Horse Racing Betting

When it comes to horse racing betting, finding a reliable and trustworthy betting site and app is crucial. With so many options available, it can be overwhelming to choose the best one for your needs. That's where we come in.

Our team of expert horse betting enthusiasts has scoured the web to bring you the top horse racing betting sites in the US. We've tested each of the leading sites and apps to ensure that they offer the best odds, a wide variety of betting options, and the highest level of security and customer support.

In this section of our guide, we'll take you through the criteria we use to rate the best horse racing betting sites, so you can make an informed decision when choosing where to place your bets. We'll also provide you with our top picks, so you can start betting on horse racing with confidence.

Our team of experts has scoured the web to bring you the top horse betting sites and apps that offer the best odds, the widest variety of betting options, and the most generous promotions and bonuses.

Our top picks include Bet365, FanDuel, Betfred, Caesars, and BetMGM, each of which has been rigorously tested and evaluated to ensure that they meet our strict criteria for reliability, security, and overall quality.

Whether you're looking for a user-friendly app for betting on the go or a comprehensive website with a wide variety of betting options, our recommended horse racing betting sites have got you covered.

With a history dating back to 2000, Bet365 is one of the most reputable and trusted names in the online betting industry. They offer competitive odds and a wide variety of betting options, including live streaming of horse races from tracks around the world. Bet365 also offers generous promotions and bonuses, including a risk-free bet for new users.

As a leading daily fantasy sports provider, FanDuel has expanded its offerings to include sports betting, including horse racing betting. They offer a user-friendly interface and a variety of betting options, as well as live streaming of races from tracks across the US. FanDuel also offers promotions and bonuses for both new and existing users.

With a history dating back to 1967, Betfred is one of the oldest and most respected bookmakers in the UK. They've expanded their offerings to include online sports betting, including horse racing betting in the US.

With a history dating back to 1937, Caesars is a well-known and trusted name in the casino industry. They've expanded their offerings to include online sports betting, including horse racing betting. Caesars offers a user-friendly interface and a variety of betting options, as well as regular promotions and bonuses.

As a joint venture between MGM Resorts International and GVC Holdings, BetMGM is a relatively new player in the online betting industry. However, they've quickly established themselves as a leading sportsbook, offering competitive odds and a variety of betting options, including horse racing betting. BetMGM also offers promotions and bonuses for both new and existing users.

If you're new to horse racing betting, you might find all the terms and types of bets overwhelming. But fear not – we're here to explain it all in our horse racing betting guide.

First, let's start with the basics. Horse racing betting is simply placing a bet on the outcome of a horse race. You can place bets on individual horses to win, place or show, or you can place bets on multiple horses in various combinations.

To get started, you'll need to familiarize yourself with some common horse racing betting terms.

These include:

There are many other types of bets in horse racing, including quinella, daily double, pick 3, pick 4, pick 6, and more. Each bet has its own rules and payouts, so it's important to understand them before placing your bets.

When it comes to horse racing betting types, there are many different options to choose from. Some of the most popular types include:

In horse racing, odds are used to determine how much you can win if your bet is successful. The odds represent the probability of a particular horse winning the race, as determined by the bookmaker or betting site.

For example, if a horse has odds of 2/1, this means that the bookmaker or betting site believes that the horse has a 33.3% chance of winning the race. If you place a $10 bet on this horse and it wins, you'll receive a payout of $30 – your original $10 bet plus $20 in winnings.

Conversely, if a horse has odds of 10/1, this means that the bookmaker or betting site believes that the horse has a 9.1% chance of winning the race. If you place a $10 bet on this horse and it wins, you'll receive a payout of $110 – your original $10 bet plus $100 in winnings.

In general, the higher the odds, the less likely a horse is to win the race. However, this also means that the potential payout is higher if your bet is successful.

It's important to note that odds can change in the lead-up to a race, depending on factors such as the weather, the condition of the track, and any last-minute scratches or changes to the lineup. It's also important to shop around and compare odds from different bookmakers and betting sites to ensure that you're getting the best value for your bets.

When it comes to horse racing betting types, there are many options to choose from, each with its own set of rules and potential payouts. Here's a closer look at some of the most popular horse racing betting types, along with real-life examples to help illustrate how they work.

Win Bet

This is the simplest and most common type of horse racing bet. With a win bet, you're betting on a single horse to win the race. If your chosen horse finishes first, you win the bet. For example, if you bet $10 on a horse at odds of 5/1 to win, and that horse wins, you'll receive a payout of $60 – your original $10 bet plus $50 in winnings.

Place Bet

With a place bet, you're betting on a horse to finish in the top two positions. If your chosen horse finishes first or second, you win the bet. Place bets typically offer lower payouts than win bets, but they can be a good option if you're not confident that your chosen horse will win the race. For example, if you bet $10 on a horse at odds of 3/1 to place, and that horse finishes second, you'll receive a payout of $40 – your original $10 bet plus $30 in winnings.

