Have a flutter on the Tote
The Race Club has updated its tote machinery for the 2023 season. You will tote facilities at the four tote windows on the side of the main building or look out amongst the crowd for the Tote officials wearing distinctive high-vis jackets..
The Tote offers a greater range of bets than the standard race course bookie. Bookies will generally only offer you bets to win, or win and place (each-way). The Tote offers you the same but also the opportunity to bet place only. In addition the Tote has a forecast bet known as the Exacta and an accumulator bet over 4 races- the Jackpot or Pick 4.
Each Way Bet
For Win and Each Way bets the minimum stake is £2. A win only bet will therefore cost you a minimum £2, whereas to cover Each Way will cost £4; that is £2 on to win and £2 on to place. If you wish to bet Place Only the minimum is again £2. Usually the return on a place bet will be relatively low but occasionally a high dividend is returned. For races with up to 4 runners there is no place betting, it is ‘win only’. For races of 5-7 runners, a place dividend is paid on 1st and 2nd places; for races of 8-14 runners, a place dividend is paid on 1st, 2nd and 3rd.
Forecast or Exacta Bet
The Tote also offers a forecast bet, known as the Exacta. For this bet you have to select the 1st and 2nd horses, in the correct order, in any race with three or more runners. As most of the races run at Les lands have no more than 7 or 8 runners, the bet is not as difficult as it seems. Nevertheless, if you get it right the dividends can be very rewarding. The minimum stake is £2 for a single Exacta, with a combination bet covering three horses, in any order, costing £12.
Jackpot or Pick 4 Bet
The Jackpot or ‘Pick 4’ is an accumulator requiring you to correctly pick the winner of Races 2, 3, 4 and 5. The minimum stake for this bet is £1 but you can improve your chances by having a combination bet; for example to cover two horses in each race will cost 2x2x2x2= £16. In 2022 the Tote paid out £3,491 to one lucky winner of the Jackpot. Having three winners running on in the Jackpot certainly makes the last race of the day more exciting!
The Tote offers a range of bets, with the opportunity to win big for a small outlay but, win or lose, it’s worth remembering that all profits from the Tote go toward continuing to provide horse racing in Jersey.
If you or anyone you know has a problem with gambling then the following organisations can help:
Gambling Therapy: www.gamblingtherapy.je email: jersey@gamblingtherapy.je
GamCare: www.gamcare.org.uk Tel 0808 8020 133
Gordon Moody association: www.gordonmoody.org.uk Tel 01384 241 292
Gamblers anonymous: www.gamblersanonymous.org.uk
