One of the most experienced yet innovative bookies, PaddyPower mixes a great selection of odds with fun (read controversial) adverts. Nevertheless, one cannot ignore that they offer a great sportsbook.
Read full reviewHorse Racing Betting Sites
Find and compare UK bookies with the best horse racing betting odds, markets, and promotions.
After carefully going through our extensive list of over 200 betting sites in the UK, we have finally settled on and prepared a list of the best horse racing betting sites.
We have thoroughly tested and ranked each horse betting site, to help you pick the one with the best features and offers.
Best betting sites for horse racing
18+ | begambleaware | Please Gamble Responsibly | Commercial Content | T&Cs Apply
Paddy Power
- Offers high odds
- Money back promotions
- Racing 'Power Prices'
- Excellent tips on PP blog
- No customer support phone number
- Live chat first sends you to a chat bot
Welcome Offer
In Free Bets
18+, UK & Ireland only. New Customer offer YSKARZ. Place a min £5 bet on the sportsbook at odds of min EVS (2.0) and get £20 in free bets. Free bet rewards valid for 30 days. Only deposits via Debit Cards will qualify for this offer. T&Cs apply. Please Gamble Responsibly Paddy's Rewards Club: Get a £10 free bet when you place 5x bets of £10+. T&Cs apply. Please Gamble Responsibly.
Website: paddypower.com | Founded: 1988 |
Owner: Paddy Power Betfair | Headquarters: Dublin |
Summary
Betfair
- The sportsbook has plethora of horse betting options
- Best odds via the Betfair Exchange
- Betfair horse racing forum
- Great tools to help with responsible gambling
- Layout can be a bit too cluttered
- Similarly to Paddy Power, there is no phone number for customer support
- No BOG promo
Welcome Offer
New Customer offer. Place a min £5 bet on the Sportsbook on odds of min 1/2 (1.5), get £20 in Free Bets. Rewards valid for 30 days. SMS verification required. Only deposits via cards will qualify. T&Cs apply. Please Gamble Responsibly
Website: betfair.com | Founded: 1999 |
Owner: Betfair International Plc | Headquarters: London |
Summary
Betfair is one of the great UK bookies. With a big focus on football betting, they are the first choice of many punters, from the pro to the beginner. Also, they offer the worlds biggest and best betting exchange. Cons with Betfair include a somewhat difficult navigation and lack of selections for certain sports.
Read full reviewSky Bet
- Features markets such as RequestABet and Insured bet
- Competitive odds
- Many ways to contact customer support
- Sky Bet Club for bonuses
- Need to opt-in and qualify for Best Odds Guaranteed each week
Welcome Offer
When You Place Any Bet
NEW CUSTOMERS ONLY. FIRST SINGLE & E/W BET ONLY. 5P MINIMUM STAKE. ODDS OF 1/1 OR GREATER. 3 X £10 BET TOKENS. FREE BET STAKES NOT INCLUDED IN RETURNS. FREE BETS EXCLUDE VIRTUALS. FREE BETS ARE NON-WITHDRAWABLE. FREE BETS EXPIRE AFTER 30 DAYS. ELIGIBILITY RESTRICTIONS AND FURTHER T&CS APPLY. 18+. BEGAMBLEAWARE.ORG
Website: skybet.com | Founded: 2001 |
Owner: Flutter Entertainment Plc | Headquarters: Leeds |
Summary
Sky Bet provides excellent betting coverage across a vast array of sporting events, led by Horse Racing and Football. A superb bet builder and plenty of in-play options, combined with ongoing bonuses such as the Sky Bet Club help to keep players fully engaged.
The site is somewhat let down by slow customer service and a lack of options for e-wallet users, however, live streaming of sports, a very handy mobile app, and a strong, low-cost sign-up offer (Bet 5p - Get £30), all push Sky Bet into being one of the bookmakers of choice for many.
