DO THE JOCKEYS OWN THE HORSES?

Jockeys are free agents and are hired on a race-by-race basis. They are not allowed to own horses they ride. They are paid by the horse's owner for each race they ride. In addition, if they win a race, they are entitled to a percentage of the purse money (usually 10 percent).  

Jockeys often help exercise and train horses in the mornings, as well as ride them in the actual races.  

Often a jockey will consistently ride one trainer's horses with success. A smart handicapper looks for these pairings as they can be a good way to find a winner.

WHY DO JOCKEYS WHIP THE HORSES?

The jockey's whip or "stick" is a communication tool with many uses. Its primary purpose is to encourage the horse to give his best. It also is used to tell the horse when to accelerate and to keep the horse running in a straight line.  In many instances the stick never touches the horse. Just seeing the stick or feeling a gentle nudge helps a horse keep his mind on racing.

The stick is designed so it doesn't hurt the horse. It is made of leather and is flexible. Track stewards monitor the race carefully and watch to see if a jockey is using a stick excessively 

WHY SHOULD I BET?

Wagering can range from a casual $2 bet to a more complex one involving multiple horses. The wagering system at the track is called a pari-mutuel wagering system. This means that wagers are made against fellow bettors, never the house. Betting is a fun, and oftentimes profitable way to enjoy racing.   Choosing a horse and backing him in a race helps you become more involved in the racing experience.

WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT KINDS OF WAGERS?

There are three basic types of wagers. The first is a “win” wager. This means you choose the horse that you think will finish first. You also can make a “place” wager, where if the horse you choose runs first or second, you get money back. A “show” wager pays you back if your horse runs first, second or third. When you make place or show wagers, you have a greater chance of winning, but the payouts are usually less.  

Placing complex bets, called exotic wagering, involves multiple bets on multiple horses. This includes exacta, trifecta and superfecta wagering, as well as multi-race wagers such as a daily double or pick-6.

HOW DO I CHOOSE A HORSE?

There are as many ways to pick a horse as there are bettors. Many bettors, especially newcomers, like to choose based on a horse's color, looks, or use a special combination of the program numbers. Often, more experienced race goers do what is called handicapping. They look at the horse's past performance as a puzzle and piece together the race conditions, breeding and other factors to choose the horse they think is most likely to win.  

If you are interested in learning more about handicapping, there are many excellent guidebooks. In addition, tracks often hold informative seminars or sell tip sheets that feature betting advice from experienced handicappers. Once you make your choice, you can visit a mutual teller or use an automated wagering machine to place your bet electronically.