Get your heart racing at Emerald Downs

How to pick a horse


Before you bet the farm — or your lunch money — you have to pick a horse. Some people pick a horse if they like the name, others have favorites they always follow. If you're new to this, a guide at the track gives a short history of the horse's performance in past races. While knowing a horse's track record is helpful, it helps to take a trip down to the paddock and check out the horses yourself.

At the paddocks, you're looking for the little things, said fan educator Doug "Hack" Hillstrom.

Sweat on the horse's neck indicates the horse may be nervous and may not be focused on the race. Ears up — the horse is alert and ready; ears pinned back, the horse is angry — and angry horses do not run well.

Like human athletes, horses often compete with bandaged legs. Although a bandage can indicate a real injury, sometimes that horse will run just fine.

Don't expect to pick a winner your first time to the track — learning horses comes with experience.

Betting

Now that you've seen the horses, put some money on your choice. Even if you're planning to bet just a few bucks for fun, pick up the track's "Wagering Guide." This guide outlines the different kinds of bets and even tells you what to say when you walk up to the window.

There are two kinds of bets: straight and exotic. A straight $2 bet can buy you either a win (your horse must win the race), a place bet (your horse must come in first or second place), or a show bet (your horse must finish in the top three).

If you feel like taking a chance, you can go for the exotic bets: exacta, trifecta and superfecta. In an exotic bet, you select specifically which horses will finish first and second (exacta), first through third (trifecta) and first through fourth place (superfecta).

All exotic bets are a $1 minimum bet and yield a higher payoff.

The odds change depending on how much money is bet on the horse. The more people who bet on a specific horse, the lower the odds and the lower the payoff if that horse wins.

You can place your bet up until the time the horses are loaded into the starting gate.

A reminder: You must be 18 to bet.

Race-track lingo


Handicapper. Someone who uses different variables to determine the probability of any given horse winning a race.

Furlong One-eighth of a mile. Races at Emerald Downs range from two to 16 furlongs. The track is eight furlongs in length.

Paddock The area at the track where the horses are saddled and jockeys meet the trainer to go over last-minute instructions.

Backstretch The area between the two turns on the side of the track opposite the grandstand where horses begin sprinting to the finish.

Tote board The sign in the center of the track that displays race information, including how much money has been wagered on each race.

Blanket finish When the horses finish so closely together they could be covered with a blanket.

Source: Emerald Downs

Getting there


Traveling to Emerald Downs is easy. The track is located just off state Route 167 in Auburn.

There are several options for parking. If you're willing to walk a few hundred feet, you can park for free in general parking. To be closer to the door, there's $5 preferred parking and $10 valet parking, if you're splurging.