Horse Racing Betting

Best Horse Racing Betting Sites 2023

In principle, horse racing betting is a straightforward, start-to-finish affair. However, it’s not right to assume that these wagers are equally straightforward. While most basic bets will require you to predict which horses will finish first, second, and third, there can be several complex wager types that allows you to experiment with the order of the finishing positions. You can also enter into several new betting pools with other punters and share the total winnings.

The repertoire of betting options is even made more extensive with the emergence and expansion of horse racing betting sites. Unlike 10 years or so ago, you can now relish the futuristic thrills of virtual racing when all the world’s best horses are out on the gallop or even when they are asleep in their stables! This means that you can place your bets live when the tournaments are unfolding or bet virtually as you’ll do with virtual soccer.

Where Does Gambling Deals step in?

Here at Gambling Deals (home of the best gambling sites) we provide you with the latest, up-to-the-minute information and explanations regarding various types of online gambling, including horse racing betting. This page compiles clear-cut explanations of all there is to know about this type of online gaming encompassing the best horse racing betting sites, the commonly used betting types, each way betting, exotic wagers, and everything else in-between!

How To Find The Best Horse Racing Betting Sites

The online gambling market is highly risky and full of internet quacks that can rob you off your hard-earned bucks. As such, it is always wise to register with an online betting site that is fully licensed, regulated, and expert-verified. All the horse racing betting sites available at Gambling Deals are all regulated and accredited in the UK. All these casino sites are all geared towards providing optimal user experience while maintaining the fairness and fidelity required within the UK online gambling setting.

While horse race betting may seem like a relic from the long-gone era, the very best operators are able to revive its ecstasies thanks to the advancements in casino software. Such horse racing betting sites have injected new life into this sport of royalties by bringing you the very best of the competitive tracks right at your convenience. With a trustworthy, fair, and dependable web casino, there will be nothing to hold you back from trying out this sports bet. That’s why we ensure that we partner with only the best in the industry—horse racing betting sites that only put the player first!

Best Horse Racing Betting Sites

What Are The Big Horse Racing Events?

Horse racing is one of the most punted sports in the UK, and looks like a trend that is set to continue, with sizzling tournaments such as the Derby, the Grand National, and Cheltenham. Looking at the size of the horse racing gambling in the UK, it’s correct to state that the sport has come a long way since its Roman Chariot racing ancestries. Billions of pounds are wagered every year on horse racing betting, creating a market for a profusion of betting sites.

Gambling Deals helps you sift through all these bookies and assists you in finding the right fit for you based on our in-depth reviews. Whether it is informing you’re the best terms and conditions for horse betting, establishing what the best welcome bonuses are, or comparing the odds for horse racing fixtures, we guarantee that we’ve got everything that informs your decision to choose the best horse racing betting sites UK.

From an extensive variety of all UK horse betting websites, we pick those that pass our rigorous vetting procedure and only emerge with those that receive gold-standard rating. All the horse racing wagering casinos listed here rates very highly when it comes to welcome offers, customer support, pay-out rates, wagering requirements, multiplicity and variety of betting types, as well as licensing and regulation.

Online horse racing bets are not available throughout the year, but with new tournaments sprouting up every day, it’s not hard to find races that start every few minutes. The best online horse racing sites will provide you access to races across the UK, U.S. France, Korea, Ireland, Australia, Canada, and more. In sentence, horse racing calendar is normally bursting at the seams!

How to Bet on Horse Racing Betting Sites

There are three different channels punters can make use of when placing a bet on the races. The easiest way is to engage with one of the many horse racing betting sites at your disposal. Create a new account and make a monetary deposit, and you’ll potentially be able to access a welcome bonus offer for new members.

If you prefer the race day ritual of heading into your favourite bookmaker to place your wager in person, that’s no problem – this is the preferred method of many horse racing bettors. The third option is to head to the action of the race track itself, soak up the atmosphere, and have a flutter on whatever you fancy. Surrounded by a knowledgeable crowd, you might be more likely to come away with a crucial horse racing betting tip.

