Off track betting — how does it work?

Interested in learning more about how OTB works? The Railbirds team are holding a FREE Dog Racing Seminar on Wednesday, April 23 at 5:45 p.m. It will last approximately 45-60 minutes. Call to reserve your spot: 605.271.1806.

A railbird is a fan or spectator who watches horse races, from the rail at the track — an appropriate name for Railbirds Sports Bar and OTB, Lake Lorraine’s newest restaurant and off-track betting location. Railbirds is at the former SandBar and Grill location on Marion Road on the west side of Lake Lorraine.

Off-Track Betting (OTB), also known as Off-Track Wagering, is sanctioned wagering (or betting) on horse racing away from a racetrack. The races are broadcast via an encrypted live signal and are always live events. Off-track betting includes horse, dog and harness racing.

Greyhound racing is an organized, competitive sport in which greyhounds are raced around an oval track. The sport originates from coursing (where the dog pursues a hare in a competitive race). Track racing uses an artificial lure (usually a form of windsock) that travels ahead of the greyhounds on a rail until the greyhounds cross the finish line. As with horse racing, greyhound races often allow the public to bet on the outcome.

The Grand Slam of Thoroughbred racing is an informal name for winning four major Thoroughbred horse races in one season in the U.S. The term has been applied to two configurations of races, both of which include the races of the Triple Crown — the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes — and either the Travers Stakes or the Breeders' Cup Classic as the final race.

Several of these races are all taking place in the coming weeks. The Kentucky Derby is the first Saturday in May and held at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky. The Preakness Stakes are the third Saturday in May and take place at the Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, MD. The Belmont Stakes happens the Saturday following the Preakness, or the first or second Saturday in June. Later in the season is the Travers Stakes, the last Saturday in August, held at the Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, NY. The Breeders’ Cup Classic is the last Saturday in October or the first Saturday in November and changes locations each year.