Best Horse Racing Betting Sites in Ireland for 2024 ☘️

How We Rank the Best Horse Racing Betting Sites

Finding the best horse race betting sites isn’t always easy. There are lots of things to take into consideration and in this section, we’ll take a look at how we rank them, looking at features such as reputation, bonuses and promotions plus much more.

Bonuses and wagering insurance	All the best horse racing sites will offer both welcome bonuses and regular promotions for returning punters. We expect the best site to excel in this area, offering good value to Irish customers. We also look for betting insurance too. Types of insurance can include fail to finish insurance and also, in some cases, money-back guarantees.
Free Bets for Winners	We all love a free bet and the best horseracing betting sites will offer free bet promotions from time to time, specifically on races at big events. Free bet promotions will usually pay out in real cash, giving the added bonus of potentially increasing your winnings without risking your own money.
Live Streaming	Live streaming has become an important feature for punters over recent years. It gives you the option to place a bet and watch the race within the betting site, which is particularly handy for none televised events. We expect all the top horse racing bookmakers to have this feature and whilst some will offer it for free, others may require you to have an active bet to use it.
Live Betting	Live betting gives punters the option to place a bet whilst the race is in play. It’s a great option if you like to make decisions based on how the race is playing out and we look for bookmakers that offer this feature.
Betting Markets	These days, it is not good enough to just have basic betting options. Whilst we all love a win or each-way bet, we now want our online bookmakers to offer a wide range of betting options. So, we look for betting sites that offer the widest markets, such as forecasts, tri-casts and betting without the favourite.
News, Tips & Stats	There are plenty of websites dedicated to offering horse racing news, tips and stats, aimed at helping you make more informed betting decisions. We look for horse racing bookmakers that offer this service within their platform so punters do not have to look elsewhere.

By taking all of these things into account, we can rank the best horse race betting sites in how they meet these criteria, which in turn will help you make better informed betting decisions for your horse race betting.

Reviews of the best horse racing betting sites in Ireland

Bet365

Pros

• Attractive Welcome Bonus

• Exciting Promotions

• Customer-Friendly Features

Cons

• Small text font may not be to everyone’s taste

Bet365 is a renowned online betting platform with an extensive selection of horse racing markets. Let’s take a closer look at the various aspects of Bet365’s horse racing section.

New customers signing up with Bet365 are greeted with an attractive welcome bonus. Upon making an initial deposit, the platform matches it in bet credits, up to a maximum of €50. Although the minimum deposit can be as low as €5, users must match their qualifying deposit with the same amount of bets to release the bonus credits. Players are advised to read the full terms and conditions of the welcome bonuses.

As well as the welcome bonus, Bet365 offers a range of exciting horse racing promotions. Let’s take a closer look at the key offers:

Feature	Description
Bet Boost	Boosted bets are available on the homepage for Win or Each Way, including singles and multiples. Boosted multiples cannot be combined with other selections.
Bet365 Price Promise	Place bets on the Win and Each Way fixed odds markets for any race shown live on ITV Racing.
Best Odds Guaranteed	Place bets on any horse race from 08:00 UK Time on the race day and take the price on your selection. If your selection wins and the Starting Price (SP) is greater, you will be paid out at the bigger odds.
Racing Value	Enjoy early prices on every UK and Irish horse race.
Showcasts Exclusive	Showcasts are Fixed Price Straight Forecasts and Tricasts available on all UK and Irish horse races when prices are available.
Double Result Offer	Bet365 pays out on both the disqualified horse and the official winner for Win and Each Way bets on Horse Racing in the UK and Ireland, as well as the US, Germany, France, South Africa, and Mauritius.
No More 5p Rule 4 Deductions	Bet365 has eliminated the first 5p in the £ deduction to winnings when a horse is withdrawn at odds of between 10/1 and 14/1. This eliminates the common deduction made by other bookmakers.
Non-Runner No Bet	Bet365 offers Non-Runner No Bet on selected Ante-Post races. If your selection does not run, bets placed on the Win or Each Way market after the Non-Runner No Bet declaration will be refunded.
Each Way Extra	Increase or decrease the number of places in a race when betting Each Way on selected Horse Racing. Add places and take a reduced price or remove places to increase the odds on your selection.
My Horses	Create a portfolio of your favourite horses with the My Horses feature. Receive reminders when they are due to run and track their performance by adding personalized notes.

