Horse Racing Venues

Thoroughbred Racing:

Arizona:

• Turf Paradise, Phoenix, Arizona
• Yavapai Downs, Prescott Valley, Arizona

Arkansas:

• Oaklawn Park, Hot Springs, Arkansas

California:

Santa Anita Park racecourse:

• Bay Meadows, San Mateo, California
• California Association of Racing Fairs, (Various fair meetings across Northern California)
• Golden Gate Fields, Albany, California
• Del Mar Racetrack, Del Mar, California
• Fairplex, Pomona, California
• Hollywood Park Racetrack, Inglewood, California
• Los Alamitos, Los Alamitos, California
• Oak Tree Racing Association, Arcadia, California (ran at Santa Anita each October)
• Santa Anita Park, Arcadia, California

Colorado:

• Arapahoe Park, Aurora

Delaware:

• Delaware Park, Wilmington, Delaware

Florida:

• Calder Race Course, Miami Gardens, Florida
• Gulfstream Park, Hallandale Beach, Florida
• Tampa Bay Downs, Tampa, Florida
• Florida State Track, Debary, Florida

Illinois:

• Arlington Park, Arlington Heights, Illinois
• Fairmount Park, Collinsville, Illinois
• Hawthorne Race Course, Cicero, Illinois

Indiana:

• Hoosier Park, Anderson, Indiana
• Indiana Downs, Shelbyville, Indiana

Iowa:

• Prairie Meadows, Altoona, Iowa

Kentucky:

• Churchill Downs, Louisville, Kentucky (site of Kentucky Derby)
• Ellis Park Racecourse, Henderson, Kentucky
• Keeneland Race Course, Lexington, Kentucky
• Kentucky Downs, Franklin, Kentucky
• Turfway Park, Florence, Kentucky

Louisiana:

• Delta Downs, Vinton, Louisiana
• Evangeline Downs, Lafayette, Louisiana
• Fair Grounds, New Orleans, Louisiana
• Louisiana Downs, Bossier City, Louisiana

Maryland:

• Laurel Park, Laurel, Maryland
• Pimlico Race Course, Baltimore, Maryland (site of Preakness Stakes)
• Bowie Race Track, Bowie, Maryland (now closed)
• Maryland State Fairgrounds, Timonium, Maryland (Only held during fair)

Massachusetts:

• Suffolk Downs, East Boston, Massachusetts

Michigan:

• Great Lakes Downs, Muskegon, Michigan

Minnesota:

• Canterbury Park, Shakopee, Minnesota

Nebraska:

• Columbus Races, Columbus, Nebraska
• Fonner Park, Grand Island, Nebraska
• Horsemen's Park, Omaha, Nebraska
• Nebraska State Fair, Lincoln, Nebraska

New Jersey:

• Meadowlands Racetrack, East Rutherford, New Jersey
• Monmouth Park, Oceanport, New Jersey
• Atlantic City Race Course, Mays Landing, New Jersey

New Mexico:

• Albuquerque Downs, Albuquerque, New Mexico
• Ruidoso Downs, Ruidoso Downs, New Mexico
• Sunland Park, Sunland Park, New Mexico
• SunRay Gaming, Farmington, New Mexico
• Zia Park, Hobbs, New Mexico

New York:

• Aqueduct Racetrack, New York City
• Belmont Park, Elmont, New York (site of Belmont Stakes)
• Finger Lakes Race Track, Canandaigua, New York
• Saratoga Race Course, Saratoga Springs, New York

North Dakota:

• North Dakota Horse Park, Fargo, North Dakota

Ohio:

• Beulah Park, Grove City, Ohio
• River Downs, Cincinnati, Ohio
• Thistledown, North Randall, Ohio
• Toledo Raceway Park, Toledo, Ohio

Oklahoma:

• Blue Ribbon Downs, Sallisaw, Oklahoma
• Fair Meadows, Tulsa, Oklahoma
• Remington Park, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Oregon:

• Portland Meadows, Portland, Oregon

Pennsylvania:

