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OkCompare the best horse racing betting sites in the UK and our horse racing betting guide below.
On this page, you will find our list of the best horse racing betting sites available in the UK.
Of course, our list is subjective, but, we hope this list allows you to find and compare the top racing bookies that suit your betting style while also taking advantage of our exclusive horse racing sign up offers.
Horse racing has a rich history and is a very popular sport in the UK. Over six million people attend each year making it the second-biggest spectator sport. The horse racing industry contributes around 3.7 billion to the UK economy and is a major part of most betting sites.
If you are unable to watch horse racing in person, all of the best betting sites on our list offer thousands of racing live streams available for you to watch.
A comprehensive horse racing offering is one of the top reasons to sign up for a bet365 account. Races from the UK and Ireland are naturally covered by this bookie, which also gives users the chance to place wagers on races from around the world, in countries such as Japan, France, and South Africa to name just three. Races in Australia and New Zealand are offered at Bet365 as well, which means there are races around the clock to bet on with this bookmaker.
In the event there are no real-life horse races to look at for a wager, Bet365 has a decent virtual horse racing offering too. With virtual sports growing in popularity, this is another good reason to sign up for an account with Bet365 rather than one of their rival operators in the industry. Virtual races start every three minutes or so at Bet365, so the action is pretty much constant here.
Ante-post betting is offered at Bet365 as well, with some races available to bet on nearly a year in advance. Those who like to plan their horse racing bets well in advance to take advantage of big odds will therefore find Bet365 to be an outstanding option for wagers on the Sport of Kings. Placepots are available too, so the range of betting options is very good indeed at Bet365.
Among the good features of Bet365’s horse racing offering is the opportunity to favourite certain horses. This makes it easy to track them and see when they are going to be in action next. Bet365 also has a couple of special promotions aimed at horse racing fans. The bookie provides the best odds guaranteed on all races that are broadcast live on ITV in the UK, which covers major meetings such as the Cheltenham Festival. Additionally, Bet365 customers who love to bet on horse racing can get a risk-free bet of up to £50 on the next ITV race if they successfully back a winner at odds of 4/1 or above.
In terms of the odds for horse racing at Bet365, they tend to be somewhere in the middle of the road compared to most other UK bookies. However, with the best odds guaranteed offer for certain races, this means Bet365 customers should not worry too much about value.
Those who like to keep a close eye on the latest headlines from the sport will also enjoy the fact Bet365 hosts a horse betting news section on its site. There are plenty of stories to read that will deepen customers’ understanding of the sport, as well as providing insight that can help them to pick more winners when browsing Bet365 horse racing betting markets in the future.
Bet365 pros
Bet365 cons
*New customers only. Min deposit requirement. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits and are available for use upon settlement of bets to value of qualifying deposit. Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. Time limits and T&Cs apply.
Horse racing has its own tab on the Unibet, which is a sign of how seriously this bookmaker takes its offering for the Sport of Kings. At Unibet, there is a comprehensive lobby where races from all over the world are available to bet on. UK and Ireland races lead the billing but it is possible to find cards for meetings in countries such as France and South Africa as well.
Ante-post betting can be found under the futures button, which offers users the chance to place advance wagers on races such as the Dubai World Cup, the Gold Cup and the Grand National. Special horse racing bets are included in the markets up for grabs at Unibet, so the depth of the offering at this bookmaker certainly places it towards the top of the pile compared to rivals. In the rare event that there are no real races to bet on at Unibet, the site has a section for virtual horse racing to try out as well. Both flat and jump virtual horse racing is available, as well as virtual dogs racing, with a virtual race starting every three minutes on the Unibet site.
A results page on the Unibet site is a handy way to keep up with everything that has happened in the sport on any particular day, while this bookie also combines the top tips of the day from a wide range of UK publications, such as the Racing Post. This is handy and something that most other bookies do not offer, so Unibet gets a pat on the back for providing this for customers. Alongside the tips section at Unibet is a series of racing guides, which are handy for newcomers in particular, though even experienced fans of betting on the sport may learn something.