Betway
- Betway Free Bet Club (can be used on horses)
- ITV Money Back Offer
- Daily racing boosts
- Shallow horse betting markets
- Form statistics leave more to be desired
Welcome Offer
Plus 100 Spins
New UK customers only. Min Stake: £5. Maximum Free Bet: £30. First bet on a Football or Horse Racing multiple with 3+ selections. Overall odds: 3.00 (2/1) or higher. Free Bets available upon settlement of the qualifying bet. 100 Free Spins on Gold Blitz (£0.10 per spin) credited on settlement of qualifying Acca bet. No wagering requirements on free spin winnings. Debit Card deposit only (exclusions apply). This offer is valid 7 days from the new account being registered. 18+ BeGambleAware.org. Bet the Responsible Way. Full terms apply.
Website: betway.com | Founded: 2006 |
Owner: Betway Limited | Headquarters: Malta |
Summary
Betway Sign Up Offer
The Betway welcome offer allows users to claim a £30 matched bet, if your first bet loses.
When you register with Betway, you need to make a deposit with a debit card to claim this offer.
How to Get Betway Free Bets
1️⃣ Create a Betway account, deposit and bet a minimum of £5.
2️⃣ Bet must be a 3+ selection football or horse racing acca at odds of 2/1 or higher
3️⃣ If your bet loses, receive a matched free bet, along with 50 free spins for your qualifying bet.
Read full reviewBet365
- Best overall variety
- ITV 4/1 Racing promotion
- Extensive live streaming
- No racing acca boosts
Welcome Offer
Min deposit requirement. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits and are available for use upon settlement of qualifying bets. Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. Registration required. T&Cs, time limits and exclusions apply.
Website: bet365.com | Founded: 2000 |
Owner: Hillside (sports) ENC | Headquarters: Stoke |
Summary
Bet365 Bonus
The Bet365 open account offer is one that is befitting of arguably the best betting site in the world.
This new and improved bonus allows you to get £30 in free bets off of just a £10 wager.
That's a 300% bonus, and this Bet365 bonus can be claimed right here.
Why You Should Register With Bet365
⭐ As far as volume of markets is concerned, there is not a more comprehensive sportsbook out there.
💰 The list of existing customer promotions is exemplary - with Early Payout being the pick of the bunch.
↗️ Odds boosts are now featured on the site, which is another recent improvement.
Read full reviewLadbrokes
- Classic UK bookie
- Best Odds Guaranteed
- Extra place races
- Old-fashioned site
- Country restrictions
Welcome Offer
18+ New UK+IRE Customers only. Certain deposit methods & bet types excl. Min first 5 bet within 14 days of account reg at min odds 1/2 = 4x 5 free bets. Free bets valid for 7 days, stake not returned. No cashout, restrictions + T&Cs apply.
Website: ladbrokes.com | Founded: 1886 |
Owner: Ladbrokes Coral Group plc | Headquarters: London |
Summary
Regarding football betting, Ladbrokes has most of the competition beaten. Both their standard selection and special bets hold a really high standard. Also, they provide great offers, such as acca insurances. The only issue is that their withdrawal process can be quite slow at times.
Read full reviewBetfred
- Experienced bookie
- Offers 'Faller insurance'
- Accepts all major payment methods
- Customer support can be reached by phone
- Each way bets usually only pay 3 places
- Could improve market depth
Welcome Offer
New customers only. Register (excl. 13/04/24) with WELCOME50. First bet £10+ at Evens (2.0)+ on Sports within 7 days to get Free Bets: £20 In-Play, £20 Acca & 50 x £0.20 (£10) Free Spins on Fishin’ Frenzy within 10 hours of settlement. 7-day expiry. Eligibility & payment exclusions apply. Full T&Cs apply.
Website: betfred.com | Founded: 1967 |
Owner: Betfred | Headquarters: Warrington |
Summary
Founded in the United Kingdom by the Done brothers, Fred and Peter, Betfred has come a long way since its first shop was established in 1967. Viewers of British sports events will have seen Betfred appear as sponsors across horse racing, rugby league, snooker, football and darts, which are some of the main sports that feature on their sportsbook.
Read full reviewCoral
- Great variety of betting options
- Best odds guaranteed
- Insurance betting 2, 3, sometimes 4 places
- No live chat option - only social media
- No phone number
Welcome Offer
18+ New UK & ROI Customers only. Min deposit 5. Min first 5 bet at minimum odds 1/2 to qualify for 1x 20 free bet. Certain deposit methods and bet types excl. Free bet valid for 7 days, stake not returned. Restrictions + T&Cs apply.
