pari-mutuel
Americannoun
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a form of betting and of handling the betting on horse races at racetracks, in which those holding winning tickets divide the total amount bet in proportion to their wagers, less a percentage for the management, taxes, etc.
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Also called parimutuel machine. an electronic machine that registers bets in parimutuel betting as they are made and calculates and posts the changing odds and final payoffs.
noun
Etymology
Origin of pari-mutuel
1880–85; < French: literally, mutual bet
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
She was 20 years old when she made her debut on Feb. 7, 1969, at Hialeah Park and became the first woman in the U.S. to ride in a professional race at pari-mutuel track.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 16, 2026
If it is a pari-mutuel game of skill, then it is governed by the state regulatory agency, the California Horse Racing Board.
From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 15, 2026
The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission approved pari-mutuel wagering to begin Sept. 7 for retail at in-person locations such as tracks, its extension facilities and simulcast venues.
From Seattle Times • Jul. 10, 2023
Panthalassa, trained by Yoshito Yahagi and ridden by Yutaka Yoshida, paid $34.10 to win in international pari-mutuel pools.
From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 25, 2023
Though officials lengthened the time between races considerably, the wagering lines were so long that many bettors never caught a glimpse of a pari-mutuel window.
From "Seabiscuit: An American Legend" by Laura Hillenbrand
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
