How to Judge Horse Racing Betting Sites
If you are a horse racing betting enthusiast, you must know the best horse racing bookies so as to get an enjoyable experience. However, with various horse racing bookmakers sprouting, choosing the best horse racing bookie can be challenging.
Don’t worry, we have done the hard work for you. We have analyzed the best UK horse racing sites and analyzed them based on a range of factors. Below are the criteria we use to decide which one deserves a spot on our list. We also follow these criteria to rank the best tennis betting sites.
The Reputation of the Horse Racing Bookmaker
Considering that you put your money on the line every time you bet, it is important to check the reputation of a horse racing bookie. Various aspects determine the reputation of a bookmaker.
We first consider safety and security. A safe bookmaker is licensed and regulated by a reputable gambling commission such as the UK Gambling Commission. At Strafe, we don’t recommend unregulated or blacklisted bookies.
Horse Racing Odds
Betting odds determine your winnings. The better the odds, the better the returns. This means more money in your pocket and less in the bookmaker’s account. The best horse racing betting sites offer the best odds in the market. So, we rank higher horse betting sites with bettor odds. This helps you know the horse racing bookmaker to use and limits the number of horse betting apps on your mobile device.
Live Streaming and in-Play Betting
A betting live stream is a great way of getting directly involved in horse betting. Live streaming not only allows you to watch the action as it unfolds but you also get a chance to study a competitor's past form and improve your betting. We also check if a horse racing bookie permits in-running betting. In-running betting allows you to back a horse in the middle of the race. However, some horse racing bookmakers don’t have an option for live streaming or in-running betting. We rank such sites lower.
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Customer Support
We also rank the best horse racing bookmakers online based on customer support. The best horse racing bookmakers offer around-the-clock customer support on your account. The majority of the horse racing sites on our list offer 24-hour customer support and have multiple ways of contacting them such as:
- Email
- Live chat
- Social Media
- Telephone
The best horse racing betting sites offer new players a welcome bonus. These are usually one-off offers you get when you sign up. At most times it comes in the form of a free bet, matched-up bonus, or cashback. We rank higher sites with such incentives. However, don’t let these initial offers leave you short-sighted. Take a look at other deals and promotions that you get after you have signed up. Always do this, even with political bookmakers.
Horse Racing Bookmakers
The Best Sites for Horse Betting in the UK
Choosing a horse racing bookmaker online can be disheartening. However, to help ensure that you’ve chosen the best horse racing bookmaker, we’ve compiled a list of the top 8 horse betting sites in the UK today. We also explain what makes them the best horse racing bookmaker.
Bet365
When looking at Bet365, we analyzed a number of important factors including, live betting, live streaming, and betting markets. We found Bet365 the leading horse racing betting site in the UK for a number of reasons.
- A generous welcome offer that allows up to £100 in free credit.
- Unrivaled betting markets, odds, and outstanding games.
- More in-play betting options than any other horse racing bookie.
Place your first cash bet up to $1,000, and if the bet loses, you will have your wager refunded in Bonus Bets. T&Cs, time limits and exclusions apply. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-Gambler 21+
Paddy Power
Paddy Power is one of the most popular horse racing bookies in the UK. It offers some of the best horse racing betting markets. Paddy Power makes it to our list because of the following reasons:
- Sterling welcome offer for new customers
- Easy to use site that makes navigating hassle-free
- High quality streaming with English commentary on all races
Betfair
If you are looking for a horse racing bookmaker with competitive odds, then look no further than Betfair. In addition to their easy-to-navigate site, here are more reasons why Betfair makes it to our list.
- Up to £100 in bonus bets
- Cash-out available on horse racing
- Minimum bonus qualifying odds
Ladbrokes
Ladbrokes runs an interactive racebook featuring horse races from all over the world. This gives you a broad market to play with. It also supports cashing out on horse races. Here are more reasons why Ladbrokes is one of the best horse racing bookies.
- It offers live streaming for horse races
- There is a best odds guaranteed feature
- It allows placing in-play bets on horse races
William Hill
Founded in 1934, William Hill is one of the most trusted horse racing bookmakers in the UK. When you sign up at William Hill you get a variety of bonus offers including, a welcome offer, free bets, and reload bonus. There are also promotions for regular players. It is one of the best horse racing betting sites today because:
- It has a wide variety of horse racing markets
- There are competitive horse racing odds
- It offers both live streaming and commentary
Betfred
Betfred is up there with the créme de la créme of horse racing sportsbooks because of its daily horse betting offers. We also rate Betfred highly because:
- It offers enhanced place terms on selected games every day.