Types of Horse Racing Bets

Here are some of the most popular betting markets on offer at the races.

To Win

Exactly what the name suggests: pick the outright winner of the race. To select the right horse and jockey here, you’ll need to consider a variety of factors, rather than simply picking the favourite for the race. While of course the bookie’s favourite does often win, you’ll need to think about form, conditions and distance for a more accurate wager.

To Place

Increasing your chances of winning your bet is the option to place. This is a wager that pays out when the horse you’ve picked finishes either first or second in the race.

To Show

Going one further are show bets, where punters select a horse to finish either first, second or third in the race. This will increase the chances of winning once more, but potential returns will be smaller compared to the bets mentioned above.

Each Way

Each way bets comprise two distinct elements, both of which are in relation to the same horse. With each way betting, successful bettors will receive a maximum payout if the selected horse finishes first, and a smaller payout if the same horse finishes in one of the placing positions, i.e. second, third, or fourth. The odds on the place section of the bet is usually set at around a quarter of the odds of the win.

Let’s say a horse running at Epsom has odds of 10-1 to win the race. A £10 each way bet will receive returns of £35 (£25 winnings + £10 stake) if the horse finishes in one of the placing positions. But if the horse wins, both portions of the bet come through, meaning that both halves of the betting slip will pay out. In this instance, total returns will be £135 (£100 winnings on the win wager + £25 winnings on the place wager + £10 stake).

Depending on how many horses are taking part in the race, horse racing betting sites will inflate and deflate the positions of an each way bet, so be sure to check how far down your horse can place in order to qualify for an each way payout.

Treble

A treble bet is an accumulator with three selections. For a treble wager to come in, all three sections of the bet must be successful, which means treble bets have higher odds in comparison to single or double wagers. In addition to this, the three components of a treble bet must be from three different races. For example, you might pick an outright winner for three consecutive races at the Breeders’ Cup

Yankee Bet

A Yankee bet is a wager consisting of 11 bets, stretched over four different races. These bets comprise six double bets, four trebles, and a four-fold acca. Needless to say, calling a wholly successful Yankee bet is incredibly hard to do, but betting sites will pay out Yankee bets at a portion of the odds if some of the components are successful. As there are no single bets involved with a Yankee, two of the selections must win in order to generate any returns, but the payout on two winning selections alone is unlikely to be higher than the original stake.

Punters are attracted to Yankee bets because, unlike standard accumulators, they can still generate significant winnings even if some parts of the bet lose. However, because Yankee bettors are placing 11 individual wagers, original stakes tend to be much larger than single, double, or treble bets. Before taking part in a Yankee bet, it’s wise to make use of Yankee bet calculators, which are available at the best horse racing betting sites.

Super Heinz

Super Heinz betting is the ultimate beast: 120 bets spread over seven different races. These 120 wagers are made up of 21 doubles, 35 trebles, 35 four-folds, 21 five-folds, seven six-folds, and one seven-fold. To be in with a chance at receiving any payouts on a Super Heinz bet, wagers on at least two of the seven races must be successful; if they are, returns can be generated in big increments as other parts of the bet come in. Always use a Super Heinz bet calculator before wagering in this market, and remember that all 120 bets must have the same unit stake.

Forecast/Tricast

For a successful forecast bet, you’ll need to select the horses that finish first and second in the right order. Tricast bets go one further, requiring the right pick on the third-place finisher too.

Accumulator

Forecast and tricast wagers could technically be classed as an accumulator — a bet that combines the odds of multiple outcomes for bigger payout potential. The difference is that there are no limits on the number of selections in an accumulator, and many bookmakers offer increased odds boosts with each leg you add to your bet slip. 