• Penn National, Grantville, Pennsylvania
• Philadelphia Park, Bensalem, Pennsylvania
• Presque Isle Downs, Erie, Pennsylvania

Texas:

• Lone Star Park, Grand Prairie, Texas
• Retama Park, San Antonio, Texas
• Sam Houston Race Park, Houston, Texas

Virginia:

• Colonial Downs, New Kent County, Virginia

Washington:

• Emerald Downs, Auburn, Washington

West Virginia:

• Charles Town Races & Slots, Charles Town, West Virginia
• Mountaineer Race Track & Gaming Resort, Chester, West Virginia

Wyoming:

• Wyoming Downs, Evanston, Wyoming

Harness racing:

• Monticello Raceway, Sullivan County, New York
• Tioga Downs, Nichols, New York
• The Meadows, Meadow Lands, Pennsylvania
• Meadowlands Racetrack, East Rutherford, New Jersey
• The Red Mile, Lexington, Kentucky
• Vernon Downs Racetrack, Verona, New York
• Yonkers Raceway, Yonkers, New York
• Saratoga Gaming & Raceway, Saratoga Springs, New York
• Maywood Park, Chicago, Illinois
• Pompano Park, Florida
• Lebanon Raceway, Lebanon, Ohio
• Freehold Raceway, Freehold Borough, New Jersey
• Indiana Downs, Shelbyville, Indiana (also conducts Thoroughbred and quarter horse racing)
• Hoosier Park, Anderson, Indiana (also conducts Thoroughbred racing)
• Hawthorne Race Course, Chicago, Illinois (also conducts Thoroughbred racing)
• Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs, Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania
• Harrah's Chester Racetrack and Casino, Chester, Pennsylvania
• Dover Downs, Dover, Delaware
• Harrington Raceway and Midway Slots, Harrington, Delaware
• Ocean Downs, Ocean City, Maryland
• Rosecroft Raceway, Oxon Hill, Maryland
• Historic Track, Goshen, New York (summer dates only - non-wagering)
• Scioto Downs, Columbus, Ohio
• Raceway Park, Toledo, Ohio
• Plainridge Raceway, Plainville, Massachusetts
• Rockingham Park, Salem, New Hampshire also conducts limited thoroughbred racing.

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Online Horse Racing Betting Rules

Horse Racing accept only those types of wagers offered by the various racetracks in their official programs. This means that if Horse Racing happen to offer a wager, for any reason, which is not being offered by any racetrack, any such wager taken will be deemed to be no action (invalid). In such an event, WagerWeb will provide a refund.

• For online wagers the only ones accepted are those involving the running of thoroughbreds and standard breeds.
  
  
• The required minimum is of $2.00 on any online horse race wager.
  
  
• Online maximum accepted is $200.00 on any exotic wager i.e., Daily Double, Exacta, $50 Trifecta, Pick 3 and Pick 4. When you place a wager by phone, The wagering process is similar to that covered in online wagering. Again, you must be aware of the types of horse race bets, and the following betting rules.
  
  
• All types of wagers on horse races are accepted by phone; which consistent of the above Rule 1. Concerning wagers made online.
  
  
• All wagers involving the running of thoroughbreds and selected harness horses are accepted by phone.
  
  
• It is required; a minimum $2.00 on any horse race wager made by phone and you will be required to wager at least $20.00 during the call.
  
  
• The maximum accepted is of $1000.00 on any Win, Place or Show wager made by phone.
  
  
• Horse Racing will close off all online wagering two full minutes prior to the scheduled post time. The official Daily Racing Form off-times shall be use to grade the races and determine official payouts.
  
  
• After a final official result has been made known, Horse Racing will cancel any and all wagers made online after the official off time even if the customer gets the final confirmation number. WagerWeb has the right to cancel the wager and refund the amount wagered.
  
  
• For Quarter Horse Racing the customer must place his bet at least 2 min. before the start of the race.
  
  
• In the event that Horse Racing pay out a wager based on an incorrect post-time or off-time (technical or clerical error), Horse Racing have the right to correct the error.
  
