Menu
Gift
Logo
LIMITED-TIME OFFER
background
4.6
50% up to $1000 in Free Play

We match 50% of your First Deposit in Free Play. Use this industry leading Welcome Bonus to add more action to the games you love. Limited time only. Full T&Cs apply.

T&Cs Apply

Horse Racing Betting Sites & Odds

Top 3 bookmakers for betting on Horse Racing
4.6
50% up to $1000 in Free Play
T&Cs Apply
check iconGreat support
check iconMobile apps
check iconLive betting
4.1
100% up to $500
T&Cs Apply
check iconLive betting
check iconMany sports
check iconFast payouts
4.6
125% Sign Up Bonus
T&Cs Apply
check iconWelcome offers
check iconFast payouts
check icon24/7 support
Find the Best Place to Bet on Horse Racing

Horse racing is one of the oldest sports known to man. It’s also one of the most aged sports people have placed their money on. In today’s digital era, you don’t need to go to the races to place your bets. We have the best horse racing betting sites in one spot where you can bet on international and UK-based horse races.

The top horse racing bookies online are in BetZillion’s guide, ranked and reviewed for convenience. We will guide you to the best websites with horse race betting where you can put your money on the top races, including Cheltenham, Preakness Stakes, and action from tracks around the USA.

List of Horse Racing Bookmakers

Instead of browsing the Internet on your own, looking for the best horse racing bookmakers, we’re here to help. Our team has worked hard to deliver the top horse racing bookies online to bet on all the major races and lesser-known events. After thoroughly examining the website, every horse racing sportsbook review has been carefully written.

50% up to $1000 in Free Play
T&Cs Apply
check iconGreat support
check iconMobile apps
check iconLive betting
100% up to $500
T&Cs Apply
check iconLive betting
check iconMany sports
check iconFast payouts
125% Sign Up Bonus
T&Cs Apply
check iconWelcome offers
check iconFast payouts
check icon24/7 support
50% up to $250
T&Cs Apply
check iconVIP program
check iconLive games
check iconMany bonuses
100% up to $1000
T&Cs Apply
check iconVarious bet types
check icon24/7 support
check iconGreat markets

As a result, you will get a list of trusted horse racing sportsbooks with plenty of surprises up their sleeves.

Feature Sportsbook
⭐ Best Betting Site: William Hill
⭐ Best for Bonuses: Ladbrokes
⭐ Top Mobile App: Betfred
⭐ Best for Live Betting: 22Bet
⭐ High Payout Bookie: Ivibet
⭐ Safe Bookmaker: SpinBetter
⭐ Top for Extra Features: 20Bet

Horse Racing Free Bets & Sign Up Bonuses

Free bets and sign up bonuses are among the best things when betting on horse racing on the Internet. Online bookmakers offer a slew of bonuses and promotions that will keep you on your toes when betting on the top horse racing events. Free bets are usually handed out by the top betting sites, with each offshore bookmaker also offering a nice welcome bonus.

50% up to $1000 in Free Play
We match 50% of your First Deposit in Free Play. Use this industry leading Welcome Bonus to add more action to the games you love. Limited time only. Full T&Cs apply.
100% up to $500
Get a 100% Sports Sign-up Bonus up to $500 for the best wagering experience at Xbet Sportsbook when you sign up and fund your new account. Full T&Cs apply
125% Sign Up Bonus
New customers only! Get 125% Sign Up Bonus! Full T&Cs apply.

Our horse racing betting guide will tell you how to claim those offers and get the best ones. Not all free bets and sign up bonuses are the same. Just because a reward is large doesn’t mean it’s fair. We recommend the best ones in this guide to top up your bankroll without spending money out of pocket.

Getting sign up bonuses and free bets usually require you to sign up and make a deposit. You will also need to make your first bet and settle it at some online horse race betting sites. The conditions will be written right beneath the bonus to know what you need to understand to get your hands on the extra money.

Keep in mind that these offers rarely come for free. Nothing is ever free at a gambling site. The good news is that we have ranked the top proposals with the fairest terms, so you never make the wrong choice. We have the top bonuses and free bets for dummies you can use to bet on the top races. With so many picks to choose from and such great sign up bonuses, it’s time to dive deeply into the rich world of online horse race betting.

Horse Racing Bet of the Day

As you may already know, horse races sometimes consist of several events. There can be 3 or 4 in one, and choosing the wager to bet on can be challenging. Well, why pick yourself when you can let the experts do it? The top horse racing bookies will offer the best horse race bets, including the so-called bet of the day.

