How to Bet Horse Racing – Horse racing betting has become more accessible than ever due to the advancements made when it comes to online gambling. The evolution of the mobile scene has had a profound impact when it comes to betting on the sport, as gamblers can now wager on meetings from around the world, as well as in the United States.
Below, we will go through some of the markets available, what you should look for when signing up for an account, and the biggest races that you can bet on throughout the year.
What To Look For In An Online Sportsbook
Before even placing your first bet, you need to make sure that you sign up for a sportsbook that is tailored to horse racing betting. This is one of the most important decisions that a gambler will make, as it will have a direct impact on their experience.
The first thing that gamblers need to consider is the security that they will get online. That includes examining whether the site holds a respected license and also has dedicated encryption to safeguard transactions.
Customer support is another important factor that should be taken into consideration. To ensure that you will have good support, you should look at the channels available and test them out before signing up to make sure that the support is reliable.
After this, it is time to examine the horse racing coverage available in the sportsbook. If you’re looking to bet on international meetings as well as North American racing, you will need to make sure that they have these bases covered. Finally, you will need to explore the markets offered and the competitiveness of the odds when compared to rival sportsbooks.
Welcome Bonuses
One of the biggest drawing points for online sportsbooks to attract new customers are the welcome bonuses that they offer. Welcome offers have become the norm in this modern-day, as players can claim match deposits or risk-free bets after signing up for an account.
These are straightforward to claim, as new customers simply need to follow the terms and conditions of the bonus to claim the offer. Once the terms have been reached and you have made your first deposit or bet, your account will be credited with the offer that you have signed up for. Each sportsbook offers a slightly different welcome bonus, which means it is important to shop around before deciding on the offer that you wish to claim.
Type Of Bets Available Online
The growth of online betting has led to a number of new betting markets being made available to gamblers. You can find out more about some of the markets that you can expect to find when online betting on horse racing below.
Win Betting
The most straightforward way to place a wager on the racing action online is by placing a stake on the horse that you think will win a race. This is the easiest way to make a bet and should be the first market that newcomers to online betting use. To get winners from this market, you simply need to predict the winner of a race.
Place Betting
Another straightforward betting market to understand is the place. Here, the sportsbook will determine the places that are available, and you will need to pick a selection that will finish in those positions. For smaller field races, there will be two places offered, while sportsbook will offer three places for larger field races. All you need to do to get a winner in this market is to predict a horse that will finish in any of the place positions.
Exacta/Trifecta Betting
A more complex bet that racing fans can make online is the exacta and trifecta. These are two of the most difficult markets to get a winner, as you need to correctly predict the finishing order. To achieve a win in the exacta, you need to predict first and second. Meanwhile, the trifecta will see gamblers try and correctly predict the horses that finish in first, second, and third.
Ante-post Betting
There are some huge races throughout the season, including the Triple Crown races in the United States. Many of the leading sportsbooks offer ante-post betting on these markets, which means that you can place a wager on the winner of the race before the declarations have been made. The odds on this market are typically much higher than you can expect to find when the nominations have been made, which means extra value for gamblers that stay up to date with the latest news.
How To Bet Online
After you understand all the betting markets that are available online and have signed up for a trusted sportsbook, it will be time to make your first bet. Making a bet for the first time can often be daunting, but all sportsbooks make it as straightforward as possible.
The first step to making your bet will be to find the selection that you wish to make. You should then select that option, and it will appear in your bet slip, which on most sites will pop up on the site once you have added your selection. Next, you will enter the stake that you want to place on this bet.
You should ensure that you have added funds to your account before reaching this part. Once you have entered the stake that you want to put on the bet and are happy with your selection, you can place the bet. Once the bet has been placed, you can then sit back and watch the race, and should your selection come in, then the winning funds will be added to your account shortly after the race has concluded. Why not take a look at our beginners guide to Horse Racing for some other tips.
Notable Racetracks In North America
Gamblers will have to become familiar with the race tracks if they are to bet on the racing, as the races are typically categorized by the track that the race will be run at. Some tracks are more famous than others, such as Churchill Downs, which is renowned for hosting the Kentucky Derby. Below, you will find some of the most important tracks in the United States and Canada that all gamblers should become familiar with:
- Churchill Downs
- Belmont Park
- Pimlico
- Keeneland
- Woodbine
- Santa Anita
- Gulfstream Park
- Arlington
- Remington Park
How to Bet Horse Racing on the Biggest Races
Those that are familiar with horse racing would be aware that there are huge races throughout the season, which tend to be the biggest races of the season. The three biggest races in North America are the Triple Crown races, which begin with the Kentucky Derby, and are followed by the Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes. There are 89 Grade 1s in total in the United States, and these typically attract the brightest stars in training. Below, you will see some of the biggest races that you can bet on online:
- Kentucky Derby
- Belmont Stakes
- Preakness Stakes
- American Pharoah Stakes
- Breeders’ Cup Classic
- Breeders’ Cup Turf
- Santa Anita Derby
- Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes
International Races To Bet On
The leading sportsbooks online cover more than just the biggest North American races of the season. Instead, gamblers will also have the opportunity to bet on some of the biggest races that take place in the United Kingdom, Australia, France, and the rest of the world. Some of the biggest races that you can bet on from around the globe include:
- Dubai World Cup
- The Everest
- Japan Cup
- Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe
- Grand National
- Epsom Derby
- Melbourne Cup
- Ascot Gold Cup
Why Bet On Horse Racing Online?
There are so many positives that come with betting on horse racing online. It is the most accessible way to bet on the action, as you can make wagers without having to leave the comfort of your own home. Signing up for an account is straightforward, and players can claim excellent welcome bonuses to make sure that the money from their first deposit goes further. Furthermore, the selection of betting options is second to none, as customers can bet on racing from around the world by utilizing a wide selection of betting markets. We have published a Horse Racing Parlay betting guide for our readers to review also.
All of the leading sportsbooks have dedicated apps, which means it is tailor-made for sports fans that want to bet on horse racing on the move. Furthermore, some of the leading sites also offer the option of live streaming the action, which means that fans can watch the racing after making their bet. The growth of the online industry is going to continue for years to come, which means that betting on horse racing online isn’t just the best way to bet in this modern era, but it is also the future of the sport.
