Show me the money!

Visit the statue of legendary race horse Refrigerator at the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame & Museum.

By C. Reid McLellan

That catch phrase from a popular sports movie can be applied to wagering on a horse race. The “baby” of straight bets, the show bet is the most conservative wager available at a racetrack. When you bet to show, you will collect the show payoff when your selection finishes anywhere in the top-three spots. Show payoffs are generally the lowest payoffs in a race, but, with three chances to win, there are more total show bets paid each day than any other wager.

The show bet is a good wager for beginners and a way for experienced players to enjoy a fun night at the races. Show betting helps players learn how to make a wager while affording the maximum likelihood of cashing a ticket. To place a show bet, go to any mutuel window and say “$2 to show on number 3,” then root for your selection to run first, second or third.

Experienced players sometimes use a “show parlay” as a way to pay for dinner. To play a show parlay, members of a group put up $5 or $10 each and wager that amount to show on a horse in the first race. If that selection runs at least third, the entire winnings are then bet to show on a selection in the second race. Some players like to use half of the “table bet” in the first race and the second half of the original bankroll to start a second show parlay in the second race, or wait until the sixth race and start a second parlay on the last five races.

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Either way, all winnings are bet on a horse to show in the next race. Once the winnings are enough to cover the cost of dinner, that parlay is cashed in and the dinner ticket paid. The second parlay can continue until the final race and might provide dinner money for a subsequent visit to the track. The best horses to use in a show parlay are one of the top two or three wagering choices as they tend to finish in the money 3/4 of the time. And, if someone at the table picks the right longshot for one of the show bets, everyone can order an extra dessert.

When is a good time for a show bet? Generally, a small ($5 or less) show bet is a good wager when the odds on a runner that you like are 10-1 or more. When the horse you like has odds that are between 3-1 and 10-1, a show bet can be a good “insurance bet” for a win bet. You might bet $2 win and $5 to show on your selection. (More aggressive players will use a $50 show bet to back up a $20 win bet on a horse that is between 3-1 and 10-1.) Show bets are more profitable when field size is large, preferably 8 or more.

The object of the horseracing game is to pick a horse, bet on that horse and win money. With more payoffs than any other wager, betting to show can be a fun way to achieve that objective.

As Executive Director of The Elite Program, C. Reid McLellan, Ph.D., organizes and teaches Groom, Owner and Trainer Elite classes around the country.

As owner and agent of Purple Power Equine Services, Reid helps people buy and sell race and show prospects and provides guidance and assistance with training, breeding and other equine services.

Looking for a great gift idea for a horse racing enthusiast? You can’t beat a subscription to The American Quarter Horse Racing Journal. The Racing Journal’s packed with important information to help you enjoy Quarter Horse racing.

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