  
• In all events that a winning horse`s name corresponds with the official record, Horse Racing will pay out the wager made on the subject horse. In the event that the horse`s name does not correspond with the official record, WagerWeb reserves the right to hold back a payout, pending a review.
  
  
• Occasionally a player places a wager based solely on a horse`s number. The number, in fact, may not be correct due to late scratches, a misprint in a racetrack`s program, or other related reasons. It is the player`s responsibility to verify the horse`s name.
  
  
• Once wagers are confirmed Horse Racing cannot change or void a confirmed wager.
  
  
• Horse Racing cannot be held responsible for any wagers that do not get in for any reason.
  
  
• Wagers are accepted by saddlecloth number.
  
  
• When you wager on a horse that is coupled, you receive all horses running under stated number.
  
  
• When wagering on a horse that is part of a field you receive all horses in said field.
  
  

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Terminology of Horse Betting

The racetrack, like any other sport, has developed its own language over the years. If the phrase `betting a monkey on the accumulator` leaves you staring blankly into space spend a few minutes catching up on the terms below:

Accumulator: Placing a double bet where the winnings for the first race are used as the stake on the second.

Allowance: When a rider is inexperienced the horse is given a weight concession to compensate.

All Weather Racing: racing that takes place on an artificial surface Amateur (rider): if a rider is an amateur when their name is written down, for example on race cards, they are prefixed by Mr, Mrs, etc.

Ante-Post: placing a bet during a period in advance of the date of a race, although not including the date itself.

Apprentice: a trainee jockey apprenticed to a licensed trainer - usually by annual contract. An apprentice will generally ride only flat races.

Backward: Describes a horse that is either too young or not fully fit.

Clerk of the course: The person in overall charge of running the race

Colours: refers to the silk shirts worn by the jockeys. Each trainer/jockey will have their own colours.

Colt: ungelded, male horse up to four years old.

Conditional Jockey: Same as apprentice but it also allowed to jump.

Connections: usually refers to the owner and trainer of a horse, but also applies generally to anyone involved.

Course Specialist: a horse which is used to a track, and has either won or made good time on previous races.

Distance: can refer either to a) the length of a race; or b) the distance by which a horse has won or is beaten by a horse in front that has won.

Distance, the: an unmarked placing 240 yards from the winning post.

Draw: refers to a horse`s placing in the starting stalls. For flat racing only. Stall numbers are drawn at random.

Even Money or Evens: or 1:1 bet. When your stake brings equal winnings - for example £10 evens wins £10

Filly: female horse up to four years old.

Foal: In racing the term foal is more complicated than simply a `baby` horse. It usually refers to either a male or female horse from birth to January 1st of the following year.

Furlong: 220 yards

Gelding: a male horse that has been castrated.

Going: describes the condition of the racecourse. Ranks as: heavy - soft - good to soft - good - good to firm -firm.

Green: refers to an inexperienced horse.

Hand: unit in which a horse`s height is measured, at the shoulder. A hand is four inches

Handicap: A race where each horse is allocated a different weight to carry, the theory being all horses then run on a fair and equal basis

Jolly: the favourite in a race

Judge: the official who determines the finishing order of a race.

Juvenile: two-year-old horse.

Maiden: a horse that has not won a race. Mare: female horse over five years old.

Monkey: £500.

Nursery: A handicap for two year old horses

Objection: a complaint by a jockey against another.

Odds On: betting odds where the winnings are less than the stake.

Off the bit/Off the bridle: describes a horse being pushed and losing contact with the bit in its mouth.

On the bit/On the bridle: describes a horse pushing himself, still having a bite on the bit.

Open Ditch: steeplechase jump with a ditch on the side facing the jockey.

Over the Top: when a horse is considered to have hit its peak for that season.

Penalty: a weight added to the handicap weight of a horse

Photo Finish: a photo is automatically taken as the horses pass the winning line and when the race is too close to be judged the photo is referred to

Plate: racing shoe worn by a horse Pony: £25.

Racecard: a programme for the day`s racing.

Run Free: a horse going too fast

Schooled: a horse trained for jumping

Scope: the potential in a horse.

