Best Horse Racing Betting Sites
Betting on horse racing is one of the most popular gambling experiences nowadays. But it’s not highly practical for everyone to go to a real horse racing event. And this is why online bookies have started taking advantage of this vast potential of the market. So, it goes without saying that you will be able to find many horse racing betting websites online. But which ones of these websites are legit? Where should you direct your attention if you wish to bet on horses? Read this article and you will find all the information you need.
TwinSpires – one of the best horseracing betting websites
There’s an abundance of the best horse betting sites for the US. Horse racing betting online USA has a long and rich history. It’s been around for centuries with widespread popularity across the globe. Betting Sites with Horse Racing Offers. How Does Horse Race Betting Work? All of the best horse racing betting sites operate on cutting-edge platforms which are user-friendly. This makes them equally perfect for newcomers to the world of online betting and seasoned punters.
Content
- 1 TwinSpires – one of the best horseracing betting websites
- 2 Betamerica – great deposit bonus and solid odds
- 3 TVG – a great mobile app
- 4 Bet365 Horse Racing – TBD
Deposit bonuses
It goes without saying that online gamblers are a bit spoiled nowadays. The reason for this is that they have come to expect to get free offers codes by making deposits and signing up. This is very much unlike what happens in brick and mortar casinos. And horseracing is not any different. So, will you be able to get a deposit bonus at TwinSpires? You bet! (no pun intended) You’ll be able to get up to 100$ upon making your first deposit. This should be just about enough to get the balls rolling and help you understand the horseracing betting experience better.
Free bets
There is a way to also get some free bets at TwinsSpires. In order to get them, you’ll need to use the promotional offer for referrals. Making referrals means that you will recommend this bookie to your friends and that they will start using it. If you make a single referral, then you and your friend will both get 10$ free bets. And the best thing about this is that you can refer this website to as many people as you like. So, theoretically, it’s possible to get a lot of free money that you can use for free bets in this way.
Markets offered
As far as we could tell, TwinSpires offers a wide variety of horseracing events from around the world. Of course, the focus is placed on the major horse events. In fact, if you visit the website, you will see that there is a “major horseracing events” link that you can check out in order to see these events. Regardless, there are also many other non-major horseracing events that you can bet on as well. In this sense, TwinSpires can give horseracing bettors a wide field for placing their bets.
Odds and limits
TwinSpires offers some of the best odds and limits in the field of online horseracing gambling. The odds are high enough for them to be profitable for the players – however, you do need to be aware that the odds will be influenced by how other gamblers bet on the event in question. The limits are set pretty high. You only need to know them if you’re a high roller and you wish to be really large amounts. In all other cases, you won’t have to worry about the limits at all.
Live Betting and live streaming options
One of the best things about TwinSpires is that it offers great live betting and live streaming options. They have dubbed this feature “TwinSpires TV” and it means that you will get immediate access to up to five simultaneous racetracks. Also, the streams will be in HD so you won’t have to worry about the visuals being terrible. And moreover, you’ll be able to do some life betting. There are many features that are embedded in TwinsSpires TV that will make the live betting experience very enjoyable.
Deposit methods
It’s very easy to learn more about all the deposit methods that are available at TwinSpires. First of all, you will be able to use credit or debit cards – MasterCard and Visa are supported, but MasterCard is recommended for use on this website. You could use MoneyGram, PayPal, EZ-Money – and a few other methods as well. They are simple and easy to use in all cases.
Look & Feel of the site
We’ve had no issues at all during the writing of this review when it comes to TwinSpires’ website. It’s very neatly organized and you can find anything you need in a matter of seconds. And this sets out some of the best online bookies from some of the worst. It’s important for a racehorse betting website to give you all the options and make them easily accessible. In this sense, you’ll have no problem with TwinSpires.
Mobile app
One of the best things about TwinSpires is the mobile application that’s available for Android and iOS devices. It’s easy to install and register it and then you’ll be able to do some horseracing betting on the go. The application makes things a lot simpler than if you were to use the web browser of your smartphone.
