A coupled entry is a wagering option that includes two horses. For instance, if a trainer has two horses he or she wants to enter in a horse race, some state laws require that the two horses be considered as one entry. In most instances the wagering option is given the program numbers of 1 and 1A and when a bettor places his or her wager or uses that one in an exotic bet, it is referred to simply as the “1”.
Naturally, at first glance, it seems this is a golden opportunity to make a profit. Anyone who backs the 1 is getting two horses for the price of one. IF either horse wins you get the winners share. The same is true of place or show. In fact, if the 1 is first and the 1A is second, the people who backed that coupled entry will get the whole place pool to divide among themselves.
Once in a while there will be two such betting interests in a race and then the second is usually referred to as the 2 and 2A. In the case of a three horse entry it is 2, 2A and 2B. Though all these horses may be entered in the race, it isn’t unusual for the trainer to scratch one or more of them. After all, though one of them may win the race, the purse money will only go to that horse. If you have two good horses that are capable of winning, it makes more sense to enter them in separate races where they won’t be competing against each other.
There are cases, however, where one of the horses isn’t entered to win the race but is merely a “rabbit”, meaning a horse that will set a torrid early pace in hopes of tiring other front runners out so that it’s entry mate, a horse that comes from off the pace or behind to win, make benefit from their early efforts and win the race. A look at each horse and its running style may show you what the trainer has in mind.
The biggest drawback to betting on entries is that they are often over bet by the public who draws the obvious conclusion that they are getting two chances for the price of one. One way to avoid this is to look at the horses and ask yourself if you would still take those odds and consider it a good bet if the better of the two horses was the only one in the race. If you can make a strong case for that one horse and think the odds are fair, then you may have found a good bet, but if not, it may be better to pass the race or try to find a good bet among the other contenders.
If you want to learn how a horse owner and insider handicaps just go to http://williewins.homestead.com/truecb.html and get the truth. Bill Peterson is a former horse race owner and professional handicapper. To see all Bill’s horse racing material go to Horse Racing Handicapping, Bill’s handicapping store.
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