Bar betting

[Mikkanjazza]

Although I'm not a novice at betting on the horses, one thing I've never understood is the "bar" price. If a bookie quotes 2/1 against horse A, 7/2 against horse B, 5/1 against horse C and 8/1 bar, does that mean that I can bet on any horse other than A, B or C winning at 8/1? Does anybody ever take up such a bet? How do you fill out your betting slip?

[toalisi]

Bar means the rest of the field 'BAR' the quoted horses.

The bookies therefore offer 8/1 on any other horses in your example bar A,B & C.

[Mikkanjazza]

toalisi - thanks for that, but here's where I'm confused. Suppose there are 8 runners - does "8/1bar" mean that the bookie is offering 8/1 against each of the horses D,E,F,G and H individually, and is simply using the bar bet to save having to write them all out, or is he offering 8/1 against them as a group - in other words if any of them win, I win my bet?

[toalisi]

The bookie will quote you for each of the 8 horses in your race.
The ones considered most likely to win will be horses A,B & C with individual odds of less than 8/1.
You can have a minimum of 8/1 on any horse from D - H and if your horse (not all! of D- H) wins/places (each way bet)

See here-
http://www.britishhorseracing.com/goracing/bet ting/understanding/betFAQs.asp

[Mikkanjazza]

Many thanks toalisi - got it now!