Betamerica – great deposit bonus and solid odds
Deposit bonuses
Betamerica is a horseracing bookie that, similarly to TwinSpires, offers a deposit bonus. And this bonus comes in the form of a 100% match of up to 100$. So, it’s pretty much the same as in the case of TwinSpires. All you need to do is signup and make your first deposit. And you will be granted the bonus.
Free bets
If you’re loyal to the use of this website, then you may get additional free bets aside from the deposit bonus. There are promotional offers that go on a daily basis. You too may be the recipient of a free bet that you can use on one of the horseracing events.
Markets offered
The official promotional flyer for Betamerica states that you will get betting access to the top 400 horseracing events of the world. This means that you will have ample opportunities to bet on some of these horseracing events. We are quite pleased with what Betamerica has to offer on the subject of betting markets.
Odds and limits
In terms of the odds that this website offers – a good thing is that it doesn’t try to swindle you in any way. The reason for this is that the odds are created by the players that bet on the events. The more bets any outcome has, the lower the odds. And vice versa. This means that the odds are highly competitive. And the limits are set pretty high as well.
Live betting and live streaming options
You can see more than 3,000 horseracing and greyhound racing events on Betamerica every week. This should be enough of a clue as to the quality of the live streaming and betting platforms on this website. It goes without saying that you will also be able to do some live betting as well. And the quality of the video streams is top-notch.
Deposit methods
You can use Visa and MasterCard as the main credit/debit card deposit methods, however, you should know that you’ll need to pay a fee for using them. The first deposit that you will make is free of charge, but the subsequent deposits will charge you 3.98% of the transaction. You could also pay money in convenience stores through PayNearMe and MoneyPak.
Look and feel of the website
BetAmerica looks good as a website. There is no argument there. The entire interface is made to the look of the American flag. And it’s neatly designed. You’ll be able to do anything you like on the website in a matter of seconds. So, the website’s design is of high quality.
Mobile apps
The BetAmerica mobile app is easy to download for iOS and Android devices alike. You can download it very quickly and start using it immediately. A rather neat thing is that you’ll get certain promotional offers if you use the app. And it will make your life easier when it comes to betting online on BetAmerica.
TVG – a great mobile app
Markets offered
Best Online Horse Racing Betting Sites
There is a large number of horseracing events that are available to bet on this website. You will never find it hard to find an event that you can bet on while you’re on the TVG betting platform. There are races and events from all around the world and you will be able to capitalize on this schedule if you’re savvy enough.
Odds and limits
Much like in the case of BetAmerica, TVG sets a “free market” in terms of how high or low the odds will be. This means that the people that work in this company have no influence on the size of the betting odds. And this is almost always a good thing because it means that the odds won’t be artificially lowered at any point. What you get are real odds. Also, there are rather high limits for the bets that you will be able to place. The limit is a subject that shouldn’t concern you if you plan on betting at TVG.
Live betting and streaming options
You can’t spell TVG without TV, right? Bad joke. Okay, but the point is that you will be able to see some of the most popular racehorse events from all around the world live. There is a live stream platform that you will be able to use for this purpose. And you’ll also be armed with all the tools you need in order to do some live betting on your favorite horseracing event.
Deposit methods
There is a list of credit and debit cards that you can use for the purpose of making deposits and withdrawals on the website. And this is the most widely used method for making deposits online. But you’ll also get to use PayPal, BetCash, and PayNearMe as valid payment methods as well. In this sense, you’ll never be at a loss when it comes to methods for funding your TVG account.
Look and feel of the website
This website is designed in a way much similar to that of TwinSpires. If you recall, the TwinSpires website was great in the sense that it gave you all the options that you need at a quick glance. Well, this is exactly the case with TVG’s website as well. You’ll need a few minutes before you’ll get used to it and after that everything will be easy.
Mobile apps
The TVG mobile application is one of the best in the field of online horseracing. In this sense, if you download this app for Android or iOS, you’ll get the chance to see some live action in terms of horseracing and do some live betting. You’ll also get a lot of useful information on the events and even free promotional bonuses. So, we suggest that you download this app as soon as possible in order to make the most of it.
Bet365 Horse Racing – TBD
Markets offered
There is a full list of horseracing tracks from all around the world to be found at Bet365. This means that you’ll have a wide list of events that you can do some betting on. And this is very much like what the other online bookies that we have reviewed before have to offer.
