First-Timer's Guide

Introduction

Welcome to Racing and Oaklawn Park. We know that the first experience at a track can be an intimidating time. As a matter of fact we even know that there are some who come to the track and find that the best experience is simply the corned beef sandwich. However, although the corned beef sandwich served up at Oaklawn is "the best corned beef sandwich in the Universe," you can still find the entire experience of racing a great deal of fun once someone has taken the time to give you some primary information.

So here we are to tell you some things about racing and the Horse, which should serve you well in becoming a real participant in the most popular audience-participation sport of all time.

First we'll tell you some things about the most beautiful animal of them all--the Horse. For example, Sunny's Halo, the first horse to win both the Arkansas and Kentucky Derbies, traces to Eclipse.

The Sport of Racing has had a great history and some of the high points are covered in here as well as a study of the types of races that are offered each day at the track and a glossary of terms that will help you get through all the special language you might be hearing during your visit to Oaklawn.

Wagering is an important element in participation at the track. Oaklawn offers many types of wagers so that you can play with minimal risk or take a chance at making some "big bucks". Now you'll know just what an exacta is and you also might understand CLASSIX®.

To select a winner the art of handicapping has become the foundation of a day at the races. Some pointers on what to look for are included as well as strategies of wagering. If you're going to have a great story of making money at the track, you'll sure want to understand something about handicapping.

For the fan coming to Oaklawn we also offer you a chance to get an overview of the entire facility as well as some info on what goes on in the city of Hot Springs.

In short, you need to get yourself ready for an important short course in Oaklawn so that your day or vacation is memorable. Here we go!

Quick Guide

For the first time wagerer or the experienced handicapper, Oaklawn offers world-class thoroughbred racing live and simulcast. Simulcast racing lets you wager on and watch races from across the nation live via satellite.

This guide contains everything you need to enjoy a day or night of playing the horses and greyhounds. A few general rules to get you started:

Minimum wagers are traditionally $2, unless otherwise noted. Each track usually allows 30 minutes between races. But with satellite races, there\'s almost always a race about to start somewhere, no matter what time it is. If you have any questions, you can find the answers at our information booths located throughout the grandstand.

So take a few minutes to study this guide and you\'ll be ready to play. Good luck!

Placing Your Wager

1. Pick Your Horse

You can either rely on luck or consider factors such as the horse\'s racing history and track conditions. For the most handicapping information, start with the Official Program and the Daily Racing Form. Both are available near the entrances to the park.

Also, watch the monitors for the most up-to-date information from Terry Wallace.

2. Place Your Wagers

The odds for each race are shown on the two large Tote Boards located in the Infield during the live season and on over 500 television monitors throughout the track. The odds are constantly changing because they are determined by the amount wagered on each horse. Odds reflect what the crowd thinks of a particular horse. If the odds are low - say 3-1, a large number of people in the crowd think the horse will win. If high, say 40-1, very few think it will win. The less total money wagered on a particular horse, the fewer people there are to split the winnings if that horse wins and, therefore, the larger the payoff.

To place your wager, the clerk will need the following information:

• The track
• The race number
• The amount you wish to wager
• The horse number
• The type of wager

For example, "At Oaklawn, in the fourth, two dollars to win on number five."

All wagers must be placed before the horses leave the gate or you\'ll be "shut out."

3. Watch and win

Either from the track or the TV monitor, watch your horse run for the money. Once the race has been declared "Official," you can collect your winnings at any window.

Automated Betting

Oaklawn offers self-automated machines throughout the Grandstand. These easy-to-use machines offer simple directions and are activated by inserting a winning ticket, cash or a cash voucher obtained from any mutuel window. For further information on the self-automated devices, visit our Newcomer\'s Corner.

Types of Wagering

Win

Your horse must finish 1st.

Place

Your horse must finish 1st or 2nd.

Show

Your horse must finish 1st, 2nd or 3rd.

Across the Board

You are making 3 equal win, place, and show bets.

• If your horse wins: you collect on all 3 wagers (win, place, show).
• If your horse comes in 2nd: you collect on the place and show bet.
• If your horse comes in 3rd: you collect on the show bet. For example: "$2 Across the Board on 1" simply means: $2 to win on #1, $2 to place on #1 and $2 to show on #1 which will cost you $6 total.

Quinella

Your horses must finish 1st and 2nd in either order.

Exacta

Your horses must finish 1st and 2nd in the exact order.

Trifecta

Your horses must finish 1st, 2nd and 3rd in the exact order.

Superfecta

Your horses must finish 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th in the exact order.

Daily Double

Your horses must finish 1st in each of the two races that comprise the Daily Double. Wagers must be made before either race has begun.

Pick 3

Similar to a Daily Double, but applies to three consecutive races.

Pick 4

Your horse must win each of the three races comprising the Pick3. Wagers must be placed before the running of the first of the Pick3 races.

Classix (Pick Six, Super Six)

Similar to a Daily Double, but applies to six consecutive races. If no one picks all six winners, those picking five out of six will split 25% of the total Classix pool. The remaining 75% "carries over" to the next racing day, and will continue to do so each day until someone correctly selects six out of six.

Understanding The Odds

Approximate Pay to Win Based On A $2.00 Wager

Factors Affecting Handicapping

While predicting the winner of a race is not an exact science, taking into consideration the following variables can increase your skill in predicting the winner.

Fitness

As with humans, horses can\'t run their best if they aren\'t in top condition. Many players look for horses with recent race dates or morning workouts.

