Guide to Betting
Having a bet on harness racing can be a lot of fun and it is exciting cheering home your selection.
This guide to betting and bet types is designed to simplify the process as much as possible.
For more information on betting, visit the TAB website.
All / Up Poker
Big Race Pack
Double
Final Field Top3
First4
Fixed Odds
Futures
Head-To-head (Racing)
Percentage Betting
Pick6
Place6
Quinella
Treble
Trifecta
Win / Place / Eachway
All Up / Poker
All-Up: Is a means of reinvesting the outcome of one race onto another. Select between two and six races at the same meeting. You can place a Win, Place, or Quinella bet. Dividends are automatically reinvested into your next wager. All your selections must come in for your ticket to be a winner.
Poker: Is an exciting variation selling a number of All-Up bets on a single ticket. With a Poker bet if your picks are correct in any two races you will get a dividend. The use of the Joker is also available.
To place an All Up or Poker bet navigate to your chosen racing meeting then select ‘All Up’ from the bet types at the top of the racecard. Once you have selected ‘All Up’ then you can navigate between races to make your selections, note your races do not have to be in sequential order. Make your selections in a minimum of two races, one bet type per race. Your selections will be added to the betslip. You can set your stake and place your bet. Once you have a minimum of 3 races you will be offered the ‘Poker’ bet type, this is a checkbox on the betslip.
Big Race Pack
The Big Race Pack is available on all races online in nine values between $10 and $90. Pick one, two or three horses from any one race and you will get a combination of bets with your selected runner/s.
What you'll get in each Big Race Pack:
1 runner
$10: $3 Each-Way ($6.00) + $1 Quinella ($1) + 50c Boxed Trifecta ($3)
$20: $5 Each-Way ($10) + $5 Boxed % Trifecta ($5) + $5 % First4 ($5)
$50: $10 Each-Way ($20) + $15 Boxed % Trifecta ($15) + $15 % First4 ($15)
2 runners
$16: $3 Each-Way on both runners ($12) + $1 Quinella ($1) + 50c Boxed Trifecta ($3)
$30: $5 Each-Way on both runners ($20) + $5 Boxed % Trifecta ($5) + $5 % First4 ($5)
$70: $10 Each-Way on both runners ($40) + $15 Boxed % Trifecta ($15) + $15 % First4 ($15)
3 runners
$24: $3 Each-Way on all three runners ($18) + $3 Boxed Quinella ($3) + 50c Boxed Trifecta ($3)
$40: $5 Each-Way on all three runners ($30) + $5 Boxed % Trifecta ($5) + $5 % First4 ($5)
$90: $10 Each-Way on all three runners ($60) + $15 Boxed % Trifecta ($15) + $15 % First4 ($15)
Double
A Double requires the selection of the winners of two separate races at one meeting as nominated by the TAB. Each race is referred to as a ‘leg’ of the Double. Betting on Doubles closes when the first leg starts. A concession is also offered on Doubles. The ‘Concession Double’ is paid when your selections win the first leg and come second in the other.
Final Field Top3
This is a Fixed Odds Place bet. You get the fixed amount* if your selection finishes in the top three. Any Final Field Top3 bet will pay even if there are less than eight race starters due to scratchings.
When available, Final Field Top3 odds will be displayed alongside other Fixed and Tote odds. It will typically be identified as FF Place, F-Plc or Fixed Place. Final Field Top3 betting opens the same time as Final Field Win betting.
*Deductions apply: If your runner in a Final Field Top3 bet is scratched you'll get a refund after the race results. Winning bets placed prior to any scratching will be subject to a deduction.
For details on the deduction formula please refer to the TAB Betting Rules.
First4
First4 betting involves selecting the first four runners in the correct order in a race. You can either choose which order they will finish in or place a Boxed First4 which would allow them to finish in any order.
You can select as many runners as you want in a Boxed First4. It takes 24 bets to cover 4 runners, 120 bets to cover 5 runners and so on. Dead Heat rules apply.
Minimum field size for First4 betting: There needs to be at least four runners left in a race for a First4 bet to remain valid. If there are less than four runners all First4 bets will be refunded.
Minimum Bet: The minimum amount for a First4 bet is $1, or for percentage betting a minimum of 5%.
Scratchings: If one of the picks in your First4 bet is scratched (withdrawn) from a race, any First4 permutation that included the scratching will be refunded when the race is resulted.
Abandonment: Any First4 bet made on a race that is later Abandoned will be refunded.
Jackpots: A First4 bet can become very attractive if there is a Jackpot from the previous First4.
