The Track

Racetracks come in a variety of shapes and sizes. In the US they are generally ovals which are about 1.6km to 2.4km in length with a run-off from the main oval. The main track is usually made from dirt and usually fairly flat. Some courses will also have a grass track inside the main dirt one. In the US all races are run anti-clockwise round the track so if you are seated on the outside of the track, horses will come from your left at the finish.

In the UK racetracks are much more irregular than US ones and come in different shapes and sizes but there is usually a main oval section which the horses run round. Races are run clockwise or anti-clockwise depending on the course. The track is almost always grass but there are a few made from artificial fibre-sand. The track can consist of hills and banks which the horses have to negotiate.

There are rails around either side of the track to keep the horses on course and each track is divided into furlongs (200m) and poles will be situated around the track at furlong intervals so you can see how far the race has left to run. If you hear the commentator say there is 2 furlongs to the finish they really mean there is 400m left.

At some courses getting to know the track can be very important especially in the UK as different courses and a particular starting position can affect the outcome of the race considerably.

Betting at the Racetrack

Betting at the races is slightly different in the UK compared to the US due to the fact that bookmaking is illegal in the America. In the UK you have independent bookmakers and the Tote betting.

At a UK racecourse there are several different places you can place a bet and you are never very far away from one of them. In the silver ring and tattersalls there is a row of bookmakers stood in front of boards or electronic displays. Before every race they will display the horses names and the odds that they are offering. These bookmakers cater to gamblers betting smaller amounts.

Rails bookmakers are situated by the rail that separates tattersalls from the members' enclosure they do not have boards with odds on, they just note down the bets you make. They cater to gamblers betting larger amounts.

All other bets are placed at the Tote which is run by the racecourse itself, there will be lots of windows around the course where you are able to place your bets and they are easy to find. Often they are found inside the racecourse buildings. There will be large electronic boards and television screens displaying the Tote odds around the course.

In the US there is only Pari-mutuel betting so almost all bets are taken and all winnings received at the mutuel windows. These are situated around the course and as in the UK they are easy to find. Electronic boards and television screens will display the odds around the course. At some courses nowadays there are self-service and portable betting terminals. At self-service betting terminals (similar to an ATM) you put in your cash or winning ticket and select the bet you would like to make using a screen and the machine will print out your bet automatically. Portable betting terminals are similar but you deposit money at the start of the day and then use the hand-held device to place your bets during the day.