The sport of horse racing is one of the oldest in history, with records of races dating back to 4500 BC. Horse race betting has also been taking place since ancient times and is as popular now as it was thousands of years ago. Fortunately, it is easier to bet on horse races today than ever before. On this page, our experts will offer an in-depth guide to horse racing betting, our top recommended betting sites to use, and detailed information on how this is now done online.
This page focuses on how to bet on horses as well as some expert advice and an in-depth guide on all things pertaining to horse betting! We also feature our top recommended sportsbooks for betting or horse races and detailed information on how to bet on horse races online. If you are looking to improve your horse betting techniques, you have come to the right place!
Many are aware that races can be wagered in-person at tracks. Fewer individuals know that fantastic online horse race betting sites are available around the world.
Here’s what you need to know about this popular form of sports betting.
What Makes a Great Online Horse Race Betting Site?
Most bettors will likely find it very easy to find a fantastic online sports betting website. A quick Google search will bring up many of them. Some of these online horse race betting platforms are known to be far better than others, though. Our top recommended online sportsbooks are selected by looking at a handful of key features.
It’s important to know how to tell a good online sportsbook for horse race betting from a bad one. Here are some of the features that make a fantastic horse race betting platform.
Wide Variety of Horse Race Betting Options
Most of the online sports betting websites that are operating today provide their members with a range of options to bet on horse races. Some provide more options than others. We tend to recommend the ones that offer a wide variety of options to bet on horses.
Keep an eye out for the sites that allow for all of the types of bets we listed above. It’s also great to find ones that provide odds on races taking place around the world. This ensures that there will almost always be racing odds available.
Live Horse Racing Odds
Horse race betting is extremely fun in-person at a race track, and there is no better way to bet on horse racing than making the journey to a major track. However, Some online sportsbooks will even provide live streams of races! These live horse race betting options that can almost match that excitement.
Try to find sites that provide these live wagering options. This makes it feel as if you are really at a track rooting for your horses to win.
Virtual Horse Race Betting
Horse racing events are often taking place around the world every single day. Generally speaking, it’s not too difficult to find odds on at least a couple of races every day. There will be times when none of these odds are provided, though.
When this happens, it’s great to play through a betting site offering virtual racing options. These are computer-generated races with random winners. They are extremely fun to bet on and are available 24/7. This is the perfect option for those unable to find odds on actual races taking place!
Safe Payment Options
Safety should always be priority number one when looking for an online sportsbook. It would be remiss to leave out how important safe payment options are. You will always want to know that the betting site you play through will protect your funds.
Make sure to look for internet betting platforms that offer a variety of secure ways to deposit and withdraw your funds. Fees for these payments should be low, and processing times should be quick. Never join a betting site unless you know the money you are betting with is safe.
A Brief History of Horse Race Betting
Humans are said to have begun domesticating horses thousands of years ago. There are clear signs that the first horse riders took part in races for recreation. It’s almost a guarantee that these early riders took part in wagering with one another, as well.
There is a rich and unique history of horse racing betting around the world. Let’s quickly look back at how this sport grew into what it is today.
Earliest Records of Horse Racing
The first known records of horse domestication come from Central Asia, dating back to 4500 BC. Many scholars debate whether horses were first ridden or driven using a chariot. Most evidence points to horses first being ridden and subsequently used to pull chariots and other devices.
There is a high likelihood that horse racing became a form of recreation shortly after these animals were domesticated. No records of these races appeared during these ancient times. In fact, the earlier reports of regulated horse racing and betting came in England during the rule of King James 1.
This medieval king was known for his affinity for horse racing. This seems to have started England’s love for this sport. Horse racing reports lingered through the medieval ages all the way through to modern times.
Creation of Major Horse Racing Events
England led the horse racing world during this time period. In fact, this was the only country with what seemed like real regulated racing events. Most experts agree that informal races were taking place in other parts of the world during this time.
The creation of The British Classics also contributed to the rise of horse race betting. It didn’t take long for government officials to begin cracking down on this form of gambling.
Horse Race Betting Regulations Appear
Very few governments simply look the other way when it comes to gambling regulation. This was even the case hundreds of years ago. Once regulated horse racing events began coming together, government officials came up with ways to regulate, monitor, and in some cases even ban horse race betting.
The Race Betting Act of 1928 was created in England as a way to crack down on this industry. This essentially made it illegal for horse race betting to take place outside of regulated establishments. The Betting Levy Act of 1961 then gave licensed racing tracks the ability to offer betting options.