Roving Banker First4: A Roving Banker "RB" First4 is a strategy for placing a First4 bet where one selection (the Roving Banker) must run a place. The RB First4 bet comes out on three separate tickets: one ticket with your RB for 1st and your other runners for 2nd, 3rd and 4th, one with your RB to come 2nd with your other runners for 1st, 3rd and 4th, and one with your RB to come 3rd with your other runners for 1st, 2nd and 4th. A RB First4 can minimise the cost of placing a bet as it decreases the amount of combinations.
Fixed Odds
A Fixed Odds bet is when your dividend is fixed at the odds when you placed your bet. Fixed Odds racing bets can be Final Field, Futures or Specials (see below).
Final Field - a fixed odds bet that is placed after Final Acceptances have been taken. Scratched runners will be refunded and winning bets placed prior to a scratching may be subject to a deduction.
Futures - a fixed odds bet that is placed prior to Final Acceptances being taken. Futures bets are "All In" which means that there are no refunds for scratchings.
Specials - Head-to-Head, Jockey Challenge, Driver Challenge, Rug Challenge etc.
Futures
A Futures bet allows you to bet on an event which is still some time away.
Futures options are open prior to the final field being confirmed. Betting will be available for runners which have either been nominated, or are likely to be nominated for the race, however they may not actually take part in it. To place a bet on a Futures bet navigate to Racing > select “Racing Futures” from the left hand navigation.
Availability: These betting markets will close just before the final field is due to be released. Once the field is known, the Final Field betting market will become available in place of the Futures market. The betting market is also likely to be suspended on days that named runners are racing. Once these races are completed the market will be re-priced (if applicable) and betting reopened.
Pros and Cons: The advantage to taking a Futures bet is that as your runner is not a certainty to race you receive better odds than if you waited to take a bet in the Final Field market.
There are risks involved with betting on Futures events. It is an ‘all in’ event, meaning that if your runner does not take part in the race there are no refunds of your bet.
Head to Head (Racing)
Two horses are chosen in a race and the first horse home is the winner. If one runner is scratched the option is refunded.
Percentage Betting
Percentage betting allows you to spend a specific amount in return for a percentage of the dividend of a Trifecta, First4, Treble, Quaddie, Pick6, Place6 or Boxed Multi,
Instead of betting in $1 or 50-cent units, you can bet any amount you like over $1 (provided the minimum bet unit is 5%). Where there is percentage betting allowed, two stake boxes will be offered ’stake per combo’ and ‘total stake’. By using the total stake box you just need to specify the amount you wish to spend and we will show you the minimum percentage amount. Or you can use the stake per combo to specify the percentage amount you wish to stake per combination, we will then adjust your total stake amount accordingly.
Pick6
Pick6 challenges you to pick the winners of six (usually consecutive) races. If your picks win all six races then you win your share of the Pick6 dividend.
Minimum Bet: The minimum amount for a Pick6 bet is $2 or a minimum of 5% for percentage betting. But Pick6 uses a 50cent unit instead of the $1 unit of other bet types.
Scratchings: If one of your picks is scratched (withdrawn) from a Pick6 race, your bet will be transferred on to the Sub (substitute) for that race. The Sub is the runner with the most money bet to win on it, another name for the Sub is the Tote favourite. If you already have the Sub on your ticket then you can win the Pick6 multiple times.
Dead Heat: Should there be a dead heat for 1st in any Pick6 race, then both runners involved in the dead heat will be winners but only one Pick6 dividend will be declared, hence Pick6 winners with either runner involved in the dead heat will share in the SAME Pick6 dividend.
Abandonment: Should any Pick6 race be Abandoned before the scheduled start time of the first Pick6 leg then all Pick6 bets will be refunded. Should any one, two or three Pick6 legs be abandoned after the scheduled start time of the first Pick6 race then all runners in such races will be deemed winners for the purpose of calculating the Pick6 Dividend. If any four, any five or all six Pick6 legs are abandoned then all Pick6 bets will be refunded.
Turbo Pick6: A Turbo Pick6 operates across six races that have usually been chosen because they are timed to start very close together. In order to achieve Pick6 races that are run very close together Turbo Pick6s will include races from more than one venue.
Place6
Place6 requires the selection of the dividend bearing place getters of six races at a nominated meeting. When available, it can be found in the betting options section above the race card.
Place6 Schedule: Place6 will operate on every New Zealand meeting and selected overseas feature meetings.
Dividend: There is one dividend for Place6. If you have several winning combinations, you can win the dividend several times.
Scratchings: If one of your picks is scratched (withdrawn) from a Place6 race, your bet will be transferred to the Sub (substitute) for that race. The Sub is the runner with the most money bet to Win on it, another name for the Sub is the Tote favourite.
Place6 Percentage betting: For Place6, the full unit bet is $1 and the minimum Percentage bet is 5% you can make several selections per race allowing you to win the dividend several times.
