Horse Racing, greyhounds and snooker specialist with thirty years experience of writing about sport across multiple platforms. A QPR and Snooker fan
Tote Betting
Over the years I have looked at the tote returns at the bigger meetings of Royal Ascot, Cheltenham, and Glorious Goodwood and checked whether the SP or Tote return gave us the most money on outsiders.
Many new to betting may ask what is the tote?
If you are unsure check out either the betting terminology article or types of bets blog, both explain how the tote works and what bets are available from the tote.
In essence, the Tote offers pool betting but single betting is also available and this is where I have focused on this blog.
The following figures are for all horses that returned an SP of 10/1 or greater and then compared that SP to the tote return.
You can see that in many cases the tote paid substantially more than the SP.
The latest results from the last two Royal Ascot meetings tend to hold up the theory that you should consider tote betting on outsiders, especially in the big field handicaps.
| Date | Time | Horse | SP | Tote |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16th June 2020 | 1.15 | Motakhayel | 14/1 | £18.3 |
| 16th June 2020 | 3.00 | Pyledriver | 18/1 | £20.9 |
| 16th June 2020 | 4.40 | Coeur De Lion | 16/1 | £24.25 |
| 17th June 2020 | 1.15 | Sir Busker | 12/1 | £13.5 |
| 17th June 2020 | 2.25 | Hukum | 12/1 | £11.85 |
| 18th June 2020 | 1.15 | Highland Chief | 20/1 | £25.05 |
| 18th June 2020 | 4.40 | Onassis | 33/1 | £26.9 |
| 19h June 2020 | 4.40 | Scarlet Dragon | 33/1 | £51.40 |
| 20th June 2020 | 12.40 | Chief Of Chiefs | 20/1 | £16.45 |
| 20th June 2020 | 1.50 | Nando Parado | 150/1 | £117.1 |
| 20th June 2020 | 4.10 | Hey Jonesey | 18/1 | £18.7 |
| Date | Time | Horse | SP | Tote |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18th June 2019 | 2.30 | Lord Glitters | 14/1 | £11.7 |
| 18th June 2019 | 4.20 | Circus Maximus | 10/1 | £12.05 |
| 18th June 2019 | 5.00 | Grand Visr | 12/1 | £14.00 |
| 19th June 2019 | 2.30 | Raffle Prize | 18/1 | £16.90 |
| 19th June 2019 | 5.00 | Afaak | 20/1 | £31.60 |
| 20th June 2019 | 5.00 | Biometric | 28/1 | £56.45 |
| 20th June 2019 | 5.35 | South Pacific | 22/1 | £42.80 |
| 21st June 2019 | 4.20 | Watch Me | 20/1 | £33.35 |
| 21st June 2019 | 5.00 | Thanks Be | 33/1 | £45.95 |
| 22nd June 2019 | 3.05 | Space Traveller | 25/1 | £48.35 |
Royal Ascot 2010 - 2012
In between 2010 & 2012 there were 25 horses that won races with an sp return of 10/1 or higher
2010 results
There were 6 horses that won with an sp of 10/1 or higher, the table below shows whether sp or Tote was the better return
| SP | TOTE | BEST RETURN |
| 28/1 | £35.80 | Tote |
| 16/1 | £27.90 | Tote |
| 20/1 | £23.80 | Tote |
| 14/1 | £15.60 | Tote |
| 16/1 | £23.60 | Tote |
| 10/1 | £13.90 | Tote |
2011 results
There were 9 horses that won with an sp of 10/1 or higher, the table below shows whether sp or Tote was the better return
| SP | TOTE | BEST RETURN |
| 11/1 | £11.80 | SP |
| 12/1 | £14.70 | Tote |
| 12/1 | £11.20 | SP |
| 20/1 | £28.60 | Tote |
| 16/1 | £16.70 | SP |
| 12/1 | £13.50 | Tote |
| 12/1 | £15.30 | Tote |
| 25/1 | £36.80 | Tote |
| 12/1 | £18.70 | Tote |
2012 results
There were 10 horses that won with an sp of 10/1 or higher, the table below shows whether sp or Tote was the better return
| SP | TOTE | BEST RETURN |
| 12/1 | £16.20 | Tote |
| 14/1 | £19.00 | Tote |
| 20/1 | £25.40 | Tote |
| 11/1 | £13.20 | Tote |
| 16/1 | £18.40 | Tote |
| 20/1 | £27.00 | Tote |
| 12/1 | £15.30 | Tote |
| 12/1 | £13.90 | Tote |
