Need help from someone to better undersand the meaning of Ex Ante and Post Ante.
I searched for the meaning of these two words but could not find them.

Pat

Dear pat: Thanks for a challenging question. I had never seen the terms in print
before. I found many sites using "ex ante" to describe cost estimates made before
a project was startee, and "post ante" to the revised estimates after project
had gotten underway. However, I did not encounter any sites using "post ante".

Dear pat: After thinking about it carefully, I see no way "post ante" could not be
an oxymoron. Everything is post ante!

Everything is post ante!

Ah! Pat, are you talking about Ante Post, as in the British betting term for advance bets?

Bill, "ante post" would be the oxymoron. "Post ante" would be a tautology, I think.

Can't find a derivation for "ante post", but I suspect the post here is either the starting post or the posting of declarations for the race (including Draw positions etc).

Dear fishonabike: All the sites I saw were about accounting in business. I can see
that horse racing would present other uses. But for an oxymoron, how could you
beat saying something was after something else? Time does that.

At least you don't need to be pretentious about using Latin to say it.

>> I suspect the post here is either the starting post or the posting of declarations for the race (including Draw positions etc). <<

Your second supposition is correct, shona - after the draw has been posted, all off-course bets are taken at starting prices. But on-course betting is still at prices negotiated at the time of placing the bet.

(All of this excludes betting on the Tote, which runs to different rules)

Funny you should ask about 'ante', Pat. Just a day or two ago I was looking up this very word after listening to a hip-hop track 'Ante up'. I wondered whether this was common usage or one used only in that tune as a metaphor from the reference of raising the basic stake, e.g. in a game of cards. Turns out one might say 'ante up' in a few cases (e.g. when tallying), so I guess 'ante up' is pretty well known, just not to me.
I can't really help with your query though. [strolling off]

one might say 'ante up' in a few cases (e.g. when tallying), so I guess 'ante up' is pretty well known, just not to me.

This is interesting BY (no, really!)

We say "upping the ante" for "raising the stakes" over this side of the Pond. Not, as far as I know, "ante up", although I can't see why not.

Maybe not that interesting. Carry on strolling

Well, I've been through a few poker nights, myself ...and we usually used ante for the tithe made to the pot just prior to the game, as a sort of admission bet to beef-up the pot and make it worthwhile. And we'd say "c'mon, ante up, now, so we can get started!" or "what's the ante?" (dealer sets the ante for each game). Once in a while, though, you'd hear folks say ante to describe the pot itself..."throw your bet into the ante," "that's quite an ante." When I was dealin' I'd say, before the hand, "Okay, guys, ante up a dollar!" (or quarter, or whatever...)And someone might say, "Aw, c'mon, what're'ya raisin' the ante on this one for?" And I'd reply, "'Cause I want to keep it interesting! If you don't like it, don't play" And they'd grumble and throw their buck in the pot. 3-card "Guts" was the best...if you said you were in and lost, you had to match the pot! (you got 'burned' the pot, we used to say) If three or four guys went in you could make a small fortune on the next hand. And it was a dealer's game...if everybody folded, the dealer took the pot. So the guy next to the dealer had the "bluff seat"...and he had to have greed and brass balls!

I wouldn't use real money to play poker on a bet...

Pat, welcome to you. I found this heading of an article: World Bank HIV/AIDS Interventions: Ex-ante and Ex-post Evaluation
This isn't exactly what you asked about, but I thought the terms were interesting. I'm afraid I don't have the time or the inclination to read and figure out what was meant, but if anyone does, here is the link:
http://www.worldbank.org/aids-econ/interven.htm

I still remember a game in which all the chips had been bet, and "strip poker"
resorted to. When it came to showdown, a green kid caused pandemonium and
pugilistics by laying down three pair.

I wouldn't use real money to play poker on a bet...

Actually, Jackie, we always did use chips. But when we bet we'd verbalize the monetary value (i.e. I'll bet a "nickel" [white chip], "dime" [red chip], "quarter" [blue chip]...and if we bet a "dollar" we'd throw in four quarter chips, etc.) Once or twice the "bank" turned up short...no fun when that happens. It's amazing how mean friends can get to each other after drinkin' and losin' money! Which is the main reason I knocked it off after a few years.

Jackie:I wouldn't use real money to play poker on a bet...

Aw, Jackie, it's not realif there is no chance you're gonna lose real money, be a penny or a pound.
"In for a penny, in for a pound" as they say.

Here in New England "Ante Up" is often used whenever a risk is involved. A sort of fast way to say "Put your money where your mouth is."
And - she said making a WAG - I'd guess that "post ante" could be used to apply to a post mortem on a game!