New Horse Racing Betting Sites 2024
Despite the growing emergence of online betting as a whole, there is hardly a sport that can be compared to horse racing when it comes to long-lasting popularity and a rich legacy.
Betting and horse racing share an unbreakable bond that’s only become stronger with the introduction of online betting. Those of you who might be new to betting on this sport via the online sports operators should have a deep look at our extensive layout of available bookmakers which offer the best value for your money.
Listed in a table below are only the most reliable and trustworthy betting sites ranked by their payout percentage, betting margins, welcome offers, minimal odds requirements, streaming options and individual reviews that will surely help you make the best possible decision with choosing the bookmaker that’s best for your personal preferences as a horse race bettor.
You can even make useful comparisons between two or more betting sites you highlight as best to bet on horse racing that will ultimately help you make the best possible choice.
*You can re-order the tables by clicking the little arrows next to any option you’re looking to compare.
18+ New UK customers. Bet £10 on accas with 4+ legs, min odds 3/1 (4.0). Get 4x £5 Free Bets and 50 Free Spins, valid for 7 days on selected bets and games only. T&Cs apply. BeGambleAware.org | New Offer | 113.5% | £25 |
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New customers online only. Use code B10G40 on registration. Place a £10 min qualifying bet at 1/1 (2.0) odds or higher across sports or racing. Get £20 Tote Credit, £10 Free Sports Bet, and 50 Free Spins on Big Bass Bonanza within 48 hours. Free bets and Tote Credit expire in 7 days. One per customer. UK & ROI only. 18+. Full T&Cs at Gambleaware.org. | 5 | 114.5% | £40 |
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New customers only. 7 days to place qualifying bet of £10+ at 1/1 (2.0) to receive 4 x £10 Free Bets: 1 x £10 Acca, 1 x £10 Horse Racing, 1 x £10 Football, 1 x £10 Bet Builder. 7 day expiry. Exclusions apply. Stake not returned. T&Cs apply. 18+ BeGambleAware.org | 5 | 112.3% | £40 |
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New UK Customers only. Sign up and place at least 3 bets of £10 or more on seperate events on your first day of betting. If account has net sportsbook losses at the end of first day's betting, Gentleman Jim will refund 50% of these as a free bet up to £40. Full Terms apply. 18+ begambleaware. | 5 | 113.35% | £ 40 |
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New customers sign up with code "b20g10". Deposit £20 or more and place a £20 bet at min odds 2.0. Get a £10 free bet. Free bets expire after 7 days. Full terms apply. 18+ BeGambleAware.org | 5 | 115.3% | £10 |
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T&Cs apply. 18+ New customers only. You must place a single win-only bet of £10 or more with odds of evens (2.00) or greater to qualify. Money back as £10 in free bets. Free bet is credited once the qualifying bet has settled. Must use code B10G10 when creating an account. | 4.9 | 116.2% | £10 |
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Full T&Cs apply. New UK customers only. The qualifying bet should be either a Single or Acca (2+ selections) bet, start at £10, have 1.9 or greater odds and must be settled within 7 days of sign-up. 5 Free bets which must be placed with a min odds of 2 include: 1 x £10 Free bet on any Pre-match Football game (single); 1 x £10 Free Bet for Horse Racing (single); 1 x £10 Free Bet for Acca (min 2 selections) Bet on any sport; 1 x £10 Free Bet for Acca (min 3 selections) Bet on any sport; 1 x £10 Free Bet for Acca (min 4 selections) Bet on any sport. Max payout – £500. 7 day expiry. To unlock the offer, complete the first deposit via the banking app (Open banking). 18+. BeGambleAware.com | 4.9 | £40 |
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New Players Only. Min £10 qualifying bets, stake not returned. Free bet - one-time stake of 20, min odds 1.5, stake not returned. 1X wager the winnings from the free bet. Max conversion: £200. Withdrawal requests void all active/pending bonuses. Excluded Skrill and Neteller deposits. Full terms apply | 4.9 | 116.4% | £20 |
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18+ New customers only. Opt in via mobile device or app, bet up to £40 (min. £20) on any football market at odds of 2.00+, in 7 days. Get up to £40 in free bets on selected markets. Bonuses expire in 7 days. T&Cs apply. GambleAware.org | Please gamble responsibly | 4.9 | 113.7% | £40 |
Get up to £40 in Football Bets Sign up here | Sign up here Review |