Odds and limits
Again, the odds are set according to the movement of the betting market. It’s up to the player to find a hole in the system and find odds that are higher than what they usually are. The limits are set to a high point and you won’t usually have to worry about them at all.
Live betting and streaming options
You could do live betting on the Bet365 US website. However, we failed to find a trace of streaming options. So, this is a big fault that this bookie has and we hope that it will set it right in the near future.
- To use the Live Streaming service you will need to be logged in and have a funded account or to have placed a bet in the last 24 hours.
Deposit methods
To be fair, there is a wide variety of deposit methods that you can use for betting on Bet365. Of those, the most popular ones are through credit and debit cards. But you can use PayPal and various other methods as well. You could even place a direct call and get guided through the methods for depositing money in this way.
Look and feel of the website
We really don’t have any bad remarks about the quality of Bet365’s website. It gets the job done. You’ll be able to find your way around it very easy and this is the hallmark of great bookies that offer betting services online.
Mobile apps
The Bet365 mobile app is supported on three kinds of devices – Android, iOS, and Blackberry. So, if you own any of these kinds of smartphones, you’ll get access to some a great quality mobile betting application. You’ll get access to the site and the live betting platform and you will be able to place bets on the go.
In conclusion
There are many different horseracing bookies online. We have reviewed some of the best of them above. Every horseracing site has its own strengths and weaknesses. It’s up to you to use this review and find the best online horseracing bookie for your own personal needs and preferences.
This list of the best horse betting sites in for the US is based on the following criteria: deposit bonuses, quality of site & apps, odds.
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.Betting SiteRankOdds PayoutBetting Margin Horse RacingMAX BONUSMin.OddsBONUS OFFERBonus Expiry daysBetting Site LinkT&C10Bet4.013.70%£501.80 (4/5)50% up to £50 welcome bonus30SIGN UP HERE
Terms and Condition
New Customers only; Min. deposit £15; Bonus amount 50% of deposit up to £50; Wager deposit and bonus 8x within 30 days; 4/5 Min. single odds or 2/5 min. acca selection odds; Max. stake contribution equal to the initial bonus; Certain bet types and payment methods excluded; See full terms; Terms apply; 18+
Quinnbet4.9114%£302.0 (1/1)Bet £10 Get £5 + 50% Cashback on losses + 50 Free spins7SIGN UP HERE
- Deposit and bet on any Sportsbook Markets of your choice at odds of Evens (2.00) or greater.
- Get 50% Back of your first days losses as a Free Bet up to £25 + a Guaranteed £5 Free Bet Either Way plus 10 Free Spins!
- 18+
32RedSports4.413.74%£1002.0 (1/1)150% Casino Bonus up to £150!7SIGN UP HERE
New accounts only. Min. £10 deposit, debit card only. Up to 50x wagering, game contributions vary, max. stake applies, 7 day expiry. T&Cs Apply. #AD
BWIN4.115.3%£10£10 Back up betSIGN UP HERE
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
Hopa4.813.40%£152.0 (1/1)Bet £10 Get £15 + 7 Days X £100 Cash PrizeSIGN UP HERE
18+, Welcome Bonus: New Players only, 1st deposit, Min Deposit: £10, max £10 free bet 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 not eligible. Only depositing using specific payment methods. only.Click to see full T&Cs
Mr.Play4.514.24%£152.0 (1/1)Bet £10 Get £15 NewBettingSites.UK Exclusive!SIGN UP HERE
18+, Welcome Bonus: New Players only, 1st Deposit, Min Deposit: £10, max £15 free bet 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.
Novibet3.514.3%£251.70 (7/10)Up to £25 Match Free Bet! - EXCLUSIVE30 daysSIGN UP HERE
New UK costumers only. Minimum bet £10. Minimum of 3 selections in an accumulator. Neteller, Paysafe, Skrill or Skril are not restricted. In order to receive the bonus. KYC process required or have your age verified
FansBet3.912.90%£1001.4 (2/5)50% Bonus up to £100 - Code: FBWELS90 daysSIGN UP HERE
New UK customers making their first deposit; 6x wagering of deposit and bonus with 90 day expiry; Only sports bets contribute to wagering; Min 2 selections at 1.4 min odds per selection; Max £100 per bet; See full terms; 18+.