Class

What class of competitors has the horse raced against in the past? If its performance has been just adequate against a weaker class, then it may not have the ability to win against a higher class of thoroughbreds.

Distance

Most horses are only good at either short distances (under a mile) or long distances (over a mile), not both. Consider a horse only if he shows good past performance at the distance that is being run today.

Post Position

Different tracks favor different post positions, but generally far outside post positions (10 and up) produce fewer winners. Inside posts are usually favorable, but are not enough by themselves to help a weak horse.

Running Style

This usually falls into one of three categories: pace-setters (either a front-runner or less than two lengths back) ; stalkers (never more than four lengths back); or closers (horses who are never closer than five lengths from the pace).

If there are few pace-setters, go with one of them. Seek out a stalker if front runners are either numerous or non-existent in the race and if there are no closers. Closers are preferable when an abundance of early speed exists, but are generally the riskiest.

Trainer

Pay attention to the trainer. While they don\'t guarantee a win, you are probably safe throwing out a horse from a low-ranking trainer.

Jockey

Don\'t underestimate the importance of the jockey. If the rider doesn\'t have an acceptable record, eliminate the horse.

Present Form

Horses tend to enter a period of peak performance and then gradually slide down. Look at the most recent races to see if the horse is still at peak. If not, then chances are it won\'t return to peak for this race.

Consistency

A good recent history isn\'t enough unless the horse is consistently a quality performer. So examine a horse very carefully to see if that recent win was a fluke or part of ongoing excellent performance.

Weight

While some handicappers feel this is important, others think that 10 pounds will hardly affect a horse that weighs more than a thousand pounds. If you do consider weight as a factor, look at it more closely in longer races where the extra weight is more likely to weigh the horse down.

Speed Figures

There are many speed figures available (Beyer, for example) that reduce a horse\'s past performance to numbers. These figures are determined by combining factors such as running times and track conditions. They can be useful, but should only be used in conjunction with other factors.

Where Your Money Goes

Horse racing is a form of pari-mutuel wagering (French for "to wager amongst ourselves"). The difference between pari-mutuel wagering and other forms of wagering is that in pari-mutuel , you compete against other players, not the house. People who select winning horses get the money of people who select losing horses.

In casino-style wagering, however, the winners\' money comes from the house. Therefore, the only way the house can make money is for players to lose. That is why all games in a casino are set up to favor the casino.

Oaklawn, on the other hand, receives a small commission for staging the race, keeping up with all the wagers and distributing the winnings to the proper parties. The track has no interest in the outcome of any race, or whether the players win or lose.

Here\'s how it works: When you place a Win, Place or Show wager*, your money goes into a pool, with each type of wager having its own individual pool. The pool is then divided between the winners, the racetrack and other entities as shown below.

17¢ Horsemen\'s Purses, State of Arkansas, Breeders\' and Owners\' Awards, Oaklawn Jockey Club

83¢ Winning Bettors

* Payout varies for exotic wagers

The Horse

The thoroughbred was developed in the early 18th century from three foundation sires, the Byerly Turk, Darley Arabian and Godolphin Barb crossed to native English mares.

Over the many years since, various lines of the thoroughbred died until today only those of the stallions Eclipse, Matchem and Herod survive.

Every horse that has ever run at Oaklawn traces to one of those surviving three. For example, Sunny's Halo traces back to Eclipse.

Eclipse, a kin of the Darley Arabian, was foaled in 1764, the year of the great eclipse of the sun. He was a champion who won all his races without ever being whipped, spurred or headed and today has exerted far more influence in thoroughbred breeding than has Matchem or Herod. Incidentally, all gray thoroughbreds trace to Herod.

Perhaps the greatest breeder ever of thoroughbreds was Federico Tesio, the "Wizard of Dormello" in Northern Italy. "My aim is always to breed and raise a race horse which, over any distance, can carry the heaviest weight in the shortest time," Tesio would say.

Thoroughbreds, like people, come in many sizes. Forego, three times Horse-of-the-Year, was an immense 17 hands high. Northern Dancer, Gallant Man, War Admiral, Seabiscuit, Black Gold, Sword Dancer and Round Table were all less than 15.3 hands.

Their talents vary. There are sprinters, milers, routers and classic distance running horses. The most frequently run distance in North America is six furlongs, or three quarters of a mile. "I look for balance when I buy a young horse," Henry Forrest, who won frequent training titles at Oaklawn, would say. "I want a horse that is obviously an athlete."

Bay is a prominent color among thoroughbreds, but one sees many chestnuts. There are roans and various shades of brown. It is very difficult to get a horse registered as black with the Jockey Club.

No thoroughbred can start at a recognized pari-mutuel track unless it is registered with the Jockey Club.

Before a thoroughbred foal is approved, the registry requires that the color and all markings be clearly set forth in the application. Among markings are star, blaze, stripe, snip and stocking. A lip tattoo is further necessary.

There are thoroughbreds to fit most pocket books. Seattle Dancer brought $13.1 million as a yearling and never distinguished himself as a runner. Conversely, Ron McAnally and Angelo Costanzo bought Silver Ending at a yearling auction for $1,500 and subsequently won the $500,000 Arkansas Derby with him. "Owning thoroughbreds is very speculative," avows Eugene Cashman, whose Elocutionist won the 1976 Arkansas Derby and Preakness Stakes. Cashman bought Elocutionist for $15,000. "But, I bought 25 or 30 yearlings that year," remembers Cashman. During the 1970's, the Chicagoan invested a fortune in horses. "Elocutionist happened to be the best of them all. He was one of those horses than comes along once in an owner's lifetime, mused Cashman. "In the thoroughbred business, you put up your money and take your chances."