New Players Only. Min £10 qualifying bets stake not returned. Free bet - one-time stake of £30, min odds 1.5, stake not returned. 1X wager the winnings. Wager from real balance first. Wager calculated on bonus bets only. Max conversion: £200. Valid for 7 Days from issue. Withdrawal requests void all active/pending bonuses. Excluded Skrill and Neteller deposits. 18+, #ad and begambleaware Full Terms apply. | 4.8 | 117.2% | £30 |
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18+ New Accounts Only. Min stake £10. Max Refund £100. refunds as Free bets. Win or or win part of E/W single bets only. Exclude multiple & ante post bets. Excludes multiple bets such as lucky 15s etc. Applies to cash stakes only. Free bets must be used in their entirety and to be credited within 24 hours. Full T&C's apply. | 4.8 | 114.7% | £100 |
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4.8 | 114.3% |
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New UK/IE customers . Place your first Football bet as an Accumulator (minimum four selections) and AK Bets will boost the return by 25% in the form of a Free Bet up to a value of £100. 18+ BeGambleAware.org." | 4.8 | 113.6% | £100 |
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Add a bet to your betslip with the minimum stake of £10 and tick “promotion opt in” on the betslip before placing your bet. Once accepted we’ll credit you with a £10 free bet. Minimum odds on qualifying bet 1/1 (2.0). Your qualifying bet must be placed within 7 days after claiming the offer.Only deposits via debit cards will qualify. Ends 31/12/24 at 23:59 GMT. Full T&Cs Apply. | 4.8 | 115.7% | £10 |
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Place a qualifying £10 fixed odds bet at odds of 1/2 or greater. No in-play or cashed out early. A first free £10 fixed odds bet will be credited upon settlement of the qualifying bet. Second free £10 fixed odds bets will be added on the following day. Free bets must be claimed within 28 days of opening. Free bet stake not included in any winnings. Ts&Cs Apply. 18+ begambleaware.org | 4.7 | 112% | £20 |
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New customers Deposit and place your first bet on Sports at odds of Evens (2.0) or greater. Once bet is settled you will receive 1x £10 Free Bet Token to be used on Football, 1x £10 Free Bet Token to be used on Horse Racing, and 20 Extra spins (value per spin 50p), to be used on Book of Dead. Total bonus value £30. Full terms apply. 18+ begambleaware. | 4.7 | 114.2% | £30 |
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Welcome Offer in 2 parts. 18+ | New Customer Only – Promo Code: BETZONE60 required | Sports– 50% back on net LOSSES over your first 3 calendar days | requires min 3 x£10 qualifying bets in same 3 days | Certain bet types excluded | Min return £1 free bet | Casino – Deposit and Wager £30 on selected Welcome slots | Free spins value 60 x 10p | T&Cs apply | Available until 23:59 on 31/01/25 | 4.7 | 115.7% | £60 |
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Terms and Condition New bettors; Code SPORT; Wager deposit & bonus 8x; Max qualifying bet stake=initial bonus; Valid 60 days; Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply; T&C apply; 18+ | 4.7 | 113.7% | £50 |
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New UK customers. Min £10 first deposit. Place a bet of £10 at min odds of 2.0 and get £40 in Free Bets within 48 hours. Full T&C's apply. 18+. BeGambleAware.org. | 4.6 | 101% | £10 |
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Get 50% Back as a Free Bet up to £35 (normally £25) plus 10 Free Spins! A minimum of 3 bets at odds of evens (2.00) or greater is required to qualify for the max free bet, which is based on 50% back of first day losses. Even if your account is up, a single £10 Bet at the minimum odds, secures a £5 Free Bet & 10 Free Spins. UK 18+ T&Cs Apply. Always Gamble Responsibly. gambleaware.org | 4.6 | 114% | £35 |
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New Customers only. Min odds of 2.0. You will receive a 150% deposit bonus if your qualifying bet on the first day is four times your deposit. Full Terms apply. 18+ begambleaware. | 4.5 | £100 |
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4.5 | 113.3% | 0 |
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From 9am on the day of the race. Max £1,000 enhancement per bet. Applies to singles & multiple bets. Further T&C’s apply. | 4.5 | 112.3% | £25 |
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T&Cs: New customers only. Max. one £10 free bet. Qualifying bets must be placed at odds of 1/1 (2.00) or greater. Paid as bonus token with min. 4/5 (1.80) Odds req. T&CS APPLY. 18+ | 4.5 | 112.7% | £10 |
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New members. £10 min deposit & bet on sportsbook, placed & settled at 1.5 min odds between 00.01 10/03/22 and 13.30 15/03/22. 3 x £10 Free Bet Tokens: accept before 3.30 15/03/22, valid for 7 days from crediting (ex. E/Ws & Multiples), stakes not returned. Bet Responsibly. BeGambleAware.org | 4.5 | 113.7% | £20 |
