Each Way Bet

In betting in horse races, ‘betting each way’ is possibly the best way to start punting on horses. It means you’re backing a horse to finish in the first three. The most important thing to remember is when you’re handing over your cash you’ll say, “five pound each way on Jonny’s Boy.” That actually means you’re handing over ten pounds, because you’re betting five pounds for a win and betting five pounds for it to finish in the first three. If it wins, you get your five pounds, but you also get the five pounds bet at a fraction of the odds, normally a fifth for the first three.

When should I place an each way bet?

It’s a good idea to place an each way bet when you’ve studied the form and you’ve discovered a horse which has got a good chance of finishing in the first three in a standard horse race. However in the Grand National it’s the first 4 horse home that the bookies payout on – Paddy Power will payout on the first 5!!!, but not necessarily blow the field away and win the race. It’s also important to remember that you want to be betting each way when the odds on a horse are big, like 16-1 or 20-1. There’s no point doing an each way bet when it’s 3 -1 or 4-1, because you’re barely going to get your stake back.