Staking is just about as old as playing poker for money. Staking is simple ? a backer (person providing the stake) finds a horse (a player to be staked) and agrees to give the horse a stake (an amount of money to be put into play). The backer and the horse come to an agreement on how the stake will be used and they?ll split the winnings (50/50 is a fairly standard arrangement). The horse plays the game that?s been agreed upon, and that?s the end