Website: sports.coral.co.uk | Founded: 1926 |
Owner: Ladbrokes Coral Group plc | Headquarters: London |
Summary
Coral Sign Up Offer
When you create an account with this legendary UK bookmaker and bet £5, you can get a £20 free bet.
That's essentially a 400% bonus on your initial wager, which is a hugely generous bonus.
Claiming the Coral Free Bet in Three Simple Steps:
- Click 'Claim' at the top of this page and register with Coral.
- Place a £5 bet at odds of 1/2 or greater.
- Receive a £20 free bet to use on any sport.
✅ What We Like About the Coral Free Bet Offer
- The bonus amount compared with the qualifying bet requirement is very high.
- Minimum odds for the qualifying bet are low.
- Your free bet can be used on many sports.
❌ What We Don't Like About the Coral Free Bet Offer
- It would be nice to have the option to break the £20 free bet into smaller free bets.
William Hill
- Price boosts
- Extensive betting markets
- Great odds
- Not all payment methods accepted
Welcome Offer
18+. Play Safe. From 00:01 on 13.04.2022. £30 bonus. New customers only. Minimum £10 stake on odds of 1/2 (1.5) or greater on sportsbook. Further terms apply. #ad
Website: williamhill.com | Founded: 1934 |
Owner: William Hill plc | Headquarters: Gibraltar |
Summary
William Hill is a well-known bookie all over the UK. With great odds, many payment methods and all major UK sports on offer, there is not much to complain about.
Read full reviewBoyleSports
- Plenty of extra place and money back promotions each day
- Live streaming of all UK/Irish races
- Best odds guaranteed
- Racecards are a little sparse on information
Welcome Offer
New UK customers (Excluding NI) only. Mobile exclusive. Min Deposit £10. 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. Account & Payment method restrictions apply. T&Cs apply. **18+. UK & IRE online customers only. Payment & account restrictions apply. T&Cs apply.
Website: www.boylesports.com | Founded: 1982 |
Owner: BoyleSports | Headquarters: Dundalk (Ireland) |
Summary
BoyleSports is one of the UK's more recognisable bookies thanks to plenty of high-profile sporting sponsorships and, well, it's been around for 40+ years! BoyleSport has one of the premier online sportsbook products on the UK market with live streaming, numerous promotions, and great payment options to boot.
Read full reviewBetUK
- Timeform analysis integration
- Place system bets
- Domestic & international coverage
- Lacking payment methods
- Few markets within each race
Welcome Offer
T&Cs apply. New customers only. Deposit & Place a Bet within 7 days, and settle a £10 minimum bet at odds of 4/5 (1.8) or greater, to be credited with 3x £10 Free Bets: 2 x £10 Horse Racing and 1 x £10 Free Bet Builder. 7 day expiry. Stake not returned. 18+ BeGambleAware.org
Website: betuk.com | Founded: 2012 |
Owner: LeoVegas Gaming PLC | Headquarters: Malta |
Summary
BetUK is an online gambling brand that is operated by LeoVegas Gaming PLC, which relaunched the site in 2018.
Kambi is the sportsbook provider for BetUK, and it's a very straightforward, no-messing-about betting site that seems to be aimed at a slightly older demographic.
BetUK currently has a Bet £10 Get £30 offer for sports and a £100 Casino bonus.
Read full reviewBetMGM
- Golden Silks profit boosts
- UK & Irish race streaming
- Extra place races with Each-way Plus
- Strong welcome bonus
- Promotions can be limited
- Site layout can be counter-intuitive
Welcome Offer
New customers only. 7 days to place a qualifying bet to receive 6 x Free Bets: 4 x £10 Horse racing, 2 x £10 Acca Free Bets. 7 day expiry. Exclusions apply. Stake not returned. T&Cs apply. 18+ begambleaware.org
Website: betmgm.co.uk | Founded: 2011 |
Owner: Leo Vegas Gaming PLC | Headquarters: Malta |
Summary
BetMGM UK is an online betting and gambling brand from MGM Resorts International, a global leader in entertainment. The site has a familiar feel, thanks to its recent buy-out of LeoVegas and mimics many of its top features, including a superb sportsbook and casino experience, with a focus on giving the best odds, exclusive games and big bonuses for players, including free bet and free spin promotions.
