TORONTO — By Chris Lomon
The King’s Plate is the biggest horse racing betting event in Canada, which provides novice bettors a great opportunity to place their first wager on horse racing.
Remember, you can make a bet on any horse that catches your eye – be it the horse’s name, the color of the jockey’s silks, your lucky number, etc.
But if you want to increase your odds of winning, looking at seasoned handicapper’s picks and explanations as to why they like a particular horse or horses, is a good idea.
Coming up with a pre-wagering game plan is your best bet, pun intended.
Basic Bets for Beginners
The most common ways to bet on The King’s Plate are through Win, Place, and Show wagers.
These bets are typically lower risk and are the easiest to understand, making them the best options for new bettors.
Win – Horse finishes 1st
The Win bet is where you wager on the outright winner of the race. It is the most popular and simplest betting market.
Place – Horse finishes 1st or 2nd
The Place bet is where you bet on a horse to finish in one of the top two spots.
Show – Horse finishes 1st, 2nd or 3rd
The Show bet is where you wager on a horse who think will finish in one of the top three spots.
If you are feeling a little more adventurous and want to chase a bigger payout, here are a trio of wagers that you can explore.
Exacta
An Exacta bet requires you to select the first two horses in the correct order. You must pick the first and second horse as they cross the finish line. It’s a more difficult wager than the Place but it pays out more if you hit it.
Trifecta
With a Trifecta bet, you select the three horses who finish in 1st, 2nd, and 3rd in the correct order. It’s a tougher bet to net, but payouts are typically big as a result.
Superfecta
Although this is wager more geared towards established bettors – you are tasked with picking the first four horses in the correct order – hitting it can provide huge payouts.
Good luck with your King’s Plate wagers. Hopefully, they deliver a king’s ransom!