You might see
horse racing odds on the Belmont Stakes presented in three different formats” fractional, American or decimal.
Fractional odds are the most common when it comes to horse racing. The easiest way to explain how to read the odds is to use an example.
Tacitus was the 9-5 favorite in the Belmont Stakes odds in 2019. That set of
fractional odds informed bettors how much they stood to win by betting on him. The number on the left tells you the amount you will win by wagering the amount on the right. If you see odds of 9-5, it tells you that you will win $9 for every $5 you wager. A $5 bet at 9-5 would therefore earn you a $9 profit. You also get your stake back if you place a successful bet on the Belmont Stakes, so your return would have been $14.
In 2019, Sir Winston was a 12-1 underdog in the morning line odds for the big Belmont race. That told bettors they would win $12 for every $1 they wagered. A $10 bet on Sir Winston at those odds would have netted you $120, whereas a $10 bet on Tacitus would have netted you just $18. In the end, Sir Winston defied the odds to secure a famous victory.
Fractional odds of 12-1 would be rendered as +1200 in American format. It tells you the profit you stand to earn from a $100 bet if successful. In this case, bet $100, earn $1,200. A fractional price of 12-1 would be rendered as 13.00 in decimal format. Then you simply multiple your stake by that figure to calculate your return. A $10 bet at 13.00 earns you a return of $130 ($120 profit and your $10 stake back). Fractional odds of 9-5 become +180 in American format and 2.80 in decimal format.