FIRST-TIMERS GUIDE

WHO RUNS THE TRACK?

The track is a business and is managed as such. Because of the pari-mutuel wagering system set up at all tracks, the track has no interest or stake in the outcome of a race. It is solely a venue to allow people to bet against each other on the horses. When bettors put money down on a race, the track takes a slice of the total money wagered, usually about 20 percent.  The remaining 80 percent is returned to bettors in the form of winnings. This percentage is much higher than those of state lotteries, which often remove 50 percent of the total money bet.  

Races are regulated by stewards, who are officials hired by the track or the state racing commission to objectively view races and make sure no fouls are committed.

WHA T IS A RACE PROGRAM AND HOW DO YOU READ IT?

Programs differ from track to track, but all are there to help you choose a horse on which to place a wager.  Use the program to evaluate a race and decide which horse you think would make the best bet. 

Every horse is assigned a program number. The program will always list each horse’s owner, trainer and jockey.  

The program also lists a brief pedigree. An example of one would be "Rare Jet - Native Parr by Heisanative (TB)." That means the horse's sire (father) is Rare Jet, his dam (mother) is Native Parr and his maternal grandsire is Heisanative (TB).  

In American Quarter Horse racing, the "TB" signifies a Thoroughbred horse. A Thoroughbred can be crossed with an American Quarter Horse to produce an appendix American Quarter Horse. These horses are allowed to compete in events just like a full-blooded American Quarter Horse. The program also lists their sex, either mare or filly (m./f.), stallion or colt (h./c.) or gelding (g.); colors such as chestnut (ch.), sorrel (s.), gray (gr.) and bay (b.); and their age. 

If a horse is using special equipment, such as blinkers, that will be noted. Blinkers are a piece of equipment put on the horse's head with special cups around the eyes. They block part of the horse's view, to both sides and to the rear, so he is better able to concentrate on racing.  

A horse using legal medications including Bute (phenylbutazone) or Salix (also known as "Lasix" or furosemide) also will have that noted. Bute is a mild pain reliever equivalent to human aspirin. Salix is used to prevent bleeding in the lungs, a condition called pulmonary edema, which can afflict a racehorse during intense physical exercise. 

Finally, many racetracks add past performances to the programs, where the horse's race history is detailed. Reading past performances can be intimidating to a newcomer, so seek out someone who is experienced or inquire with the track help desk.

HOW ARE ODDS MADE?

Odds are based on the amount of money wagered on a race. All odds are calculated based on the money bet on horses to win. A horse's individual odds result from taking the amount of win money bet on the individual horse, divided by the total amount bet on the race.  

A longshot, or a horse with high odds, will pay more money if it succeeds in finishing in the top three.  

Wagers in the other pools, such as place and show pools or exotics, do not affect the odds shown on the tote board.  

In addition, the morning line odds shown in the program do not affect the odds shown on the toteboard. These are only a prediction of how the track handicapper believes the public will wager. 

WHAT IS A RACEHORSE'S JOB?

Before a horse is allowed to race, it must be registered with the AQHA and must be given a permanent identifying tattoo on its upper lip. The tattoo is a combination of numbers and letters unique to that horse and is applied prior to the horse's first race. Before each race the number on the lip is checked with the official record to be sure they match.  

Horses train in the mornings to get in shape for races. Sometimes they are just jogged or galloped around the track. Other times they are sent to workout, which is when the horse is exercised at racing speed for a certain distance. The workouts are recorded for you to read and use in making wagering decisions  

Each race pits horses against each other for a set amount of purse money. Most horses live on the backside, or barns located near the track. Sometimes they ship in from other places, such as farms or other racetracks. At a scheduled time before their race, horses are walked to the paddock. This is the area where they are saddled in preparation for the race. Once they are saddled, the jockeys mount and the horses are led out onto the track. Once there, they are paraded before the stands and given a chance to warm up.  This is called the “post parade”. Horses are then led to post, or starting gate. At post time, the gates open and the horses run the race.  The winner takes a trip to the winner’s circle for a photo.  After the official results are posted on the tote board, bettors can collect their winnings and horses are returned to the barns where they are cooled and bathed.  

Immediately after a race, the top three finishers are taken to a test barn, where veterinarians collect urine and blood samples from them to test for prohibited medications.