Trainers look at stats like average margins of victory, speed figures, and whether the horse moved up or down in class from its last race. Past performances – Horses with consistent wins and high finish rates command lower odds while inconsistent runners are longshots. Several factors impact the odds that are set for each horse in a race: But if he does, you‘ll get paid handsomely at $22 for a $2 bet. A horse at 10/1 odds only has about a 1 in 10 shot to win. Let‘s compare that to payouts at other fractional odds: OddsĪs you go down the list, the payouts get higher but the implied probability drops. The probability is close to 50/50.įor every $2 bet at 4/5, you get your $2 back plus $1.60 profit. So odds of 4/5 suggest the horse has a decent shot to win, but is far from a guarantee. 4/5 odds mean that for every 9 potential outcomes, the horse will win 4 times and lose 5 times.Īnother way to think of it – 4 wins out of 9 races, or a 44% chance of the horse finishing first. Now let‘s take a deep dive into fractional odds using 4/5 as an example… What 4/5 Odds Tell Youįractional odds represent the ratio of wins to losses for the horse. Lower odds suggest the horse has a better chance of winning. Regardless of format, higher odds indicate an unlikely winner but provide the chance for a bigger payout. Moneyline odds – American-style odds with either a + or – before the number. This is the standard format used in the UK and often for US horse racing.ĭecimal odds – Listed as single number like 1.44, 3.25, 17.5, etc. These odds tell you what kind of payout you can expect for betting on that horse.įractional odds – Represented as two numbers like 4/5, 7/2, 10/1, etc.

When you look at a race form, you‘ll see each horse has odds listed next to their name or number. Grab a cup of coffee and let‘s break down the basics! Introduction to Reading Horse Racing Odds You‘ll learn how payouts are determined, why odds differ for each horse, and how to spot betting value. In this comprehensive guide, I‘ll explain everything you need to know about odds using 4/5 odds as an example. But understanding how to read odds is key to betting smart and maximizing payouts. As an avid fan and regular better, I know horse racing odds can seem confusing, especially for first-timers.

What does 4 to 5 odds mean