Growing Up

There are many terms that will help you understand the age of the Throroughbreds that you see at the track.

North of the equator, a Thoroughbred's first birthday is universally established as January 1. Before the first birthday, a Thoroughbred is known as a foal. In the fall of his first year, a foal is separated from his mother and becomes a weanling. After his first New Year's Day birthday, he becomes a yearling. On the following January 1, he becomes a 2-year-old and is eligible to race.

A male Thoroughbred is called a horse once he is five years old or more. Throughout his third and fourth years he is called a colt. A female Thoroughbred is called a mare once she is five years old. Before that time, she is a filly. Once a mare becomes a mother, she becomes a broodmare.

In speaking of a Thoroughbred's parents his father is the sire and his mother the dam. A dam's offspring is referred to collectively as her produce. The offspring of a stallion are known as his get. A mare is called a producer when one of her sons or daughters has won a race. A stallion is not officially a sire until one of his get has won. The female side of a Thoroughbred pedigree is known as the family. Horses traceable to a common paternal ancestor are said to be from a particular line.

Coat of many Colors

White

The entire coat includes only white hairs.

Grand Espoir Blanc is one of only fourteen thorougbreds registered white in the U.S. Shown here breaking out of the starting gate at Oaklawn in 1987 under the gentle experienced hands of rider Pat Day.

The first registered white Thorougbred in the United States was a filly, foaled in 1963 and named White Beauty. She won 2 races, with one third out of 16 starts to earn $5,561. In 1975 White Beauty foaled a filly which was named Beauty 'N Motion -- she never raced.

Another white horse foaled in 1977 by the name Clarence Stewart was also the sire of a white colt in 1987 named White Flight.

The last registered white Thoroughbred on record was foaled in 1995 and could give us all something to look forward to!

Bay

The entire coat of the horse may vary from a yellow-tan to a bright auburn. The mane, tail and lower portion of the legs are always black, unless white markings are present. Cigar, winner of the 1995 Oaklawn Handicap, is perhaps one of the best-known examples of a bay.

Chestnutt

The entire coat of the horse may vary from a red-yellow to a golden-yellow. The mane, tail and legs are usually variations of coat color, unless white markings are present. Jetto, winner of the 1996 Honeybee, is a fine example of a chestnut.

dark bay/Brown

The entire coat of the horse will vary from a brown, with areas of tan on the shoulders, head and flanks, to a dark brown, with tan areas seen only in the flanks and/or muzzle. The mane, tail and lower portion of the legs are always black, unless white markings are present. Featured is Escena, winner of the 1996 Fantasy.

Gray

The majority of the coat of the horse is a mixture of black and white hairs. The mane, tail and legs may be either black or gray, unless white markings are present. Pictured is Icy Morn.

Roan

The majority of the coat of the horse is a mixture of red and white hairs or brown and white hairs. The mane, tail and legs may be black, chestnut or roan, unless white markings are present. 1994 Essex Handicap winner Greatsilverfleet is featured.

Black

The entire coat of the horse is black, including the muzzle, the flanks, the mane, tail and legs, unless white markings are present. It is very rare to register a black Thoroughbred.

Sport of Racing

Thoroughbred horse racing has a little bit of everything, because it is a microcosm, a world in miniature, with heros and villains, great horses and lower claimers and outstanding sportsmen amid a sprinkling from all walks of life.

It is a world supercharged with as much emotion as an old three-reel melodrama. There are every day examples of dazzling successes and heart-wrenching failures.

The sport has all the components of the greater world except one. Racing is never, under any circumstances, a world of boredom.

For years it has reigned the most popular spectator sport in the world. Millions of people attend race tracks and simulcast outlets every year and bet billions of dollars. Yet, Charles J.Cella, owner of Oaklawn Park, is so right in insisting, "There are still millions of people out there waiting to be captivated."

In the days of Caligula, first century Romans turned to chariot racing and the craze was on. Ben Hur and Massala never really engaged in that bloody, no holds-barred, nose finish, but from the writings of Diocles, we know there were bookies, hot tips and fluctuating odds there at the Circus Maximus, where as many as 24 races a day were staged.

George Washington raced horses and, on occasion, served as a honorary steward for the Maryland Jockey Club. The first race in the United Stakes to attract world-wide interest was the 1823 match on Long Island between American Eclipse and Henry. A crowd of 60,000 attended the Union Course that day to see American Eclipse win. At the time, the population of New York City was something like 150,000.

Interest in racing continued unabated in the nineteenth century, one of two major changes being the end of three-mile heats in favor of one definitive test. The second advent was formation of the Jockey Club which oversees the the certification and registration of all Thoroughbreds.

Man o' War was everyone's hero in 1919-20. He was one of a parade of turf heros that have since included Equipoise, Count Fleet, Native Dancer, Citation, Kelso, Secretariat, John Henry and Cigar.

The founding of the American Triple Crown, the Thoroughbred Racing Association, Breeders' Cup, televised races and simulcasting became major moves of influence in the sport.

Jockeys like Eddie Arcaro, William Shoemaker, Laffit Pincay, Jr., Angele Cordero, Jr. Chris McCarron, Jerry Bailey and Pat Day emerged household names as did great trainers Ben Jones, Hirsch Jacobs, Laz Barrera, Charlie Whittingham, D. Wayne Lukas, Woody Stephens and James Fitzsimmons.

