Cheltenham Festival Racing FAQ

What does Ante Post Betting mean?

Betting in advance of the race itself. This is relevant for big races.

How do I bet on more than one race?

You can have a Double when you have a bet on two different races, win or each way. The winnings from the first race are placed on the second race. Trebles are bets on three races and bets on four or more races are Accumulators.

When do each way bets get paid out for fourth place position?

When you bet in a handicap race which has 16 or more runners.

What does Evens or Even Money refer to?

When the stake and the winnings are identical e.g. if your stake is £5 at evens you win a further £5.

What is a Nap?

A tipster's main bet selection at a given meeting.

When is a bet Odds on?

When the winnings are less than the stake e.g. if you bet £2 at 2-1 on you win £1.

What does Rule 4 refer to?

The betting rule which covers deductions from winning bets if a horse is withdrawn after the betting has been set up but before the horses go under starter's orders. The amount of the deduction depends on the price of the withdrawn horse.

What is a Starting Price or SP?

The official price of a horse at which bets are settled in betting shops.

What is the Tote?

Short for the Horserace Totalisator Baord. Tote betting is available at every racecourse. All money bet on horses in a race goes into a 'pot' or 'pool' and following the race, this pool is shared out amongst all those who have placed winning bets. All profits from the Tote go back into racing. For the various types of bet which the Tote offers see our Types of bet section.

What are betting Exchanges?

A Betting Exchange is where two people have a different idea about the outcome of an event. The exchanges provide a platform for these people to bet against each other with the exchange taking a small commission from the winner.

What is a Yankee?

A combination bet of four selections in different races: six doubles, four trebles and one four-horse accumulator - eleven bets in all.

What does the expression 'Bar' mean?

Excludes horses for which a price is quoted e.g '6/1 bar two' means that odds of 6/1 or better are available for all horses except the first two in the betting.