Depending on where you live you may or may not be able to bet on foreign racing. In the UK, it is possible to bet on racing all over the world. In the United States, you are restricted to betting only in the state in which you live (if online betting is legal there). With the innovation of satellite transmission of racing, it is becommg more common for coverage to be given for major foreign racing. Simulcasting allows bettors in another country to bet directly into the pools at a foreign racecourse. An example of this is betting on the Breeders’ Cup and the Prix de l’ Arc de Triomphe, which allow British bettors to bet on the tote at the racecourse.
If you bet with British bookmakers on French racing you may have the choice of betting on the pari-mutuel (French tote) or with the bookmakers’ prices. It is not possible to predict which is better, but at least if you take a price you know in advance what your winnings will be.
Pari-mutuel dividends
Pari-mutuel is the name of the French horseracing tote. The dividends are quoted to a one Euro stake.
One major difference with the French system of betting is the coupling of horses. If horses from the same stable are running in the same race, then the same price for those horses will be given in the betting. The horses are said to be coupled. A bet on one horse from that stable is also a bet on anyone of the other horses from the same stable. Therefore, if horses A and B are coupled and a £1 win is placed on horse A, the bet will also win
if horse B wins.
If, however, you take the bookmaker’s price on a horse, your horses will not be coupled.