Kwiff
- Having your bet 'kwiffed' makes a big difference to profits
- Live chat support is quick and friendly
- Not the most intuitive desktop layout
- Odds could be higher
- Shallow horse markets
Welcome Offer
New customers & 18+ only. Min. deposit of £10. Qualifying real money bet of £10. Min odds greater than or equal to 1.5 required. E/W bets excluded. Offer awarded immediately but could be issued the next working day in exceptional circumstances such as technical fault. Additional T&Cs apply. Please gamble responsibly.
Website: kwiff.com | Founded: 2015 |
Owner: Kwiff Ltd | Headquarters: London, UK |
Summary
Kwiff was founded in 2015 and the brand's unique selling point is the 'Supercharge' feature which means that any bet you place can be 'Kwiffed'. This is the equivalent of enhanced odds, but they are given out randomly after you place wagers. Initially, Kwiff was solely mobile-focused, but users can now use the betting site on desktop, too.
Read full reviewUpcoming UK & Ireland horse races to look out for
Moving into the last weeks of April, we're looking forward to the following major horse racing events. In our experience bookmakers will offer great bonuses to new and existing players alike, so it is the perfect opportunity to try your luck at guessing the winners and scoring some free bets.
- Bet365 Golden Cup at Sandown Park (Friday 26th April - Saturday 27th April - Antepost)
- Current favourite: Kitty's Light (5/1)
- Runner-up: Threeunderthrufive (8/1)
- Qipco Guineas Festival at Newmarket (Friday 3rd May - Sunday 5th May - Antepost)
- Current favourite: City Of Troy (4/6)
- Runner-up: Rosallion (5/1)
- Boodles May Festival at Chester (Wednesday 8th May - Friday 10th May - Antepost)
- Current favourite: The Shunter (10/1)
- Runner-up tie: Grand Providence (10/1)
All races can be seen for free on ITV. In addition, most bookmakers offer free livestreaming of the races too.
The best betting sites for horse racing
At Bookies Bonuses, we compare betting sites not just on the all-around experience, but also how they fare within each of the main sports. In the UK, horse racing makes up a huge part of the betting industry and that's why we have put together this guide for our readers.
Nearly half of the adults in the UK have a bet on the Grand National, but it is not just the major races and festivals that bring in the punters. You can expect a handful of UK racing cards each day, while there is also plenty of action in nations like France, South Africa, Hong Kong, Australia, the USA, and more.
With so much horse racing taking place and so many betting sites on which you can place your wagers, the information and lists on this page will help you determine where you'll be doing your punting.
There are many factors to consider, and we'll get into that, but below are three horse racing betting sites that tick all of the main boxes and have maintained a high standard over a long period of time.
Top 3 betting sites for horse racing
Paddy Power Horse Racing Betting
Bet £5 Get £20
In Free Bets
In the world of horse betting, few bookmakers have come as close to the recognition by fans, as being the cream of the crop.
As it currently stands, Paddy Power is the best betting site for horse racing you can find in the UK and it is a must-have in any bettor's portfolio.
If you ask anyone who bets occasionally, they'll tell you Paddy's is the best place to go for horse racing.
What We Like About Paddy Power
- Always great odds
- Non-stop promotions
- Instant withdrawals are available
- Great user experience and interface design
Paddy Power Horse Betting Markets
The bookie comes equipped with plenty of horse betting markets:
- Win or E/W - your horse is 1st or finishes in the top 3, 4, or 5 (depending on the offer)
- Forecast and Tricast - you choose which horse comes first, second (and third) in that exact order
- Lengthen your Odds - you choose the distance between the first-to-finish and the second horse in lengths (1 horse = length)
- Top Finish - bet on 3 horses to finish in the top 4
- Betting Without - the favourite-to-win horse is removed and you bet on the rest
- Money Back - if your horse doesn't win, but still finishes you get cash back
- WhatOddsPaddy - custom bets
- Distance - guess the lengths between the first and the second horses
- Match Bets - if the horse you pick finishes ahead of the other, you win the bet
Betfair Horse Racing Betting
Bet £5 Get £20 in Free Bets
Betfair is a betting site that houses both beginners and pros. The sportsbook is packed with markets plus special promotions and enhanced odds, while the exchange allows for peer-to-peer betting which presents trading opportunities and the chance to get higher odds.
