A win bet in horse racing is a bet on a horse to finish first in a race. It is the simplest and most common type of bet in horse racing and is often referred to as an ‘on the nose’ bet.
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Some key things to know about win bets:
- You are betting on a horse to win the race. If the horse finishes first, you win the bet. If it finishes anywhere else, you lose.
- Win bets typically pay out most of the simple bet types. The payout odds depend on how heavily the horse was favoured to win. A heavy favourite will pay out very little, while a long shot will pay out much more for a win.
- You can make a winning bet on one or more horses in a race. Each is a separate bet.
- Win bets are distinguished from bets such as Place (horse finishing 1st or 2nd) and Show (horse finishing 1st, 2nd, or 3rd).
- The win pool, or total amount bet on all horses to win, is one of the largest pools for a race, meaning win betting is very popular.
- Win betting provides a relatively straightforward way to get action on a horse race with the potential for a big payout if you can pick a horse that outperforms expectations.
Other Names For a ‘Win Bet’
Straight Bet
This is probably the most popular alternate name for a basic win bet.
Win Only
Some bookies or betting sites will list “Win Only” as the bet type when you are placing a wager on a horse to finish 1st.
On the Nose
An older way of saying you are betting on a horse to finish first. Comes from placing your bet straight on the horse’s nose.
On the Line
An informal way of saying you are betting on a horse to win. As in “Put $10 on the line on horse #9.”
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