Learning to raise the stakes at Pimlico

In any city, there are some things that everyone seems to cheer for. One of the perennial favorites of Baltimore is the horse-racing season at Pimlico Racetrack. Hot dogs, Yuengling and sun hats all figure largely in this beginning of summer pastime, but the races are greater than the sum of their parts.

In our legislation-happy society, horse racing remains the last frontier where you can still pull cash out of your pocket and put it on the line for a payoff. The satisfaction, the risk and the anticipation are all there.

Yet too many people are turned off from the races by the glad-handing, Louisiana-politico image of the track. In reality, the colorful characters are there, but more often than not, they'll help you place the right bet, not swindle you out of your green.

Horse racing, unlike, say, slot machines, is just as entertaining without the element of betting as it is with. Also, how many slot machines are named Hounddogman or Trually Wild?

If you do want to place a bet, knowing some of the jargon will help you impress the fellas. While asking at the betting window is always an option, the process runs smoother when you have a general idea of what to say.

The premise behind betting on horses is this: you try to beat the oddsmakers, the people who set the betting odds, and win yourself some money.

At Pimlico, you can place your bet at the sports book windows at the racetrack, online through a credit card service or over the phone. Keep in mind that the general rule of thumb is people must be 18 years or older to place a bet.

To place a bet, let the sports book (if you must, you can call them a bookie) know the type of bet you are placing and how much you're wagering on the outcome.

There are more types of bets than the casual fan will ever undertake, and Pimlico doesn't offer the same lineup of bets all the time.

The straight bet is the simplest and probably the most common, meaning that you win the bet if the horse you pick for a certain race crosses the finish line first.

There are several variations on this theme. The place bet says you win if the horse you pick finishes first or second. The show bet says you win if the horse you pick finishes first, second or third.

An exacta bet is won if you correctly pick which horses will finish first and second in a race. A quinella bet is a more relaxed form of an exacta. You can win a quinella by picking which horses will finish first and second, but not in any particular order. In other words, if the two horses you pick finish first and second but not in the order you picked, you'll still win.

Bigger stakes can be played with a trifecta bet, in which you pick the first, second, and third winners in the exact order, or a superfecta bet, in which you pick the first, second, third, and fourth winners in the exact order.

If you are feeling like a day at the races, you can place a pick three or a pick six bet.

In the former, you win if you correctly pick the winners of three consecutive races, in the latter, you win if you correctly pick the winners of six consecutive races.

Political pundits panicked when Governor Ehrlich's slot machine bill fell by the wayside for the third time in this year's General Assembly.

The death of the horse racing industry was forecast in apocalyptic tones, with visions of racing fans ditching the track when no slots were present.

Yet Pimlico carries on, a holdover from another, simpler time, perhaps. Yet the races soldier on undaunted with a loyal core who take advantage of the cheap seats and decent food while enjoying Baltimore's equine answer to Las Vegas. The question remains: will you be among them?

Pimlico Race Track

5201 Park Heights Ave.

Location: Park Heights

(410) 542-9400

Admission: $3.00

(military personnel free)

Seating: $2.50 per seat

Parking: General parking on Preakness Way and Rogers Avenue is free. Covered parking is $2.00. Valet parking is $3.00.

Programs: $1.50