Of course, for many horse racing fans, it is offers and bonuses that persuade them to use a particular sports betting site over a rival operator. Unibet has some special horse racing promotions including the best odds guaranteed deal for all UK and Ireland horse racing bets, daily from 8 am. For some selected races, Unibet also has a money-back offer if a backed horse finishes second. The refund is up to £20 and is paid by Unibet in the form of a free bet.
The best horse racing promotion at Unibet, though, might be Uniboost. This bonus allows customers to boost the odds of a horse racing bet on the site up to three times a day. There is a maximum stake of £20 per customer per Uniboost and they are only available as single bets. Live streaming of UK and Ireland horse racing is offered through the bookmaker’s Unibet TV offering, which also has NBA action and football matches from around the world available.
Unibet pros
Unibet cons
18+ begambleaware.org. New customers only. Min deposit £10. Money back as bonus if first sports bet loses. Wagering requirements: sportsbook 3x at min. odds of 1.40 (2/5), casino 50x. Unless forfeited the sportsbook bonus must be wagered before using the casino bonus. Bonus expires 7 days after opt-in. Visit Unibet.co.uk for full T&C's.
As one of the oldest betting brands in the UK, most sports fans will already be familiar with William Hill. The company has successfully moved with the times over the years and now has a thriving website, on which horse racing betting is front and centre as one of the top sports.
Horse racing betting at William Hill covers racing from around the world and the site handily splits the various countries – UK/Ireland, USA, Australia/NZ and Rest of the World – into sections so it is easy for users to browse the schedules on offer on any one particular day. Also included is a section for virtual racing, which is more comprehensive than on a lot of other UK bookie sites in the UK, with even legends virtual racing available to bet on at William Hill.
A section on the right-hand side of the page details the top horse racing betting of the day, which is a handy feature for those who want to be able to quickly see the major market movers. Also, a key part of the William Hill offer is Betting TV, which unlike a lot of betting sites offers users the chance to watch live horse racing streams without even having to pay a single penny.
Horse racing promotions are among the departments where William Hill really shines ahead of the competition. The bookie offers extra each-way places on selected races and sometimes this is not just a place or two more, it can be double the normal places. Additionally, William Hill customers can use a promotion called Pick Your Places, which is available on all UK horse racing from 10am on the day of the race. PYP lets users add more places for each way bets, or alternatively lengthen their odds – this flexibility and choice is very handy indeed.
On top of all that, like Unibet, there is another horse racing offer at William Hill that lets users boost the odds of up to three wagers per day, with a maximum stake of £20 in play for this particular offer. If all of that was not enough, William Hill is one of a raft of bookmakers that also provides best odds guaranteed on all UK and Irish horse racing and greyhound racing. It is fair to say that William Hill customers have access to some of the top horse racing odds around.
Another thing to note about horse racing betting with William Hill is the fact this bookmaker’s betting app has some exclusive mobile-only price boosts that are available to use as well. Anyone who is considering signing up for an account with William Hill should therefore download the app too.
William Hill pros
William Hill cons
18+. Play Safe. New customers using Promo code H30 only, Min £10/€10 stake, min odds 1/2, free bets paid as 2 x £15/€15, free bets credited after settlement of first qualifying bet, free bets will expire 30 days after the qualifying bet is placed, payment method/player/country restrictions apply. See full terms below. #ad
Paddy Power has long been thought of as one of the top bookmakers in Europe, with a strong horse racing offering among the reasons why this is the case. There is no doubt a Paddy Power account is a real asset for horse racing fans who do not just want to bet on meetings in the UK and Ireland, with France, New Zealand, South Africa and Australian races all covered.
Paddy Power promotions for horse racing start with the daily price boosts that are known as power prices, while the bookmaker runs daily extra place races as well. Best odds guaranteed is also offered by PP on all UK and Irish Horse Racing from 8 am on the day of the race. Overall, the racing promotions at Paddy Power are not quite as extensive or creative as elsewhere.