One of the foremost success stories in racing the last three decades has been Oaklawn Park, which staged its first meeting in 1905.

The family of Charles Cella has been involved in track management for a century.

"In all that time, I doubt any of us have had a boring day in racing," assured Cella, who took over Oaklawn from his father in 1968.

It is essential that racing continuously showcase its appeal, excitement and charm to fans new and long-time.

"As management, it is imperative that we provide a convenient, comfortable and functional facility, extending courteous and understanding service and thorough consideration to our fans needs. We want our patrons to find enjoyment in a pleasant atmosphere, to have fun and to return again soon," Cella says.

For all tracks, it is vital to keep attracting new fans.

The Races

First timers to racing may not realize that there are many different types of races held at Oaklawn. While many races appear much the same as others, there are conditions that limit certain types of horses to certain races.

Stakes and Handicap Races

Stakes and Handicap races offer the highest level of competition at Oaklawn. These races are run for larger purse monies and generally bring out the top horses. Stakes and handicap races require owners to pay a fee in order to nominate, enter and run their horses. The deadline to nominate a horse comes two weeks prior to the running of the race. Those fees are added to the money the track contributes to the purse. The track handicapper assigns the weights to be carried in handicap races, attempting to level the playing field among the participants.

Overnight Stakes

The main difference between an overnight stakes race and a stakes race is the amount of fees a trainer entering his horse in the race pays to compete. Overnight stakes do not require nomination, entry and starting fees. Nomination for overnight stakes are generally taken up to a week before the race. Overnight stakes bring out quality horses to compete for excellent purse money.

Claiming Race

Any horse entered in a claiming race is subject to purchase, for the amount for which the horse is entered, by any owner who has started a horse at that particular race meeting. In some such races the claiming price will have a range of several thousand dollars with weight allowances made for horses entered at the lower prices. The claiming race is a method of classifying horses in order to produce races involving competition of equal ability. When a horse wins easily while running among $5,000 claimers he is usually moved up in value to avoid his being claimed.

Starter Allowance Race

Starter allowance races combine the elements of claiming and allowance races to provide a unique and highly competitive contest. Starter allowances share the quality of an allowance race in that the entered horses cannot be purchased or "claimed". All entered horses in a starter allowance must have run in a claiming race during a designated amount of time. The starter allowance generally brings together the best of the the claiming-level competitors.

Maiden Race

A race for horses that have never won. A horse is considered a maiden until it wins a race for the first time. Maidens can stop out of their division and face winners.

Although there are many types of races, they all proceed in much the same manner. The horses are saddled in the paddock, from where they are paraded in front of the grandstand so that all the patrons may get a look at the horses prior to the start. Different items catch the eye of different fans, which is why there is no sure-fire way to pick a winner--everybody seems to see things a bit differently. Once the parade has ended the horses go into a warmup which lasts from five to eight minutes, depending on the time the race is scheduled to start. Once they are loaded into their assigned starting stalls in the gate, they're on their way and the real drama of the race is set to unfold. Races at Oaklawn are scheduled at distances from 5 1/2 furlongs to 1 3/4 miles, which means a race could run anywhere from just over a minute to around three minutes.

The Track

The Oaklawn track is a carefully engineered and well kept surface. The track consists of four layers which provide good drainage, a firm base and a soft cushion for racing.

Oaklawn Track Data One mile sandy loam oval Length of Stretch 1,155 feet Width of Track 70 feet on turns, 80 feet Total acreage 120

Track Conditions

Fast

At its best, dry and even.

Sloppy

During or immediately after a heavy rain; may have puddles but base is still firm and running time remains fast.

Muddy

Soft and wet.

Heavy

A drying track, between muddy and good.

Slow

Still wet, between heavy and good.

Good

Drying but still wet.

Off

An off track is anything other than fast.

Handicapping

Handicapping is predicated on a principle that the future will repeat the past. For the newcomers to racing, as well as veteran players, this can be confusing - trying to get a handle on an inexact science.

In order to succeed in any kind of game involving a certain degree of chance, your approach must be mathematically sound.

People going to the races for the first few times would do well to avail themselves of selections of a good public newspaper handicapper to use as a guide.

Oaklawn Park is covered by some excellent ones.

On in-house television, Terry Wallace takes a look at each race while the horses are in the paddock. His race analysis is both logical and useful, and his ability to identify key contenders is a particularly valuable handicapping tool.

In Russ Ramstad, Oaklawn has an excellent line maker. His three favorites at the bottom of each page of the official track program should be factored in with one's next wager.

It is difficult for the novice race goer to do any serious in-depth handicapping on his own, because the reading and evaluating of past performances won't be mastered until later.

Marion Van Berg, the late Oaklawn regular, a Hall of Famer and one of the greatest horsemen in history of the sport, was once asked about picking winners. He was quick to reply, "Never back a sprinter against a router and vice versa. Don't buck class. Don't back a horse that is being asked to do something he's never done before. Don't back a horse with early foot if there's a lot of speed in the race. On the other hand, if there are a lot of late runners, then take the early speed. If the race seems tough, then skip it. Don't be a plunger. At the (pari-mutuel) windows, a piker will live to bury a plunger."

