This past weekend I made all but one of my wagers using the SAM automated betting machines. I found that it’s easier to make multiple wagers and more exotic wagers using the machine rather than telling someone at the betting window. Say for instance, if you want to make a pick 4 with a combination in one of the races (2, 4, 6/7, 10). In this example I picked 6 or 7 to win in the 3rd race. This will increase the cost of your wager, but also increases your odds of winning. I do this only when I’m not sure of the outcome of one or more of the races. I would recommend going to the track early or on a day when its not too crowded to practice using the machines.
Even though most tracks have a $2 minimum bet, you want to bet at least $5 in order to get a better return. I will typically bet $5 exactas and $2 trifectas. Winning one or two of these bets will often cover your wagers for the entire day. Take advantage of the better payouts on pick 3’s and pick 4’s. It doesn’t cost too much to take a chance on a big return. It also pays to take a chance on a long shot once in a while. The favorites only win about 40% of the time.
Decide how much you want to bet on each race and stick to your budget. On races that you are more sure of, make bets that don’t conflict. For example, bet a 1/2 exacta, a 1/2/4 trifecta, and a 1/2/4/7 superfecta. That way, if you hit the superfecta, all of your bets are winners. On the other hand, if you are not sure of the outcome, stay with box bets or try different exacta combos.
-LD