Odds at Paddy Power go some way to making up for this, though. Testing shows Paddy Power horse racing odds are generally among the best available, for races around the world as well as those in the UK and Ireland. People with a Paddy Power account do not generally have to shop around for prices elsewhere, while the BOG deal is standard for a lot of bookies these days. Best odds guaranteed at PP applies to singles and multiples on the win and each-way markets only.
Like some of the other top horse racing betting sites in the UK, Paddy Power has a news section on its website that provides daily tips on the most important meetings. Naturally, it can feel a little odd for bookmakers themselves to offer tips, but people may find it useful to read the advice before deciding which selections they are going to pick out from the daily schedule.
Virtuals is an area that is becoming more popular among a lot of sports fans these days. Virtual horse racing at Paddy Power sees races go off every two minutes, which is a bit more regular on a lot of other horse racing betting sites where the gap between races is often three minutes.
The Live Video service at Paddy Power gives customers of the sports betting site the chance to follow all the top races live, to see whether or not their chosen horse will be a winner. As an example, Live Video at Paddy Power had streams available for every single race of the last Cheltenham Festival – a meeting at which PP sponsors many of the most important races. Those who do not have time to tune in to live streams can find all the results at PP as well while ante-post betting is covered in great detail at Paddy Power. Customers of PP can even take advantage of a non-runner, no bet deal for major races such as the Grand National at Aintree.
Paddy Power pros
Paddy Power cons
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New customers only. Place your FIRST bet on any Football market and if it loses we will refund your stake in CASH. Max refund for this offer is £20. Only deposits made using cards will qualify for this promotion. T&Cs apply.
Betfair might primarily be known as one of the best betting exchanges, but the site is also home to a sports betting offering that is up there with the best in the business as well. Horse racing has long been a cornerstone of the Betfair sportsbook and while there is a strong focus on UK and Ireland races, it is possible to bet on meetings around the world, such as in countries like France and South Africa, while users have the chance to use Betfair’s highly customisable horse finder feature in order to keep a close eye on their favourites from the Sport of Kings.
Promotions at Betfair are often available across various sports – such as a £5 free bet for placing £20 bets on multiples – but there are some special deals offered for horse racing too. As with a few other bookies these days, Betfair allows customers to boost the odds of three horses per day. MyOddsBoost daily tokens at Betfair can be used with a maximum stake of £25 and they can be used on greyhounds as well as horse racing. Rewards4Racing points are also awarded for bets that are placed on the Betfair sportsbook.
Another special horse racing promotion at Betfair is Each Way Edge, which gives players the option of taking slightly lower odds in exchange for more places in their chosen selection. Ante-post betting, which is another area of strength for this bookmaker, includes deals like non-runner, no bet for major annual races such as Aintree classic the Grand National.
The Betfair horse racing blog is a key selling point of this bookmaker. Daily tips are provided as well as analysis that fans of the Sport of Kings are sure to find very useful when deciding which horses they are going to back on the daily schedule. This part of the Betfair site is also very helpful for those who are quite new to betting on horse racing. Various guides are published here and they are worth reading for anyone who lacks confidence or experience betting on racing.
Live streaming is yet another department where Betfair ranks at the top of the list when it comes to the best horse racing betting sites in the country. Betfair Live Video is currently free of charge for all content, though there is an exception here for certain horse racing and greyhounds events. Sometimes, users will need to place a bet before being able to access the live stream.
Betfair is also one of the bookmakers that allow betting on the Tote markets such as Tote placepot. This makes a Betfair account a must for anyone who would like to be able to use this horse betting option.
Betfair pros
Betfair cons
New customer offer. Place a min £10 bet on the Sportsbook on odds of min 1/2 (1.5), get £30 in Free Bets. Rewards valid for 30 days. SMS verification required. Only deposits via cards or Apple Pay will qualify. T&Cs apply. Please Gamble Responsibly.