Show Bet

With a show bet, you're betting on a horse to finish in the top three positions. If your chosen horse finishes first, second, or third, you win the bet. Show bets offer even lower payouts than place bets, but they can be a good option if you're looking for a safer bet with a higher chance of winning. For example, if you bet $10 on a horse at odds of 2/1 to show, and that horse finishes third, you'll receive a payout of $30 – your original $10 bet plus $20 in winnings.

Exacta Bet

With an exacta bet, you're betting on two horses to finish in first and second place, in the correct order. This can be a more challenging bet to win, but it offers higher potential payouts than win, place, or show bets. For example, if you bet $10 on a specific combination of two horses to finish in first and second place, and they finish in that exact order, you'll receive a payout based on the odds of that combination.

Trifecta Bet

With a trifecta bet, you're betting on three horses to finish in first, second, and third place, in the correct order. This is an even more challenging bet to win, but it offers even higher potential payouts than exacta bets. For example, if you bet $10 on a specific combination of three horses to finish in first, second, and third place, and they finish in that exact order, you'll receive a payout based on the odds of that combination.

Superfecta Bet

With a superfecta bet, you're betting on four horses to finish in first, second, third, and fourth place, in the correct order. This is the most challenging bet to win, but it offers the highest potential payouts. For example, if you bet $10 on a specific combination of four horses to finish in the top four positions, in the correct order, and they do, you'll receive a payout based on the odds of that combination.

Daily Double Bet

With a daily double bet, you're betting on the winners of two consecutive races. This can be a challenging bet to win, but it offers higher potential payouts than many other types of bets. For example, if you bet $10 on the winners of two consecutive races and both horses win, you'll receive a payout based on the odds of that combination.

Pick 3 Bet

With a pick 3 bet, you're betting on the winners of three consecutive races. This can be an even more challenging bet to win, but it offers even higher potential payouts than a daily double bet. For example, if you bet $10 on the winners of three consecutive races and all three horses win, you'll receive a payout based on the odds of that combination.

Pick 4 Bet

With a pick 4 bet, you're betting on the winners of four consecutive races. This is a very challenging bet to win, but it offers even higher potential payouts than a pick 3 bet. For example, if you bet $10 on the winners of four consecutive races and all four horses win, you'll receive a payout based on the odds of that combination.

Futures Bet

With a futures bet, you're betting on the outcome of a future horse race or event, such as the Kentucky Derby or the Breeders' Cup. These bets can be placed months in advance of the event and offer the potential for high payouts, but they can also be risky and unpredictable.

Pari-mutuel betting is a unique form of betting used in horse racing, where all the bets placed on a particular race are pooled together, and the total amount wagered is then split among the winning bettors after the race. The odds and payouts are determined based on the size of the pool, the number of winning bets, and the odds of the winning horses.

In other words, with pari-mutuel betting, the odds for each horse are not fixed in advance, but rather are determined by the amount of money bet on each horse. This means that the odds can change up until the start of the race, as more bets are placed and the pool size increases.

Here's an example of how pari-mutuel betting works in horse racing:

Let's say there's a horse race with 10 horses, and a total of $10,000 is bet on the race. Of that $10,000, $1,000 is bet on horse A, $2,000 is bet on horse B, and so on. The odds for each horse are then calculated based on the amount of money bet on them, with the favorite having the lowest odds and the longshot having the highest odds.

Let's say that horse B wins the race, and a total of $8,000 is bet on winning horses. The remaining $2,000 is used to pay for track expenses and the operator's profits. The $8,000 is then split among the winning bettors based on their bets and the odds of the winning horses.

For example, if you had bet $10 on horse B to win at odds of 3/1, you would receive a payout of $40 – your original $10 bet plus $30 in winnings. If you had bet $10 on horse A to win at odds of 5/1, you would not receive any winnings, as that horse did not win the race.

Pari-mutuel betting is a popular form of betting in horse racing, as it allows for large pools and potentially high payouts, while also ensuring that the odds are determined by the bets placed by the public.

Horse racing betting systems are strategies and methods used to try and increase the chances of winning when betting on horse racing. These systems can involve a variety of different approaches, such as analyzing past performance data, looking for trends and patterns, and using complex mathematical algorithms to predict the outcome of a race.

Some horse racing betting systems focus on specific types of races or tracks, while others are more general and can be applied to a wide range of races. Some systems involve using specific bet types, such as exactas or trifectas, while others focus on finding value bets with high potential payouts.

If you're looking for an even more exciting way to enjoy horse racing betting, you might want to try live horse racing betting. With live betting, you can place bets on a race while it's happening, and adjust your bets based on the changing odds and conditions.

Live horse racing betting is available at many online betting sites and mobile apps, and allows you to watch the race in real-time while placing your bets. This can be a thrilling way to experience the race, and can also offer the potential for higher payouts if you're able to make informed decisions based on the changing conditions.

Some online betting sites also offer live streaming of the races, allowing you to watch the race in real-time from your computer or mobile device. This can be especially helpful if you're not able to attend the race in person, but still want to experience the excitement of live horse racing.

It's important to note that live horse racing betting can be more challenging than traditional betting, as the odds and conditions can change rapidly. However, with careful research and a good understanding of the sport, you can still make informed decisions and potentially win big.

