When you wager, you are not betting against the track but against everyone who is making that type of wager in a particular race. For example, if you bet a horse to win, your bet goes into the win pool. Based on how much is wagered on each horse to win, their odds will change accordingly. This is called pari-mutuel wagering, from the French term meaning “amongst ourselves.”

In this method of wagering, the public is betting against each other, not against the racetrack. In effect, the track has no interest in the results of a race. The track simply deducts a percentage from each dollar wagered for payment of purses, state taxes, and expenses. The remainder of the pool (83 percent on win, place, and show bets) is returned proportionally to the winners.

Information is valuable. Since you are essentially betting against everyone else, the more educated you are in your wager the better your chance of winning. The foundation of this expanded program is to allow you the opportunity to feel more confident about your wager by allowing you to make a more informed decision.

Upcoming special horse racing events:

Friday, June 6 — Fridays added to the live racing schedule, new post time: 4:30 p.m.

Saturday, June 7 — The Belmont Stakes! The final and most demanding leg of the Triple Crown races, live via simulcast from Belmont Park. SPECIAL LIVE RACING Post time: 2 p.m.

Thursday, June 12 — Thursdays added to the Live racing schedule, new post time: 4:30 p.m.

Sunday, June 15 — Father’s Day! Chicken BBQ. Live racing post time: 1:05 p.m.

Sunday, June 22 — THE 2014 MAINE SIRE STAKES SEASON KICKS OFF! Live racing post time: 1:05 p.m.

Traditional Wagers

WIN

You win if your horse finishes first.

PLACE

You win if your horse finishes first or second.

SHOW

You win if your horse finishes first, second, or third.

ACROSS THE BOARD

Placing a wager on your horse to win, place, and show. A $2 bet “across the board” would be a $6 wager.

Exotic Wagers

EXACTA

Picking two horses to finish first and second in exact order.

TRIFECTA

Picking three horses to finish first, second, and third in exact order.

SUPERFECTA

Picking four horses to finish first, second, third, and fourth in exact order.

DAILY DOUBLE

Picking the winners of two races that are designated Daily Double races.

Wagers must be placed before the running of the first of the two races.

RACING PICK THREE

Picking the winners of three races that are designated Racing Pick Three races. Wagers must be placed before the running of the first of the three races.

HOW TO BET

When you visit a mutuel window, state the following information:

Name of track

Race number

Amount you wish to wager

Type of wager

Horse number

Example: “Scarborough Downs, seventh race, two dollars to win on number five.”

ADVANCED WAGERS

If you are making an advanced wager, which would be a race after the upcoming one, state the race number before the wager.

MINIMUM WAGERS

The minimum wagers is $2, except for some multiple combination bets with a $1 minimum, which will be described later.

MORNING LINE

The morning line odds in the program are set by an oddsmaker before the betting begins. This is an educated guess on how the public will bet on each horse. The odds change as money enters the mutuel pool.

ODDS

Win odds are posted on television monitors and the infield tote board. These odds are updated every 45-90 seconds. Note that these odds will fluctuate from the time you wager until the betting ends. When you win, your payoff is determined by the closing odds.

For more information, visit www.scarboroughdowns.com/.