New UK customers (Excluding NI) only. Mobile exclusive. Min stake £10. Min odds Evs. Free bet applied on 1st settlement of any qualifying bet. 30 days to qualify. Free bets expire in 7 days. Cashed out/Free Bets won’t apply. Payment method restrictions. 1 Free Bet offer per customer, household & IP Address only. 18+. T&Cs apply
Betway might not have the same high public profile as many of the other top horse racing betting sites in the UK, but it has a strong offering that means players should certainly consider signing up for an account here. Special horse racing promotions are offered – along with standard offerings such as best odds guaranteed on the UK and Irish races – and the prices that are available on the Betway site are typically found to be some of the best in the business as well.
Free bets are available every week to racing fans through the Betway Free Bet Club, while a free-to-play racing predictor game (4 To Win) at Betway has a prize of £10,000 up for grabs as well. Money-back as a free bet – up to £10 – is available if a horse finishes second in races with six or more runners that are broadcast live on ITV in the UK. Horse racing fans who have an account on Betway should also keep a close eye on the site’s Betway Boosts and special Super Boosts.
Betway Live Video is where users should go to find this bookmaker’s live streaming offering. Betway streaming is available on a race by race basis and users have to place a bet of at least £2 in order to qualify. Compared to other sites where streaming is live, this means it could get expensive for those who want to watch live horse racing through their Betway account.
Betway hosts a blog but the horse racing section does not seem to be updated very often outside of meetings such as the Cheltenham Festival. The site does, however, feature columns by the former jockey Katie Walsh, which are well worth checking out when they are published. There are horse racing betting tips available to check out on the Betway blog as well.
Many experts believe virtual sports is going to be a key part of the industry’s future, with Betway among the online sports betting sites offering virtual horse racing to its customers. Betway’s virtual racing includes more markets than a lot of rival operators have on offer, with races starting every three minutes. Other virtual sports at Betway include football, cycling, greyhounds and speedway, while it is even possible to find virtual trotting in this part of the Betway site too.
Ante-post horse racing betting is another area of strength at Betway, with a massive range of meetings and races available for those who like to browse for bets well in advance. It is possible to bet on big races such as the Cheltenham Gold Cup a year in advance on the Betway site.
Betway pros
Betway cons
New UK customers only. Min Deposit: £5. Maximum Free Bet: £30. First bet on a Football multiple with 3+ selections. Overall odds: 3.00 (2/1) or higher. Free Bets available upon settlement of the qualifying bet. Debit card deposits only. This is offer is valid for 7 days from your new account being registered. 18+ BeGambleAware.org Full Terms Apply
Betfred has consistently been ranked among the best horse racing betting sites around, with the bookmaker in a constant state of reinvention to stay among the elite. While the Betfred website looks like it has not changed for many years, the bookie is happy to stick with a winning formula.
Horse racing fans browsing the Betfred sportsbook will find a comprehensive offering of both UK and Ireland meetings and international races from various nations such as France and America. However, the way the meetings are laid out is not the best and makes the Betfred site a little hard to navigate. The number of potential bets on horse racing markets is also not as extensive as with other operators, though all of the basics are covered as well as users would expect.
One of the things Betfred does well is innovation. Apple Watch users can even place bets through the device on their wrists while it is possible to use the Betfred Messenger service to put bets on the big race too. And with Betfred’s live streaming service widely regarded as one of the best around for horse racing fans, it is easy to keep up with all of the latest action as well.
When it comes to horse racing promotions, Betfred has a few good options that are worth noting. Extra place races are offered by this bookmaker regularly, giving horse racing fans more opportunities to win cash from their selections. For selected races, players will get a refund as a free bet if their horse comes second. As is the case with a lot of the other top horse racing betting sites, Betfred offers best odds guaranteed for all races in the UK and Ireland. What this means is Betfred customers who bet primarily on UK and Irish races do not have to worry about shopping around with other operators for the top price as they will get the best odds at Betfred.
One Winner and All Correct are two of the other special horse racing bonuses at Betfred, which is also known for launching new deals and promotions on a regular basis. It is always worth checking back to see if this generous bookmaker has something new on offer for racing fans. However, one thing missing from the list of promotions on the Betfred site is the chance to boost prices for a handful of horse racing bets each day, which many other rival sites have nowadays.
