EXOTIC WAYS TO LOSE YOUR MONEY.

Byline: Keith Marder Daily News Television Writer

Today, with good racing luck, more than 50,000 people could pour into Hollywood Park for the Breeders' Cup. That's in excess of 20,000 more people than have been going to the track on an above average weekend day in recent times.

Without going too deep into mathematical and statistical theories, it stands to reason that there will be more than a few first-timers at the track.

The mix of $2 joy-riders and hardened handicappers can be, let's just say, tense.

So to avoid oral harassment from a guy who may or may not be able to send his son to college depending on the outcome of a race, we have assembled an easy-to-use guide to playing the ponies for fun and profit.

Rule No. 1: Be prepared before you get to the window. This is not Carl's Jr., so don't expect to get to the front of the line and check out the menu (the odds board).

Rule No. 2: Know what to say. First you have to pick your horses. This is not a handicapping seminar, so figure that out yourself.

But when you come up with your selections, write down your bets, find the shortest line and remember this simple order: amount of wager; type of bet; horse number (not name). Here's an example: $2 win on 7.

Got it?

Good luck. But beware: Racetracks are the only places where windows clean people.

Here's a look at the types of bets:

Beginners

Win: You are wagering that your horse will finish first.

Place: You believe in the horse, but not that much. You cash in your ticket if your selection finishes first or second.

Show: A top-three finish makes you a bit richer.

Intermediate

Exacta: You must pick the first two finishers in the exact order of finish. If you pick the finish to be 5-2 and the horses finish 2-5, you lose. You can hedge your bet by buying an exacta box, which means you make the bet in both directions. Combining three horses in a $1 exacta box costs $6.

Trifecta: Exactas sound too easy? Then try one of these. All you have to do is pick the top three finishers in order. You can also box a trifecta, which costs $6 for each dollar bet for three horses.

Superfecta: You might as well take your wallet, douse it in gasoline and introduce it to a lit match. This is a tough bet. It's a trifecta, plus one. You do the math.

Daily double: You have to pick the winner in two consecutive races - either the first and second or the last two. Both horses have to win. Almost doesn't count - this is horse racing, not horseshoes.