These early regulations helped to form many of the regulations that still exist today. The betting landscape looks far different, of course.
Modern Horse Racing Betting
Horse racing is now a hugely popular sport across the entire world. Horse race betting options exist around the world, too. It’s easy to find traditional options such as win, show, and place wagers at most tracks. It should be easy to make more unique bets like trifecta horse wagers, too.
Online sports betting seems to be taking over. A huge number of incredible online sportsbooks offering horse racing odds are up and running. That includes five of the best ones located at the top of this page.
Regulations towards horse race betting vary depending on location. Interestingly, even some of the most anti-gambling areas of the world allow horse racing betting. This is likely due to the rich history of this form of betting.
Now, let’s check out some of the types of horse race bets everyone can make online.
Types of Horse Race Betting
Horse racing is massively popular around the world. Rules on horse racing vary from country to country and state to state. The types of horse racing bets available also vary depending on the platform offering the odds.
Most of the online sportsbooks offering horse racing odds provide similar types of wagers. All of these bets offer big opportunities to win big. Of course, the more lucrative the payouts, the more difficult these bets are to nail.
Below is a quick breakdown of the different types of online horse race betting options available right now.
How to Bet on Horses
Horse race betting has never been more accessible to people around the world. Millions are looking for horse race betting strategy tips. As longtime bettors will tell you, this is far from the easiest form of sports wagering out there.
With that being said, there are some strategies that many bettors utilize to increase their odds of winning. These are used by even some of the top bettors in the world.
Below are just a few tips for betting on horses to keep in mind.
Research the Horses You Plan to Bet on
All too often, bettors make wagers based simply on the odds. This can be tempting yet often results in failed bets. One of the best horse race betting tips out there is to always research the horses you want to bet on.
This isn’t always easy, particularly in smaller races featuring horses without much of a track record. There are many online platforms out there providing horses competing around the world. Do as much research as you can before making any bets as it will give you a much better idea as to how different horses will fare.
Look for Underdog Opportunities
Another fantastic horse race betting strategy is to always look for underdog opportunities. Nearly every single race will have at least one underdog race with promise. The trick is finding the diamonds in the rough that somehow managed to trick the oddsmakers.
This often comes hand-in-hand with the previous tip of doing research. A little research should allow you to spot some great underdogs. Finding these horses and making correct wagers can result in massive payouts.
Make Trifecta Bets Sparingly
There is nothing more exciting than placing, and winning, a trifecta horse bet. The reality is that winning these bets is rare. Even the most experienced horse race bettors have a hard time winning trifecta wagers with any type of consistency.
Always Understand the Rules of Races
As we briefly mentioned earlier, the rules for horse races can vary greatly. Some bettors fail to recognize that fact before making their wagers. Unfortunately, this can often cause these bettors to lose simply because they are unaware of how a race is being held.
Track Your Wins and Losses
The final tip for horse race betting is to always track your wins and losses. This form of sports gambling is extremely exciting, and some bettors forget whether they are profiting or losing. This results in many bettors failing to realize they have lost a huge amount of money over a relatively short period of time.
Keep a careful report of your wins and losses. If you see a largely upward trend, feel free to increase your bets and capitalize on winning strategies. If you notice a large losing streak, make sure to take a break and rethink your horse racing betting strategy.
Most Popular Horse Race Tracks in the US
Not everyone wants to bet on horse racing online. There is a certain magic to making bets at a real-life track. That is particularly true when with family and friends making bets!
The United States is home to a huge number of world-class horse racing tracks. Below is a quick look at ten of the most popular racing tracks in the country.
| Horse Racing Track | City | Date Opened |
|---|---|---|
| Churchill Downs | Louisville | 1875 |
| Saratoga Race Course | Saratoga Springs | 1863 |
| Meadowlands Racetrack | East Rutherford | 1976 |
| Santa Anita Park | Arcadia | 1934 |
| Belmont Park | Elmont | 1905 |
| Pimlico Race Course | Baltimore | 1870 |
| Keeneland Race Course | Lexington | 1936 |
| Del Mar Fairgrounds | Del Mar | 1936 |
| Gulfstream Park | Hallandale Park | 1939 |
| Fair Grounds Race Course | New Orleans | 1838 |
Horse Race Betting History
Horse Race Betting History
Humans are said to have begun domesticating horses thousands of years ago. There are clear signs that the first horse riders took part in races for recreation. It’s almost a guarantee that these early riders took part in wagering with one another, as well.