Bet365’s horse racing section offers a comprehensive and enjoyable betting experience. With its attractive welcome bonus, ongoing promotions, a wide range of payment options, and excellent customer service, Bet365 has everything covered.

LeoVegas Horse Racing

Pros:

• Mobile centric betting for horse racing on the go
• Plenty of horse racing markets

Cons:

• Odds aren’t as good as other sites

Are you looking for a new place to make your horse racing bets? LeoVegas has become a great site for several sports, so what can they do for horse racing punters?

The first thing you’ll see is that they have lots of markets for horse racing, covering a range of local and worldwide horse racing. It’s easy to search through the site for the markets that you’re looking for, and make the bet that you want.

As the site is designed for mobile betting first and foremost, that makes it so easy to bet on the horses no matter where you are. It’s very easy to bet while you’re on your phone, so you’ll never miss out.

When it comes to odds on horses, you’re not going to get the most amazing prices here. However, sometimes you will see some good deals pop up, so you’ll want to keep an eye out.

If you’re a horse racing punter who likes to bet through their phone, you’ll want to check LeoVegas out. They have just the right experience for you.

Coral Horse Racing

Pros:

• Excellent odds on horses
• Coral Racing Club offers regular bonuses

Cons:

• Not as many markets as other sites

If you’re looking for a good betting site for horse racing, you want a site that can offer you top quality. That’s where Coral come in. Are they the best for you?

As they’re such a big name, you’ll be expecting good value bets here. The good news is that their odds are always very reasonable, so you’ll get good return on your bets. Plus, you’ll get Best Odds Guaranteed on UK and Irish horse racing, which is always great to see.

If you want regular bonuses, the Coral Racing Club has you covered. As a member you’ll get all kinds of bonuses, including the chance to visit the yards and talk to the trainers themselves.

With all this, you’d think there would be a huge range of horse racing markets here. While the range is pretty decent, you can definitely find more elsewhere. However, the benefits here more than make up for this.

If all these benefits sound good to you, then you’ll want to sign up with Coral and try them out. They have lots of other benefits as well as the Racing Club, so become a member to take advantage of them now.

BoyleSports Horse Racing

Pros:

• Live streaming for horse racing
• Large range of horse racing markets

Cons:

• Not many horse racing specific promos

There’s a huge plethora of betting sites you can pick from now, so you can find the one that really gives you what you’re looking for. If you want the best site for horse racing betting, is BoyleSports where you want to be? Let’s take a look.

Firstly, you’ll be able to find a really wide range of markets for any UK or Irish horse race that you can think of. As there’s so many, covering all major events, you’re bound to find something that covers what you’re looking for. The odds on these events are very favourable too, giving you some good odds that you can take advantage of as a member.

One great point in the site’s favour is that they offer live streaming on horse racing too. Their live streaming is currently limited to horse racing a greyhounds, but that covers you and what you need from them. To watch a stream, you’ll just need to have a funded bet on the race. With so few sites able to offer this, it’s a bonus for members like you.

When we checked out the promos, there were some great ongoing deals for members to take advantage of. That includes deals on upcoming games, acca bonuses, and more. The one thing we’d like to see is more horse racing specific bonuses, but hopefully these will be available soon.

With all this in mind, you’ll be able to really enjoy horse racing betting here at BoyleSports. Their biggest advantage is that they offer live streaming for events, so you can watch the action and bet on the same site. If that sounds good to you, sign up now to take advantage of this feature.

888Sport Horse Racing

Pros:

• Excellent horse racing odds
• Horse racing streaming available

Cons:

• In play betting for horse racing somewhat limited

Are you looking for the best place to bet on horse racing? If so, then you’ll be looking to some of the most well known sites such as 888Sport. What can they bring you in terms of horse racing odds and betting?