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18+ | New players only | Min deposit req. £10 ; excludes deposits via PayPal | Max stake £10 | Min Odds 1/1 (2.0) | Max FreeBet £10 | Excl Horse Racing | T&Cs apply | 4.4 | 112.5% | £50 |
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New Accounts Only. Deposit £10 via Visa or MasterCard with odds of 1.5 (1/2) as their first bet that subsequently results as a loss, Valid for 3 days. UK only. Full T&C's apply. | 4.4 | 114.6% | £10 |
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18+. New Customers Only. Max one £20 Free Bet. Qualifying bets at Odds of 1/1(2.00) or greater. Paid as Bonus Token with Min 4/5(180) Odds Req. Skrill, Neteller & Paypal not eligible.BeGambleAware.org. T&Cs Apply | 4.4 | 116.2% | £20 |
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*New members only. £10+ bet on sportsbook (ex. virtuals) at 1.5 min odds, settled within 14 days. Free Bets: accept in 7 days, valid 7 days on sportsbook only. 2x£5 Free Bets for Bet Builder only. Stake not returned. T&Cs + deposit exclusions apply. Bet Responsibly. GambleAware®. 18+ | 4.3 | 103.4% | £30 |
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New customers only. Opt-in required. Offer available 00:00 28/03/24 - 23:59 09/04/24. Place min. £5 bet at min. odds of 2.0 on any sports market. One £20 free bet credited per customer within 48 hours and valid for 6 months, stake not returned. UK only & excl. Northern Ireland. 18+ T&Cs apply. | 4.3 | 113% | £20 |
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Place a £25 fixed odds bet at minimum odds of 1/2. 5 x £5 free fixed odds bets, 4 x free £5 spread bets + 50 free spins on Starburst. Full promotions terms apply. | 4.3 | 112% | £50 |
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Qualifying bet of £10 at min. odds 2.0 within 5 days of registration, E/W excluded. Get 3 x Free Bets: 1 x £10 Football, 1 x £10 Racing, 1 x £10 Acca (Min 4 selections). 7-day expiry. New selected customers & 18+ only. Min. deposit of £10. Full T&Cs apply | 4.2 | 114.4% | £30 |
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18+ New customers only. Opt in, and bet £10 on football markets (odds 2.00+). No cash out. Get 6x£5 football free bets at specified odds for set markets, which expire after 7 days. Offer valid from 12:00 UK Time on 25/08/2023. Card payments only. T&Cs apply, gambleaware.org | Please gamble responsibly | 4.2 | 113% | £30 |
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18+, Welcome Bonus: New Players only, 1st Deposit, Min Deposit: £10, max £10 bonus, valid for 14 days, bets must be placed at odds of 1/1 or greater and be settled within 14 days of placement. System bets no eligible. | 4.2 | £10 |
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T&Cs apply. New cust only. Deposit & Place a Bet within 7 days, and settle a £10 minimum bet at odds of 4/5 (1.8) or greater, to be credited with 3x £10 Free Bets: 1 x £10 Horse Racing, 1 x £10 Free Bet Builder and 1 x £10 Football. 7 day expiry. Stake not returned. 18+ BeGambleAware.org. | 4.2 | 115.8% | £30 |
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New customers only, 18+. Min deposit £10. Place a £50 bet on any sport at at odds of Evens (2.0) or greater to qualify for three free bets: £10 on Football, £10 on Greyhound and £5 on Virtual Sports, plus 10 Free Spins on Reel King. Expires in 7 days. Additional T&Cs apply. Please bet responsibly. | 4.1 | 112.5% | £25 |
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New customers registering using the promo code bet20get10. To qualify, place a cash bet of at least £20 at odds of Evens (2.0) or higher and receive a £10 Free Bet. 18+ | GambleAware.org | Full T&Cs apply. | 4.1 | 111.55% | £25 |
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4 | 115.4% | £150 |
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New customers. Max £10. 100% Odds Boost token. Keep it fun - set your deposit limit.T&Cs apply. 18 Plus BeGambleAware.org | 4 | 113.5% | £30 |
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18+ | New players only | Min deposit req. £10 ; excludes deposits via PayPal | Max stake £10 | Min Odds 1/1 (2.0) | Max FreeBet £10 | Excl Horse Racing | T&Cs apply | 3.9 | 115.3% | £20 |
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Horse Racing Betting Guide
Betting on horse racing is something that many people have done for years, with a varied degree of success. We now have an abundance of sports to bet on with the bookmakers, although despite that there is still a very strong market for horse racing betting. Whether you are new to the sport or you would a refresher about what is available to you, this horse racing betting guide will give you the information you need regarding the different horse racing betting markets that are available, as well as different basic strategies you can use.
