The show bet in parimutuel horse racing betting is a wager on a single horse finishing anywhere in the top three places. It is a simple yes/no proposition that pays the same whether the horse finishes in first, second, or third place. As long as the selected horse places somewhere in the top three, the show bet pays.

The show bet is one of horse racing’s three straight bets, classified alongside the win and place bets, as straightforward wagers not contingent on the performances of other horses.

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When Show Bets Are Useful In Horse Racing

Bettors find the show bet useful in certain circumstances because it provides some margin for error should the selected horse fail to finish in first or second place.

For example, a bettor may like the look of a certain horse but not be fully confident of that horse’s ability to earn the win. In that case, the show bet provides a simple means by which the bettor can back a horse to have a good showing even if the horse doesn’t win outright.

The show bet is similar in this regard to the place bet, which also provides a payout in case the selected horse comes up short. The one difference between the show and place bet is that the show bet extends the payout one additional place. While a place bet only pays if the horse finishes in the top two, the show bet pays if the horse finishes in the top three.

Experienced handicappers may not find much glory in the humble show bet, but it is an excellent starting point for new bettors. Show bets on the pre-race favorite win more often than not, which makes them a fun method to get hands-on experience with parimutuel horse racing betting.

Show Bet Odds and Payouts

Show bet odds are calculated the same as other parimutuel horse racing wagers. Payout calculations can be complex behind the scenes, but the cliffs note version is that all show bet wagers are pooled, the track takes its commission, and what remains is divided up among winning show tickets.

The show bet pays less than straight up win and place bets, but it can still yield a respectable payout. In a recent Kentucky Derby running, the top three finishers provided the following returns on $2 show bets:

  • First place finisher: $5.00
  • Second place finisher: $3.20
  • Third place finisher: $16.80

The second-place finisher in this race was a heavy pre-race favorite, which explains the lower show payout on his second-place finish. It wasn’t a huge payout, but at least it earned a return for those who backed him with show bets. Anyone who backed the pre-race favorite with a win bet got back exactly nothing.

How to Place Show Bets Online

All straight bets are easy to place at online racebooks, and show wagers are no exception. First, bettors must choose a horse racing betting site and make a real money deposit.

Next, bettors can log in and select any upcoming race to view a list of runners, betting odds, jockey information and more. After that, users must select the type of wager they wish to place, usually via a dropdown menu somewhere near the top of the page:

show bet horse racing example

After selecting the show bet option, the next steps are to pick a horse and choose an amount to wager. If everything looks good, bettors can hit the “submit bet” button to place the wager.

Horse Racing Show Bets FAQ

A show bet is made when the bettor thinks that the horse will come in the top three for the race. It pays the same, regardless of which place the horse finishes within the three.

A show bet payout is always less than a win or place wager on the same horse because it’s easier to win. Accurately predicting that a horse will win a race is much more difficult than predicting that a horse will finish anywhere in the top three places.

Show bets are more for recreational gamblers. It is the lowest variance of bets at the race track. Pros tend to make bets on higher payouts where they feel there is an edge. Show bets normally do not give that type of opportunity.

Show bets can be made in any combination on a race. You can buy a ticket on a win and use the show as a hedge. You can make separate exotic bets, too.

The show bet is a straight one. The other racing straight bets are win and show. The win pays on first place only. The place bet pays if the dog or horse comes in the top two.

The takeout for show bets in horse racing is usually around 18 percent. It depends on the track and local regulations. The takeout rate is the same for all straight bets at a track.

The term “show” in horse racing refers to a horse finishing in first, second, or third place. Fans can use the word show to describe a horse’s finishing position (e.g., “this horse has never done worse than show in his career to date”) or when referencing the bet itself (e.g., “I placed a show bet this morning.”)

A win/place/show bet, also known as an “across the board” wager, involves three wagers on a single horse. All three portions of the wager pay if the horse finishes first, the place/show portions pay if the horse finishes second, and only the show portion pays if the horse finishes third. Bettors can read more about win place show bets in BettingUSA’s straight bets guide.