When engaging in live horse racing betting, it's important to keep a close eye on the changing odds, the conditions of the track, and any last-minute changes to the lineup or race conditions.

When it comes to horse racing betting, it's important to pay attention to the distance of the race and how it may affect each horse's performance. Some horses may be better suited for longer races, while others may excel at shorter sprints.

Generally, there are three main types of horse racing distances: sprints (less than 6 furlongs), middle distances (6-8 furlongs), and routes (more than 8 furlongs). Each horse has a preferred distance that they are most comfortable running, and it's important to consider this when making your betting decisions.

For example, a horse that has a strong closing kick may be better suited for longer races where they have more time to make a move. On the other hand, a horse that has a lot of early speed may be better suited for shorter races where they can use their speed to get to the front of the pack early.

To determine a horse's preferred distance, you can look at their past performances and see how they have performed in races of different distances. You can also look at their pedigree, which can give you clues as to their preferred distance based on the breeding of their sire and dam.

Focusing on specific races or tracks is a great way to make more informed betting decisions and potentially increase your chances of winning. By specializing in certain races or tracks, you can gain a deeper understanding of the horses, jockeys, trainers, and track conditions, and can use this knowledge to make more informed betting decisions.

For example, if you're an expert in turf racing, you may want to focus your betting on races that take place on grass tracks. Or, if you're knowledgeable about sprint races, you may want to focus your betting on races that are 6 furlongs or less. By focusing on specific races or tracks, you can develop a betting strategy that is tailored to your strengths and expertise.

Another advantage of focusing on specific races or tracks is that you can keep track of trends and patterns that may not be immediately obvious to the casual bettor. For example, you may notice that a particular jockey tends to do well on a certain track, or that certain trainers have a higher win rate in certain types of races.

When it comes to horse racing betting, it's important to keep an eye on which jockeys and trainers are performing well at a particular track or in a specific type of race. By doing so, you can gain insight into which horses may have an advantage and make more informed betting decisions.

Jockeys and trainers play a crucial role in the success of a horse, and their track record can give you valuable information about which horses they may be able to guide to victory. For example, if a jockey has a high win rate at a particular track, it may indicate that they have a good understanding of the track conditions and how to navigate them.

Similarly, if a trainer has a high win rate in a specific type of race, it may indicate that they have a talent for training horses that excel in that type of race. For example, if a trainer has a high win rate in turf races, it may indicate that they have a talent for training horses that perform well on grass tracks.

To keep track of jockey and trainer trends, you can look at past performances and track records for each jockey and trainer, and also keep up with current racing news and analysis. You can also look at factors like jockey and trainer changes, which can give you insight into how a horse's performance may be affected.

Analyzing the pace of the race is an important aspect of horse racing betting. The pace of the race refers to how fast the horses are running and where they are positioned in relation to each other. By considering the pace of the race, you can gain insight into which horses may have an advantage and make more informed betting decisions.

In general, there are two main types of race paces: fast and slow. A fast pace is when the horses are running at a high speed, and a slow pace is when the horses are running at a lower speed. Depending on the pace of the race, certain horses may have an advantage.

For example, if a race has a fast pace, it may benefit horses that like to run from behind, as they have more time to catch up to the front-runners. On the other hand, if a race has a slow pace, it may benefit horses that like to be near the front, as they can conserve their energy and make a strong finishing kick.

To analyze the pace of the race, you can look at past performances and track records for each horse, and also consider factors like the track conditions and weather. You can also look at the running styles of each horse and determine which ones are best suited for a fast or slow pace.

When it comes to horse racing betting, one strategy that can increase your chances of winning is to bet on multiple horses rather than just one. By spreading your bets across different horses and bet types, you can hedge your bets and potentially increase your chances of winning.

Betting on multiple horses can be done in a number of ways. For example, you may choose to make a place or show bets on several different horses in a single race. Or, you may choose to make win bets on different horses in different races.

Another way to bet on multiple horses is to use exotic bet types like exactas, trifectas, or superfectas. These bets require you to pick the first two, three, or four horses in the correct order, and can offer higher payouts than traditional win, place, or show bets.

By betting on multiple horses, you increase your chances of having a winning ticket, even if you don't pick the winning horse in every race. This strategy can also help you manage your risk and potentially offset losses on one bet with winnings on another.

Watching for late money is an important strategy to consider when horse racing betting. Late money refers to the betting activity that takes place just before the race begins, and can be a valuable indicator of which horses are attracting significant betting interest.

As the race approaches, the odds for each horse will change based on the betting activity. If a particular horse starts to attract more betting interest, its odds will go down, and if a horse starts to lose support, its odds will go up. By keeping an eye on these late changes in the odds, you can identify which horses may be offering good value bets.

If you notice that a horse's odds are decreasing significantly just before the race begins, it may indicate that the horse is attracting significant betting interest and could be a good value bet. However, it's important to remember that this strategy is not foolproof and that odds can change quickly based on a number of factors.

To watch for late money, you can monitor the odds at your chosen horse racing betting site or app as the race approaches. You can also keep up with current racing news and analysis, which can give you valuable insight into which horses may be attracting late money.