Basic Horse Racing Betting Markets
Just like many other sports, there are a lot of different ways in which you can get involved when you are placing your bets on horse racing. Here are the basic betting markets that are available to you when you put your money down.
Win Betting
Quite simply the easiest way to bet on any sporting event is to back a selection to win, and in horse racing this is no different. This really is as simple as it sounds, pick a horse to win and if it wins you will get paid out as a winner, while if it loses you will receive nothing back. Your winning are determined on the odds of your selection when you place your bet, although you are able to back at SP if you wish, which gives you the starting price of the horse before the off.
Each Way Betting
An each way bet consists of two different bets. The first is a win bet on the horse like above, and the second is a place bet on the horse to finish inside the allocated placings for that race. This could be 1st and 2nd, although for many races it covers the first three, and in some cases it covers the first four. When placing each way bets look out for bookmaker offers on big races like the Grand National, where you will find place terms enhanced even further. You have two chances to win on an EW bet, if the horse wins then both of your bets are winners, and if the horse places then you have one winning bet out of two.
Read more about each way betting
Betting Without the Favourite
One of the increasingly popular horse racing betting markets is the betting without the favourite market, which allows you to bet on a horse race without the favourite, ideal for when we have a short priced runner. In this instance, you are a winner if your horse wins the race, or if it finishes second behind the favourite, and it is a great way to get value when the favourite is odds on.
Betting Against the Public strategy Explained
Multiple Bets
There are a number of different multiple bets that horse racing punters can use on their selections in the hope of winning big. The most common horse racing multiple bet is a lucky 15, consisting of four horses and 15 bets. This covers every possible outcome between the four runners, all the way up to an accumulator on them all, so the more winners you have the bigger your returns will be with this one. Lucky 31 and 63 bets are also available, and these are exactly the same except the lucky 31 has five selections and the lucky 63 has six selections, with 31 and 63 total bets respectively.
Tips to Improve Your Accumulator
Other Guides
Statistics in Horse Racing Betting & How to Use Them
Non-Runner Insurance Explained
Rule 4 Explained - How to calculate a Rule 4 deduction
Simple Horse Racing Betting Strategies
If you are looking for a simple, but effective, way to pick out winners when placing your horse racing bets then look at the factors below and think about them when you are next placing your bets.
Study the Form
You don’t have to be an expert to study the form of a horse, and you can take something from this even if you are a beginner. Something as simple as looking at horses who have won last time out, or horses who have been running well and finishing close could be enough to find you a handful of winners to get you starts.
Check the Going
One of the most important aspects when looking at a horse race is the going. This is the type of ground that the race is ran on, and it has a huge impact on the outcome of a race. Some horses prefer hard ground in the summer, while others prefer it soft in the winter. Look at what type of ground a horse has ran well on before, and match it up with the ground for the upcoming race. This isn’t the only aspect to look at, but it is a way of ruling out certain runners when you are going through the field.
Trainers and Jockeys
Generally speaking, although following particular trainers and jockeys may not be profitable if you do it all of the time, this is a good place to start. As a rule of thumb, the biggest and best trainers have more expensive and better horses at their disposal, so they are likely to win more races than a smaller yard that has smaller owners who spend less. In a similar vein to that, the top jockeys get their pick of the best horses to ride, and are often associated to the biggest trainers, riding all of their horses for them.
