Harness Betting

Sports Betting Strategy & Tips

Harness racing has been around for centuries, dating back at least as far as the days of chariot races. Does the title "Ben-Hur" ring a bell? Okay, they did race harness style, but you won’t see any blades protruding from the wheels designed to obliterate an opponent’s chariot in today’s races.

Harness racing is such an erstwhile sport, is it affectionately termed the "sport of kings". Harness betting is, and always has been, a tradition among nobility. With the introduction of betting sites online, harness betting has become much more than that – a fun and exciting way to bet on sports at most betting sites online.

There are numerous ways to place harness betting wagers. The following is a guide to harness betting at betting sites online. Harness betting options are very similar to "Horse Race Betting".

Harness Betting – Win Bets

The simplest of all bets, this is a straight wager on a horse to finish first in the harness race. If the chosen horse finishes first, the bettor wins.

Harness Betting – Place Bets

This harness bet is similar to a win bet except that the chosen horse can finish in either first or second place for the bettor to collect. The payout is lower since the chance of winning increases, and the payoff is not affected by whether the horse finishes in first or second place.

Harness Betting – Show Bets

The show bet is a wager on a particular horse to finish anywhere in the top three. So long as the chosen horse takes first, second or third place, the bettor wins. Harness betting show bets do not pay nearly as well as win bets, but are much easier to collect on. The payoff is not affected by whether the horse finishes in first, second or third place.

Harness Betting – Win-Place Bets

A Win-Place bet in harness betting is akin to the Place Bet, but offers better odds on a first place finish than a second place finish. So long as the chosen horse finishes first or second, the bettor collects, but as a combination bet, higher payouts are awarded for a first place finish.

Harness Betting – Across the Board Bets

Across the boards harness betting is very similar to a show bet, requiring the chosen horse to finish in first, second or third to win. However, it is a combination bet, so the higher the horse finishes, the higher the payout will be.

Harness Betting – Exotics

Exotics are harness betting options that require a series of events to occur in order for the bettor to collect. The payouts for exotics can be extremely attractive.

Harness Betting – Exacta

Exacta harness betting requires the bettor to choose two horses, selecting one to finish first and the other to finish in second. The harness race must end exactly as the betting slip appears in order for the bettor to win.

Harness Betting – Quinella

Quinella harness betting requires the bettor to choose two horses to finish in first and second, but in no determined order. So long as those two horses take first and second place, the bettor will collect.

Harness Betting – Trifecta

Like an Exacta harness betting wager but requiring the bettor to select three horses and the exact order they will finish; first, second and third. The harness race must end exactly as the betting slip appears in order for the bettor to win.

Harness Betting – Superfecta

The most lucrative of all harness betting options, the Superfecta is a wager where the bettor selects four horses and the exact order they will finish; first, second, third and fourth. The chances of winning this bet would seem implausible, but with the advice of a professional harness betting handicapper, it wouldn’t cost much to place a wager that could pay out thousands!