MansionBet4.214.40%£1001.80 (4/5)Bet £10 & Get £20 - Exclusive Offer7 daysSIGN UP HERE
- New customers only.
- Min deposit £10 (UK debit cards only) Bet £10 at odds of evens (2.0) or greater.
- Multiple bets with cumulative odds of evens (2.0) count, each leg must have odds of 1/5 (1.2) to be eligible.
- Each way bets are eligible for this promotion. Upon qualifying bet settlement, 1 x £5.00 Free Bet will be credited to your account. Once the first £5.00 Free Bet has been used a further 3 x £5.00 Free Bets will be applied to your account. Free bet stake not returned after bet settlement.
- Valid for 7 days, each Free Bet must be used in its entirety.
Karamba3.914.5%£102.0 (1/1)Bet £20 get a £10 Free Bet14SIGN UP HERE
New customers only. Max one £10 free bet. Qualifying bets must be placed at min odds of 1/1 (2.00). Paid as a bonus token with min 4/5 (1.80) odds req.
Genting4.413.00%£102.0 (1/1)£10 Free Bet7SIGN UP HERE
New Customers. Qualifying bet is first settled bet £/€10+ (£10 E/W+) at odds 2.0+ placed within 28 days of registration. If qualifying bet loses, £/€10 free bet will be credited within 24 hours of bet settlement, use within 7 days, Stake not returned. Multiples require each selection odds of 1.4+.
Netbet3.814.20%£301.1£30 in Free Bets and Spins7SIGN UP HERE
18+/ New Customers Only / £15 In Free Bets And £15 In Free Spins For Casino And Vegas / Freebets Valid For 3 Days / Free Spins Valid For 30 Days. T&Cs Apply
GrosvenorSports4.013.50%£401.5 (1/2)Get A £10 Free Bet On Every Other Tv Match60SIGN UP HERE
New customers. Min bet £10. £10 Free Bet per televised Premier League game exc qualifying game. Min odds 1/2.T&Cs apply. 18+ BeGambleAware.org
Sportingbet4.312.5%£102.0 (1/1)£10 Free Bet7SIGN UP HERE
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
LeoVegas3.813.80%£1002.0 (1/1)100% Profit Boost up to £100 on First Bet30 daysSIGN UP HERE
New customers only. Deposit £10 min and claim in ‘my offers' 1x100% mobile in-play profit boost. Max stake £10. Max extra winnings £100. Valid for 30 days, (no Skrill/Neteller). 18+ Full T&Cs applybegambleaware.org
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
How to Understand Racing Form Guide
How to Lay the Loser
Non-Runner Insurance Explained
Is Virtual Racing Fixed?
Rule 4 Explained - How to calculate a Rule 4 deduction
What is a 57 Heinz bet?
What is a Trixie Bet?
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
How playing poker can help horse race betting and vice versa
Public Gambles or in the Know Professionals? How to Spot the Difference
How playing poker can help horse race betting and vice versa
Advice on Picking Your Selections-How to pick winners in horse racing
How to Make Money Betting on the Cheltenham Festival
How to Choose Best Horse Racing Betting Sites
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.
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.
Eversince a man discovered that by sitting on a horse’s back he can cover greatdistances in a short amount of time and get the beast to run faster than hisfriend’s horse, there had surely been a bet or two to claim otherwise.
Bettingon horse racing is as popular as it’s ever been and it definitely is aremarkable thing to see this sport defy the betting trends, shifts and tides oftime, never allowing the emergence of other sports such as tennis and mostnotably football to ruin its betting reputation.
Horserace betting can be extremely profitable and that’s definitely one strongargument in favour of its popularity in betting circles. It can also drag youdown if you’re not careful enough and if you don’t know what you’re doing.
Learningto make the right bets, interpret the market and betting selections will helpyou improve your own odds of winning and here we’ll try to provide you with allthe essentials on how to bet on horse racing.
How to Pick a Horse Bet
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.
What is Each Way Betting
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 in Horse Racing
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.
Best Online Betting Sites
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.