In the longer term you will need to look at a broader spectrum in terms of trainers and jockeys, but when you are getting going there is nothing wrong with picking out a couple of big name trainers and jockeys to follow. This will get you used to looking at races, and although you may not land a consistent profit from them, they will provide you with further winners.
If you want to narrow this strategy down even further then when you are looking at a horse racing meeting you will be able to find information that shows the top trainers and jockeys at that particular course in recent years. These are people that have shown form at that course, and who could target it, so this is a good avenue to look at.
Other strategies
Public Gambles or in the Know Professionals? How to Spot the Difference
Advice on Picking Your Selections-How to pick winners in horse racing
Horse racing is a time-defying sport.
The tides of time saw sports rush to prominence and lose their place under the limelight – especially when it comes to betting – but horse racing has always been a highly-popular choice with the fans and punters alike.
Having first hit the stage in ancient Rome through its chariot racing origins, horse racing has evolved into an adrenaline-boosting, unpredictable and highly lucrative sport.
Horse racing took full advantage of the incredible technological advances which over the past couple of years brought many improvements to the betting world. The sport took a firm hold of the reigns to cement its place as a leading betting choice for punters all over the world.
And with that kind of popularity came various betting opportunities with betting operators offering horse racing popping up almost daily.
If you are new into the whole online betting world, there are several things that need to be taken into consideration when choosing the right operator.
How to Choose Best Horse Racing Betting Sites
Do a Background Check
The most important thing you need to do before trusting your money with an online operator is to do a background check. Simply put, try to stick to fully licensed and registered sites. Make sure that your private information will be safely stored through an encrypted platform and that a site you want to bet on is trustworthy and reliable.
Recommendations are definitely one way to confirm the quality of a betting operator. There is a wide range of websites that offer unbiased and neutral reviews of online bookmakers with all of their advantages and disadvantages clearly stated to help you make the best possible decision.
Banking methods are another important aspect – which unfortunately gets pushed aside more often than you would think – and therefore it is extremely important to make sure that a site you choose will support your favoured payment options.
Check the Offering
As you go on to choose the site you want to bet on, it is implied that you have already determined the type of races you want to wager on. In case you haven’t, here is a quick reminder of the main types of racing, simply to push you in a right direction.
We’ll take the freedom to assume that most of you will not be that into the Endurance Racing which leaves us with:
- Flat Racing
- Jump Racing
The flat race season kicks off in March and lasts until November with the majority of big-name events belonging to this popular category. The very mention of Royal Ascot will be enough to get you excited as you bet on the fast-paced galloping stallions.
Not trailing much in terms of popularity behind the flat racing, jump racing is divided into three further categories – Hurdle, Steeple Chase and Bumpers. The latter is arguably the most exciting of all three as it is a gentler type that allows horses to race up to speeds of a flat race.
With all of the categories in mind, the betting sites that have most of the options available in their betting markets will deserve your attention.
Shop for Odds
The last – but not least – thing to look at is odds. Do not get stuck to that first betting site that ticks the aforementioned boxes but make sure to go around and do some window-shopping to compare the available odds on your favourite markets.
You would be surprised to see how odds differ from one bookmaker to another and getting the best possible value for your money is what we’re all after. Luckily, most betting sites will allow you to have a look at the odds without having to log in or register, which only makes it ever so easier for you to decide.
Five Ways To Choose The Best Betting Sites For Horse Racing
We examine the best horse racing betting sites and what you need to know
Horse racing and betting go hand in hand. Very few people that follow the sport or attend racecourses don’t place bets on the action, whether they are a fan of National Hunt racing or the flat equivalent.
Finding the best betting site for horse racing is very important. There is lots of choice when it comes to choosing a bookmaker and you should bear in mind the following things when selecting a betting site that will serve your needs for racing.
Does your horse racing betting site offer Best Odds Guaranteed?
A few years ago, bookmakers that offered horse racing odds realised that they needed to do something special. Something that would attract the eye of customers and thus Best Odds Guaranteed was born.
Best Odds Guaranteed means that betting customers get the best of both worlds when it comes to betting on horse racing. Any bookmaker that offer BOG will allow customers to take a price and guarantee to pay out at SP should the SP be bigger than the odds they took.