- You receive a £30 sign up bonus
- It has a good range of betting markets
BetVictor
BetVictor offers a fabulous array of horse races to bet on each day. Besides, BetVictor offers pretty generous horse racing bonuses. What’s more?
- BetVictor offers some of the best horse racing odds in the market.
- It offers a real money refund when a selection fails to start
- It also offers a wide range of horse racing events to bet on
Coral
Coral is another experienced horse racing bookmaker. It started its operations in 1961 yet it’s still a leading horse racing bookmaker. Here is why Coral impressed us:
- Inventive offers on a daily basis
- Live streaming and commentary feature
- Best odds guaranteed
Feel free to also check our bookmaker sportsbook review.
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Expert Advice on Choosing a Horse to bet on
Betting on horse races can be profitable. However, the unpredictability of horse races can make it challenging. So, how can you pick a winning horse? Here is a guide to help you get the most of your bet. Note that these guidelines are not in order of importance.
The form of a horse can help you make accurate predictions. If the horse you want to bet on is off form, we advise trying another horse or market. To analyze the form of a horse consider factors such as:
- Finishing position in previous races
- The distance of the races
- The type of races it has been running
- The opponents in the race
- How long its been since their last race
Stall/Gate Position
In flat races, horses are allocated a stall number. This refers to the stall position the horse will start a race usually allocated randomly. The stall position can have an impact on some races. For instance, sprint races often favor the outside stall position.
Jockey
Jockeys can have an impact on the race. Check the form of the jockey and invest in one with a good form. Also, some jockeys have a proven record of good results over certain distances. So, choose a horse with a jockey you believe will win the race. However, this is not always a guarantee.
Horse's Ranking
Check out expert advice about the horse. A horse backed by many is likely to win. Also, check if you are betting on a race with enforced handicaps. Handicaps are meant to ensure fair play. In handicapped races, the horse likely to win is weighed down. Always keeps tabs on weight as it can immensely impact a race.
Course and Distance
The course and distance can also determine the winning horse. Always check the race card to see if a horse has course and distance marked CD. This is an indicator the horse knows the course and distance. Besides, long distances are always difficult to predict.
Types of Horse Racing Races
The different types of horse racing races make betting on the best horse racing sites today exciting. So, what are some of the horse racing types?
- Flat racing: This is the most common type of horse racing. Basically, flat racing is a race with no obstacles.
- Sprint racing: This is a type of flat racing race that takes place between 5 or 6 furlongs. It is a very fast event. Winners can finish in less than a minute.
- Jump Racing: Jump racing involves the horses jumping over some obstacles (fences).
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Horse Racing Betting Terminology and Jargon
Horse race betting can be an appalling task to newbies who don’t understand some key horse racing terms. In this section we have picked a few horse racing terms and explained them for you:
- All-Weather Race Course: All-weather horse racing tracks are made of synthetic turf. This type of turf is ok to race on no matter the weather. Examples of such turfs include Wolverhampton and Dundalk.
- Bridle: Bridle refers to the headgear or leather straps that the horse race wears. It is held by the Jockey to control its speed. A horse that is running on a bridle is still held backward to preserve its energy. On the other hand, a horse that is running off bridle is when the jockey lets go of his grip to allow the horse to run full speed.
- Blinkers: Blinkers are also headgears put on a horse. However, they are used to block the horse’s view from both sides so that they only focus on the front.
- Furlong: In horse racing, furlong refers to how long a race is. One furlong is equivalent to one-eighth of a mile.
- Dividend: The amount that the winning bet or placed horse returns for every £1.
- Favorite: The shortest-priced horse in the race. It is also known as Jolly.
- Betting Exchange: A betting website where you are betting against other people rather than the horse racing bookmaker.
- Baby Race: A race open to younger horses from two years old.
- Inquiry: An investigation into a race to determine if there was a foul.
- Break Maiden: The first win of any horse or maiden.
Horse Racing Betting Types
Horse racing betting today involves betting in a wide range of markets. You will be surprised to learn that these markets are different from those offered by soccer betting online platforms. Let's look at some of the most popular horse racing betting types:
- Single bet: This is the most common horse racing bet type. You can place a bet on the horse to win a race or each way. Each way means you can receive rewards for finishing first, second or third.
- Double bet: This means placing a bet on two different running events. However, you must win both events. If one event loses, you lose your bet.
- Treble bet: This is a bet on three selections running in different events. Just like in a double bet, all three selections must win to guarantee a return.
- Trixie bet: A Trixie bet consists of four bets of equal value on three selections on four separate horse racing events. You must get at least two selections right to get a return.
- Patent bet: A Patent comprises seven bets of equal value on three separate events: three singles, three doubles, and one treble.