Ante-Post

Ante-post bets are those made before the markets have opened, on the expectation that the odds will be more favourable. Generally placed before the day of the race, ante-post bettors run the risk of forfeiting their stake if their horse doesn’t run. 

Horse Racing Betting Tips

Getting caught up in the buzz of a big racing event is exciting, but does little to improve your likelihood of actually winning a wager. To give yourself the best possible chance of placing a successful bet on this thrilling sport, follow our horse racing betting tips below.

Read the Form Guide

Form guides give you all the information you need short of telling you which horse to bet on. Making an informed decision is key to any sportsbook betting. Before placing a wager on the Premier League, for example, you’d want to consider the form of the teams and players in question. Horse race betting is exactly the same, with form guides detailing recent results, injuries, and which of the horses running are suited to the track.

Make use of Different Betting Options

If you’re interested in horse race betting for the first time, then make use of the different opportunities presented by horse racing sportsbooks. Show and each way bets, for example, are well-suited for punters just getting used to the sport and how it works. These bets have an inherent hedging format, since wagers can be successful across multiple outcomes.

Gamble Responsibly

As with any form of betting, adhering to responsible gambling practices is the best tip we can give. This involves sticking to strict budgets by making use of on-site limiters, only betting when of sound mind, and carrying out appropriate research into new games, markets and betting territories.

Horse Racing Betting Welcome Bonuses and Offers

When you make your first deposit at a new horse racing betting site, you’ll be eligible to pick up a welcome bonus. This often represents a great way to kick off your time at the site, but be sure to read the full terms and conditions before you capitalise. Here are some of the offers you might come across. 

Free Bets

Most horse racing betting offers for new customers involve a bundle of free bets. This will require a qualifying deposit, such as an offer of £30 in free bets when you wager £10 of your own money.

Matched Deposit Bonus

These bonuses see the bookie match your deposit up to a certain limit. For new customers, this could be as high as 50% up to £100, giving punters £50 in bonus cash when they deposit £100. 

Money Back

Another popular bonus type is offering money back — either as cash or as a free bet — when your first bet loses. There will be maximum amounts in play here, typically in the region of £10. 

How we Review Horse Racing Betting Sites

Before we recommend a betting site to our users, we conduct an extensive review that seeks to cover all aspects of the online gambling experience. For the top horse racing betting sites, we look at the following areas in particular.

Coverage of Races

We not only look for excellent coverage of races here in the UK, but also give brownie points to sportsbooks that cater for the world’s biggest events, such as the Kentucky Derby in the US. We also look for depth within these racing events, allowing for punters to place bets on the main event, as well as all the build-up races.

Live Streaming Features

On-site live streaming gives bettors the option to witness the race wherever they are in the world, placing them in the thrill of the race and allowing them to see first-hand whether their wager was a good one.

Markets and Odds

We always look for horse racing betting sites that cover an abundance of markets at the most competitive odds. This will include a mix of simple single bets, doubles, trebles, place bets, each way, and some of the more outlandish betting slip combinations.

Regular Promotions

Many punters like to see high quality promotions at betting sites. No matter the sport, we always strive to flag up the best bonus deals and promotional offers for our users.

Licensing

All of our recommendations have been fully vetted by our team of reviewers. This means they hold an online gambling licence from the UKGC, committing bookies to standards of integrity, fair play, and data protection.

Betting Offers and Bonuses

We know our readers are always looking for the best deals, so an assessment of a site’s generosity in this area takes up a significant part of our review. We want to see an excellent welcome bonus, followed by a consistent string of high-quality betting offers for existing customers.   

Mobile Capabilities

The best performing sites in this area offer their own native apps, which punters download for a superior betting experience. We’ll take a detailed look into the functionality of the app, and assess the quality of the site’s mobile optimisation for those betting in their browsers.

Payment Methods for Horse Racing Betting Sites

You can fund your horse racing betting account in a multitude of ways — here are the most common. 

