If you are a fan of horse racing then you may not be aware that you can “bet without” in races. In this guide we will explain what this is and how it works so that you can decide if it is the right strategy for you or not.
Using the “bet without” strategy with horse racing can be lucrative for you. Many gamblers are now using this to give themselves a better chance at winning when they bet on horses. Here at BetWithout.online our team is committed to providing you with all of the different options available for betting so please read this guide carefully so that you understand everything.
What does “bet without” mean in horse racing betting?
Here you will place a bet on a specific horse race and this will not include the favorite (which can be unspecified) or a horse that you specifically name. A lot of gamblers are now using this “bet without” strategy for horse racing placing bets that are “without the favorite”. If the horse you select comes second to the favorite or it wins, this is a winning bet.
But you need to be aware that if another horse wins the race and it is not the favorite then your “bet without” bet will be a loser. You can also choose a specific horse in the race that is not the favorite for a “bet without” bet. This means that if this horse wins it will be discounted from the bet and if your selection is placed second then your bet will be a winner.
How to use the “bet without” strategy
When you complete your betting slip you can add the term “W/O” (which stands for “without”) and then add a specific name of a horse that you think might win or just “favorite”. The reason that so many gamblers like this “bet without” strategy is because often favorites have very short odds and they are very likely to win the race.
You can get a much better return on the second placed horse if the favorite wins. If your bookmaker or sportsbook accepts “bet without” bets for horse races (a lot of them do but you need to check this) then you can get a much better return if you go for a “without favorite” bet. If the horse you selected finishes second to the favorite you will get the odds for this horse.
Example of a “bet without” bet
Let’s assume that there are 9 runners in a race and the favorite is odds on to win. The favorite has odds of 4/6 which means that if you placed a $60 bet on this horse then your return would only be $40 if it wins. Of course, you will have your original stake returned so your return would be $100.
You look at the rest of the runners in the race and determine that the second favorite is the only one that is likely to test the favorite. But you still think the favorite will win so you do not want to chance placing a win bet on the second favorite.
The price of the second favorite is 7/2 and if you place a “without favorite” bet and name the second favorite and it finishes in second place behind the favorite then your bet wins. This time your return is greater. For the same $60 bet you would win $210 and your total return with your stake is $270.
There may be a situation where you believe that one of the other horses in the race will finish second to the favorite and their odds are even better. You need to understand that most bookmakers and sportsbooks will shorten the price of the horse that you are betting on in a “bet without” situation.
In the example above, we said that you could bet on the second favorite to finish second behind the favorite. The standard odd for this horse are 7/2 but the bookie or sportsbook is likely to reduce these odds down to 3/1 or even 5/2 if you go with a “bet without favorite” bet. Even with this reduction in odds, you still get a much better return.
Useful tips for “bet without” in horse racing
There are some important things that you need to take into consideration before you go for a “bet without”. The first thing to think about is whether it is better to go for a win and place bet (also known as “each way”) rather than a “bet without”. This is less risky as the favorite has to win the race and your horse finish second with a “bet without”.
Betting each way tends to be a better option if the horse that you want to select has longer odds. Also, if it is a jump race with fences that the horses need to clear (known as “National Hunt” in the UK) then quite often favorites fall at fences and cannot win them.
An each way bet is going to cost double the price of a “bet without favorite”. So, with our example above you would have to spend $120 on the bet. If you are not entirely convinced that the favorite will win the race then this can be a better option. You will win if your horse finishes in 1st, 2nd, or 3rd place.
Final words
If you are very confident that a favorite or another short odds horse will win a race then you can go for a “bet without favorite” or “bet without a specific horse” and then name the horse you think will finish second and get a better return from your bet.
You need to ensure that your bookie or sportsbook will accept “bet without” type bets. This type of bet can be risky, especially if you are not totally convinced that the favorite will win for example. If this is the case, you may be better off placing a standard “each way” bet on your horse.
FAQ
A “bet without” is where you place a bet on a horse but request that the favorite (or another horse) be excluded from the final result. If your horse finished in second place behind the favorite or the specific horse you named, you will win.
They can get a better return than just placing a bet on a short odds favorite to win the race.
We cannot confirm that every bookie and sportsbook will accept a “bet without” type of bet. You need to check this first.
Yes, they will usually shorten the odds of the horse that you want to back to finish second behind the favorite or named horse.