Running Styles

Similar to other athletes, racehorses have their own styles. While a basketball player may be known as a rebounder or a jumpshooter, horses are also categorized by their best qualities. Horses with an exceptional turn of foot from the starting gate are known by a number of terms, including front runner, pacesetter and speedster. These horses try to lead from the starting gate to the wire and are sometimes susceptible to speed duels, where two or more front runners "hook up" and battle in the early stages of a race. Other runners prefer to lie just off the early leaders and are said to possess tactical speed. Such performers are often referred to as stalkers. In a race devoid of a quality pacesetter, a stalker may find itself providing the early pace. Perhaps the most exciting style of running comes from performers who unleash a furious rally from the back of the pack. Closers, later runners, and stretch runner are just a few of the names for such horses. If a horse lies far behind in the early going, it sometimes is referred to as a Silky Sullivan, in honor of a legendary horse that once rallied from 41 lengths behind to win a race.

Playing Your Pick

Betting the Chalk

When the public wagers more money on one horse than any other in a given race, that horse is deemed the wagering favorite. The popularity of favorites stems from the general premise that more fans in attendance have wagered on that horse than any other. Oftentimes, the favorite will be referred to as the chalk. In the early days of racetrack wagering, before the era of computerized tote boards, English bookmakers would tally odds on slate chalkboards. As handicappers touted their race favorites, the slate would become clouded in chalk with the constant changing of the odds. Hence the term "chalk" was born. Buyer beware, however. While favorites will win roughly 30% of the races, they offer the lowest payoffs and it is extremely difficult to declare a profit with such low return on investment. You may cash more tickets, but the amount of the payoffs won't allow much room for error.

Show Parlays

The show parlay is a great way for the novice horseplayer to have a fun day at the races without risking a large amount of money. The show parlay can begin with a $2 show wager. In order to collect on a show wager, the selected horse must finish in either first, second, or third place. The show parlay continues if the original show bet is hit. The money collected is parlayed back in the next race on another horse to show. The show parlay continues as long as show bets are hit. The parlay bankroll can grow quickly and the bettor's original $2 investment can be withdrawn while the parlay continues on "won" money. The show parlay is a strategy and not a formal wagering format. A handicapper cannot go to the window and request a "$2 show parlay." Rather, the patron makes individual show bets at his or her own discretion.

Wagering

W.T. Bishop, the late general manager and vice president of Oaklawn, would say, "Come to the track to be entertained. Have an afternoon of enjoyment and, if you should happen to win a little money in the process, consider it a bonus."

Winning at the track has never been easy, but it can be made less difficult. A major point with new fans is not to be intimidated by so many things going on around you - cheering crowds, multiple bets, simulcast races mixed in with those live and a vocabulary of terms such as top wheel, bottom wheel, track variant, three-horse box, overlay, morning line, eighth pole, inquiry, holy ghost, bug waive and chalk.

George "Pittsburgh Phil" Smith was a young man working as a cork cutter when he left home for the race track to become a player. He eventually became America's most celebrated horse player and died a wealthy man in 1940.

Phil lived by a number of maxims, a few being: "Cut your bets when in a losing streak and increase them when running in a spasm of good luck", "Winners often repeat whereas the defeated are apt to be beaten almost regularly", "Good race track knowledge is not a special talent. It is acquired by study, observation, hard work and the will to succeed", and finally, "To succeed beats working."

An early lesson for the new player is that he, or she, is not competing against the track. Opponents are the other players. The track merely acts as a broker.

A takeout, or "take", is removed from each betting pool and distributed according to state law, among the state, race track and horsemen. On average, 17 percent is withheld from win, place and show pools, with 83 percent being returned to the winning players. On multiple bets, the take is higher.

Oaklawn offers various bets. Besides win, place and show wagers, there are daily doubles and exactas, in addition to Pick3, CLASSIX® and trifecta. The betting format expands a bit more on simulcast wagers.

It augurs well for the new fan to confine himself to the basics of betting, until he gains confidence in his play. One needs to learn which races contain the higher class of horses. These are the most formful. He should shun systems and tips, while learning speed, pace and class.

It isn't a bad idea to note the selections of professional newspaper handicappers and to avail themselves of program choices and insight offered by in-house television.

New players are better served to make their bets with regular tellers before testing the stand alone machines. Tellers can guide the novice through the wagering procedure, avoiding the costly mistakes that persons might make computing a ticket on the new touch-screen machines.

An official track program in a necessity. Among its vast information are trainer and jockey standings. A player should be aware of winning percents. Fifteen percent and above is very good for jockeys and trainers. Those with the highest percentages are usually the ones on a hot streak and doing the most things right. Of course everyone else knows that as well, so you will often see these jockeys and trainers are those associated with the majority of the public favorites.

Establish a bankroll and stop loss for the afternoon and adhere to it. If you are fortunate to cash a few tickets early, lock up a portion of the winnings.

Develop a plan for the day and don't try to bet all kind of wagers, jumping hither and yon, with no goal, or objective, in mind.

Managing your money and betting it wisely are as vital as horse selection.

A boat without a rudder can't survive very long in the pari-mutuel pool.

There are unlimited teaching aids available, so an alert individual can readily become a sophisticated bettor.

"Being a good player will make you the envy of some of your friends," laughs John Searcy, retired director of pari-mutuels at Oaklawn, "and bug heck out of a few of your others."

Types of Bets

Win

Your horse must finish 1st.

Place

Your horse must finish 1st or 2nd.

Show

Your horse must finish 1st, 2nd or 3rd.

Across the Board

You are making 3 equal win, place, and show bets.

