Horseracing Betting Guide

Horseracing is the oldest and most popular betting sport in the world. Every year thousands of horse races of varying grades are run in virtually every country of the world. The biggest of these races attract the attention of the international media, millions of pounds in wagers and free horse racing bets.

Online horseracing betting markets tend to focus on the two most popular formats of the sport:

• National Hunt Racing: National hunt races are hosted primarily in the United Kingdom, Ireland and France. This format requires horses to clear obstacles during races, with the bulk of racing taking place during the winter months when ground conditions are yielding.
• Flat Racing: Summer flat racing is the most familiar horseracing format. Races tend to be under 2 miles in length and the most prestigious events are restricted to thoroughbred horses under the age of 6.

Popular Horseracing Betting Options:

Betting on a Winner: Betting on a winner is the simplest and most popular horseracing betting option. Racing fans pick a winner and if their selection wins, are paid out according to the odds offered.

Punters may bet Each Way when betting on a winner. This means that the stake is doubled, and half the bet is on the horse achieving at least third place in the race. For races with bigger fields, like the Grand National, each way bets can pay up to fifth place, typically at a quarter of the odds offered on a win for the relevant selection.

Betting on a Place or a Show: While betting on a winner offers the best odds to punters, many prefer to bet on a horse finishing placed (2nd) or with a show (3rd). While the odds on offer for these bets are lower, punters have a higher chance of earning a payout and are able to earn multiple payouts in a single race.

Accumulator Bets: Experienced punters prefer to place accumulator bets on horse races, as this significantly increases the size of payouts. Accumulator bets allow punters to bet on horses in a number of different races. The odds for the selections are then multiplied, sometimes resulting in massive cumulative odds. The catch is that all horses must win their respective races for these accumulator bets to pay out.

Accumulator bets are also used to generate multiple bets that automatically set up additional bets using different combinations of the punter’s selections. Yankees, trebles and doubles are popular because they increase the odds of a punter earning a payout from an accumulator bet.

Useful Horse Racing Resources

British Horse Racing Board
The RacingPost
BBC Horse Racing
Channel 4 Racing