The odds offer (Price)
The value of the odds (overpriced or under priced?)
The type of bet (single, multiple, combination, etc.)

The odds offer should be at least 2:1 to make it worthwhile. If necessary, choose a selection with a slightly higher risk to prop up the price.

The value of the odds must be such that the sportsbook's commission is to a minimum, if at all. Some selections get 'steamed' unnecessarily. When this happens, the 'favorite' price lengthens. Take advantage of those situations.

Three types of bets seem to stand out as a sensible combination to use because they are simple, not too difficult to win and have good winning potential: the Straight bet, the Doubles and the Future.

Win, Place, Show Parlays

When playing a parlay you must decide what type you will play. We will use a Win Parlay in this example. You look at the program and think in the 1st race the # 3 horse will win, in the 4th race you think the # 5 horse will win, and in the 8th race you think the # 9 horse will win. You are now ready to take your chances.

Lets play a $10.00 win Parlay in the example: 1st race $10.00 win on # 3. The # 3 wins the first race and pays $8.00. so now we take the $40.00 ticket and place it all to win on the # 5 horse in the 4th race. The # 5 horse wins the 4th race and pays $6.00 to win. We now have a $120.00 ticket. We now take the $120.00 and place it all to win on the # 9 horse in the 8th race. The # 9 horse wins and pays $5.00. We have just WON $300.00!!! All of this for a $10.00 investment. You can play 2 races or 12 races the choice is yours.

Tip: Parlays are great to play when the favorites are at short prices. There is not much value in a $4.00 horse but if you can find 3 or 4 it can payoff playing parlays.

Playing the Exacta

The best way to bet exactas are to box combinations. Boxing combinations is not only simple but increases your odds at having a winning ticket. We will use $1.00 examples.

Example: $1.00 exacta box #1, #2, #3 cost $6.00. With this wager any 3 of these horses must finish 1st and 2nd.

Example: $1.00 exacta box #1, #2, #3, #4 cost $12.00. With this wager any 4 of these horse must finish 1st and 2nd.

Tip: not many people will bet an exacta this way but in certain races it will increase your odds significantly. Example in a race with more than 8 horses, more money is bet into the pools. Believe it or not you can make a considerable amount of return on this type of wager.

If you think a horse is going to win, the way to play your exacta would be, Example: $1.00 exacta key #1 with / # 2, #3, #4 cost $3.00.With this type of wager the #1 must win. The #2,# 3,or #4 must finish second.

or another way to play would be if you think a horse is going to win and you do not know who will finish second, $1.00 exacta: #1 with / all cost $7.00 (based on 8 horses in a race.) The #1 must win, and any other horse in the race must finish 2nd.

This would be a way to play a back up ticket, Example $1.00 exacta key #2, #3, #4 with/ #1 cost $3.00. With this type of wager the #2, #3, or # 4 must win, the #1 must finish 2nd.

If you are undecided on a couple of horses another example would be $1.00 exacta wheel: #1,#2 with / #1,#2,#3 cost $4.00 with this type of wager #1 or #2 must win and either #1,#2, or #3 must finish 2nd

Tip: Any serious bettor bets back up tickets. If the main ticket does not win it is possible the back up ticket will cover some if not the entire initial loss.

Playing Triacta

Playing the triacta's can be very tricky. The majority of the time you will have the exacta, and not complete the triacta. You are dealing with the top 3 finishers in a race. The more horses you add into your ticket the price goes up in a hurry. The best way to play triacta's is to box horses.

Example: $1.00 tri box #1, #2, #3 cost $6.00 all of these horses must finish in the top 3 (it does not matter in what order).

Example $1.00 tri box #1, #2, #3, #4 cost $24.00 three of these horses must finish in the top 3. Notice the price of the ticket increase? This is because there is more combinations.

Example $1.00 tri box #1, #2, #3, #4, #5 cost $60.00 any3 of these horses must finish in the top 3. Notice the price of the ticket now?

Okay this is where you can bet combinations that the price comes down a little but the chance of losing increases. You looked at your program and you think the #1 is going to win but you are not sure about second or third. Decisions, Decisions. Here are a couple of examples that may help you. One way that you can bet your ticket is expensive but if you are confident your horse will win would be:

Example: $1.00 tri #1 with / all with/ with all. cost $42.00 (based on 8 horse race). The #1 horse must win, any other horse may finish 2nd or 3rd. A little too expensive? I think so too.

The way that most people play, if they like a horse, is $ 1.00 tri key #1 with/ #2, #3, #4, #5, #6 cost $20.00. The #1 horse must win and any of the other five horses may finish 2nd and 3rd.

Another way you can play your tri's is $1.00 tri #1, #2 with / #1, #2, #3 with / #1, #2, #3, #4, #5 cost $ 16.00. The #1 or # 2 must win. the #1, #2, or #3 must finish 2nd. the #1, #2, #3, #4, or # 5 must finish 3rd.

You can also play this combination of bets a different way. example: $1.00 tri #1, #2 with / #1, #2, #3 ,#4, #5 with / #1, #2, #3 cost $16.00. The #1 or #2 must win, the #1, #2, #3, #4, or #5 must finish 2nd, and the #1, #2, or #3 must finish 3rd.

Tip: a mistake a lot of bettors make is not changing their betting patterns when on a losing streak. If it seems like all the horses your are betting are finishing 2nd and 3rd or in most cases 1st and 3rd change your betting pattern you will be amazed how your luck can change.

Continue to Horse Betting Strategy Part II