• If your horse wins: you collect on all 3 wagers (win, place, show).
• If your horse comes in 2nd: you collect on the place and show bet.
• If your horse comes in 3rd: you collect on the show bet. For example: "$2 Across the Board on 1" simply means: $2 to win on #1, $2 to place on #1 and $2 to show on #1 which will cost you $6 total.

Quinella

Your horses must finish 1st and 2nd in either order.

Exacta

Your horses must finish 1st and 2nd in the exact order.

Trifecta

Your horses must finish 1st, 2nd and 3rd in the exact order.

Superfecta

Your horses must finish 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th in the exact order.

Daily Double

Your horses must finish 1st in each of the two races that comprise the Daily Double. Wagers must be made before either race has begun.

Pick 3

Similar to a Daily Double, but applies to three consecutive races.

Pick 4

Your horse must win each of the three races comprising the Pick3. Wagers must be placed before the running of the first of the Pick3 races.

Classix (Pick Six, Super Six)

Similar to a Daily Double, but applies to six consecutive races. If no one picks all six winners, those picking five out of six will split 25% of the total Classix pool. The remaining 75% "carries over" to the next racing day, and will continue to do so each day until someone correctly selects six out of six.

Racing Terms

Acey Deucey

A style of riding in which the jockey uses a much longer stirrup on the left, or inside leg.

Action

A horse with an even, smooth stride is said to have good action.

Also Ran

A horse that does not finish among the first three.

Asterisk(*)

When used with a jockey's name or beside the weight a horse is to carry it denotes an apprentice rider. In breeding publications where it appears with a horse's name it means the horse was imported to the U.S.

Backstretch

The straightway on the far side of the race track. Also used as a reference to the stable area.

Bandages

Bandages or cloth wrappings on a horse's legs to not necessarily denote lameness or infirmity. Many trainers keep their horses in standing bandages at all times as a protection. They are also used in racing for protection and support.

Barrier

The starting gate is sometimes referred to as the barrier.

Bill Daly

A horse that breaks in front and sets the pace is "on the Bill Daly." This manner of running was said to be the principal tactic drilled into jockeys developed by "Father Bill" Daly, a colorful trainer prior to the turn of the century.

Blanket Finish

One which finds several horses finishing noses and heads apart or so closely grouped that they could be covered by a blanket in a figurative sense.

Blinkers

Once called the "Rogue's Badge," blinkers are a common piece of racing equipment today. The eye cups on the blinkers, depending on modifications, block side and rear vision in either or both eyes. The use or disuse of blinkers must be approved by the stewards and the change reported on the official program.

Blow Out

A brief last workout (usually three furlongs or a half mile) given a day or two prior to a race and designed to sharpen or maintain a horse's condition.

Bottom Wheel

Bottom wheel is a wagering strategy in which a selection in an exacta is wagered in the "bottom" or "place" position, while all the other horses in the field are used in the win position. To win in this wager your selection must finish second. To get a feeling about how much you might be about to win you can check the possible payoffs grids that are shown on your tv monitor. To wager a bottom wheel you need to tell the mutuel clerk that you want to "wheel the (whatever your horse number) on the bottom."

Breakage

The calculation of the return on a $2.00 wager is made to the nearest .10 in most states. For example, if the actual division of the pool comes out to $8.64 the official payoff is $8.60.

Bug

Or "bug boy;" an apprentice jockey so-called because of the "bug" or asterisk in the official program to denote that the weight carried includes the apprentice allowance.

Bug Waive

Apprentice jockeys have traditionally been referred to as "bug boys", since they have historically had their names printed in the program with an asterisk or "bug" to denote that they are not yet journeyman riders. When one of those "bug boys" comes off a mount and is replaced by a journeyman rider, the weight concession extended to the apprentice is relinquished, hence the "bug is waived" in that case.

Cast

When a horse is down in confined quarters, such as his stall or the starting gate, and unable to regain his feet--he is "cast."

Chalk

Or Chalk Horse: the favorite or most heavily played horse in a race. The term originated in the days of bookmakers when the odds were chalked on slates.

Chute

A straightaway extension of either the homestretch or the backstretch used for distances which would otherwise necessitate starting on a turn.

Climbing

A fault in a horse's stride in which, instead of reaching out, his action is abnormally high.

Clubhouse Turn

The turn to the right of the grandstand, so called because he Clubhouse is usually to the right of the general stands.

Colors

The jockey's silk or nylon jacket and cap provided by the owner. Distinctive colors are registered by the owner with The Jockey Club and with the state racing authority. The practice of using individually registered colors was introduced at Newmarket, England in 1762.

Condition Book

A booklet issued periodically by the racing office describing conditions of upcoming races so that trainers can plan in which races to enter their horses.

Coupled

Two or more horses belonging to the same owner or trained by the same person are said to be "coupled" and they run as an "entry" comprising a single betting unit. Their program number regardless of post position would be "1" and "1A." A second "entry" in the race would be listed in the program as "2" and "2A." A bet on one horse of an entry is a bet on both.

Cushion

The loose, top surface of the race track.

Dead Heat

Where the photo-finish camera shows two horses inseparable at the finish, the race is declared a "dead heat" or tie.

Dogs

Wooden barriers used during workout periods to close off a portion of the race track near the inner rail when the track is sloppy or muddy.

Driving

When a horse is running under extreme pressure he is said to be driving.

Dwelt

A horse that is slow in breaking from the starting gate is said to have "dwelt."

Eighth Pole

The pole one eighth of a mile before the finish line.