Therefore, it is important to choose a betting site for horse racing that offers Best Odds Guaranteed. Over time, you will make a lot more money from your racing bets than simply having to guess whether the price will drift or contract.
Can you watch live horse racing with your betting site?
You’ve placed a bet on the racing so it naturally follows that you should be able to watch the action and see if your wager is a winner. The great news is that a group of bookmakers have deals in place with At The Races and Racing UK.
These deals means that the likes of Paddy Power, bet365 and Sky Bet can live stream every race from the UK and Ireland all the way through the year. The only requirement is that you place a £1 bet or bigger on the race in question. Then you can access live racing pictures on your PC, laptop, tablet or mobile.
The picture quality is generally very good and it’s important to note the bookies that will show live racing when it’s not a live televised encounter which is often the case with the bread and butter horse racing.
Can I get free bets on horse racing?
Horse racing free bets are a brilliant incentive to keep returning to a particular bookmaker. There is the excellent welcome bonus that can be enjoyed when you sign up with a bookmaker and that can be available through a deposit bonus, a free matched bet or money back if your horse doesn’t win its race.
Once you have enjoyed the opening bonus, several bookmakers will then offer you extra promotions where free bets can be enjoyed when you have placed a certain number of bets. Or you might get something like bet365’s Channel 4/1 offer where you are given a free bet when backing the winner of a 4/1 shot for a TV race.
Free bets should be used carefully as it’s a free shot at the bookmaker and these bookies don’t give away too many freebies along the way. Look out for free bet offers around the time of the big racing meetings such as the Cheltenham Festival, Aintree, Royal Ascot and Glorious Goodwood.
What about price boosts on the horse racing?
Ah yes, the price boosts which have become all the rage. If you’re choosing a betting site for horse racing, then it’s important to select a bookmaker which specialises in enhanced odds on the racing on a daily basis.
The first type of price boosts are the ones that are available to new customers, with a bookmaker such as Paddy Power potentially offering Faugheen at 10/1 instead of the trading price of 2/1.
The bookmaker might cap the maximum stake at £10 and it’s a great way of enjoying a massive price to get you started with a racing betting site.
Then you get the other type of price boost or enhanced odds which is arguably more valuable over time. If you bet regularly on horse racing, then it’s great when you get daily price boosts for particular races. For example, a bookmaker might boost Cue Card to win the Gold Cup from 2/1 to 3/1 for a limited time only.
Enhanced odds taken regularly give you a better chance of making money over time. There are also chances to back horses in multiples at bigger odds.
Does your betting site offer multiple bet options?
In addition to backing horses as a single bet, you also want the opportunity to have horse racing bets where you place selections in doubles, trebles and other types of multiple bets.
For example, there is a bet called a Yankee where you have four horses and effectively combine them in doubles, trebles and a four-fold. Make sure that you have a bookmaker account where there is the option to place these types of bets.
On a similar note, you should choose a racing betting site where the maximum stake is as high as you need it to be. Some bookmakers cap the stake size for every day races and it can be frustrated when you’re not able to bet at the amount you want to.
How good are your bookmaker odds?
Horse racing odds can differ across the board and it’s worth having a betting account with several bookmakers to make sure you get the best possible prices. Some betting sites will ensure that their racing prices are as good as their competitors such as the bet365 Price Promise which is available for several high-profile meetings.
Ultimately, there has never been a better time to bet on horse racing due to the sheer range of choice available. There are dozens of bookmakers available and they are falling over themselves when it comes to opening a betting account.
How to Bet on Horse Racing
Horse racing and betting go hand in hand since the beginning of time.
Horse racing and betting go hand in hand since the beginning of time.Ever since a man discovered that by sitting on a horse’s back he can cover great distances in a short amount of time and get the beast to run faster than his friend’s horse, there had surely been a bet or two to claim otherwise.
Betting on horse racing is as popular as it’s ever been and it definitely is a remarkable thing to see this sport defy the betting trends, shifts and tides of time, never allowing the emergence of other sports such as tennis and most notably football to ruin its betting reputation.
Horse race betting can be extremely profitable and that’s definitely one strong argument in favour of its popularity in betting circles. It can also drag you down if you’re not careful enough and if you don’t know what you’re doing.
