Bookmakers (1) and other Newbury, United Kingdom Things to Do Tips

Unless you're an owner (and nobody so vulgar as a bookie is permitted inside the Members Enclosure), the principal business of race day is transacted with the bookies.

They set up their stalls in the public enclosure and you walk round, comparing odds and watching the movement of the market - often a telling sign of a good or bad bet.

As I said, bookies are not permitted to trade in the Members Enclosure, though Members and Owners still like a bet. Along the railings dividing the members from the public you'll see bookies' stands facing across the fence - these specially licenced traders are known as 'Rails Bookmakers'.

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When you've decided which horse to back, and you've looked around the bookies for the one whose odds and honest look you fancy the most, just go up to him, give the number (not the name) of your horse, your stake and whether "win" or "each way". He will take your money and give you a receipt with the details of your bet. Hold on to this, and remember which bookie because it can be hard to find them again in the huddle of stands.

As well as the names and numbers of horses and their odds, the bookie's board should tell you the minimun stake he (almoat always he) will accept, the minimum stake (usually either GBP 2.00 or GBP 5.00), and the maximum guaranteed payout (he's not going to want to carry all that much cash about even in those secure satchels!).

When your horse romps home and you return to collect your winnings, hand over your receipt and he will pay up. He should not have "welshed" of course - left the course with the stake money before the punters can collect!

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Although the traditional manual boards still dominate, with the odds being changed with a marker pen and a wipe of the bookie's sleeve, an increasing number are moving towards electronic boards driven by a keyboard.

I mention this by way of a warning to photographers - you'll be using fast film at the course, but taking pictures of these boards means a slow shutter speed to adjust for the refreshing of the electronic characters!

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Officially the Totalisator Board, affectionately "Nanny" or "the old nanny goat", the State betting operation is an alternative to the bookies. Instead of betting at fixed odds, you buy a share in the pool, which is then distributed to winners after a slice has been taken off. The dividends are not related to bookmakers' odds but to the total amount staked. All profits from the Tote go back into racing. The clerks are known as the "Ladies in Red" for their scarlet uniforms.

Nanny is sometimes looked down on, but she can sometimes deliver a bargain. Besides, she can offer bets not available from fixed-odds bookies. Here you can bet on a place alone, or an Exacta (first two horses in the right order), or a Trifecta (first, second and third in the right order). There are also a variety of combination bets you can make, notably the Placepot (six placed horses in the same meeting) and Jackpot (six winners, selected races and meetings only)

Not to be confused with the related Tote Bookmakers, who have a presence acting as off-course bookmakers at Newbury and other larger courses. Here you can bet on meetings elsewhere, and also place combination and accumulator bets.

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You can just stand by the rails and watch the races if you want, but if you do you'll miss a lot.

Before each race the horses are paraded before spectators by the stable lad or stable girl who looks after them. This is where you can get a good look at the horses and see how skittish they are or how well-prepared for the race. If you know what you are looking for then there are hints to how the horse will perform.

The horse in the picture was called Denada - well named as he finished fourth of four finishers in his race!

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