- Accumulator: An accumulator bet consists of four or more selections on horses into a single bet. The accumulator only pays out if they all win.
- Yankee bet: A Yankee consists of four or more selections in four different events: six doubles, four trebles, and one four-fold. At least two selections must be successful to get a return.
- Lucky 15:A Lucky 15 consists of 15 bets of equal value on selections in four separate events: four singles, six doubles, four trebles, and one four-fold accumulator.
- Canadian Bet: A Canadian bet comprises 26 equal bets on selections in five separate events: 10 doubles, 10 trebles, five four-folds, and one fivefold. At least two selections must be successful to get a return.
- Lucky 31 Bet: A lucky 31 consists of 31 bets of equal value on selections in five separate events: five singles. Ten doubles, ten trebles, five four-folds, and one five-fold accumulator.
- Heinze bet: A Heinz bet consists of 57 bets of equal value on selections in six separate events: 15 doubles, 10 trebles. 15 four-folds, six five-folds, and one five-fold accumulator. At least two selections must be successful to get a return.
- Goliath bet: A Goliath bet consists of 247 equal bets on eight selections: 28 doubles, 56 trebles, 70 four-folds, 56 five-folds,28 six-folds, eight seven-folds, and one eightfold. At least two of your eight selections must be successful to get a return.
- Forecasts: A forecast bet involves not only betting on the winner but also on the horse that will come second. A straight focus bet is when you predict the first and second finishers in the correct order. On the other hand, the reverse forecast is betting on the top two horses regardless of their finishing order.
- Tricasts: Tricasts refer to predicting the top three horses. Although it's difficult to get tricasts right, they pay more.
- Round Robin: A Series of three or more selections in two-fold accumulators. A round-robin means three selections in different races, in three doubles, 1 treble, and six single stakes about bets.
- Without the favorite: This market refers to placing a bet on a race whereby the favorite will not be included in the bet when settling your bet. So, if you back a horse to win in this market, you will win either if the horse you’ve backed wins the race or comes second to the favorite.
- Winning distance: This means betting on how far the favorite will beat the rest by. Distances are calculated on the elapsed time between each horse.
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Best Horse Racing Competitions to Bet on
Horse racing events garner the interest of horse racing fans and bettors around the globe in equal measure. Horses from all over the world meet at these events and the prize money is often massive. Let’s now look at some of the best horse racing competitions to keep an eye on.
Cheltenham Festival
This four days competition is one of the largest horse racing competitions. It is held annually in England at the Cheltenham racecourse in Gloucestershire. You can bet on almost 30 different races. It is a big social occasion and offers quality racing with the Cheltenham Gold Cup and Champion hurdle ranked as one of the best in the world.
Aintree Grand National Festival
The Aintree festival is an event that takes place every April in Aintree near Liverpool. It is one of the most iconic horse races in the world offering three days of top-class racing (Thursday to Saturday). The top race is the historic Grand National, a race every horse rider dreams of winning.
Royal Ascot
Royal Ascot is a top flat horse racing event attended by the queen every year. The prize money exceeds £7 million pounds. It lasts for five days and is held at the Ascot Racecourse, owned by the queen. It is also a big fashion event.
Glorious Goodwood
This is another great flat horse racing event. It is a 5-day event held in Chichester, West Sussex, and is controlled by the family of the Duke of Richmond. This horse racing event always ends on the last Saturday of July every year.
Dubai World Cup Carnival
This event is held annually at the Meydan racecourse in UAE. It runs from January to the end of March. The winner receives a grand prize of $35 million. Other notable horse racing events to look up to include:
- Breeders cup
- Melbourne cup
- Preakness stakes
- Belmont stakes
- Kentucky derby
- Scottish grand national
- And more!
Wrap up
Thank you for reading our best horse racing betting site guide. We hope that you found it informative and you can now make a wise decision before signing up at any of our recommended horse racing bookies or before placing your next horse racing bet. Keep it here for more in-depth betting guides.
Good luck!
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Best Horse Racing Betting Site FAQ
😍What is best odds guaranteed?
Best odds guaranteed means you can take an early price about a selection on a particular race then if the starting price is bigger, you will be paid out of the biggest odds.
🐎Is online horse betting legal?
Horse racing betting today is legal. However, you must be over18 years old. Generally, if you are over18 years old, you are free to bet on any sport. You must also bet on a registered operator. So, ensure the horse racing bookie you choose is fully licensed and regulated by a reputable authority such as the UK Gambling Commission
💰How do I bet with a horse racing bookie online?
Betting on horse racing is pretty straightforward. First, create an account with one of our recommended horse racing bookmakers After creating an account head to the horse racing section of the site you have picked, make your selections, add your stake, and bet..