WHAT IS THE BEST BET FOR TODAY?

It’s a special bet chosen by experts you can put your money on with a click. The bet of the day will be available at the top of the betting sites, representing the most valuable horse racing stake for that particular day. You’ll find one at William Hill and Ladbrokes, especially when the time comes for the top races, such as the Kentucky Derby, Preakness, or the Gold Cup.

It’s easy enough to put your money on such a bet. Recommended by experts, these wagers have been carefully thought out and chosen for your convenience. They can be anything, including a stake on a jockey, a particular horse, or an exotic bet. Whatever it is, the best bet of the day for horse racing will give you great value in return.

How Does Horse Racing Betting Work?

Betting on horse races online is not hard at all. In the past, you had to go to the races to place bets, but online, things are different. The best horse racing bookmakers will have odds on major and minor events, including pre-match and live betting odds and many offers that look too exciting to pass up.

Before placing your bets, you must register at a bookmaker first. It means going through our list and choosing one, then listing the horse racing section. Find the track you want to bet on, and click on the odds to add it to your slip. It’s that simple, even for beginners.

At the same time, most bookies will also offer a slew of expert predictions that should make things much easier for you. With them, you’ll learn how to choose exotic bets, a daily double, or match betting on the races to make money.

Horse Racing Odds

Horse racing is not a UK-exclusive sport, but the oldest tracks are tied to the UK and Ireland. Thanks to that, it’s a prevalent sport in those countries and is usually represented with fractional odds. The best bookies for horse racing will have a simple toggle that will help you switch them to what you please.

You can see races in Texas or Connecticut in American odds or bet on fractional odds on UK races. As we said, the top bookies will have a simple odds toggle that will make things easy for you.

If you’re wondering where bookmakers get their odds, they do it after the track announces them before the races. If you need more information on how to read early horse race odds, there are free guides for all sports that can apply to horse racing.

Horse Racing Betting Apps

Why bet on your PC or laptop when you can do it on the go anytime you like? The best horse race betting sites will have downloadable apps that make betting online more effortless than ever. It’s fast, way more convenient, and may come with special offers or boosts that will amplify the experience.

Mobile betting apps are all the rage these days. While not all sites have them, the top ones certainly do. They are usually available from the respective Android and iOS app stores and can be downloaded in seconds. Once you install them, and that’s as easy as it gets, you’ll be immersed in a world of mobile bets and possibly great mobile offers.

All you need is an Internet connection and an active betting account at that particular bookmaker.

The only problem is that not all bookies have apps. Even if they don’t, they have mobile websites that work just as well as the desktop versions. The best horse racing betting app has the same layout and design, so you won’t have trouble accessing and using them on your phones.

How to Bet on Horse Racing

Betting on horse races is very easy in 2021. You can do it from your PC, phone, or tablet, and if you sign up at the bookies on our list, you won’t have trouble, even if you’re new to the game. And while that portion is accessible, winning your horse racing bets is a bit harder. Read the instructions below if you want to learn how betting on horse racing works and how to win.

  1. Join a betting site from our list – this should be pretty easy;
  2. Claim a free bet if there is any (or a welcome bonus);
  3. Place your first horse race bet;
  4. Wait for the race to end;
  5. Choose a payment to withdraw and get your money!

Now, when it comes to how to bet on horse racing and win, that’s a whole different thing. You must read tips and predictions frequently to learn the ropes and bet successfully. You will also need strategies, so choose the best horse betting strategy to raise your chances of winning.

Horse Racing Live Betting

There are plenty of various horse racing bets that you should be aware of. We’re not just talking about pre-race odds and such – live horse race bets are even better. Among the different horse racing bets, live bets may be the best.

Live betting allows you to watch the races live and place your bets while the event is on. It’s much more exciting than any other type of bet. In-play race odds constantly change, so you’ll need to be quick on your feet to act accordingly. Live horse racing betting sites often include streaming, so you don’t lose track of what’s happening all the time.

Since horse racing is far more popular in the UK, it makes perfect sense for the most popular races. However, the top races in the world include some in the USA and France. The Dubai World Cup holds merit, too, being the world’s richest horse race. The Australian Gold Cup must also be among the best horse races in history.

However, the races we have for you below are widely considered the crème de la crème in horse racing.

