What Does “Winner, Starting Price (SP)” Mean?
In horse racing betting, “Winner, Starting Price (SP)” refers to a bet on a horse to win the race, where the odds are not fixed at the time of the bet, but instead you take the Starting Price, which is the official odds the horse starts the race at.
- The Starting Price (SP) is determined just before the race begins by averaging odds offered by bookmakers at the track.
Example
Let’s say there’s a horse race, and you like Horse #5 – Thunderbolt.
You place a “Winner (SP)” bet of ₦5,000 on Thunderbolt.
At the time you place the bet:
- Bookmakers are offering odds ranging from 5.00 (4/1) to 6.00 (5/1).
- You choose to bet at SP (Starting Price), not at fixed odds.
When the race starts, the official SP is 5.50 (9/2).
If Thunderbolt wins, your return will be:
- ₦5,000 × 5.50 = ₦27,500 (includes your stake)
If Thunderbolt loses, you lose your ₦5,000 stake.
Why Use SP Instead of Fixed Odds?
Advantage:
- Useful for late bets: If you’re betting close to race time, SP is often the only option.
- Avoids guessing odds: You don’t need to lock in odds early that might shorten.
- Some bookmakers offer “Best Odds Guaranteed” – if SP is better than the fixed odds you took earlier, they’ll pay the higher one.
Disadvantage:
- SP is unpredictable: Odds may drop, giving you a smaller return than expected.
- You may miss out on better early odds.
Betting Tips
- Check market trends early
– If a horse is heavily backed early, its SP might shorten (worse odds for you). - Use SP only when close to race time
– Early in the day, better to lock in fixed odds if you find value. - Watch for “steamer horses”
– These are horses whose odds are shortening quickly. You might benefit more from early odds than SP. - Combine with EW (Each-Way) if high odds
– If you’re betting on a long shot with SP, an each-way bet gives more cover. - Use bookmakers that offer “Best Odds Guaranteed”
– If you take early fixed odds and SP ends up being better, you’ll get the higher payout.
Summary
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Winner (SP) | Bet on a horse to win at its official SP odds |
| SP (Starting Price) | Final odds at the start of the race |
| Payout | Stake × SP (if your horse wins) |
If you’d like, I can also compare Winner SP vs. Fixed Odds betting, or explain how Each-Way SP bets work.