You’ll see right away that their odds on horse racing are some of the best out there right now. You’ll be able to bet on a range of events in the UK and Ireland, and their odds are really good value. That’s especially apparent when you compare them to come of the biggest betting names in the business right now. It’s great to see that you’ll get good deals here.

The site has a limited amount of streaming available, but luckily for you that includes the option to watch horse racing events. To access a stream, you’ll just need to have a funded bet on that race. That’s something that a lot of betting sites can’t offer you, so it’s great to see that you can get live streaming along with your bets here.

While the live streaming is a great feature, the in play betting itself on horses is somewhat limited. There isn’t a lot of other features that you can take advantage, such as stats for upcoming races. It would be good to see more added here, so you can get more out of betting here.

Otherwise though, 888Sport offer a great place for horse racing betting. Their most exciting feature is the live streaming that you can access. Just make a bet here and you’ll be able to watch the race as it happens. If that sounds good to you, get signed up now.

BetVictor Horse Racing

Pros:

• Watch horse races as they happen
• Most UK and Irish races covered

Cons:

• Odds aren’t quite as competitive as you’d want

With so many betting sites available to you right now, you want to know that you’re picking the right one. If you want to bet on horse racing specifically, is BetVictor the right site for you? Let’s find out.

One of the best things about this site for horse racing is that they offer live streaming on horse races as they happen. When researching betting sites you’ll see quite a lot of them aren’t able to offer this, so having live streaming here is a real boon. That allows you to bet on races and watch them happen on the same site, which is a real bonus.

When you’re ready to make a bet, you’re going to find a large range of markets available to you as well. The site covers all UK and Irish horse racing meets, and there’s some serious market depth here. That’s another point in the site’s favour, as you’ll be able to find just the right bet every time you come by to bet on races.

The one downside to the site is that their odds aren’t quite as favourable as you’d expect them to be. They do still offer some good odds, but the prices aren’t as consistent as you’d find elsewhere. Many members keep the site in their inventory as they shop around for the best bet, as sometimes you will get good deals here.

BetVictor has a lot to offer you when it comes to horse racing. As they offer such a wide range of markets, you’ll be bound to find what you’re looking for quite easily. You’ll also see that with live streaming, you can watch races as you bet on them. They’re a site that are well worth looking into.

Ladbrokes Horse Racing

Pros:

• Excellent horse racing odds
• Lots of horse racing promos

Cons:

• Site design is a little complicated

When it comes to big betting names, there’s few who are bigger than Ladbrokes. If you’re looking for somewhere to make bets on horse racing, are they able to give you what you’re looking for? Let’s see what they can offer you as a member.

One of the most important things about the site is that they can offer you some of the best odds on horse racing out there. Their prices are consistently competitive, especially when compared to other sites on the market. As well as this you’ll get best odds guaranteed on all horse racing, so you’ll always get the best price on any winning bet.

While you’re getting good prices on your bets, you’ll also see there’s an excellent range of horse racing promos too. That includes special bets on selected horse racing events, and extra places on certain events are offered daily. There’s always generous promos being offered, so as a member you should be sure to check them out.

As a new member, you may find the site somewhat hard to navigate at first. They offer a lot of detail on horse racing betting, and if you’re new to betting it can be confusing at first. However, you’ll see that once you’ve become a member and spent some time on the site, it won’t take you long at all to get used to it.

There are thousands of horse racing punters out there that trust Ladbrokes with their bets, and you should consider them too. It’s hard to say no to them when they offer such consistently great odds on their bets. If you’re not already a member, now is the time to give them a try.

UniBet Horse Racing

Pros:

• Live stream any horse race with just a 1 EUR bet
• Good odds on horse racing

Cons:

• Big winners sometimes limited

Are you looking for the best place to get horse racing odds? UniBet are already trusted by a wide range of punters out there, so they’re a site you should be checking out. What can they offer you as a potential new member?