  • Grand National: the premier horse race in the UK and possibly the world, the Grand National takes place every April at the Aintree racecourse. The field contains over 40 horses running for the ultimate prize. It’s one of the most popular races to bet on as well. It’s the best way to bet on horses regardless if you’re new or a seasoned punter, thanks to the excellent odds year in and year out.
  • Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe: the ultimate French horse race, the Arc has a long history dating back to the 1920s. It is open to horses aged 3 and over and takes place every first Sunday in October. Even today, the Arc manages to bring Europe to a standstill when it starts.
  • Kentucky Derby: horse racing is pretty big in the USA, thanks to the Kentucky Derby. It’s one of the most famous horse races of all time and the most featured event at horse racing bookies. Often called the fastest two minutes in sports, the Kentucky Derby has been a site of miraculous betting wins in the past.

Many other famous races in Japan, Canada, and other tracks deserve to be called the greatest. However, these 3 races are the top.

Fantasy Horse Racing Sites

Fantasy betting on sports is highly popular these days, and horse racing is no exception. Many betting sites add fantasy horse contests in which you bet on 2 horses in the races, hoping for a good return. Points are picked up depending on your picks’ performances. They don’t necessarily need to win – sometimes, even a show would be great.

Online Bookies vs Offline Bookmakers

Going to the races to bet on your favorite runners is quite a unique experience. However, if you ask us, online horse race betting sites are the winner in this match. There are better bets to place, and you’ll be hard-pressed to find better odds offline.

Horse Racing Bet Types

There are plenty of different types of horse bets you should know. We’ve put the top ones below so you don’t scratch your head when you see them at the bookies.

Win

Also known as a straight bet or single, it allows you to pick the horse you believe will win the race (hence the name).

Place

When you bet on a horse to place, you’re putting your money that the horse finishes first or second.

Show

A show bet means collecting a payout if your horse finishes 1st, 2nd, or 3rd. It concludes a trio of popular bets you can find at all seasoned and new horse racing betting sites.

Exotic

Exotic bets refer to a prevalent group of special horse racing bets that include betting on several horses, not just one.

Daily Double

This bet allows you to predict the winner of 2 consecutive races. It costs double, with the minimum set at $1 or $2 at the best horse racing betting sites.

Pick 3, 4, 5, 6

A pick 3, for example, is a bet that allows you to select the winner in 3 consecutive races. Betting on pick 4, 5, or 6 is the same with the corresponding number of events.

Exacta

Exacta is a pari-mutuel bet you can win if you predict the first two finishers in the official order.

Quinella

The Quinella bet allows you to pick 2 horses finishing in the first and second spots.

Trifecta

Like the Quinella, the Trifecta allows you to bet on 3 horses you believe will finish 1st, 2nd, and 3rd.

Superfecta

A variation of the Trifecta bet, the Superfecta, allows you to predict the first four finishers on the track.

Horse Racing Betting Tips & Predictions

If you want to be a successful horse race punter, you will have to read many tips and predictions. Many of our recommended betting sites have expert horse predictions for today or tomorrow you can use to your advantage to win big.

Reading tips, predictions, and race guides are of fundamental importance for horse race punters. You can’t rely on luck alone if you want to secure a nice payout. Let the experts explain everything in detail and use their picks to put money on your faves. There’s no shame in it – this will make you a better punter.

Live Horse Racing Streaming Sites

As we mentioned, the best horse racing betting sites will also come with live streaming. It will allow you to watch the races as they unfold so you can adjust your bets accordingly.

Keep in mind that not all betting sites offer live streaming, and where it is available, it is open to registered users only.

Yes, it is legal to bet on horse racing online. As one of the earliest forms of sport to bet on, horse racing has been legalized in many countries where gambling is illegal otherwise. Of course, it depends on legal online horse betting sites. If you sign up with a rogue bookie, there’s a big chance you won’t see a penny in return.

In the USA, legal horse betting is only available in states that have allowed it. These include Philadelphia, NJ, Vegas (Nevada), and many others. Of course, every state has its terms you must agree with before you bet on horse races.

Horse Racing Betting in the UK

Horse race betting in the UK is fully legal and very popular. You can do it online at the best sites, including William Hill, Ladbrokes, and Betfred.

Biggest Horse Racing Bet Win

There have been many legendary horse racing wagers in the past. American football bookies with horse racing have received astounding bets on the Kentucky Derby, but the largest ever bet and win on horse racing happened in Ireland in 1975.

Professional Irish gambler Barney Curley orchestrated the famous Yellow Sam betting coup. With a group of Irish bettors, he managed to take advantage of an under-handicapped horse to win nearly $2 million.

