Win, place, and show are the most familiar bets to new horse racing bettors, and casual fans know about the exacta, trifecta, and Daily Double.
Horizontal bets are bets made across multiple races. These bets have become very popular with bettors because of the chance at a big payoff from wagering a small amount of money.
Examples of horizontal wagers are the Pick 3, Pick 4, Pick 5 and Pick 6 where you place a wager before the first leg of these bets and try to pick that number of consecutive winners.
There are rolling Pick 3s on every card at most tracks; one or two Pick 4s and Pick 5s; and usually one Pick 6.
Reviewing the results from the first 16 race cards at Woodbine Racetrack in June the average payoff of the first Pick 4 was $519.00 for the base .20 cent bet, and the average payoff on the first Pick 5 (at Woodbine it begins in race 2) was over $930.00.
What Does It Cost?
In Ontario, these wagers have a base price of $0.20. In other words, if you pick one horse to win each of the races it will cost you just $0.20 for the bet. The more horses you use in each leg of the wager, the more a ticket costs.
To calculate how much your ticket will cost you multiply the amount of runners in each race, and then multiply that number by the base price of the wager. The example $0.20 Pick 4 ticket below is $4.80.
Leg 1: 3,4,5
Leg 2: 1,2
Leg 3: 4,6,8, 9
Leg 4: 6
(3x2x4x1 = 24) x $0.20 = $4.80
What's The Best Way to Play Horizontal Bets?
Constructing a multi-leg wager depends on how much a person wants to spend doing advance handicapping for the day.
If you have a strong opinion on a horse on the card, work a multi-leg wager around that horse.
Of course, if your strong opinion horse is one that will be heavily bet, say 3 to 5, he is a runner that everyone else will have on their ticket. You will be alive in the bet, but so will everyone else and that is who you are betting against.
It is not imperative to have a 'single' on your tickets, but it sure helps with the cost.
The chance of scooping up a good-sized payoff means you might want to build a ticket that is not going to be like the tickets of everyone else. Is a heavy favourite in one of the races vulnerable at the distance, the surface or off a layoff? Leave that horse off your ticket completely and take a stand on a horse at better odds.
Not only should you decide if you have a strong opinion on a race, you also might find a race that has many possible winners in which you may need to 'spread’ or use many horses. These races tend to be large fields on the grass or low-level maiden races with no distinct favourite in the field.
Again, how you put together a multi-leg wager goes by personal preference but if you are new to studying and handicapping the races, the less you spend, the less risk and, hopefully, the better the profit.
Two Pick 4's to Try this Long Weekend
Here are two Pick 4 wagers, one for Woodbine on July 2, and another for Fort Erie on July 3.
(Note: surface changes and scratches will affect these tickets).
Woodbine Pick 4 – July 2
Race 4: This is an optional claiming sprint for fillies and mares with a field of eight. It appears to be a wide-open event based on best recent Beyer Figures, class drops and other factors.
I will use (4) COLLECT DATT who is dropping in class and adding Lasix. She had a good second-place finish in her season debut on May 13. I will also include (5) SHEBATOWN, also dropping in class and returning to Tapeta and (8) HELLUVA HOLIDAY. The latter had no chance in her latest racing on the grass from behind a strong speed bias.
Race 5: This is an allowance/optional claiming race scheduled for one mile on the grass and it is a very large field. Before scratches there appears to be several runners who will be pushing the early pace so let's find the stalkers or closers.
(5) HALL OF DREAMS was second in the Breeders' Stakes last year in his only previous turf attempt. (6) QUIET SUNDAY came from miles behind to finish a good third in this first race of this year and (7) MO TOURIST tries grass for the first time and he is a full brother to a grass winner. Mo Tourist also had a very troubled return to the races on June 4 on the Tapeta.
Race 6: This is a maiden allowance race for fillies and first-time starters from the Josie Carroll barn must always be respected. Carroll sends out (1) TAG TEAM, a $400,000 purchase by top sire Curlin. In fact, Carroll also sends out (7) ATTABE, who has had seven chances to win her maiden already, but she was third in a stakes race two starts ago and then against a speed bias in her latest,
Race 7: Another big field on the grass so the plan is to use a few horses. The second and third leading trainers have good ones in here with Martin Drexler sending out (2) BANFF, a stakes winner, and (4) ARTIE for their first starts of the year. Trainer Kevin Attard has (3) HICKSY in super form right now. As a longshot, perhaps newcomer (7) DREAM SHAKE, who has been a stakes calibre horse in the past and had trouble in his 2023 opener, is worth a look.
$0.20 cent Pick 4: 4, 5, 8 / 5, 6, 7 / 1, 7 / 2, 3, 4, 7 - $14.40
Fort Erie Pick 4 – Monday, July 3
Race 2: A maiden special weight at six furlongs on the dirt and (2) LET'S SAY THIS makes his first start of the season for trainer Kevin Buttigieg who has won with an impressive six of his eight starters at the meeting so far. (3) BEYOND TALENTED ran very well in his first try at Fort Erie in a race like this one.
Race 3: This race is at 1 mile and 70 yards and not many of these guys are comfortable at route distances. (3) FOUR BOUNCE and (4) QUIET REBEL can handle the distance and the latter drops down in class for his first trip to Fort Erie. Longshot (1) THY KINGDOM is trying the long distance for the first time and his sire won the Kentucky Derby.
Race 4: Scheduled for the grass but there is rain in the forecast. On turf, (1) HADDASSAH'S DEVIL is a possibility although he may like the dirt better. (3) WILLIAM BOY won two grass races last year at Fort Erie and (5) REDOUTE'S LIGHT will be happy to get back on the grass.
Race 5: Trainer Richard Davis is winning at a 27 percent rate, and he holds a strong hand in this claiming race. He has (5) PRIVATE LAKE and (6) LOQUACIOUS ready for improve in their second starts of the season.
$0.20 cent Pick 4: 2, 3 / 1, 3, 4 / 1, 3, 5 / 5, 6 = $7.20
Good luck with your plays
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