second you will win the place and show bet. If the horse finishes first you will win all three bets. If it finishes in one of those positions you will collect money. To win an across the board bet only requires that your horse finish first, second, or third.

That’s not a bad investment, but you have to consider the potential return any time that you are betting. The base bet is usually $2, so an across the board bet will cost $6 to play. The bets are to win, to place, and to show. To bet money across the board is to make three separate wagers on one betting ticket. Looking for an Online Racebook to bet on horses? We highly recommend BOVADA for 🇺🇸 players or BetUS that accepts most countries EXCEPT bettors from 🇳🇱, 🇨🇷, 🇵🇦, 🇨🇼, 🇩🇪, 🇵🇭, 🇬🇧, 🇧🇪 & 🇺🇦! What is Across the Board Horse Race Betting?

Across the board meaning