Those who love the Sport of Kings are also likely to appreciate the fact pool betting on racing is on the list of what Betfred has to offer. Picking six winners creates the chance to win a life-changing amount of money, so this is something for Betfred customers to consider trying.
Betfred pros
Betfred cons
New UK customers only. Register using the promo code BETFRED60, deposit and place first bet of £10+ on Sports (cumulative Evens+) within 7 days of registration. First bet must be on Sports. £20 in Free Bets to be used on Sports, £10 in Free Bets to be used on Lotto and 50 Free Spins (20p per spin) credited within 48 hours of bet settlement. Further £20 in Free Bets credited 5 days after settlement. Bonuses have a 7-day expiry. Payment restrictions apply. SMS verification and/or Proof of I.D and address may be required. Full T&Cs apply.
BetVictor has a clear and modern betting website with its horse racing page on the sportsbook site even featuring a range of casino games based on the Sport of Kings. Fans of racing who are only interested in betting on the outcome of real races will find there is still more than enough choice at BetVictor, which covers all UK and Ireland meetings as well as those from a variety of countries around the world, such as France and the USA. Each race available on the BetVictor site also comes with the Timeform verdict to give players an insight into the potential outcome.
Racing fans who join BetVictor can get £40 in free bets when they deposit £10 and this is just the start when it comes to promotions from this bookie. As is the case with a lot of rivals in the sector, best odds guaranteed is on the table and BetVictor even goes a step further. The site’s Run For Your Money offer for British and Irish racing means that users will be repaid their stake in cash if their horse does not start the race – for whatever reason. Lengthen the Odds is another special horse racing promotion at BetVictor, which also offers Faller Insurance to customers.
While the best odds guaranteed offer on the site ensures BetVictor customers can be assured they are not missing a better price elsewhere, the sportsbook’s odds for horse racing tend to be among the best around anyway. BetVictor users never have to worry about getting bad value.
When there is no real-life racing to bet on, virtual is an option that might become more appealing to BetVictor users. For many within the industry, virtuals is expected to be a hot trend that continues to grow in popularity in the coming years. BetVictor already has a strong offering for virtuals, with both flat and jump races available. Virtual races start every few minutes at BetVictor, with alternative sports to try out also including football, basketball and dogs racing.
International races, as well as those from the UK and Ireland, are available to stream live on the BetVictor site. As well as comprehensive racing coverage, various other events and sports are available to watch with a BetVictor account, such as live tennis and even live esports.
This bookmaker has been around for decades, but unlike some other rival operators who have allowed their offering to get stale, BetVictor is still without a doubt one of the best horse racing betting sites around. Only a fool would bet against that continuing to be the case for a long time into the future as well – a BetVictor account is certainly a must for all fans of the Sport of Kings.
BetVictor pros
BetVictor cons
18+ New customers only. Opt in, bet £5 at odds 2.00+ within 7 days, no cashout. Get 2x £10 Free Bets, set events at odds 2.00+. Plus a £10 Slot Bonus, selected games, wager 20x to withdraw max £250. 7 day bonus expiry. Card payments only. Click for T&Cs
The last of the horse racing betting sites we have ranked in the top 10 is 888Sport. A reputable gambling brand with a massive range of products such as poker, casino, bingo and more, horse racing fans will still find that the sportsbook has more than enough to keep them occupied.
888Sport has markets for meetings around the world, though naturally, the primary focus is on races taking place within the UK and Ireland. The Betfinder on the 888Sport is one of the most intriguing features on any horse racing betting site. Users can set various filters – such as course winner and distance winner – to identify horses that might be of interest for betting. This is fantastic for those who do not have time to study the form or the conditions but still want to make a smart selection that gives them a good chance of celebrating a winner in a big race.
