Dictionary

ABC | DEF | GHI | JKL | MNO | PQR | STU | VWXYZ

Pacemaker

A horse which sets the pace running in front, sometimes by design to set a 'true pace' for a stablemate who needs a strongly run race to bring his stamina into play.

Pari-Mutuel

Another name for pool betting.

Pass Line

A line on craps layout. Bets placed on this line are essentially bets on the 'shooter' winning the 'come out roll' or 'making the point'.

Patent/Twist

Three selections in three different races, comprising three singles, three doubles and one treble. There are seven bets win and 14 bets each way.

Penetrometer

In horse racing this is a stick used to measure the 'going'.

Perm Patent 4

Four selections in four different races, comprising an individual patent on each group of three selections It is 28 bets win and 56 bets each way.

Pitch

The bookmakers' stand on a racecourse. Each bookmaker should advertise his minimum stake and maximum payout. They should also issue a print of the transaction when you place a bet.

Place Bets

In horse racing, a bet that a horse wins a race or comes in second or third (in some races fourth). in the game of craps, it is a type of bet where you gamble on a dice throw totalling a particular number coming up before the shooter makes a throw totalling seven.

Place Pool

The tote operates separate pools for win and place betting. A bet on the place pool earns a dividend if the horse is first, second or third (in some cases fourth).

Placepot

A daily tote pool bet in which the punter must name a horse which finished 'placed' in each of the first six races on a nominated card.

Pontoon

Alternative name for blackjack.

Pool Betting

Where all stake money after given deductions (e.g. for tax and operator's profit) is shared among the winners. Sometimes the prize pool is divided into several sub-pools with different categories of winner sharing in each pool. Examples of this form of betting are the tote, football pools and the National Lottery.

Pricing Up

The bookmaker on the race course must mark prices against each horse on his board at least ten minutes before the official off-time of each race. The punter should price up each race himself with estimates of the odds he is prepared to take so that he can compare the prices for value.

Quadpot

A tote pool bet in which the punter must find a horse placed in each of the last four races on a nominated card.

Race Fixing

The Jockey club has spot checks and routine race by race tests against doping. In addition, to prevent a 'ringer' (a bad horse being switched for a good one) all horses have passports. Camera patrol vehicles film each race looking in particular for 'non-triers'. Horses must run on their merits and be given every chance to win or be placed.

Rails Bookmakers

Bookmakers betting largely on credit from a position between the main enclosures on a race course.

Reversed Forecast

Nominating two selections to finish first and second in either order. It comprises two bets, ring inspector. An official, present at a race course, whose role is to mediate between disgruntled punters and bookmakers in order to try to settle any disputes on he spot.

Round Book

Set of bookmakers' odds for an event set in such a way that bookmaker turnover and returns to the punter are equal; i.e. £100 is paid out for £100 invested.

Round the Clock

Any number of selections over three, in different races. It is one stake in the first selection any to come, one stake on the next selection, any to come, one stake on the next selection. This continues on each selection. For three selections it is three bets, for four selections it is four bets and so on.

Round Robin

Three selections in three different races, in three doubles, one treble and six single stakes about bets. It is ten bets win and 20 bets each way.

Roundabout

Three selections in three different races, in three bets. It is similar to a rounder, except double the original stakes are placed on the double. for selections A, B, C in a £1 win roundabout, the bets are as follows:
     £1 win A any to come £2 win double BC
     £1 win B any to come £2 win double AC
     £1 win C any to come £2 win double AB

Rounder

Three selections in three different races in three bets win and six bets each way.