Going to the track can be a lot of fun and, if lucky, profitable. But many people at the track have little to no idea on how to bet. It's an entirely different language to them. They look quizzically at a racing program or listen to the talk around or at the windows and are intimidated but what they hear or see. The words, like Quinella or Superfecta, sound funny and make little sense to the non-horse bettor but once you understand what they mean the more enjoyment can be had at the track.

Horse Racing Betting Terms

- Win Bet: When placing a win bet on a horse you are betting on the horse to win the race. If they win, you win the bet.

- Place Bet: This is betting on a horse to finish no worse than second. If the horse finishes first or second you win the bet.

- Show Bet: Want to bet on a horse that finishes no worse than third then place a show bet. If your horse places first, second or third you win the bet. And very little money.

- Daily Double: This is two win bets on two different races. Many times this is held prior to the first two races of the day and not held again. You must place a win bet on each race before the first race is run. For example, if the Daily Double is run on Race #1 and Race #2 you must pick the winners of the first two before Race #1.

- Exacta/Perfecta: Pick the exact order of the first two horses. Who will win and who will finish second.

- Quinella: Like an Exacta but the two horses can finish first or second in either order.

- Trifecta: This is taking the Exacta one step further and betting on which horses will finish in the exact order of first, second and third.

- Superfecta: Pick the first four places of finish in exact order.

- Pick 6: Feeling lucky, pick the winners of six consecutive races.

The Betting Verbage

You've figured out the bet you want to make but haven't figured out how to convey that bet to the person behind the betting window. It is a foreign language. Remember the amount of the bet, the type of bet and the horse's numbers that you are betting on. For example: $2 to win on number 3 or $2 trifecta on 2. 4. 7. Asking help from a friend or even someone in line, if you're not sure, will keep those behind you from screaming.

There's plenty more about racing beyond knowing the bets and not making an ass of yourself at the window, we'll look at those in other articles.