As with some of the other top horse racing betting sites in the country, Timeform tips have been incorporated into the 888Sport sportsbook. This provides a quick overview of the horses that are involved in the action that have the best chances of coming out on top at the end of a race. That said, for most racing fans, it is promotions and offers that attract them to sign up for an account with a particular bookmaker rather than one of their rivals. At 888Sport, new users can get £30 in free bets plus a £10 casino bonus when they join. On all sports including racing, those who pick a winner at odds of 4/1 or more will also be given an extra £5 free bet to play with.
When it comes to promotions designed for racing, 888Sport has daily price enhancements and the site offers double results on all UK and Irish racing too. What this means is that 888Sport pays out first past the post, as well as paying you out if a horse gets promoted to a place or awarded the race after the fact. Best odds guaranteed for UK and Irish racing is offered at 888Sport too, which is in line with many of the other top 10 horse racing betting sites around. Extra place races are common too, while users can opt for each way plus at 888Sport as well.
Live streaming is demanded by most horse racing fans nowadays, with 888Sport delivering in this department thanks to the Watch and Bet feature on the sportsbook. Every racecourse and greyhound track in the UK and Ireland have the action live-streamed on 888Sport, while the US, French and Australian horse racing is also available to stream through this sportsbook as well. Weaknesses with the 888Sport horse racing offer are hard to find. However, there could be improvements made to the ante-post section. Whereas it is possible to bet on races at big meetings like the Cheltenham Festival a year in advance, this is not the case at 888Sport.
888Sport pros
888Sport cons
Min deposit £/€/$10 • A qualifying bet is a ‘real money’ stake of at least £/€/$10 • Min odds 1/2 (1.50) • Free Bets credited upon qualifying bet settlement and expire after 7 days • Free Bet stakes not included in returns • Casino Bonus must be claimed within 7 days • To withdraw bonus/related wins, wager the bonus amount 40 times within 14 days • Casino Bonus expires after 60 days • Withdrawal restrictions, payment methods, country & Full T&C’s apply.
We look at five key areas when deciding the best horse racing betting sites.
Of course, the number of races will differ each day, but, we hope the numbers will provide a good indication of what to expect.
We also list all the countries each betting site has available, with some offering horse racing events from all around the world! And, which bookmakers offer syndicate betting such as tote pools.
Daily Races:
Countries available:
Syndicates available:
At BettingLounge we believe live streaming is essential for horse racing to experience the thrill and joys of the race to see how your horse is performing.
Betting sites with Horse Racing Live Streaming
Horse Racing is usually a bet to watch live streaming products in which you can watch or listen to a live feed. Punters usually have to place a small bet (£1 or more) on a race or have a funded account, but you can watch some horse racing streams for free on select betting sites.
Each betting site will have different terms and conditions, be sure to check out their live streaming page for more information.
The best betting sites will have a best odds guarantee for your horse racing bets. This means whatever odds you got the horse at will be adjusted if the starting odds (SP) are better.
Guaranteeing you always get the best odds and value for your bet!
Most betting sites BOG offers apply to bets placed on Win and Each Way Markets. Be sure to check your bookie for which markets are covered.
Almost all betting sites that offer horse racing, also offer the best odds guaranteed (BOG). But, they differ in which races they cover.
bet365 – Arguably the best BOG offer, that covers all races except Australasian Racing.
These horse racing betting sites offer BOG for UK and Irish races, and some also cover Irish and UK Greyhound races. Again, we recommend checking your bookmaker to be sure!
Some of the best betting sites also have horse racing blogs, commentary, special horse racing offers and more to supplement your betting experience. All of the sites listed here will feature at least a few of these extras, but they come and go depending on which racing events are on. We recommend checking the promotions page on the bookie of your choice to find the latest information.
The best horse racing betting sites will have horse racing specific betting offers for new customers.
Most bookmakers will offer football welcome offers, or free bets for football and other sports, but they can sometimes exclude horse racing.
Check the terms and conditions to make sure you can use the free bets on horse racing before you sign up.
Take advantage of huge new customer bonuses when a big horse racing festival is coming up, as many betting sites will offer a larger bonus for special racing events.
We have compiled a list of exclusive Cheltenham free bets and offers for new and existing customers. We have only listed offers that are available to the UK and Irish customers!
