Horse Racing Betting Sites

Also known as The Sport of Kings, horse racing is among the oldest sporting events that you can still place bets on today. The UK horse racing industry is estimated to be nearly worth £4.5 billion to the country’s economy alone, and the sport is indirectly or directly responsible for approximately 100,000 jobs.

In the UK alone, there’re more than 7000 registered horse owners providing horses for approximately 10,000 races per year, equating to around 100,000 runners. Each year, about 6 million individuals attend horse racing events in the United Kingdom, and approximately 400 million globally.

In Britain, about 11 million individuals place bets on horse racing events from the UK and Ireland every year, more than on any popular sports. It is healthy to say that the horse racing industry in the UK and Ireland is truly huge, and every betting website wants to have a share of this lucrative market.

If you are looking for the best horse racing sites in the UK, then this guide is ideal for you. It’ll help you understand which sites are a perfect match for you, the types of bets available, the best horse racing events to wager on, and more.

Top Horse Racing Bookmakers

Horse racing is the second-largest sport in the world of bookmakers. And both new and established bookies offer lots of betting options on the sport. The wagering markets vary from one site to another, which means that some bookmakers are better than others.

So if you’re on the lookout for a betting site that offers the best deals when it comes to betting on horse racing, no need to worry since the following list of top sites has got you covered. Go through the list and, if possible, read reviews of the different horse racing betting sites available before you can pick your favourite one.

• Ladbrokes: The best bookmaker for mobile betting on horse racing.
• William Hill: A top sports betting website for daily races coverage. 
• Betvictor: A top sportsbook for the best odds levels and international streaming.
• Bet365: The best sports betting platform for different types of markets.
• Betway: A recommended bookmaker for the Cheltenham Festival.
• Coral: An excellent sports betting platform for virtual horse races.
• 888sport: The best platform for horse racing odds, free bets, and other offers.
• MansionBet: A top-rated website for National Hunt Racing. 
• Betfred: A sportsbook with the best totepool betting services.
• Paddy Power: A top-rated site for regular horse racing offers.

All these sites are well-vetted to make sure that they can accommodate players with different betting styles, needs, and requirements. They hold licenses from the UK Gambling Commission and other top-rated regulatory authorities in the sports betting industry, meaning they’re safe, reliable, and trustworthy.

Additionally, they cover both major and minor horse racing events from the UK and Ireland. If you pick any of these sites, you will be sure to enjoy the best online betting experience from anywhere, anytime.

How to Judge Horse Racing Betting Sites

Currently, dozens of different horse racing betting platforms claim to provide the best gambling services in the United Kingdom. As a result of the huge number of betting sites available, it is difficult for you to pick a perfect match. Fortunately, there are some main features that you can keep in mind when looking for a top horse racing betting site. Below is the list of these features, along with some helpful details.

Horse Racing Betting Markets

The best horse racing platform provides bettors with lots of different markets to pick from. It’s recommended to check the markets available before you can sign up and place a bet. Here is a list of the different horse racing markets that top sports betting sites offer.

Ante Post

This is one of the markets that can be of massive value to serious horse racing players. The ante post market is where punters place a bet on a horse before the actual date of the event. This will depend on whether the horse race is available on your bookmaker early enough.

The benefit that this type of bet offers is that you can find the best odds on your favourite horse. But you should also know that the ante post betting option attracts some risks. Sometimes, sportsbooks count all non-runners selections as losers. So you should check that with your betting site before you can place a bet.

Win or Each Way

With this type of horse racing bet, players can wager on a win where a horse has to emerge the winner to earn some money. Or an each-way wager, where the cash stakes of players are split into two. For example, a £10 each way bet is £10 to win and £10 on a horse to place. This market varies from a platform to another, and the win depends on the number of each way places that your sportsbook is offering.

Betting W/O the Favourite

If you want to place a qualifying bet and you think that the favourite horse won’t be beaten, then you can place a wager without the favourite at better odds. In simple terms, you’re placing a horse racing bet while assuming that the favourite is not taking part in the competition. If you place a wager on a given horse to win a race without the favourite and it finishes in the second position to the favourite, you win the bet.

Distance Betting

As a player, you could fancy a given horse to win and also demolish a field. William Hill and other bookmakers provide you with the opportunity to lengthen the odds by supporting a horse to win a race by over 20 lengths. This could convert evens shot to a 3/1 wager. With this bet, it means that your horse must win by over 20 lengths to get your money.