You’ll see right away that they offer some really good odds on horse racing bets. When compared to other sites on the market, you’ll see they can often beat out their competition, too. That makes them a go to horse racing betting site for many punters out there. As they have best odds guaranteed too, you’ll be sure that you’ll always get the best return on the bets you make here as well.

As a member here, you’ll want to take advantage of those good odds and place your horse racing bets here. It is worth noting that some members have experienced having their accounts limited after a big win, so you’ll want to keep that in mind if you’re considering them. However, they do always pay out first, so you’re not at risk of losing your winnings.

One of the site’s biggest draws is the fact they have live streaming for horse racing. To watch a stream, you need a funded bet of at least 1 EUR and money in your account. These are low requirements, so you’ll be able to enjoy the stream as you bet. With so many sites not able to offer this, it’s a real feather in their cap.

For those looking for a good horse racing site, you can’t do much better than UniBet. With great odds and streaming available, you’ll get everything that you want here.

Features Every Horse Racing Betting Site Should Have

In this section, we’re going to assess the kind of features we think all the best horse racing betting sites should have. These features range from welcome offers, deals and promotions to betting markets. Let’s get into it, shall we?

Welcome Offers	One of the biggest deciding factors for Irish punters when choosing new horse race betting sites is how good the welcome offer is. Every top online bookmaker will offer a good welcome offer to draw customers in and they can differ in value, so it’s a good idea to look around and find one that best suits your needs. Typical welcome offers may include, free bets or bonus bets after making an initial deposit. These can be very valuable and help improve your winning potential.
Ongoing Deals and Promotions	Whilst welcome offers are aimed and bringing in new customers, the best horse racing betting sites will also offer ongoing deals and promotions to keep current punters happy and engaged. These can include free bets, boosted odds offers and exclusive bets such as early cashout deals and betting on extra places.
Money-Back Offers	These types of offers might not be as typical as price boosts for example but they can still be very valuable to punters. Money-back offers, present you with the opportunity to get a percentage of your bet back under specific conditions. These conditions can vary but typically they can be for if your horse falls or places second. Whilst not as good as winning, they offer some of your money back which can be used on other bets.
Mobile Betting	In the modern age, with so many of us on the go all of the time, we need everything to be accessible all the time and having a horse race betting site that works great with mobile devices is a must. Some of the best sites will have dedicated apps whilst others will be optimised to work within your mobile browser and all should be compatible across all platforms.
Extra Place betting	During all the big horse racing meets, online bookmakers will have plenty of offers and promotions available and one of the most common is extra place betting. This offer increases how many places the bookie will pay out for a particular race. So, instead of your typical win and each-way betting, big races may payout on the top 6 or 8 places.
Horse Racing Live Streaming	Live streaming is such an important part of modern horse racing betting sites. It’s no longer enough to offer good betting markets alone because punters also want the option to watch their bets play out and watch the race. Many of the top horse racing betting sites will provide live-streaming but it’s important to remember that not all provide this service for free, With many sites, you are required to have an active bet to be able to use it.
Betting Markets	The best horse racing betting sites provide punters with the widest betting markets. It’s no longer enough to just provide your basic betting options. Punters want a wide variety of betting choices to enhance their experience and enjoyment. As well as win and each-way betting, look out for extra places, in-lay betting, early cashout options, accumulators and price boost promotions.
Horse Race Form Guides and Tips	Racing tips, stats and form guides are all integral to making informed betting decisions. Whilst all of this information can be found from other, dedicated websites, you can expect to find the best horse race betting sites will provide this also. This is a great feature which means you can find all the information you need under one roof, rather than having to search other websites.
Easy Deposits and Fast Withdrawals	When betting on horseracing, you want to be able to deposit money to your bookmaker’s account quickly and in turn, get your hands on your winnings as fast as you can. Whilst most online bookmakers offer almost instant depositing options, withdrawals can differ from site to site and depend largely on what banking method you are using. Always read up and check the banking terms and conditions of each horse race betting site before using them.
Responsible Gambling	Responsible gambling is a hot topic at the moment and the most reputable horse race betting sites will have guidelines and policies in play. If responsible gambling is important to you, look around for an online betting site that offers betting limits where you can set your own restrictions so you stay within budget and have control over your spending.