Horse Racing Rules

Horse racing rules are pretty simple when it comes to the race itself. Whoever finishes first wins the race. However, the rules are different depending on the race. For example, flat races need to be started from stalls or starting gates, while steeplechases and hurdle races should be activated with a starting gate or flag.

All riders must wear a helmet and whip and should not fall from their seat at any point. There are many other specific rules you can find online if you believe they’ll help you win your bets.

Horse Racing Systems

Horse racing systems refer to the different strategies bettors adopt to help them make more informed and nearly accurate bets on horse racing events. The purpose of applying them is to find angles or perspectives from which wagerers can make profitable bets. The top horse racing betting systems may include analyzing the historical performance of individual horses and their trainers, race conditions, weather, and others to guess how they will likely perform in a race more accurately. Bettors then apply whatever they learn from these systems to make bets.

Some horse racing systems that have worked in the past include Laying, Backing, Dutching, Matched/Each-way, and Arbitrage. There are two major ways to develop a viable racing system: Look for a working method to adopt or establish yours from scratch.

To find existing systems, research online on blogs, forums, social media, etc., to discover proven horse racing systems that work. You can, however, formulate top horse racing betting systems by choosing a general strategy (Laying, Dutching, Matched), devising a tactic based on that strategy, using past data to analyze the tactic, and testing the tactic on real-life games.

Examples of proven horse racing systems that work include The Backing Strategy, which involves betting on a horse to win or perform well in a race. It is after you’ve checked historical data and compared the competing horses. The Laying System is the opposite, as it involves betting against a horse to win because you believe it has lower chances.

Matched betting is where you place opposite bets of a back (to win) and lay (to lose) simultaneously, which means you get a guaranteed profit regardless of the outcome.

Old Horse Racing Systems

While we have discussed horse racing systems above, the ones mentioned are mostly more modern. However, Old Horse racing systems have been around for a while and have been applied by punters over the years.

These old racing systems can be anchored on various components like forms, ratings, trends, and trainers. Regarding the “forms,” bettors will make their bets on the forms the competing horses have maintained leading up to the match. For “ratings,” bettors would make wagers based on previous ratings that the concerned horses have received recently.

Bettors adopt these Old Fashioned Horse Racing Systems because they have proven to work over a long period. These old systems also appear convenient, meaning punters don’t have to spend much time and effort generating their systems.

The key difference between old and modern horse racing systems is their age. The older ones have been in place for a long time, while the modern ones were developed somewhat recently. However, aside from the period, old horse racing systems vary from new ones by their style. You would quickly discover the classic racing systems that still work are generally simple. Meanwhile, more recent systems are complicated and employ advanced data to make betting decisions.

  • The Dutching Strategy is one of the most popular old horse racing systems where bettors place bets on more than one horse to win a race. With multiple horses staked on, the bettor can minimize risks while increasing their chances of recording a win.
  • The 14-Win system is also one simple tactic based on the principle of betting on any horse that has won at least 14 races in the past. Horses with 14 wins are selected because they already show their quality and consistency and have higher chances of making further wins. However, no scientific or logical reason exists for choosing “14”.
  • There is also the Statistical Lay, which is a contrarian strategy. It involves placing wagers against the favourite to win a race. Bettors usually target the higher odds attached to these kinds of bets, guaranteeing huge payouts if it turns out correctly.

Horse Racing Matched Betting – A Brief Guide

Matched betting is a simple strategy to help you profit from free wagers. Matched betting on horse racing is a reliable way to improve your winning streak.

The strategy uses the original stake plus free betting bonus money to place 2 opposing bets. A matched wager comprises the following 2 bet types:

  • Back Bet – Betting for a specific outcome (for example, betting that Secretariat will win).
  • Lay Bet – Betting against a specific outcome (for example, betting that Secretariat will not win).

Ideally, you should use the original stake money to place a back bet and the free wager bonus money to place a lay bet. The goal is to cancel the risk on the back stake using the potential reward in the lay bet. However, there is one crucial requirement: both the back and lay bets should have similar odds, as a slight difference in odds could result in losses.

Matched betting horse racing rules follow the same strategy. You can use this strategy on many online sportsbooks and make anywhere between 50% and 80% of the free bet amount as profit.