Betfair comfortably sits as the second best site for horse racing.
Liquidity is high on the exchange for both British and international horse racing, and there is lots of information and analysis to take in on the betting site too.
What We Like About Betfair
- Great reputation and a respected brand
- Features a betting exchange, where you can get top odds
- Great variety of betting options
Betfair Horse Betting Markets
The Betfair horse betting markets are as follows:
- Win or E/W
- Place - your horse places or finishes in the top 3, 4, 5 or 6 positions (similar to 'Top Finish')
- Forecast and Tricast
- Lengthen your Odds
- Betting Without
- Money Back
- OddsOnThat - custom bets, similar to WhatOddsPaddy
- Distance - guess the lengths between the first and the second horses
- Match Bets
Sky Bet Horse Racing Betting
£30 in Free Bets
When You Place Any Bet
Sky Bet just dropped out of the sky one day and hit the ground running with a strong team behind it.
The brand quickly gained popularity among bettors due to its excellent coverage of sporting events.
Sky Bet is our third best horse betting bookie.
What We Like About Sky Bet
- Very well-known and trustworthy bookmaker
- Sky Bet's member program - Sky Bet Club, let you claim free bets and bonuses
- They have a very well polished betting app
Sky Bet Horse Betting Markets
Sky Bet offers great odds across these horse betting markets:
- Win or E/W
- Forecast and Tricast
- Place
- RequestABet (similar to OddsOnThat and WhatOddsPaddy)
- Distance
- Betting Without
- Insurance (Money Back)
- Specials - Either to win, Both to Place
How we rank horse racing betting sites
There are lots of horse racing betting sites in the UK, but only a select few are excellent and make it onto our lists.
Many of the classic UK bookies have been involved with horse racing for many decades and over time have refined their products, making the transition to online successfully and offering all of the key features that bettors want and finding new and exciting options for players too.
Not only must betting sites now ensure they have well-priced odds for UK racing, but they must also feature a wide range of international racing markets and offer a selection of betting promotions on a regular basis to entice punters to their site.
This is great for punters both new and ongoing, as bookmakers cannot rest on their laurels, when it comes to giving you the best betting options.
Analysis and editorial are also now a major part of the makeup of horse racing betting sites, plus livestreaming is now expected of online bookmakers.
In addition, a quality design and user experience can be the difference between a good horse racing betting site and a great one.
Top 10 horse racing betting sites
List of the top horse racing betting sites in the UK:
- Paddy Power
- Betfair
- Sky Bet
- Betway
- Bet365
- Ladbrokes
- Betfred
- Coral
- William Hill
- Boylesports
Horse racing betting offers types
The staff at Bookies Bonuses are always on the lookout for the best betting offers and promotions on the market, and many of them are centred around horse racing.
Below are some of the main horse racing offers you can expect to see on online betting sites:
- Best Odds Guaranteed - with this offer if you back a horse at fixed odds and the starting price ends up being bigger, you will get paid out at the greater odds.
- Money back - there are various ways in which betting sites incorporate money-back specials. Examples include if your horse falls, finishes 2nd, or is beaten by less than a length.
- Free bets - the most common betting offer, free bets can be given out as part of a sign-up bonus or can be offered to existing customers around certain events.
- Enhanced odds - boosted prices are often seen on the top UK betting sites for horse racing. You can find some good value on single bets, and some mega prices on enhanced accas.
- Extra places - by backing a horse each way with extra places, the 'place' part of your bet has more chance of coming in. If other bookies are paying four places and you find one paying five, it might be worth going for that one.
Best Odds Guaranteed (BOG) Times
Many of the best horse racing sites will provide this special offer: if you back a horse before the race and its odds increase (drift), you'll be paid out at the higher odds. If the odds decrease when the race starts, you'll retain your initial odds. This usually only applies to UK/Irish races.