Entry

Two or more horses in a race, owned by the same stable, or trained by the same trainer are termed an "entry" and coupled as a single betting unit, a bet on one being a bet on both.

Excused

To be withdrawn from a race after the regular time for scratches a horse must be "excused" by the Stewards.

Extended

A horse running at top speed under extreme pressure by the rider.

Farrier

A blacksmith specializing in the shoeing, or plating, of horses. In early days he was also a horse doctor.

Far Turn

The turn off the backstretch.

Fast

A race track at its best condition is said to be fast.

Field

This word has two meanings in racing which could be confusing. The entire group of starters in a race is known collectively as the "field." However, a "field horse" is one of a group designated by the track handicapper in a case where there are more starters than there are betting units provided by the pari-mutuel equipment. Rightly called the "pari-mutuel field" this group runs as a single betting unit. For example in the Kentucky Derby of 1951, while there were only 12 betting units, 20 horses started. Seven started as individual betting units; four stables had entries of two horses each; the remaining five ran as the "field" and one of these, Count Turf, was the winner.

Flat Race

Originally a race without obstacles such as hedges, hurdles or fences. Today more often used as opposed to harness racing although the trotters also race on the flat.

Fractional Time

The running time at various points between the start and finish of a race.

Furlong

One eighth of a mile. Originally a "furrow long" or the length of a plowed field.

Garrison Finish

A late rush resulting in a narrow margin of victory, so called because Edward "Snapper" Garrison, a prominent rider at the turn of the century, specialized in such finishes.

Gelding

A castrated male horse.

Ginney

A groom; a corruption of the English "Guinea," which in days past was the traditional award to the groom of a winner.

Halter

A piece of equipment placed on a horse's head similar to a bridle but lacking a bit and reins. A long leather shank is attached to the halter for walking the horse. Also an expression used for claiming a horse deriving from the fact that when the representative of the new owner takes the horse he must have with him his own halter. A trainer who frequently claims horses is called a halter man.

Hand

A unit of four inches by which a horse's height is measured, placing one hand above the other from the ground to the withers or the point where the saddle sits. A horse that measures 16 hands is 5 feet 4 inches tall at the withers.

Handicapper

One who assigns the weights to be carried in a handicap race. Also one who makes selections in a race based on a thorough study of the past performance of each horse.

Handily

A horse working or racing with ease and without urging is said to be going "handily."

Handle

The aggregate amount of money wagered on a race, a day, a meeting or a season.

Holy Ghost

Holy Ghost is a wagering theory that is used by numerologists. The suggestion is that good things happen in threes (reference to the Biblical Trinity of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost). Players of the Holy Ghost theory believe that when a certain jockey, saddle cloth number, post position, trainer, etc., scores two wins, then it follows that there will be a third success, since good luck tends to run in groups of threes.

Homestretch

The straightaway leading to the finish.

Hot Walker

A stable hand who leads a horse around the shed row or walking ring in the "cooling out" process following a race or a workout. Walking hots is usually the first job given a novice stable employee.

Infield

The area within the inner rail of a race track.

Inquiry

An inquiry is an action taken by the track stewards following a race to check for a possible infraction that might have been noticed during the actual running of the race. In the inquiry the stewards will replay the race on videotape and review the incident, deciding eventually whether or not punitive action needs to be taken.

In the Money

A horse finishing first, second or third is "in the money."

Irons

The stirrups are referred to as irons.

Juvenile

A 2-year-old horse is called a "juvenile."

Key Horse

A single horse used in multiple combinations in an exotic wager.

Lead Pad

A piece of equipment under the saddle containing thin slabs of lead used to bring a rider's weight up to that assigned to the horse.

Length

The measurement corresponding to the average length of a horse and used to describe winning, or losing, distances. A horse can win, or be beaten, by a length or more, or by fractions thereof -- 3/4 of a length, half-length, 1/4 length, neck, head or nose. These terms are more descriptive than scientific.

Minus Pool

When an outstanding horse is so heavily played that, after the deduction of the state tax and commission, not enough money remains in the pool to pay off the legally prescribed minimum, it is called a minus pool and the racing association makes up the difference.

Morning Line

The approximate odds usually printed in the program and posted on the totalisator board prior to the betting. This is a forecast of how it is believed the betting will go in a particular race.

Mud Caulks

These are small cleats inserted on the back end of a horse's shoe or racing plate. The caulks are used most when the track surface becomes muddy or sloppy. this will enable the horse to have better racing traction on an "off" surface.

Near Side

The left side on which a horse is led, mounted and dismounted.

Odds-On

Odds of less than even money ($1 to $1). A winner at a payoff of under $4.00 is "odds on."

Off Side

The right hand side of a horse.

Overlay

An overlay occurs when a horse that is placed at a certain price on the morning line receives considerably more play than one might have expected. That horse is said to be "overlaid". It tells you that there is money being played on this horse that was not anticipated and the payoff price will be smaller than originally expected.

Overnight

A race for which entries close 72 hours (exclusive of Sundays) or less before the post time for the first race on the day the race is to be run. Also, the (usually) photocopied sheet available to horsemen in the racing secretary's office showing the entries for the following day.

Overweight

Depending on conditions each horse carries an assigned weight. When the jockey cannot make the weight, overweight is allowed but not more than 5 pounds. The overweight is either posted on an information board or announced on the public address system prior to the race.

Paddock

The area at the race track where the horses are saddled and viewed prior to a race. A fenced off field on a farm.