Match Betting and Other Markets

Match betting is what it sounds like. You can place your bet on one horse to defeat another at well-revised odds. Other markets include place only betting, fallers insurance, which is common in jumps racing.

If you visit any of the best horse racing betting sites in the UK and discover that these types of bets and markets are available, you should consider it. Additionally, the sportsbook should offer the best odds on these markets before including it on your list of favourites.

Bonuses and Promotions

Bookmakers offer different types of bonuses and promotions to entice new players and retain existing punters. So whether you are new to horse racing or you have been placing horse racing bets for the past couple of decades, you need to sign up with an online betting platform that offers some free bets and other bonuses and promotions regularly.

As you know, there is nothing sweet in the world of gambling other than winning some significant amounts of cash with a free bet offer. Currently, bookmakers offer various types of free bets that both new and seasoned players can find appealing. New players can claim a first deposit bonus, while loyal punters have daily, weekly, and VIP rewards to take advantage of.

To receive your free bets in the form of bonus funds, you will need to make a min deposit, especially when you are a new customer. But if you are an existing client, you need to place wagers regularly to enjoy the free bet offers available. It is vital to read all the terms and conditions, including play-through requirements before you can accept any free bet offers and other deals available.

This will help you understand how a given platform wants you to use its free bet bonuses and how to convert the bonus funds into real money after winning a qualifying bet. Some of the most popular types of free bets include a no deposit bonus, a deposit bonus, matched free bets, risk-free bets, and reload bonuses, to mention just a few of them.

Best Horse Racing Odds

Signing up with a site that offers the best odds is one of the proven ways of becoming a successful sports punter. To be safe, you need to create accounts with various horse racing bookmakers. With several accounts, you will be able to compare the odds at different platforms before you can decide which one offers the best.

Instead of visiting multiple platforms to compare the odds, you can use comparison sites. These sites provide information about sportsbooks with the best odds on a certain event. When you use them, you will be sure to save your time and place bets when the odds are still favourable.

In-Play Betting

In horse racing, in-play betting is also known as in-running betting. And it is one of the best tools for betting fans. In-running betting, you can place a qualifying bet in the middle of an event. If you notice that you can take advantage of a given situation in ongoing horse races, then an in-play bet will be a perfect option for you.

By placing a bet at the best horse racing betting website while an event is in progress, you can easily make a qualifying bet since you have information about the competitors. Also, you can benefit from the fluctuating odds available. During the wagering process, you can be lucky to find some competitive odds that can significantly boost your winnings.

Not every sportsbook in the UK market offers in-running betting services. So it is advisable to check if these services are available before hitting the join now button.

Live Streaming

Live streaming is another key element for many gamblers from the United Kingdom. Being able to watch horse races from anywhere, anytime is very important. The best betting sites in the industry offer this service. Live streaming offers a great way for punters to get involved directly in various racing actions by watching them as they unfold.

The majority of the best horse racing betting sites offer video streaming. However, those that do not have the rights to offer video streaming provide their customers with live commentary. Many sportsbooks that offer live streaming services require a minimum of £1 before allowing you to access the streaming services.

A betting site that provides both live betting and streaming services is a great gambling destination. You can watch the races as you collect information that can help you place a qualifying bet if you’re utilising the live betting section of the sportsbook.

Mobile Betting

Although it’s rare to find a mobile app that is only dedicated to providing horse racing betting services, a betting site optimises its general platform to run smoothly on different devices. However, some of them have separate mobile apps that offer everything that the main platforms provide.

Excellent betting apps come with a wide range of additional features that make placing bets on horses more enjoyable. Many dedicated mobile apps provide their users with push notifications. These notifications help players to support and place bets on their favourite horses. Additionally, they provide them with some useful horse racing tips and information about free bet offers and top events like the Grant National and Royal Ascot.

The best betting sites have a mobile platform that is compatible with different operating systems like Windows, iOS, and Android. Before you can start your mobile betting journey, you should make sure that all the features available on a desktop site are also accessible on your mobile device.

Security and Licenses

Top gambling sites take customers’ safety seriously. It is a must to ensure that a betting platform is licensed and regulated before using its services. The UK Gambling Commission is one of the to-rated regulatory organisations in the industry. 

So when you visit any platform, you should be able to see a logo or a link to the UKGC. You should follow the link to ensure that the license is valid. When it comes to security, top sites use 128-bit encryption technology to keep the information of their customers safe.