If you want to watch all of the Cheltenham races, be sure to read our Cheltenham free live streaming guide to find which bookies offer live streams.
Each year, we collect the exclusive UK sign up offers for the Grand National, and some free bet offers for existing customers.
On our Grand National page, you will find a guide, the latest odds, and the best betting sites for the famous horse racing festival.
Horse racing has a rich history and is a very popular sport in the UK. Over six million people attend each year making it the second-biggest spectator sport.
It is also home to the Grand National in which over 600 million people watch each year. With an estimated £250 million wagered in this event alone.
Horse racing is a complex sport with plenty of different betting types available. We will start with a list of useful terms to understand. Followed by the racing types and betting types you can use.
Starting Price (SP)- The odds when a race is about to begin.
Ante-Post (AP)- When you place a bet on a race ahead of the race day.
Banker- A term used to describe the favourite horse in a race.
Bumper- A flat course race that jump horses need to complete before they go hurdling or chasing.
Colours- The shirts worn by the trainers, owners, and jockeys. Each team has its colours.
Furlong- 220 yards or 660 feet or 201 metres.
Photo Finish- A photo taken at the end of the race to determine the winner if the horses finished close together.
Racecard- The programme of the day’s races. Different races, the times and the horses in that race.
Going- Describes the track condition for the racecourse which plays an important role in the performance of the horses.
In general, horse racing is split into two different racing types, flat and jump racing. The flat is fairly straightforward but jump racing contains different variations.
Flat Racing- This is run on a level racecourse over a predetermined distance ranging from 2 furlongs up to 3 miles. There are no obstacles for the horse to jump over and is more a test of the speed and stamina of the horse.
Jump racing or National Hunt Racing- This is a racecourse that requires the horses to jump over fences and ditches. It has two distinct branches, hurdles, and steeplechases.
Hurdles- The horses jump over obstacles called hurdles and usually run over distances of 2-3 miles. The hurdles are a minimum of 3 and a half feet high.
Steeplechase- The horses jump over a variety of obstacles that can include plain fences, water jump or an open ditch. Over distances of 2 to 4 miles and the fences are a minimum of 4 and a half feet high.
Bumper race- A race to give horses experience on a racecourse before beginning a career in jump racing. Usually over a distance of 13-20 furlongs.
Betting to win- A simple bet involving a single selection on one horse to win.
Each-Way Betting- In a simple way you are placing two bets on the same horse. One bet for the horse to win and the other on the horse to place. If the horse wins you win both parts of the bet if it places you only win the placed part.
The number of places in a race depends on how many horses are running:
2-4 = One place
5-7 = Top two place
8-15 = Top three place
16 or more = Top four place
Unless the horse is at 4/1 or better, an each-way bet will pay out less than your original stake.
Forecasts and Tricasts- A forecast is a bet on horses you think will come first and second in a race in that order. A tricast in the top three in order too. Whatever is won on the first horse then rolls over to the second or third meaning the returns can multiply.
Accumulators- A single bet with multiple selections, all need to win but the odds are multiplied making the payouts potentially huge! An accumulator starts as simple as a double (two selections) and you get to bet on the horses to win or place in their races.
Trixie- A Trixie bet is a 3 selection wager made up of 4 different bets. 3 doubles and 1 treble. All you need is two winning selections to generate a return. Also, betting shops commonly use Trixie’s for horses at short prices.
Patent- A Patent bet is a 3 selection wager made up of 7 different bets. 3 singles, 3 doubles, and 1 treble. Just one winning choice is enough to earn a positive return. However, each losing selection will significantly impact the returns of the bet.
Yankee- A Yankee bet is a 4 selection wager made up of 11 bets. 6 doubles, 4 trebles, and a fourfold accumulator. Two or more selections winning is enough to generate a return but the odds are very much in the betting sites favour.
Lucky 15- A Lucky 15 bet is a 4 selection wager made up of 15 bets. 4 singles, 6 doubles, 4 trebles, and a fourfold accumulator. One or more winning selections is enough to generate a return. The “Lucky” part is also due to some bookies offering various offers for the bet. Check with the bookie to see what bonuses they have.