Selling Race: A race where the winner is sold by auction immediately afterwards

Short runner: a horse who barely stays, or doesn`t stay, the full distance of a race.

Sire: father of a horse.

Spread a plate: when a horse loses a shoe SP/Starting Price: an estimation of odds available when the race starts.

Stewards: the group of people (usually 4) who make sure the rules are adhered to.

Stewards Enquiry: an enquiry by the stewards into a race. Tic-Tac: the hand signals, or sign language, used by bookmakers to converse with eachother.

Under Starters Orders or Under Orders: refers to the starting of a race. They`re off refers to the horses leaving the stalls. Walkover: a race involving only one horse and jockey.

Weigh In / Weigh Out: where a jockey is weighed to make sure he is the required and stated weight.

Yearling: a horse of either sex during 1 January to 31 December following the year of its birth.

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Types Of Horse Racing

There are two main types of horse races: National Hunt Races and Flat Races.

National Hunt Races
National Hunt Races involve jumping over obstacles such as fences and water ditches and are held during the National Hunt Season of mid-October to the end of April.

National Hunt Races are broadly divided into steeplechases and hurdle races. Steeplechases are races run over 2-4½ miles with fixed fences at least 4½ ft high, and Hurdle Races are run over 2-3½ miles with smaller, less rigid jumps of at least 3½ ft high that easily collapse. National Hunt Races include the Grand National and the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Flat Races
Flat Races involve no jumping over obstacles and tend to be shorter in distance than National Hunt Races. Flat Races are held during the Flat Season of March to November. Flat Races include the "five classics" of the 1,000 and 2,000 Guineas, the Derby, the St Leger and the Epsom Oaks.

Handicap and Non-Handicap Races
Races can be handicap or non-handicap races. In a handicap race the better horses are required to carry extra weight so that all horses have, in theory, an equal chance of winning. In a non-handicap race the better horses are not required to carry additional weight.

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Information about Horse Racing and Betting

There is a lot of appeal in the access that online horse racing betting gives a punter to information, statistics, race conditions because these are the main factors that will be used to assess the probability of a horse’s chance of success.

It’s a lot easier and user-friendlier to be able to search for this information online than it is to thumb through a newspaper, which can only really improve you horse racing betting experience.

Track side betting is one of the most popular forms of gambling, with people still turning out in droves to watch the races and place a wager on their favourite horse. But this popularity is not stopping horse racing betting from joining the online gambling boom and taking some of the business away from the bookkeepers and horse racing betting establishments.

It helps that most horse racing betting sites guarantee to exceed their land based counterparts, their lower margin helps to keep the returns higher for punters.

By horse racing betting from the comfort of your own home, in front of your own computer you are only going to improve your chances of a win, because you are going to be more likely to make a solid selection.

This is because you are more likely to make your selection based on statistical trends than a hunch and you are less likely to get caught up in the excitement of the horse racing betting moment and over reach yourself financially.

The information that you will have access to online is going to be the most recently updated, which is of particular importance when you are comparing the alternative, Friday selections printed before noon for the papers can’t take into account the effect an overnight storm will have on those tracks for the Saturday races and this could seriously affect your horse racing betting.

There are heaps of additional features on the horse racing betting websites that are springing up all over the Internet. You can subscribe to informative newsletters that will give you tips and information about strategy and horse racing betting systems. There are glossaries and articles to read if you are new to horse racing betting or perhaps just new to the online phenomenon. There are even forums and email addresses that you can address your horse racing betting questions to.

But perhaps one of the most incredible and intriguing aspects of the online horse racing betting development is the growth of virtual horse racing betting sites. These are websites that deal only with virtual horses and races, they don’t really exist but people are horse racing betting with them anyway.

There are two main sites online to check out Raceclubs and Digiturf, and it could be worth a look because the concept is fascinating. Each member is the owner of a virtual horse racing stable and owns as many virtual horses as they want, which can then be involved in horse racing betting. The detail of the world is extraordinary; it even extends to designing your own silks and running time trials with you virtual horses to make sure that they are fit to race. The racing may be ‘virtual’ but the horse racing betting is real and there are thousands of dollars of prize money involved.

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