The table below summarises some of the most popular horse bookies and their BOG times. Bet on any horses after the time shown in the table to be eligible for this promotion.
BOOKMAKER | BEST ODDS GUARANTEED TIME |
Bet365 | 8 am (day of the race) |
BoyleSports | 8 am (day of the race) |
Paddy Power | 8 am (day of the race) |
Ladbrokes | 8 am (day of the race) |
Betfred | 8 am (day of the race) |
Coral | 8 am (day of the race) |
Betway | 9 am (day of the race) |
BetUK | 11 am (day of the race) |
BetMGM | 11 am (day of the race) |
Horse racing betting markets
Gone are the days when punters simply backed horses to win or place, and that was that. Of course, that option is still there and is by far the most popular, but the best horse racing sites offer a wider variety of markets now, giving bettors more flexibility with their wagers.
How To Bet On Horse Racing
- Win
Backing a horse to win does what it says on the tin. You may hear this referred to as 'On the Nose', and while you should always shop around for the best odds, the Betfair Exchange is a great place to start for win only bets.
- Each way
An each way bet is where you put an equal amount of money on a horse to win and place respectively. A place is finishing the top 3, 4, or however many places are paid out in each specific race, which varies depending on the size of the field. A place bet can also be placed as a standalone bet on some horse racing betting sites.
- Betting without the favourite
If you like the look of a horse but want to eliminate the risk of it being beaten by the favourite, then you might want to just remove that problem from the equation and take your chosen horse to win without the favourite. Some bookmakers will even offer each way bets without the favourite too. Of course, the odds are much shorter than outright win bets in this instance.
- Insure Bet
With insurance bets, you only get paid if your horse wins, but you get your stake returned to you if it places. Odds are shorter than outright winner odds as you have a smaller chance of losing your entire stake.
- Forecast and tricast
A forecast bet involves selecting which horse will come first and which horse will come second. With a tricast, you add the third-placed horse in too. If successful, the payout is determined after the race but odds are often very high, particularly with tricasts.
- Winning distance
You can bet on the gap between the first and second horse without specifying which horse it will be. Alternatively, you can lengthen 'win' odds by backing your horse to win by a certain number of lengths.
- Match bets
This type of bet is only seen on certain horse racing betting sites, but it gives bettors the opportunity to back one horse over another and disregards all of the other runners. Whether the two horses in question finish 1st and 2nd or last and 2nd last does not matter.
- Pool bets (Tote Scoop 6, ITV 7)
Pool bets offer the potential for big wins, with players required to select runners from anywhere between 4-7 races. Requirements to win are dependent on the pool type, for instance Scoop 6 asks players to pick a winner in each race, while a Placepot requires players to pick horses that will place in each contest.
If a punter is the last person standing, they will win the pool and its jackpot amount, while multiple winners will split the prize based on their original stakes.
Horse racing live streaming
Horse racing is one of the main sports for live streaming on UK betting sites, with some online bookies only showing racing coverage and no other events.
Betting sites are the best places to watch horse racing live as there is no delay on the feed.
When using other streaming services from broadcasters, you might be several seconds behind and this can affect your ability to trade or bet in-play.
Live betting on horse racing is only available on a few betting sites. The likes of Betfair and Bet365 are great for both live streaming and live betting, and you can do them simultaneously while races are taking place.
Betfair offer horse racing live betting and live streaming.
Ante-post Horse Racing betting
For punters that want to get their bets on early, it is beneficial to be registered with betting sites with ante-post horse racing odds.
Even though promotions such as Best Odds Guaranteed aren't eligible with ante-post wagers, you still might be able to get a bigger price by identifying value early on.
Major races such as the Grand National and Kentucky Derby can be found on most betting sites months in advance, but some betting sites also list smaller races days in advance, allowing users to get ante-post bets on.
Ladbrokes list many races under the 'Future' tab in their horse racing section, bet365 has an extensive dedicated ante-post menu, and Paddy Power list races long before they take place too.