There is a rich and unique history of horse racing betting around the world. Let’s quickly look back at how this sport grew into what it is today.
Earliest Records of Horse Racing
The first known records of horse domestication come from Central Asia, dating back to 4500 BC. Many scholars debate whether horses were first ridden or driven using a chariot. Most evidence points to horses first being ridden and subsequently used to pull chariots and other devices.
There is a high likelihood that horse racing became a form of recreation shortly after these animals were domesticated. No records of these races appeared during these ancient times. In fact, the earlier reports of regulated horse racing and betting came in England during the rule of King James 1.
This medieval king was known for his affinity for horse racing. This seems to have started England’s love for this sport. Horse racing reports lingered through the medieval ages all the way through to modern times.
Creation of Major Horse Racing Events
It didn’t take long for horse racing aficionados to begin coming up with major racing events. The first was created in 1776 in England, known as the St. Leger Stakes. In the decades to follow, many more races were created to form The British Classics.
England led the horse racing world during this time period. In fact, this was the only country with what seemed like real regulated racing events. Most experts agree that informal races were taking place in other parts of the world during this time.
The creation of The British Classics also contributed to the rise of horse race betting. It didn’t take long for government officials to begin cracking down on this form of gambling.
Horse Race Betting Regulations Appear
Very few governments simply look the other way when it comes to gambling regulation. This was even the case hundreds of years ago. Once regulated horse racing events began coming together, government officials came up with ways to regulate, monitor, and in some cases even ban horse race betting.
The Race Betting Act of 1928 was created in England as a way to crack down on this industry. This essentially made it illegal for horse race betting to take place outside of regulated establishments. The Betting Levy Act of 1961 then gave licensed racing tracks the ability to offer betting options.
These early regulations helped to form many of the regulations that still exist today. The betting landscape looks far different, of course.
Modern Horse Racing Betting
Betting on horse races is now hugely popular across the entire world. Horse race betting options exist around the world, too. It’s easy to find traditional options such as win, show, and place wagers at most tracks. It should be easy to make more unique bets like trifecta horse wagers, too.
Online sports betting seems to be taking over. A huge number of incredible online sportsbooks offering horse racing odds are up and running. That includes five of the best ones located at the top of this page.
Regulations towards horse race betting vary depending on location. Interestingly, even some of the most anti-gambling areas of the world allow horse racing betting. This is likely due to the rich history of this form of betting.
Now, let’s check out some of the types of horse race bets everyone can make online.
Where to Bet on Horses Online
Most bettors will likely find it very easy to find a fantastic online sports betting website. A quick Google search will bring up many of them. Some of these online horse race betting platforms are known to be far better than others, though. Our top recommended online sportsbooks are selected by looking at a handful of key features.
It’s important to know how to tell a good online sportsbook for horse race betting from a bad one. Here are some of the features that make a fantastic horse race betting platform.
Wide Variety of Horse Race Betting Options
Most of the online sports betting websites that are operating today provide their members with a range of options to bet on horse races. Some provide more options than others. We tend to recommend the ones that offer a wide variety of options to bet on horses.
Keep an eye out for the sites that allow for all of the types of bets we listed above. It’s also great to find ones that provide odds on races taking place around the world. This ensures that there will almost always be racing odds available.
Live Horse Racing Odds
Horse race betting is extremely fun in-person at a race track, and there is no better way to bet on horse racing than making the journey to a major track. However, Some online sportsbooks will even provide live streams of races! These live horse race betting options that can almost match that excitement.
Try to find sites that provide these live wagering options. This makes it feel as if you are really at a track rooting for your horses to win.
Virtual Horse Race Betting
Horse racing events are often taking place around the world every single day. Generally speaking, it’s not too difficult to find odds on at least a couple of races every day. There will be times when none of these odds are provided, though.
When this happens, it’s great to play through a betting site offering virtual racing options. These are computer-generated races with random winners. They are extremely fun to bet on and are available 24/7. This is the perfect option for those unable to find odds on actual races taking place!
Safe Payment Options
Safety should always be priority number one when looking for an online sportsbook. It would be remiss to leave out how important safe payment options are. You will always want to know that the betting site you play through will protect your funds.
Make sure to look for internet betting platforms that offer a variety of secure ways to deposit and withdraw your funds. Fees for these payments should be low, and processing times should be quick. Never join a betting site unless you know the money you are betting with is safe.
