Most US racebooks use pari-mutuel pools. Instead of betting against the house, you and other players all bet into shared win, place and show pools. When the race is official, the track and operator take a cut (the takeout) and the rest is shared between winning tickets. That is why odds move right up until the final seconds before the gate opens.
Online racebooks mirror what happens at the host track. If a track has daily double, exacta, trifecta or Pick 4 pools, a good racebook should offer those options online as well. The best sites also stream the races, show probables for exactas and will-pays for multi-race bets, and clearly display scratches and track condition changes.
Straight bets vs. exotic bets
Straight bets are the building blocks of horse wagering. Win means your horse must finish first. Place means your horse can finish first or second. Show pays if your horse finishes in the top three. These bets are usually where new players start, especially on big race days.
Exotic bets combine multiple outcomes in one ticket. Exactas and trifectas require you to predict the first two or three finishers in the correct order. Superfectas go even further and can be very hard to hit, but the payouts can be large when they land. Multi-race bets like Pick 3 or Pick 4 ask you to find winners in several consecutive races.
What we look at when testing racebooks
- Depth of track list: big US circuits, regional tracks and international racing where available.
- Quality of the race program: past performances, pace figures, trainer and jockey stats.
- Ease of building and editing multi-race tickets without errors or timeouts.
- Clear information on minimum stakes, scratch rules and how refunds are handled.
- Responsible gambling tools, including deposit limits and self-exclusion options.
Bankroll tips for big race days
It is easy to get carried away on days like the Kentucky Derby or Breeders’ Cup. Before you open the racebook, decide what you can afford to lose and break that amount into units. Many players keep their straight bets small and save only a portion of the bankroll for exotic combinations that are harder to hit.
If a promotion tempts you to deposit more than you are comfortable with, skip it. There will always be another race, another card and another offer. Horse betting should fit around your life, not the other way round.