On either DVD, where your audience can bet on which horse or horses they think may be race winners, and then if they are lucky, claim the prize money. At the beginning of each race your audience is invited to choose the winning horse by purchasing a tote ticket, which clearly states the race and the runner number. The price of the tote ticket is left to your discretion, usually £1.00, but remember
, the higher the tote ticket price, the bigger the payout on each race and of course, the more profit for you. All the tickets are both colour and number coded to avoid any confusion. We use the ‘tote system’ to calculate the winnings, which basically means that money is collected in, a percentage is retained for funds, and the remainder is paid out as winnings - in other words, add up the money taken, subtract your percentage, and divide the remainder between the winners. Unlike a High Street bookmaker, odds are not offered in advance of the race, as it is not known how much money has been placed until the ‘tote’ is closed. Selection is made from fictitious names on a race card, race cards can be provided for you so you can bet on a horse that you own for the night. Horses are identified on screen by number only. When all bets have been placed, the ‘tote’ is closed and a member of the audience is invited to select one of the films, to be the race shown. As it is a purely random selection, then no-one can possibly know what race or what horses will be running. Not even the organisers of the event will know the outcome of the race. The lights are then dimmed and the excitement begins as the film is shown and the horses race towards the finishing post. While the race is on, the amount to be paid out to winners, and the amount to be retained for funds, is calculated. When all the winners have claimed their winnings, the tote is re-opened for the next race and the fun starts all over again.