Horse Racing Overview

Horse racing is a noble sports punters have been betting on for centuries. Here are a few interesting facts about it you should know:

  • The most popular events in the world of horse racing are the Kentucky Derby, the Grand National, the Gold Cup, the Dubai World Cup, Royal Ascot, Cheltenham, and the Breeders Cup;
  • In the USA, the most popular tracks are Keeneland, Gulfstream Park, Belmont Park, and Arlington Park, while in the UK, that crown goes to Cheltenham, Ascot, and Aintree;
  • Horse racing as a sport is most popular in the UK, Ireland, USA, Australia, and Dubai;
  • Greyhound racing, harness racing, and other equestrian sports are close to horse racing;
  • The most popular legal bookmakers for horse races are Bet365, William Hill, Ladbrokes, and Betfred;
  • Horse racing is Britain’s second-favorite sport after football;
  • Racing contributes billions to the UK’s economy every year.

Bottom Line

We hope our guide helped you learn more about how to bet on horses online. BetZillion has scanned the market deep for the best horse race bookies and given you an overview of the latest horse racing odds and free bets you can use to win big.

Give it a read if you want to learn more about the Sport of Kings and place your first bet on the best horse betting odds for today – if you’re good at it, you can win a nice sum in return.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Is it legal to bet on horses online?
    Yes, as long as you choose a legal bookmaker from our list, it is perfectly legal to bet on horses online.
  • How does horse betting work?
    Horse race betting online works similarly to football betting. You find a bookie, sign up, choose your race, and put your money on the favorite you think will win.
  • How to read horse racing odds?
    In most cases, horse racing odds are represented in fractional odds. The top betting sites usually have a switch that will let you toggle between American, decimal, or fractional odds.
  • How to bet on horse racing online?
    Find a bookmaker from our list, fund your account, and click on the odds you want to bet on to instantly place your first horse race bet.
  • What is a place bet in horse racing?
    A place bet means betting on a horse to finish first or second in a race.
  • How to make money betting on horses?
    To make money on horse betting, you must read expert tips and predictions and analyze certain race circs.
  • What is the best online horse betting site?
    It depends on what you’re looking for. We can mention William Hill, Ladbrokes, and Betfred among the best ones.
  • How to bet on horses and win?
    As mentioned earlier, you will need to follow all horses’ forms and keep track of the current and recent performance in addition to reading expert tips and predictions.
  • What states allow online horse betting?
    Horse race betting is almost legal globally, including Australia, Japan, the USA, and the UK.
  • Is online horse betting legal in India?
    Yes, horse race betting in India is one of the country’s very few legalized gambling forms.
Rebecca Martin

Rebecca is a Liverpool gal and a big fan of the club. She likes nothing more than sharing tips and predictions on sports betting. Her other favorite sports include horse racing, snooker, and golf. Rebecca is in charge of writing and media at BetZillion. You can thank her for making our articles look so great.

Latest betting news

View all News

Best High-Odds Tips for the November 26, 2023 Football Matches

There are some big matchups this weekend in the Premier League and Serie A, such as the Derby d'Italia between Juventus and Inter, so what should we expect from it? This is a high-odds prediction edition for the Sunday matches, with a fun accumulator at the end.

The SiGMA Europe Summit 2023 Report

The SiGMA Europe 2023, also known as Europe Summit 2023, returned on November 13-17, 2023. It is one of the biggest events in the betting and gambling industry and a place for the affiliates and leaders of the gaming world to meet.

Time Person of the Year 2023 Betting Odds

The Time Person of the Year this year will be interesting, as Musk and Zelenskyy are the top two favorites to win the award. The Ukrainian president was the Time Person of the Year in 2022, so can he win it back-to-back?
Thanks for subscribing!
We’ll send all the updates straight to your inbox. It’s the best way to learn news about sports betting.
You’ll also receive a newsletter with information on major sports betting updates, new betting site reviews, and the latest bonuses and promotions every few weeks.
We’re very happy to have you on board!
Cheers!
Register
Welcome,
good to see you!
No account? Sign up now
Register
Register now, it’s easy!
Benefits of registering
1
You will be able to leave comments and thus communicate with other users
2
You will be able to rate bookmakers and find out more about ratings from other users
3
Read articles that are not available to non-registered users
1
You will be able to leave comments
2
You will be able to rate bookmakers
3
Access to hidden articles
Register now, it’s easy!
Already have an account? Sign in now
Reset Password
Forgot your Password?
Fear not. We’ll email you instructions to reset your password. Type your email:
Reset Password
Forgot your Password?
Fear not. We’ll email you instructions to reset your password. Type your email: