Horse racing and gambling go way back. It is considered a historic form of gambling with a unique appeal thanks to its range of bet types and the thrill of racing. Watch and wager on some of the biggest events on the horse racing calendar, including the Grand National and Cheltenham Festival, with confidence as we look below at the best sites for horse racing betting, offers, strategies, how to sign up, and more!
bet365 - Best Horse Racing Betting Site Overall
Fitzdares - Best for High-Stakes Horse Racing Betting
Copybet - Best for Social Horse Racing Betting
NRG Bet - Best for Innovative Horse Racing Betting Products
Betfred - Best for Traditional Horse Racing Betting Experience
Netbet - Best for Diverse Horse Racing Betting Options
Midnite - Best for Fast-Paced Horse Racing Betting
William Hill - Best for Long-Standing Reputation
Spreadex - Best for Horse Racing Spread Betting
BetVictor - Best for Exclusive Horse Racing Offers and Promotions
Parimatch - Best for Competitive Horse Racing Odds
10Bet - Best for Asian Handicap Horse Racing
Betano - Best for Horse Racing Bet Builders
talkSPORT BET - Best Horse Racing Betting Site with Live Commentary
Betway - Best for Competitive Horse Racing Promotions
Coral - Best for Detailed Racecards and Form Guides
Ladbrokes - Best for Range of Horse Racing Betting Markets Available
Quinnbet - Best for Unique Horse Racing Betting Features
One of the UK’s most trusted bookmakers, bet365 has been in operation since 2000. The rest is history, as the platform has quickly become a household name for all things horse racing.
With over two decades of experience, the platform has earned a reputation for its reliability and incredible innovation in sports betting. It offers a superb mobile-compatible experience through its app and mobile site, which are easy to navigate and have many recognised and reliable payment methods. Its 24/7 customer support is also highly rated and easy to reach out to should you need it.
Market Coverage and Betting Options
bet365 has one of the strongest market coverages when it comes to horse racing in the industry and offers a number of unique features to ensure punters get the most out of their time at the platform.
One of the standout features of bet365 is its best odds guaranteed, ensuring customers who place a bet on the early price are not at a disadvantage if the starting price is higher. No matter the odds they bet on, the site will pay out the highest odds. Another top feature is the live streaming capabilities, with multiple races in the UK and worldwide available to customers to watch while placing live bets alongside!
Bonuses and Promotions
There are many great offers up for grabs for horse racing enthusiasts at this top betting site. New customers can expect to benefit from an exciting welcome offer, such as free bets, when they sign up. This is followed by other promotions for existing customers, including best odds guaranteed, enhanced odds, and even some specials for big events such as Cheltenham and the Grand National.
bet365 Pros and Cons
Pros:
Leading sports betting platform.
Top mobile app
Competitive odds
Fantastic horse racing live streams
Cons:
Withdrawal times
Known for providing a premium and personalised sports betting experience, Fitzdares has been around since 2005 and continues to establish itself as one of the top high-end British bookmakers, winning awards such as the SBC Best Private Bookmaker.
Catering to every kind of bettor, it has a great website and mobile app that are easy to use and offer an exemplary user experience. The platform also likes to emphasize its top customer support and provides personalised assistance via several channels, including phone, email, and live chat. It also accepts a range of payment methods, including traditional options like debit cards and bank transfers, supporting safe and secure transactions.
Market Coverage and Betting Options
Bringing an extensive variety of betting options for horse racing fans and punters, Fitzdares covers all of the major UK and international events.
It is one of the most popular betting options at the site, featuring weekly races up and down the country, as well as the big ones like Cheltenham, the Grand National, and Royal Ascot. There are also plenty of international races to bet on, including Ireland, France, the USA, and Australia. Place traditional bets such as win and each-way bets, future bets, ante-post specials, and more and find some of the most competitive odds on the market exclusively at Fitzdares.
Bonuses and Promotions
Fitzdares offers a number of promotions tailored to horse racing and its keen punters at the site.
This includes free bet welcome offers when first signing up with the site and placing a qualifying bet. There are also ongoing promotions available to existing bettors, such as best odds guaranteed on UK and Irish races and chances to claim more free bets and bet insurance on other types of wagers. On the bigger races and events, bettors can find enhanced odds and exclusive offers, such as extra-place payouts for added value and excitement throughout the racing calendar.
Fitzdares Pros and Cons
Pros:
Modern and premium platform.
Top-tier customer support.
Plenty of betting options.
Live streaming is available.
Cons:
Minimum deposit is higher than other betting sites.
Founded in 2016, Copybet is another one of the more established names in the sports betting industry. Recognised at the EGR Operator Awards, it has received praise for its outstanding sports betting services and fantastic range of features, sports, and offers.
Highly regarded for its ease of use, Copybet offers a simple yet effective platform on both mobile and desktop. The app is responsive and provides the same features and functionality as the desktop website, with features such as live betting and streaming accessible. It has multiple customer support options available 24/7 with recognised payment methods, so users will know it supports safe and secure transactions.
Market Coverage and Betting Options
Some of the best horse racing betting markets can be found at Copybet. Its experience in the industry has meant the platform knows what punters want and provides it.
Well known for producing odds earlier than most other sites, customers at Copybet can access markets ahead of the game. Copybet is only currently available for UK and Irish players, but they could be expanding soon. Operating a key system, bettors can see if races have extra places, enhanced odds, have finished, or if they are available to watch live and place live bets.
Bonuses and Promotions
Offering some valuable and competitive bonuses, Copybet has plenty for users to take advantage of each day.
There is a selection of daily bonuses, top price guarantees, insurance on non-runners, and price boost offers. Specials, enhanced odds, and ante-post bet offers are up for grabs, alongside plenty of jockey and trainer specials. Punters can also find exclusive offers to the site, such as enclosure specials, and even have the opportunity to tweet using the hashtag ‘YourOdds’ to Copybet to get the prices on a particular market you request.
Copybet Hill Pros and Cons
Pros:
Long-serving and established bookmaker
Top live betting and streaming features
Strong customer service features
Traditional sports betting feel
Cons:
Withdrawals can take longer
Introduced in 2024, NRG may not have the same experience as some sports betting platforms, but it has certainly made a name for itself, rapidly growing in popularity among bettors.
It offers a sleek and modern sports betting platform that is accessible on mobile and desktop with easy navigation and a seamless betting experience from start to finish. Make deposits and withdrawals easily thanks to NRG's range of accepted payment methods, and enjoy fast transactions, too! The site has received recognition for its excellent customer service at the EGR Operator Awards, users can expect a positive experience from responsive support agents through live chat, email and phone. It continues to be a popular choice among sports bettors.
Market Coverage and Betting Options
NRG offers a strong market coverage of lots of horse racing action to ensure there is never a dull day for punters at the site.
The site has daily racing odds on racing events in the UK, Ireland, Australia and South Africa, with plenty to place on the day as well as future and ante post betting available across the likes of Cheltenham, Royal Ascot and The Grand National. Place each way bets, without the favourite, and lengthen your odds bets on the day or ahead of time, with competitive prices on all markets.
Bonuses and Promotions
Home to some of the most valuable and exciting horse race betting bonuses, NRG offers customers many exclusive offers, specials, ongoing promotions, and new customer bonuses to enhance their betting experience.
Receive a valuable free bet new customer welcome offer when you join, and benefit from daily horse racing specials on jockeys, trainers, how many winners will a trainer have, how many favourites are going to win, you name it, and NRG will provide it. In addition to daily offers, there are also lots of chances to claim promotions on future bets and ante-post bets at big racing events in the UK and Ireland.
NRG Pros and Cons
Pros:
Excellent customer support
User-friendly platform
Seamless betting experience
Sleek and well-designed platform
Cons:
Appearance may not appeal to bettors after a more traditional platform
One of the oldest bookmakers in the UK, Betfred is known for its presence in the sports betting market not only online but also on the high street. Founded in 1967, it has over five decades of experience providing punters with a top betting experience and has received accolades at the EGR Awards for sports betting and innovation.
Offering a traditional yet modern platform, Betfred has an efficient mobile app to accompany its website so users can check and place bets on the go. It has great promotions and offers a top-quality live-streaming service. Customer support is available around the clock, with various payment methods supported including debit cards, PayPal, and bank transfers to make fast and easy transactions. The combination of experience and fantastic user-friendly features is one of the reasons Betfred remains a top choice for bettors.
Market Coverage and Betting Options
Betfred offers comprehensive market coverage and a range of different betting options for its horse race betting customers. Covering all major races in the UK and Ireland and others from all over the world, there is plenty to keep punters entertained.
Expect a wide variety of races to wager on, including action from France, America, and South America. Enjoy streaming and betting on races live, as well as the more traditional markets such as head-to-head markets, faller insurance betting, and more. Even build your own racecard with Betfred’s unique feature to see all of the information in one place, making viewing the race you want to bet on easier.
Bonuses and Promotions
So many fantastic offers await customers at the best horse racing betting sites, from the best odds guaranteed assurances and price boosts to some more unique, lesser-common promotions.
Punters at Betfred can expect to find opportunities to claim Extra Place Races offers, allowing for additional payout places on selected meets. Additionally, special promotions on certain races can be claimed, including Double Delight and Hat-Trick Heaven, which enhance players' winnings when backing winning selections. These features are just some of the reasons Betfred is such a strong choice amongst keen horse race bettors, as they provide added value and flexibility to your betting experience.
Betfred Pros and Cons
Pros:
Established bookmaker..
Excellent live streaming services.
Range of accepted payment methods.
Modern yet traditional theme and features.
Cons:
Website design could be considered outdated.
Betfred also appears in our list of recommendations for the top tennis betting sites in the UK. If you want to find out more about tennis betting and the great deals currently on offer for tennis, click here.
In order to ensure we thoroughly review each horse racing betting site, we have a list of criteria we compare between each site. Below is more information on what we look for to help you select the best site.
A betting site must offer a variety of races to appeal to keen horse race punters. From the daily local races up and down the country to the biggest events in the UK, it is crucial to offer markets for international races for further depth and ensure a site caters to all horse racing enthusiasts, whether dedicated bettors, one-off punters, or just fans. Sites with comprehensive racecards, including minor tracks, should also be considered. We also believe that horse racing betting should not be the only thing on offer, we love to see options for betting on football, tennis, rugby and other markets too!
To be one of the best for horse race betting, having odds that challenge what other sites are offering will attract more keen horse racing punters. The better the odds, the better the potential payout.
Horse betting odds can be represented in various formats, including fractional (6/1), decimal (6.00), and American (+600). It is important to familiarize yourself with the different variations, as these can impact your potential profits. Fractional odds indicate the profit relative to your stake, these are the most common odds punters can expect at UK horse racing betting sites. Decimal odds show the total return per what is wagered, while American odds represent the potential winnings if you place a $100 bet. A small change in odds may look small; however, can impact the profitability significantly and, therefore, impact where punters place their bets.
Top horse racing betting sites are known for having some of the best betting features to compliment a user's experience at a site. This includes high-quality live streams that run smoothly across local, national and international events. Sites such as bet365 offer some fantastic streams alongside many in-play betting options to complement. There is often the ability also to watch race replays and see how close the places
Many sites, including bet365, William Hill and Fitzdares, offer cash-out options for customers across horse racing markets. This is a feature that will appeal to bettors as it enables them to cash out a portion of their winnings or rescue the original stake amount should a race not be looking to turn out in favour of the bet.
Bettors are always looking for valuable bonuses because, let's face it, we all enjoy a freebie or an added bonus!
This is why all of the most popular horse race betting sites ensure punters have an opportunity to claim an exclusive and highly rewarding welcome bonus when they first sign up. After securing their sign-up with the offer, bettors can expect plenty more offers and ongoing promotions to continue to add to their horse race betting experience. This includes free bet offers and ongoing promotions like best odds guaranteed and enhanced odds.
A key factor in determining whether a platform is one of the best for horse racing is its mobile compatibility.
More and more punters now want to place bets directly on their phones, and especially for horse racing punters, this is really useful for keeping up to date with the latest odds and results when at the track. Betting sites now must provide a high-quality website compatible with mobile browsers or a dedicated mobile app that can be downloaded.
All betting sites must have a license issued by a reputable gambling authority to operate legally in the UK.
All of the top horse racing betting sites we have recommended have a license issued by the United Kingdom Gambling Commission (UKGC). This means the site will have features in place, such as secure payments, fair play regulations and checks, and responsible gambling tools as required by law.
Signing up for any of these top horse racing betting sites is really simple! Follow our step-by-step guide below to help you get started.
To get started, go to the bet365 website or app. Locate the ‘Log In’ box and select to enter your username and password. A' Join Now' button should be in the bottom left-hand corner of the box - click here to start the registration process.
Now, you should see a registration form. Select your country of residence and complete the form by entering your personal details, such as your email address, mobile number, full name, date of birth, and nationality.
Next, enter your address, then create your login details. This will become your username and password for your account at bet365, which you use each time you log in.
If you have a new customer promo code you wish to claim, enter it after you have completed the registration form.
A ‘bonus code’ box should appear below where you enter your login details. Put the code here and press ‘Join bet365.’
All new sign-ups at bet365 must verify their accounts before getting started. Log in to your account and click ‘Verify Now’. Follow the steps from the bookmaker.
Once complete, wait for the site to confirm, and you should be ready to go.
Finally, start exploring the site, make a deposit into your account and start your betting journey with the leading horse betting bookies in the business.
Best Odds Guaranteed (BOG): Best odds guaranteed is a valuable offer that ensures bettors receive the best possible odds on their selections. Say you were to place your bet on odds that later increased in the build-up to a race. BOG means that no matter what the odds change to, if they are more valuable after you place your bet, you will get the bet paid out at the higher odds should it be successful.
Enhanced Odds & Flash Promotions: A great opportunity to claim higher odds with the potential for higher returns is through enhanced odds offers and flash promotions. These are often put on right before a race is due to start, and punters must be quick to claim them! In the lead-up to a race, always check your chosen betting site or app for limited-time offers and increased odds on top selections.
Loyalty Programs: Uncover how bookmakers like Betway and Ladbrokes offer loyalty programs that reward frequent bettors with free bets, cashback offers, and race-day specials.
If you are the kind of bettor who likes to stick to what they know or always use the same site to bet on horse racing, you will have the potential opportunity to benefit from a customer loyalty program. This involves exclusive benefits and rewards just for frequent bettors and can be anything from free bets, cashback offers, raceday specials and more. Betway and Ladbrokes are two of the top betting sites known for having valuable loyalty programs.
Price Boosts: A slightly lesser-known promotion that is offered by certain bookmakers, including Ladbrokes and Coral, are price boosts. These can be found on certain horses and races and involve the site artificially enhancing the odds on popular runners in the build-up to a race or day.
Just like most sports, there is a wealth of betting markets available when it comes to wagering on horse racing. Below, we have looked at some of the most popular markets that can be found and how they work.
Win Betting - The easiest punt to have, simply place your money on the horse you think will win. If your selection crosses the line first, your bet should win; if your chosen horse does not win, your bet will be unsuccessful.
Each Way Betting - This consists of two different bets in one. Each way, betting means punters can put money on a horse to win and on the same horse to finish within the allocated places for the bet. Often, each way, bets cover the first three places.
Betting Without the Favourite - Becoming increasingly popular amongst horse racing punters is betting without the favourite. Perfect for when there is a short-priced runner, win your bet if your horse wins the race or second behind the favourite.
Multiple Bets - There are several multiple bets that can be put on by horse race bettors, with the most common being a Lucky 15 - four horses and 15 bets. Cover every possible outcome between four runners-up to an accumulator for higher returns if you win. Other examples of multiple bets are Lucky 31 and Lucky 63.
NRNB - A non-runner no bet is a popular betting market opted for by punters as it means that if your selection is pulled out of the race before the start, you will get your bet back to place another.
If you are looking for some simple strategies to apply to your horse race betting, here we have covered the most common and how you can employ them to your bets.