Horse Racing Betting Markets

The best horse racing betting sites will provide the widest betting markets. In this next section, we will take a look at the kind of betting markets you should expect to find.

• To Win the Race

The simplest and most well-known bet you can make is to place money on the horse you think will win the race. You will find that all the best horse race betting sites will offer this bet and they will also provide recent form guides to help you pick your winner.

• Each Way

With an each-way bet, you are effectively placing two bets. One for the horse to win and one for it to place second or third. This betting market offers a little safety net, giving punters a chance to win some money even if their horse doesn’t win.

• Forecast

With a forecast bet you are predicting the order in which the horses will finish the race. Although not as well known as some other horse racing betting markets, if you get it right and your bet comes in, the odds are usually quite favourable and you can get a decent return on your money.

• Tricast

Similar to forecast betting, with a tricast bet you are predicting the order of the top three finishers in the race. Like forecast betting, this can be risky but also presents favourable odds and your return, should you predict the top three finishers correctly, can be worth it.

• Multiples

If you’re looking for something a little different from the norm, then multiples might be for you. With multiple betting, you can use winnings from one selection of your bet to make subsequent bets. One thing to keep in mind with multiples is that they can be risky because if one section of your bet fails, your entire series is lost.

• System Bets

System bets are basically a more flexible version of a traditional accumulator. With accumulator betting, every part of your bet must come in for it to pay out but with a system bet, you can win even if a selection of your bet fails.

Types Of  Horse Racing Betting Offers

Offers and promotions are commonplace with online bookmakers’. The variety can be wide but they all have the same goal, which is to attract new customers and increase engagement with returning customers. Let’s take a look at the types of offers you might expect to find to help you with your horse race betting.

• Betting Without the Favourite

The bet type has emerged as a favourite amongst punters over recent years. Instead of betting on the race favourite, you have to find another runner to back and if your horse comes first or second, you will get a return on your bet. Betting without the favourite can offer increased odds and a greater return for your money whilst offering punters something different to traditional bet types.

• Enhanced Odds

You might also see enhanced odds called ‘Price Boosts’ at some horse racing betting sites. These promotions offer increased odds for selected runners of selected races, giving you the chance to get a bigger return should your bet come in.

• Non-Runner No Bet

This offer is now commonplace amongst the top horse racing betting sites. Basically, if you place a bet in advance of a race and your horse does not run, you will have your bet withdrawn and your money returned.

• Best Odds Guaranteed

The best odds guaranteed offers are available at most of the big online bookies. Place a bet and if the odds increase or decrease and you win, your return will be based on the best odds that were available.

• Money-Back Specials

These are very popular offers you will see them offered at all the top online bookmakers. You will see different variations of money-back specials but the most popular is ‘money back if your horse finishes, second, third and sometimes even fourth. Your money is usually given back to you as a free bet but sometimes online bookmakers will offer cash too.

• Extra Places

Extra place promotions are another offer that you will see all the time and they offer something extra other than your typical win or each-way bets. With extra places, you will receive a return even if your horse finishes fourth, fifth or sixth. Sometimes bookies will even other up to eight places.

• Fallers Insurance

This promotion gives punters a safety net should their horse fall or if the jockey is unseated. When you claim fallers insurance and this should happen, you will have your bet refunded, usually as a free bet to use on another race.

• Ante Post Betting

Also known as Futures betting, ante post betting gives you the opportunity to place a bet way in advance of the race. These bets usually offer higher odds and are popular options for major horse racing meets.

• Loyalty Programs and VIP Clubs

Rewarding the loyalty of their punters is something all the top horse racing betting sites will offer. Many of the big bookies will have VIP clubs, where you can claim exclusive offers and promotions. These can include, enhanced odds and free bets plus much more.

Strategies For Betting On Horse Racing

We all want the best experience possible when betting on horses. There is nothing worse than going on a losing run, which is why adopting good practices and studying different strategies can help you improve and hopefully pick up a few wins. Here are a few pointers to help make better informed decision-making for horse race betting.

Study the Form	Studying form can be imperative to making good betting decisions. By studying the form closely you can check the weight of the horse compared to others, how well it has faired at previous races and check previous race results too. You can check the race class, the trainer’s form, how the horse has faired over similar distances and weather conditions and you can see how the horse has performed at a specific race course in the past.
Watch The Odds	It is always a good idea to watch the movement of the odds. This is sometimes called, backing streamers and drifters and it can be a worthwhile strategy. By keeping an eye on the odds you can sometimes pick up on insider knowledge.
Tipsters	There are many websites dedicated to providing horse racing tips. By reading up on these and comparing them against each other, you can get valuable insight. It’s worth mentioning though, that lots of these tipster websites charge a subscription fee and their credibility can be questioned. Many online bookmakers offer this service for free too and it’s a valuable service and well worth checking out.
Research Your Horses	Do your research and find as much information about the horses running as you can. Racecards provide invaluable information, giving detailed racing stats including trainer and jockey details. You can also check if the horse has good form at the racecourse over similar distances.
Don’t Focus on the Favorite	While the favourite is considered the most likely to win the race, they will offer lower odds and if you always back the favourite, your return will be lower. It’s important to look at all the runners in the race and study the form guide before you settle on which horse you want to back.
Consider Breeding	The racecard will provide details about the horse’s pedigree and breeding. You can read up on who the sire and dam are. If the horse’s sire has a successful racing history, it could indicate how well this horse will run.

Popular Racing Events

Horse racing is a huge industry and races across Ireland and the UK, attract millions of people each year. Here are some of the most popular horse racing events.

Racing Events in Ireland

Irish Derby	Taking place at Curragh Racecourse, The Irish Derby is a highlight of the Irish racing season. Showcasing the very best three-year-old colts and fillies, the race has a rich history and brings in people from all over the world.
Galway Races	The Galway Races, held at Galway Racecourse, is possibly the most popular racing festival in Ireland. Held over 7 days and known for mixing the very best in horseracing with entertainment, the festival has a lively social atmosphere that spectators travel to from far and wide.
Punchestown Festival	Often compared to the Cheltenham Festival, the Punchtown Festival takes place at Punchtown Racecourse annually and is known for its high-quality National Hunt racing. Notable races include The Punchtown Gold Cup, the Champion Chase and the Champion Hurdle.
Irish Grand National	This famous steeplechase is held at Fairyhouse Racecourse and like its UK cousin, is known for its rich history and challenging jumps. The Irish Grand National is a favourite amongst Irish punters.

Racing Events in the UK

Royal Ascot	Quite possibly the most prestigious and iconic horse racing event in the UK, Royal Ascot brings in visitors from all over the world. Known for its high-end glamour and fashion amongst those attending plus attracting some of the biggest horses and jockeys, Royal Ascot is a huge event for punters.
Cheltenham Festival	The jewel in the crown of the National Hunt racing season, the Cheltenham Festival takes place in March each year and includes such prestigious races as the Cheltenham Gold Cup and the Champion Hurdle.
Grand National	Coming from Aintree Racecourse in Liverpool each year, the Grand National is famous all over the world for its difficult jumps and unpredictability. Horses that have won here include the iconic three-time winner Red Rum, Foinavon, Lord Gyllene and Mr Frisk.
Epsom Derby	Referred to amongst punters as simply ‘the Derby’ this is one of the most prestigious flat races in the UK. Held annually at Epsom Downs Racecourse, The Epson Derby showcases the best-thoroughbred three-year-olds running today.
Goodwood Festival	Held in West Sussex at Goodwood Racecourse, The Goodwood Festival mixes the best top-notch horseracing with entertainment, offering a vibrant social atmosphere. Popular races include the Goodwood Cup and the Sussex Stakes.

Betting on horse racing

Win bets

One of the most popular bets, and not just within the sport of horse racing is betting to win. In horse racing win bets consist of choosing a horse that you think will win, and placing a stake on it. If your horse wins, your winnings will be multiplied based on the odds you were given by your betting site. For example, let’s say your odds were 3/1, and your stake was €2, you would be given €6.