Field size: For races with eight or more starters there are three place dividends. For races with five to seven starters there are two place dividends. If less than five starters, there will be no Place pool. In this case, all runners in that race will be deemed winners for Place6.
Quinella
A Quinella bet is where you pick two runners to finish first and second. Quinella bets can be boxed or banker (also known as anchor).
Boxed Quinella: Your selections can finish either first or second. Pick the 3,4,5 or more runners that you like and by boxing them, you buy all the possible combinations of any of those runners coming first and second. The more runners you pick the greater the cost e.g. 3 runners Boxed = $3, 4 runners = $6, 5 runners = $10.
Banker Quinella: Also known as Anchor or Standout. You Pick one runner that you like to run either first or second and make this runner your selected banker. Your bet is taken with a group of other runners and you cover all combinations of your banker with this group of runners. It is possible for the banker to be more than one runner.
Treble
A Treble requires the selection of the winners of three separate races at one meeting as nominated by the TAB. Each race is referred to as a leg of the Treble. Betting on Trebles close when the first leg starts. Easybet and Percentage Betting are both available for this bet type.
Minimum Bet: The minimum amount for a Treble bet is $1, or minimum 5% for percentage betting.
Scratchings: If one of your picks is scratched (withdrawn) from a Treble leg, your bet will be transferred to the Sub (substitute) for that race. The Sub is the runner with the most money bet to Win on it, another name for the Sub is the Tote favourite. If you already have the Sub on your ticket then you can win the Treble multiple times.
Dead Heat: Should there be a dead heat for first in any Trebe leg, Treble dividends will be declared for all runners involved in the dead heat(s) - these dividends will usually be less than what they would have been without the dead heat(s).
Abandonment: Should any Treble leg be Abandoned BEFORE the scheduled start time of the first Treble leg then all Treble bets will be refunded. Should any one, two or three Treble legs be Abandoned AFTER the scheduled start time for the first Treble leg then all runners in such races will be deemed winners for the purpose of calculating the Treble Dividend. If all three Treble races are abandoned then all Treble bets will be refunded.
Trifecta
Trifecta betting involves picking the first three runners in the correct order in a race. You will need to pick at least three runners in order to make a valid Trifecta bet.
Standard Trifecta: This involved picking the top three finishes in the correct order (1-2-3) by selecting one horse to win, one to place second and one to finish third.
Boxed Trifecta: The easiest and most popular way to take a Trifecta. Add three or more selections and by boxing them you buy all the possible combinations of any three of them coming 1st, 2nd and 3rd. The more runners you pick the greater the cost e.g. 3 runners Boxed = $6, 4 runners = $24, 5 runners= $60 at $1 per combination.
Take a Standout Trifecta by choosing a standout for any of the three positions. eg. if you like a single runner (1) to win you may take 1/Field/Field
Minimum field size for Trifecta betting: There needs to be at least three runners left in a race for a Trifecta bet to remain valid. If there are less than three runners all Trifecta bets will be refunded.
Minimum Bet: The minimum amount for a Trifecta bet is $1, or minimum 5% for percentage betting.
Scratchings: If one of the picks in your Trifecta bet is scratched (withdrawn) from a race, any Trifecta permutation that included the scratching will be refunded when the race is resulted.
Dead Heat: Should there be a dead heat for 1st, 2nd or 3rd place in a race, Trifecta dividends will be declared for each valid permutation of 1st, 2nd and 3rd - these dividends will be half of what they would have been without the dead heat e.g. if there was a dead heat for first between runners 1 and 2 with runner 3 third, then Trifecta dividends would be paid for both 1-2-3 and 2-1-3.
Abandonment: Any Trifecta bet made on a race that is later Abandoned will be refunded.
Roving Banker Trifecta: A Roving Banker "RB" Trifecta is a strategy for placing a Trifecta bet where you choose your runners for a Trifecta bet as normal and then single out one of them to be your RB. The RB Trifecta bet comes out on three separate tickets: one ticket with your RB for 1st and your other runners for 2nd and 3rd, one with your RB to come 2nd with your other runners for 1st and 3rd, and one with your RB to come 3rd with your other runners for 1st and 2nd.
Win, Place and Eachway
Win - the winner of the race.
Place - the runner to finish either first, second or third, although in some smaller fields (seven runners or less) place dividends are only payable on first and second.
Eachway - Combines a Win and a Place bet on the same runner. If your runner wins, you collect both the Win and Place dividend. If your runner finishes 2nd or 3rd, you collect the Place dividend. Note: In a field of seven or less place dividends are paid out to only first and second. In an Each Way bet you don’t have to have the same amount to Win as you do for a Place.
‘How To’ video
This video shows you how to place a Win, Place, and Each Way bet on the TAB new website...
‘How To’ video
This video shows you how to place a Trifecta, Quinella and First4 bet on the new TAB website...