Recommended horse racing betting site
Ladbrokes Horse Racing Betting
Bet £5 Get £20 in Free Bets
Ladbrokes is a reliable bookie, especially when it comes to horse racing which is such a big part of their history. Lots of races are available to bet on ante-post, and you can get odds boosts every day on a variety of markets. On top of that, you can stream many races live directly on their betting site or app.
Horse racing betting sites FAQ
🐎 What is the best horse racing betting site?
This answer may never have a definitive answer, as UK bookmakers strive towards excellence and always one-up each other.
However, we have concluded that currently the 10 best horse betting sites are:
📈 How do I bet on horse racing?
The main bet types within horse racing are very straightforward. You can back a horse to win or place an each-way bet which means you are betting half your stake on it to win, and the other half on it to place (finish in the top 3, 4, 5, or however many places are specified).
Of course, picking winners is far from easy, and you should study the form before locking in your selections. There is plenty of guidance available, while sites such as bet365 allow users to watch previous runs by horses, via the racecard itself.
📺 Where can I watch horse races?
Many UK bookmakers offer livestreaming on horse racing. For some races, you'll need to place a bet in order to view it, whereas others are made available for free to logged in users.
You can also see the races live on ITV.
🔝What are the highest levels of horse racing?
There are many race types and class levels that horses can race in, with the below list highlighting the higher echelons of both flat and national hunt racing.
Flat Races
Group 1,2,3: The pinnacle of flat racing, with Group 1 races home to the 1000 and 2000 Guineas, the Derby and St Leger. Horses all race at the same weight, although fillies can get a small weight allowance depending on the contest itself.
Listed Race: Sitting just below the Group level contests, these can either be handicapped or non-handicapped, with famous examples including the Rockingham Stakes at York and the Chesham Stakes at Ascot.
Handicap Class 1 & 2: Handicaps are determined by a horse's ranking, which is based upon previous runs, with weight added accordingly to "level" the playing field. The top two classes are home to some of the most popular races in the UK, including the Ebor at York and Ayr Gold Cup.
Jump Races
Grade 1: This is the very pinnacle of the National Hunt racing, with the Cheltenham Gold Cup, the most famous example of this level of race.
Handicap: Although technically not as highly regarded as Grade 1, the very top of the handicap ratings does bring us the most famous race in the world, the Grand National, which is classed as a premier handicap contest.
💰 Where can I find the best horse racing betting odds?
For major UK races, there may not be much disparity between bookmakers' odds, but it is worth shopping around and checking each site for the best price and each way terms.
For win only bets, you might find the best odds on the Betfair Exchange.
For other bet types Paddy Power and SpreadEx may have the edge.
🏆 What are the biggest events for horse racing betting?
In the UK, the biggest horse racing events include the Cheltenham Festival, the Grand National, Royal Ascot, and the Epsom Derby. These meetings generally attract the most punters. Globally, the Dubai World Cup, Kentucky Derby, and Pegasus World Cup are also hugely popular events to bet upon.
🤑 Can I get free bets on horse racing?
Yes, there are many free bet offers and other betting promotions on horse racing betting sites. You can find many of them on this page, and also in the 'Promotions' section of each of the betting sites we have listed.
🤔What are the differences between a maiden, novice and handicap races?
A maiden race is the easiest to understand, with participants in this contest, having so far never won a competitive race in that discipline. This applies to flat, hurdle and chase races, with weight conditions placed on the runners based on their sex. If a runner has won on the flat, they will still be eligible to run a hurdle or chase contest and visa versa.
Novice races are for runners who have a little more experience, these races are open to runners who are eligible to run in a maiden, have not won more than a single race at Class 2 or 3 level and have not run more than twice unless they have won as previously stated.
Over hurdles or fences, this is slightly different, with horses eligible for novice events throughout the season, if they had not won the previous season in that discipline, although runners will be subject to weight penalties with each win. Once the new season begins, they are not eligible for these contests.
Handicap races are one the most common contests in horse racing, with all competitors allotted a rating, based upon previous performances. Based upon their rating, each horse in the race is allotted a set weight which is added to their saddle.
A horse that is rated 100, will carry more than a horse rated 90 and so on, with the idea of making the race more competitive overall and allowing horses of lesser ability to potentially win, based on this equalising system, with horse ratings fluctuating over time.
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