Betting on favourites only- If you follow the market and blindly back favourites you may be in for a shock. Around 35% of horse races are won by the favourite. Meaning, if you back most of the favourites at that percentage you are bound to rack up heavy losses.
Chasing losses- At the best horse racing betting sites you can find over 100 different races a day to bet on. With gaps between races being fairly short you can place a lot of different bets. But, this is a sure way to lose a lot of money. Stick to races in which you have done your research. Or even better, only place bet’s on big events and remember it’s for fun, not to make money. When the fun stops, stop!
Using just one betting site- The best betting sites are always competing to draw you in as a customer. You will find plenty of promotions, offers, higher odds or even unique features that will constantly differ from bookie to bookie. You should take advantage of these offers and have several different accounts to always find the best odds or offers. Especially when a big racing event like the Grand National is close.
Betting emotionally- Avoid falling into the trap of betting on horses/jockeys you like or dislike. Use the price as the main reason and then the research to supplement your choice.
Blindly following tipsters- As tempting as it might be, you should always use the tips as a guide or at least inspiration to do your research. You can then agree and choose to follow the tip, or decide not to. Some “tipsters” are out to profit from your losses and will post purposely bad tips to get a percentage of your losses.
SP or Starting Price are the betting odds available when the horse race is about to start.
Each-way betting is two bets on the same horse. One bet is on the horse to win, and the other is on the horse to place. If your horse wins, you will win both part of the bet, but if the horse only places, you will win the place bet.
In horse racing betting, a nap is the best bet of the day from a tipster.
It is partly a matter of personal preference as all horse racing betting sites in the UK have their pros and cons. Those who want to be able to watch live action through their horse racing betting account will want to make sure their chosen bookmaker can offer live streaming, for example.
Nevertheless, there are around 10 horse racing betting sites in the UK that are standing out from the crowd right now for a range of reasons. They are as follows: BetVictor, Bet365, Paddy Power, Unibet, 888Sport, Betway, Betfred, Boylesports, Betfair and William Hill.
In horse racing, outright betting means backing a horse to win a particular race. Outright betting is available right up to the start of a race, but users can also make a selection far in advance. This is known as ante-post betting and can be a good option due to the fact the prices can be a lot more appealing than those that are offered by bookmakers on the day of a race. Outright bets in horse racing can also be combined to make an accumulator, while there are many different multiple bets that can be used when betting on the Sport of Kings in the UK.
Horse racing fans who bet on the sport value the chance to watch the live-action after making a selection, which makes live streaming among the top-selling points for UK betting sites. William Hill is considered to be one of the best betting sites for horse racing streams, while Betfair, BetVictor and Bet365 are thought of as some of the other top options in this department.
Requirements for accessing horse racing streams can vary a lot from site to site. Some require a funded account, while other bookmakers ask players to place a bet to be able to watch a race.
Betting on horse racing works in a similar way to any other sport. Log in to your chosen sports betting site, make your selection, set the stake and confirm the wager. It is very simple.
However, when learning how to bet on racing there are some other things to keep in mind. The most important is form, displayed as a series of numbers that shows how a horse performed in their last few outings. The weather has an impact too as this impacts how soft or hard the ground is on the course. Some horses prefer a firm ground while others will thrive compared to the pack when the going is soft. Therefore, when making a selection in horse racing betting, the chances of picking a winner are vastly increased when time is taken to study the form and the forecast.
Virtual horse racing is getting more popular. Indeed, it is claimed that around 25 per cent of horse racing bets these days are on virtual races, rather than real-life meetings. Betting site customers enjoy the fact they can still have a wager on the sport at any time of the day or night.
Various bookmakers in the UK now offer virtual horse racing among their markets. Some of the best bookies for UK virtual horse racing are Bet365, Betfred, William Hill and Paddy Power.
You can earn Rewards For Racing points on several betting sites in the UK including Betfair, Coral, bet365, Betfred and more.
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