Skip to site footer Menu WHAT'S ON THE EXPERIENCE THE RACING THE LIFESTYLE Your Basket will expire in minutes. HOW TO PLACE A BET THE TOTE FANCY A FLUTTER? While a day at the races doesn't have to include having a bet, for many racegoers it is all part of the experience. There are three basic ways you can place a bet on course. You can go down the traditional route with the bookmakers in one of the betting rings, try one of the on-site betting shops or test your luck on the Tote with totepool. Cash may be used when placing bets with the Tote and all on-course bookmakers at our Racecourses. Top tip: Pay a visit to the Parade Ring before placing your bets to assess which horse looks ready to go out and win! THE BOOKMAKERS This is perhaps the most common form of betting at the races; you’ll see the bookmakers with clear signs indicating their minimum bets alongside odds screens for the next race. Cash may be used when placing bets with all on-course bookmakers. All you need to do is pick your horse by its number, choose what stake you want to put down and what bet you want to place! If you want to go for a straight win, you might, for instance, say to the bookmaker “£5 on Number 3 please”. If you want to bet each way to increase your chances of winning, you could ask for “£5 each way on Number 3”, which means you’ll effectively be placing two bets on the same horse: £5 on it winning the race and £5 on it being placed. If it finishes first, you’ll be paid out on both bets. You can also find on-site betting shops which work just like your typical high-street betting shops do, so you can bet on anything. Always bet an amount you feel comfortable with. THE TOTE Unlike racecourse bookmakers who offer you odds – or prices – for betting on each horse in a race, the Tote offers you a pool bet. This means the money it receives from bets on a given race is pooled together and, like a lottery, shares this out among customers with winning tickets. The Tote has a minimum bet of just £2 and accepts cash and card across all courses making it one of the most convenient ways to place a bet on-course. There are six bet types available at every course, every day with the Tote; win, place, exacta, trifecta, quadpot and placepot. So there are lots of options if you fancy your horse to place, but not to win. Don’t worry, the friendly Tote team are always on hand to help with your selections or to answer any questions. Access to the Tote oncourse is via our own betting operation, Britbet. This company is owned by the Jockey Club along with the majority of other racecourses. By choosing to bet with the Tote, you can do so knowing that racing is benefiting too. READ MORE BETTING ONLINE WITH OUR OFFICIAL BETTING PARTNERS With Jockey Club Wi-Fi, you are able to access a range of betting partners to place an online bet. Sign up to see which bookmakers are partnering with us. WHAT IF I WIN? Congratulations! But don’t get carried away just yet – wait for the “Weighed in!” announcement that tells you the Jockeys have weighed in with their kit and saddle and the result of the race has been made official. Then you can go back to your bookmaker to hand over your ticket and collect your winnings. If you bet online, your account will automatically be credited with your winnings. Find out more about betting and picking a winner at racingexplained.co.uk. Remember to always bet an amount that you feel comfortable with. BETTING EXPLAINED ABOUT GROUP CONTACT SIGN UP TO OUR NEWSLETTER THE OFFICIAL PARTNERS OF THE JOCKEY CLUB Terms and Conditions Privacy Policy Cookies Policy Polices & statements Contact Media Careers Modern Slavery Act Gender Pay Gap © The Jockey Club 2021. All Rights Reserved. COOKIE POLICY We use “cookies” to help enhance your experience and improve the functionality of our website. You can find out more in our cookie policy. We also serve cookies, some with chocolate chips, on our racecourses. OK. GOT IT.