How to Read a Racing Tote Board

As you move toward a race track infield to watch the horses racing, you'll notice the tote board lit with various numbers in different columns and categories. Read the tote's information to select horses and combinations to bet on and to discover how much you'll receive if you win.

Instructions

    • 1

      Check the post time of the upcoming race to see how much longer you have to bet. Watch the current odds on horses in the upcoming race. These figures change several times before the race goes off and reflect the amount of money wagered on each horse to Win, Place or Show.

    • 2

      Discover the exact amount currently bet on each horse to Win, Place or Show and see the total pool for exotic bets like the Exacta and Trifecta.

    • 3

      Confirm the current condition of the track (such as slow, fast or muddy), which could affect the outcome of the race. For example, even favorites may have difficulty running on a sloppy track.

    • 4

      Determine the payoffs from the last race, including the amounts for Win, Place, Show, Exacta and Trifecta.

    • 5

      Note the fractional times of the leading horse as a race is run and the final time for the winner.

    • 6

      Learn when the race is official. Hold onto your tickets until you see the "Official" sign light up on the board. An "Inquiry" sign means the racing stewards are investigating a situation which may have affected the outcome of the race. If you see "Objection," the stewards are looking into a foul claim a jockey has leveled against another jockey.