Debit Cards

The trusty debit card will always be accepted at UK bookmakers, and this method will also qualify users for any bonus offers. The only drawback is that withdrawal processing times are slow, ranging between 2-5 working days. 

e-Wallets

You can use a variety of different e-wallets — such as PayPal, Skrill and Neteller — to make deposits into your betting account. This method is known for its ability to offer fast or instant withdrawals, but may be excluded from unlocking deposit bonuses.

Prepaid Cards

Prepaid vouchers are a popular option for those keeping a close eye on their spending. Only preloaded funds can be spent, so this won’t be the most suitable option for higher rollers, and there are limited opportunities to withdraw. 

Trustly

Bank transfer services like Trustly allow users to make fast deposits and withdrawals, directly connecting one bank account to another. Just watch out for fees with this option, which may be levied by your bank. 

Horse Racing Betting on the Go

No matter which of the horse racing betting sites you select from our list, all of them will give the option to place bets on the move. Mobile betting is the preferred method for many punters, and can take place either in a dedicated app or in your mobile browser. Here are some pros and cons of both options. 

Horse Racing Betting Strategies

Here are some useful betting strategies to bear in mind before you take to the races:

• Bet on the exchanges, where you’ll find better odds compared to standard bookmakers
• Look out for promotions, which can enhance your bankroll and cover you for certain losses
• Use a points-based betting strategy, in which punters convert their gambling budget into a points system in order to better regulate spending

What are the Big Horse Racing Events?

The biggest horse racing events in the UK always attract high levels of gambling activity. Here are some of the most popular in the UK calendar, during which you’ll be inundated with horse racing betting offers.

The Grand National

The Grand National is known as a National Hunt race, requiring horses to jump fences and ditches on their way round the track. The National has been running since 1839 and is the most valuable National Hunt race in Europe, with a prize fund of £1 million. Taking place at Aintree in Liverpool, competing horses must jump 30 fences over a distance of four miles. Riding on Minella Times in 2021, Rachael Blackmore became the first female to ever win the National.

Cheltenham Festival

The Cheltenham Festival takes place over four days in March, typically coinciding with St Patrick’s Day. Another National Hunt event, the biggest races at Cheltenham include the Champion Hurdle, Queen Mother Champion Chase, Stayers’ Hurdle and, of course, the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Epsom Derby

The Epsom Derby is the longest-running event in this list, with the first race taking place in 1780. It’s a flat horse race, meaning there are no hurdles or fences on the course, and it takes place in the Epsom Downs in Surrey. 

Next, check out some of the highest profile races outside of the UK.

The Kentucky Derby

Across the Atlantic, the Kentucky Derby traditionally takes place on the first Saturday in May in Louisville, Kentucky. It’s the first of three events in the US known collectively as the Triple Crown, alongside the Preakness Stakes and the Belmont Stakes, and is dubbed as ‘the most exciting two minutes in sport’. 

Dubai World Cup

The youngest event in our list, the Dubai World Cup has become the most lucrative event in the sport, with a winning purse of $12m. It’s a flat-race event that takes place at the Meydan Racecourse. 

Galway Summer Festival

The Galway Summer Festival takes place over a week in July at the Ballybrit Racecourse in the western Irish city of Galway. The two busiest days of the festival are the Wednesday, which features the Galway Plate, and Thursday, the day of the Galway Hurdle.

Find the Best Horse Racing Betting Odds

With the current rise of online horse racing betting, you don’t need to plough the internet for days in search the best odds. With expert casino assessors such as Gambling Deals, you can be able to find excellent deals and odds at the top-rated horse racing sites. The majority of casino sites registered here offer industry-best odds to suit players of all tastes.

Latest Betting Sites for Horse Racing

Peruse through our list of latest horse race wagering sites to revel in the latest features of this fun sport. We have compiled a list that amalgamates casino features that can appease veteran and novice players alike. The compilation also factors in punters who want to go out all big, and those that prefer small bets.