Each-way betting

Each-way betting is especially prevalent within horse racing. An each-way bet is commonly mistaken for a single bet, when in fact it is actually two bets. Each-way bets work by placing half of your stake on a horse to win (as mentioned previously) and the other half on the horse positioning in the top of the field. If your horse finished in the top of the field (1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th) you would receive a payout depending on your place – the higher the position, the bigger the payout.

Accumulator bets

Accumulator bets are for those looking for a little extra. One of the most straightforward accumulator bets is the double bet – betting on two horses to win rather than one. To win this bet both horses much win. For example, let’s say you bet on two horses, the first horse wins, but the second horse loses, the bet will then be lost. Accumulator bets can, however, be higher than a double bet. Accumulator bets can be placed on up to four or more horses. The higher number of horses bet within an accumulator, the bigger the payout if all horses are to win.

Betting without the favourite horse

Also known as ‘betting without,’ this bet consists of taking the favourite horse out of the betting market. This, therefore, increases the odds of the rest of the field, as if that horse was not running. Choosing to bet against without a single horse often gives punters a higher return rate on bets to win.

Forecast and reverse forecast bets

A forecast bet is a bet placed on two horses which you believe will finish first and second. For a forecast bet to be won, these horses must finish in the exact order you predicted. A reverse forecast bet, however, also consists of choosing two horses to finish first and second. A reverse forecast bet, however, allows either horse to finish in first or second – granted they both finish in the top two positions.

Tricast bet

Similarly to a forecast and reverse forecast bet, a tricast bet comprises of choosing three horses which will finish in the top three of the race. To win a tricast bet, you must select the correct order in which these horses will finish. Likewise to a reverse forecast bet, there is also a variation of the tricast bet – the combination tricast. The combination tricast allows you to win the bet as long as your chosen three horses finish in the top three, no matter which order they finish in.

What to look for when betting on a horse

Now that we know what kinds of bets are available, what should you look out for when betting on a horse? This next section will explain what you should be looking out for when placing a bet on a horse, from form to the trainer, we have you covered.

Form

Before betting on a horse, we suggest looking up the horse’s previous race results. These are often available on the horse’s info page while placing a bet. Analysing a horse’s form before placing a bet allows you to factor in further details regarding the race – when was there the last win? What position did they finish in their previous race? Have they had any recent injuries?

Age

Another critical piece of information you want to look for is the age of the horse. The ideal age for a jumping horse to peak is between the ages of seven and ten. It is worth noting that betting on an older horse, however, is still a wise choice, especially If they are in good form.

Trainer

A horse can only become as good as their trainer. A high-quality trainer will make daily exercise plans and run through racing schedules, all while looking after the horse. Trainers are often specialised to training certain types of horses. For example, a specific trainer may be particularly good at teaching a young horse (up to the age of three) whereas others may be effective at developing top speeds.

Horse Betting Events

To finish, we thought we’d leave you with a few popular horse racing events to bet on.

The Grand National

The Grand National is the biggest horse racing event of the year. Hosted on the outskirts of Liverpool, the Grand National hosts a grand prize of over £1 million. The Grand National is popular among both the Irish and English horse racing fanatics, perfect for bringing everyone together for a rivalry.

Melbourne Cup

The Melbourne Cup is Australia’s largest horse race. The Melbourne cup is actually as significant as The Grand National in Australia, so much so that it usually stops the nation.

Kentucky Derby

The Kentucky Derby also referred to as the ‘Run for the Roses’ is the featured event of the Kentucky Derby Festival. Just like the Melbourne Cup and the Grand National, the Kentucky Derby has the highest attendance of any horse racing event in America.

To summarise

When betting on a horse we suggest undergoing some quick research on their form, trainer, age, and jockey. Depending on how confident you are in your horse’s abilities will establish which type of bet you choose to back. We recommend making use of both the ‘to win’ bets and the ‘each-way bets’ to make a start and be sure to search around to find the best odds available.

FAQs on Horse Racing Betting Sites