Placing Judge

Officials from the Racing Secretary's Office are in charge of the official placing of horses during and after the running of a race. Two of the judges call the view of the race to a third judge who feeds the information by computer to the tote board. The judges determine the official order of finish by viewing a still negative film of each horse reaching the finish line, proceeding to the last place finisher. Their viewing stand is located on top of the grandstand, at the finish line.

Plater

A term for a horse that runs in cheap claiming races. Also the farrier who makes or fits the horse's shoes or plates.

Post

The starting point for a race.

Post Position

A horse's position in the starting gate from the inner rail outward which is decided by a drawing at the close of entries the day prior to the race.

Post Time

The time at which all horses are required to be at the post and ready to start.

Preferred List

A group of horses having priority in the event that a race draws more entries than can be accommodated.

Public Trainer

One who trains for more than one owner, usually on a per diem basis.

Quarter Horse

A type of horse recently established as a breed which is extremely fast at short distances. While so-called "quarter horse" racing was popular in Colonial times it has in recent years had a renaissance in the West.

Quarter Pole

On a one-mile track, the pole at the turn into the stretch a quarter of a mile before the finish.

Racing Secretary

The official who makes up the conditions for the races and assigns the weights for handicap races.

Ridgeling

A colt with one or both testicles undescended.

Route

A race of more than one and one-eighth miles is considered a route.

Savage

In racing parlance "savage" is a verb. A horse that tries to bite another horse or a man is "savaging" the horse or the man. A chart footnote or an account of a race may mention that a horse tried to savage another.

Scale of Weights

An arbitrary set of weights to be carried by horses of a certain age at a certain time of year at a certain distance.

Scratch

To scratch a horse is to withdraw him from a race. There is a deadline for scratches after which permission must be obtained from the Stewards.

Set Down

A jockey who has been suspended has been "set down."

Sex Allowance

In all races other than handicaps or where conditions state otherwise, fillies and mares are allowed weight below the scale, usually 3 pounds for 2-year-old fillies and 5 pounds for fillies and mares 3 and up, prior to September 1, and 3 pounds thereafter.

Shadow Roll

A thick noseband of sheep's wool used to prevent a horse from seeing shadows directly in front of him which might cause him to jump or shy away.

Short

A horse that drops out of contention in the stretch or close to the finish is said to have been "short," the inference being that with more work or preparation he might have lasted to the finish and perhaps have been the winner.

Silks

See colors. The jacket and cap worn by a jockey.

Sophomore

A 3-year-old horse is referred to as a sophomore.

Stayer

A horse that can run well at longer distances.

Stick

A jockey's whip.

Stickers

A type of shoe with calks to provide better purchase under adverse track conditions.

Stud

A stallion used for breeding. Also a breeding farm.

Tack

The saddle and other equipment worn by a horse during racing or exercise.

Three-Horse Box

To make a three-horse box you simply take the three horses that you prefer in a race and wager them in each possible combination. Three-horse boxes are available in exactas and trifectas. When you wager a three-horse box in an exacta, two of the horses you use must finish first and second in exact order. When you wager a three-horse box in a trifecta the three horses you use must finish first, second and third. A three-horse exacta box gives you six possible winning combinations (a-b, a-c, b-a, b-c, c-a, c-b) and a three-horse trifecta box also gives you six possible combinations (a-b-c, a-c-b, b-a-c, b-c-a, c-a-b, c-b-a).

Top Wheel

Top wheel is a wagering strategy in which a selection in an exacta is wagered in the "top" or "win" position while all the other horses in the field are used in the "place" position. To win in this wager your selection must finish first. To get a feeling about how much you might be about to win you can check the possible payoffs grids that are shown on your tv monitor. To wager a top wheel you need to tell the mutuel clerk that you want to "wheel the (whatever your horse number) on top."

Totalisator

An intricate piece of electronic equipment which records each wager in each betting pool as the pari-mutuel ticket is sold by a manually operated vending machine. This equipment calculates the odds on each horse, according to the amount wagered at given intervals.

Totalisator Board

A display board in the infield on which is posted electronically, data essential to the race goer such as approximate odds, total amount bet in each pool (on some boards), track condition, post time, time of day, result of race, official sign or inquiry or objection sign if a foul is claimed, running time and payoff prices after the race is declared official.

Track Variant

Track variant is a measurement of the speed of the horse according to how performances on the track measured up to one another during the course of an entire day's racing program. There are a number of ways to calculate a variant and professional handicappers normally subscribe to one of these primary theories in order to get a feeling for how impressive a particular running time really was. It is clear that six furlongs in 1:10 on one day can be significantly more impressive than the same time on a different day. The track variant gives a player a chance to make those comparisons with some ease.

Under Wraps

A horse running under restraint is "under wraps."

Valet

An employee who takes care of a jockey's equipment, sees to it that the right silks are at his locker, that the rider has the proper weight in his lead pad, carries the saddle and equipment to the paddock and helps the trainer in saddling the horse, meets the rider after the race and carries saddle and equipment back to the jockey's room.

Walkover

A rare occurrence in which only one starter goes to the post and is required only to gallop the distance of the race to be declared the winner and collect the purse or a prescribed portion thereof depending on the rules in effect.

Washy

A horse that breaks out into a heavy sweat prior to the race is said to be "washy."

Weight-For-Age

A type of race in which horses carry scale weight or weight assigned arbitrarily according to age, distance and month of year. (See Scale of Weights.)

Work Tab

A list of morning workouts according to distance and time.

Yearling

A one year old colt or filly, just one year away from racing age.