There is no "official' list of odds anywhere. At each track the handicapper(s) take their best guess and these are the odds printed in the program. But the betters set the real odds with their bets. The more money bet on a horse, the shorter the odds.
Basically, at the track, all the money bet goes into a pool. The taxman and the track take their cut and what is left is the money that can be won. There is a sum of money (a pool) for first, a pool for second and a pool for third. A bet for second pays if the horse comes first or second. A bet for third pays if the horse finishes first or second or third.
Bets with off track bookies are different. You are quoted odds at the time you place your bet and regardless of what else happens, if you win, you get paid at those odds.
No, because that is odds-on.
It means a horse that is not likely to win, or that the odds are stacked against him.
A horse at 1:1, or even odds, means that for every $2 dollars you bet you will receive $4.
In horse racing the odds are determined by the bets placed. Betting stops when the race starts. These determine the final odds.
It means that the odds are 4 to 1 against winning. This would translate into a 20% chance of winning.
Sky racing is horse racing and some tips include following the odds of the specific horse, and looking for the best bets. The sky horse history and the owner's track record can also be useful tools for knowing where to bet one's money.
Have a look at the related link for information on horse racing betting
In horse racing in Australia and New Zealand, TAB is an acronym that stands for Totalisator Agency Board. Totalisator refers to the large tote boards that calculate and display the betting odds at racetracks.
ML stands for Morning Line. It mean the "line" or predicted odds for the horses in the race. Actual odds are determined by the amount actually bet on each horse. The track handicapper sets the morning line.
An exacta is a type of bet where you pick the horses who will finish first and second, in that order ("exact").
If the odds of a horse winning a horse race are 2 to 7 then the odds against that horse winning the race are 7 to 2.
If you are a better handicapper then everyone else, then yes you can make money but the odds are against you.