Learning to make the right bets, interpret the market and betting selections will help you improve your own odds of winning and here we’ll try to provide you with all the essentials on how to bet on horse racing.
Online betting has introduced a fresh batch of horse racing bets some of which have grown immensely in popularity over the most recent years.
A plethora of horse racing bets is what awaits you and you’d be wise to invest some time to learn a bit about every single one of them to make your horse racing betting experience a simple, pleasant and a lucrative one.
Win/on the nose/single bet is the simplest and most popular of them all, where you bet on a particular horse to win a race. Doubles are also a popular selection which is actually two selections for 2 different races with the winnings multiplied between horses – which means potentially huge payouts.
A single most popular horse racing bet is Each Way Betting, which is explained in detail below.
An important thing to remember when deciding on your horse racing bet is to have a look at the odds. The shorter the odds on a horse, the more theoretical chance that beast has of winning but it means less money, of course.
If we’re to describe it in a single sentence, Each Way is a win bet and a place bet on the same horse. You back your horse to win or to finish within certain places which improves your chances of landing it right even if it fails to win the race.
This betting option can usually be displayed as e/2 or w/p and it’s effectively two individual bets which sets your choice to winner, second or third place – usually – with options going to 4 or 5 depending on the type of the race and the number of horses running in it.
Each Way Betting will not be available for races with four or less runners.
Handicap betting is an extremely popular horse race betting selection due to the fact it involves luck and a certain level of skill that requires the ability to recognise which horse could turn its apparent disadvantage into an upper hand and win the game.
Now to make it simple, a handicap horse race will see certain horses carry different weights allocated by the handicapper with better horses and favourites carrying heavier loads to lay the ground level for all participating horses.
A good handicapper will recognise a horse that will overcome the burden and still use its strength and power to win the race.
Handicaps differ from race to race and you need to be on constant alert and checking your Daily Racing Forms (DRF) before placing a bet.
Horse Racing Types and Terminology
So, you have finally decided to take your passion for horse racing to a higher level and want to test your skills and apparent knowledge on the sport through betting on it?
As avid betting aficionados we support the efforts and applaud the courage. Still, before you go knees deep into the exciting horse racing betting world make sure to get all the facts straight and learn the terminology – which is plenty in horse racing – just so you won’t get in any sort of problems of perhaps not understanding what’s there to bet on and how to do it.
The first thing you need to understand is that, unlike football where you have the same model just in various competitions, horse racing includes almost different kinds of the same sport with its different types.
Three most common types of horse racing are:
- Flat Racing
- Jump Racing
- Harness Racing
- Endurance Racing
Horses galloping directly between two points around a straight or more likely oval track is called flat racing. Jump racing involves horses running over different obstacles and this form of racing is usually referred to as Steeplechasing which in the UK and Ireland is best known as National Hunt racing – one of the most popular kinds as well.
Harness racing is a type of horse racing where horses trot or pace – not run – pulling a driver in a sulky. Ultimately, endurance racing is a race in which a horse travels across country over extreme distances.
Once you cover the types of horse races, as a horse racing punter wannabe you need to learn the elementary types of bets which widely differ from anything you’ll find in any other sport. This is why learning the terminology is crucial before you go on to wager money on horse racing.
Across the Board – this is a bet on a single horse to win, place AND show.
Show – now that we mentioned it above, show is a type of bet where your horse must finish 1st, 2nd or 3rd.
Place – your horse needs to come 1st or 2nd.
One the nose – you’re backing your horse to win only, one of the most popular and common betting options.
Daily Double – betting on two separate horses in consecutive races where each of your horses must finish first, with odds multiplied between horses for a lucrative win.
There is also a highly engaging set of bets that include two and more than two horses in a single bet. They might sound confusing and like they rather belong to an opera than a sport.
- Quinella
- Exacta
- Trifecta
- Superfecta
When it comes to Quinella, your horses need to finish 1st and 2nd in either order and this one’s considered a normal play to three horses. Exacta involves two horses that need to finish 1st and 2nd in exact order which is a riskier bet. Trifecta includes three horses which must finish 1st, 2nd and 3rd in exact order and this one can be a bit expensive and highly risky to go with. Ultimately, Superfecta is a bet extremely hard to win since it involves four horses in 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th.