Payment Methods and Customer Support

Payment methods and customer support services may not be one of the top priorities when looking for the best betting site. But these two features are very important. A good platform needs to provide its clients with a great range of payment methods to pick from. You should be able to make instant deposits and receive your money within a reasonable period.

When you encounter a problem, you should be in a position to get in touch with the support team in no time. It should offer support services through phone, live chat, and email. Customer support services should be available anytime.

Things to Consider Before Betting on a Horse Race 

Whether you are completely new to this sport or you just want to refresh your knowledge, this section will help you understand some of the things that you need to put into consideration before you can place your bet on a horse race. The things you need to consider include:

Bet Types

At first sight, the different names available in the world of horse racing can be a little confusing. But in reality, everything is simple. The two main bet types that you need to keep in mind include winning wager and the each-way wager. To win wager is the most straightforward as you only need to bet on the horse that you think will win.

On the other hand, you will only win your each-way wager if your horse of choice is winning and placing. This simply means that it must finish the race among the top four. If it finishes the race in the first position, you will receive the full amount. But if it comes second, third or fourth, you’ll receive a certain fraction of your initial bet stakes.

Types of Races

The horse racing calendar of the UK features two main seasons. The winter season that includes the National Hunt Racing, and the summer season that is dedicated to the Flat Racing. Horses that take part in hunt races range between grades 1 and 3, while the flat races accommodate horses up to grade 7. Grade 1 races are not only few but also far between, with a maximum of 30 taking place yearly.

Winning Strategy

If you are a lucky punter, then you can make lots of cash from horse betting. But if you aren’t blessed with luck, then you will need to establish a winning strategy. You need to be smart and be sure to increase your chances of winning before you can start to place significant bets.

To improve your strategy, you need to start by taking advantage of free bet offers. When you utilise free bet bonuses, you will be able to learn and familiarise yourself with the betting environment before making a qualifying deposit and placing your first bet.

How to Bet On Horse Racing

Before placing your first bet, you need to understand the different terminologies and variations available. The terminologies and variations are not similar to those of other sports. If you understand them, you will be in the position to place some qualifying wagers. The most common terminologies and betting options that you’re likely to find in the horse racing space include:

Starting Price

Betting on horses involves two things. You can take the odds the moment you bet, or you can pick the starting price. The short form of starting price is SP, and it represents horse odds at the start of a race. 

The horse racing industry sets the starting price, and it is adhered to by all betting operators offering it. This means that there is no advantage to taking a starting price. Many bettors love to take the starting price since it is friendly, especially when the odds drift out.

Tote and Totepool

Betfred is the owner of tote, but totepool betting is also available at top sportsbooks like William Hill and Ladbrokes. Totepool is a bit unique from other forms of betting. In totepool, there are no fixed odds at the time of placing a wager, which is common with other types of betting on horses.

At the moment, there are many tote betting variations like tote jackpot, tote win, tote trifecta, tote excata, tote place, tote quadpot, and tote placepot. Many punters find totepool betting to be fun, just like a lottery or the pools.

Favourites

If you are a die-hard fan of horse racing and betting, then you already know what the favourites are. For new customers, favourites are simply the horses that have the lowest odds. Customers who want to back the favourites will get the option to wager at SP odds. Also, there is an option to place a wager on the second favourites. Additionally, there is the possibility of having a minimum of two runners as a joint-favourite if the odds are the same. 

These are the main terminologies, but there are others like best odds guaranteed, rule 4, race card, early and board prices, non-runner no bet, and disqualification. You will be familiar with these terms if you dedicate yourself to horse racing betting. 

Best Horse Races UK

The UK is known for some of the best races in the world. These races include:

• Aintree Grand National
• Cheltenham Festival
• Guineas Meeting 
• Scottish Grand National 
• Oaks Stakes
• Royal Ascot
• Epsom Derby
• Champions Day
• Racing Post Trophy
• St Lager Stakes
• Welsh Grand National
• Glorious Goodwood
• King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes

Final Thoughts

If you are looking to place bets for a profit, then you should look for top-rated betting sites. This page has a comprehensive list of the best betting platforms. When you decide to sign up with any of them, you will be sure to enjoy great odds, an endless list of events to wager on, attractive free bet bonuses, and a mobile-friendly platform.

To pick the best site, you only need to go through the list and read their respective reviews. If you find a site that blends smoothly with your betting needs and requirements, create an account to get started.