January 29th, 2010 at 5:53:06 AM
permalink
I understand the house Advantage at casinos and I do pretty well playing craps and blackjack. I don’t know what I did to horses in a past life but they seem to hate me. Anyone care to comment on the “Track Advantage” at the race track?
January 29th, 2010 at 5:57:24 AM
permalink
It's a lot bigger. 20% or more.
Wisdom is the quality that keeps you out of situations where you would otherwise need it
January 30th, 2010 at 9:47:24 AM
permalink
It depends on the track and the bet, but in general about 17% for win/place/show, and 20%-25% for exotics. See my page on racetrack betting for more information.
"My life is spent in one long effort to escape from the commonplace of existence. These little problems help me to do so." -- Sherlock Holmes
January 30th, 2010 at 8:56:14 PM
permalink
That's just the advantage on the field as a whole. Individual runners in a parimutual market can be both under or over the odds since the market is determined entirely by the popularity of each runner. It's not an efficient market in any event.