| 14/1 | £17.90 | Tote |
| 33/1 | £66.50 | Tote |
Cheltenham Festival 2011 - 2013
In between 2011 & 2013 there were 34 horses that won races with an sp return of 10/1 or higher
2011 results
There were 11 horses that won with an sp of 10/1 or higher, the table below shows whether sp or Tote was the better return
| SP | TOTE | BEST RETURN |
| 10/1 | £10.10 | SP |
| 10/1 | £11.30 | Tote |
| 16/1 | £22.20 | Tote |
| 10/1 | £10.60 | SP |
| 16/1 | £17.80 | Tote |
| 14/1 | £16.90 | Tote |
| 20/1 | £23.50 | Tote |
| 25/1 | £41.00 | Tote |
| 10/1 | £12.80 | Tote |
| 33/1 | £68.00 | Tote |
| 40/1 | £69.40 | Tote |
2012 results
There were 11 horses that won with an sp of 10/1 or higher, the table below shows whether sp or Tote was the better return
| SP | TOTE | BEST RETURN |
| 10/1 | £11.00 | Same Return |
| 14/1 | £19.10 | Tote |
| 11/1 | £11.40 | SP |
| 16/1 | £21.80 | Tote |
| 40/1 | £55.40 | Tote |
| 16/1 | £14.20 | SP |
| 14/1 | £19.80 | Tote |
| 33/1 | £43.70 | Tote |
| 20/1 | £26.30 | Tote |
| 20/1 | £31.10 | Tote |
| 20/1 | £24.60 | Tote |
2013 results
There were 12 horses that won with an sp of 10/1 or higher, the table below shows whether sp or Tote was the better return
| SP | TOTE | BEST RETURN |
| 28/1 | £35.90 | Tote |
| 16/1 | £19.40 | Tote |
| 33/1 | £42.20 | Tote |
| 25/1 | £34.50 | Tote |
| 25/1 | £23.20 | SP |
| 20/1 | £30.20 | Tote |
| 25/1 | £27.00 | Tote |
| 50/1 | £77.30 | Tote |
| 16/1 | £18.90 | Tote |
| 14/1 | £15.80 | Tote |
| 10/1 | £11.40 | Tote |
| 16/1 | £15.90 | SP |
Glorious Goodwood 2010 - 2012
In between 2010 & 2012 there were 33 horses that won races with an sp of 10/1 or higher
2010 results
There were 9 horses that won with an sp of 10/1 or higher, the table below shows whether sp or Tote was the better return
| SP | TOTE | BEST RETURN |
| 12/1 | £12.20 | SP |
| 10/1 | £12.00 | Tote |
| 10/1 | £10.40 | SP |
| 16/1 | £18.40 | Tote |
| 14/1 | £21.30 | Tote |
| 28/1 | £44.50 | Tote |
| 16/1 | £21.60 | Tote |
| 16/1 | £21.20 | Tote |
| 20/1 | £24.70 | Tote |
2011 results
There were 11 horses that won with an sp of 10/1 or higher, the table below shows whether sp or Tote was the better return
| SP | TOTE | BEST RETURN |
| 20/1 | £30.00 | Tote |
| 16/1 | £23.10 | Tote |
| 14/1 | £17.00 | Tote |
| 20/1 | £26.60 | Tote |
| 14/1 | £17.10 | Tote |
| 16/1 | £13.70 | Tote |
| 22/1 | £29.20 | Tote |
| 18/1 | £29.00 | Tote |
| 12/1 | £16.60 | Tote |
| 10/1 | £12.30 | Tote |
| 10/1 | £14.60 | Tote |
2012 results
There were 13 horses that won with an sp of 10/1 or higher, the table below shows whether sp or Tote was the better return
| SP | TOTE | BEST RETURN |
| 12/1 | £16.80 | Tote |
| 14/1 | £18.50 | Tote |
| 16/1 | £21.60 | Tote |
| 22/1 | £30.70 | Tote |
| 14/1 | £17.30 | Tote |
| 14/1 | £16.10 | Tote |
| 16/1 | £22.10 | Tote |
| 12/1 | £15.20 | Tote |
| 25/1 | £31.40 | Tote |
| 20/1 | £28.40 | Tote |
| 10/1 | £12.30 | Tote |
| 22/1 | £36.40 | Tote |
| 16/1 | £12.70 | SP |
As you can see by the above results, you receive far more for your money backing horses at 10/1+ on the tote rather than backing them at SP
In total of the 3 years, we have looked at there have been a total of 92 races where the winner was 10/1 or higher, of those 92 races 1 race returned the same winnings.
The SP was best in 13 races and the Tote was best in the remaining 78 races.
If you decide to back any horse at 10/1 or higher then it's more likely you will receive more for your money by backing them on the Tote.
You will be able to check all tips and prices for those prestigious meetings in the horse racing tips competition.