Study Form
When we say study, we don’t mean it literally. In fact, anyone, no matter their experience with betting on racehorses, can study the form of a horse before placing a bet. So whether you are a beginner or a veteran at horse race betting, it is worth taking a look at a horse's recent run of form, who has been winning, running well, finishing close, and previous results at the racecourse to help give you an idea.
Check the Race Conditions
One of the most important aspects of horse racing is the race conditions, not only for the horse and jockey but for punters as well. The type of ground the race is run on directly impacts the outcome of a race and which horse is likely to win or place. Before confirming and placing your bets, check what type of ground the horse excels on and what the conditions are at the race you are looking ahead to. It is also a way of ruling out certain runners in a field.
Research Trainers and Jockeys
While it may not be as effective as looking at previous results and the form of horses at races, it is always an added bonus to do your research on the trainers and jockeys behind the horses. If a horse is from a certain trainer known for producing winners or is being ridden by a recognised jockey, you can take this into account. The top jockeys often get to pick the best horse to ride, which can often be associated with the best trainers.
If you are wondering what you can do to get the most out of your horse betting experience at a site, we recommend checking before anything else that the site you want to use is fully licensed by a reputable gambling authority. This ensures a site is operating legally and has features in place to ensure fair play and responsible gambling.
Before signing up to a site to bet on horse racing, you may also want to check that it has the races you are interested in available to place bets on. A site with a wide range of horse racing betting markets will provide a better experience and more opportunities to bet. Alongside this, it is also worthwhile looking at the odds and comparing them between a number of bookmakers so you can make sure you are getting the best odds on your selections.
Check for the offers available to you at a site, take advantage of any free bet offers, and look for selections with the best odds guaranteed to ensure you do not lose out if the odds increase after you place your bet.
Also, think about how you prefer to place your bets. Is it on a desktop, your phone, or an app? Are you on the go or at home? Check that a site you wish to use is compatible with mobile devices or has its dedicated app available for download if this is your preference.
If you also want to watch live horse racing alongside placing your bets, check that this is an available feature at a site and what you need to do in order to benefit from the perk. Is this feature accompanied by the ability to place live bets alongside? Also, check the quality of the streams, the number of races, and the variety.
So many horse racing betting sites now have to provide a top mobile-friendly site or app in this ever-changing digital age. More and more punters are looking to their phones to place their bets due to the convenience and being able to access it on the go.
In particular, a site that offers a top mobile betting platform is bet365. The app the provider brings to its customers is just like betting on the website. Its consistency across platforms is seamless, with the mobile offerings as responsive and user-friendly as the site on desktop.
Another top mobile betting experience can be had at William Hill. The long-serving platform's classic layout and design work just as well on mobile, remaining easy to use and home to one of the largest selections of horse racing betting markets, offering plenty for punters to enjoy. Similarly to bet365 and others such as Betfred, the mobile platforms are easy to navigate and keep that old school bookies feel on a modern platform and device.
While enjoying your time spent betting on horse racing, it is also important to keep yourself aware of responsible gambling and the tools that are in place should you ever feel the need to use them. All of the top horse race betting sites will offer tools such as setting betting limits and deposit limits to ensure your spending can remain under control. Punters can also set timeout limits for their accounts in order to track the time they spend at a site. There will also be details on how to reach out for further support to organisations such as GambleAware.
Depending on your personal preferences and requirements from a betting site when it comes to horse race betting, each site caters to different bettors. To ensure a tailored experience for your experience and knowledge, the best overall site that we would recommend is bet365 for its extensive market coverage, competitive odds and really user-friendly website and mobile app. William Hill is a great starting point if you are new to horse racing betting, while Betfred can appeal to more advanced bettors with more in-depth coverage and unique features.
When deciding what horse racing betting site is best for you, it’s worthwhile looking at the range of markets and coverage of races, as well as the odds, promotions and licenses a site holds.
BOG is when a site pays customers the best odds, regardless of whether the odds were lower when the initial bet was placed.
Yes, many of the top horse racing betting sites allow users to watch races streamed live while using the platform.
An accumulator bet is when multiple selections can be added into one larger bet across different races.
Yes, many horse race betting sites offer specific promotions on big racing events such as the Cheltenham Festival and the Grand National.
Yes, many horse racing betting sites will have international races available to bet on.