Best Horse Racing Betting Sites

Written by: Betting News
Last Updated:
Read Time: 7 minutes
Horse race betting has long been a popular pastime, and with the advent of online platforms, enthusiasts no longer have to head down to the local track or OTB Parlor. Now there is a much better way.
Horseplayers can conveniently place bets from the comfort of their homes on highly sophisticated platforms that can actually enhance the betting experience. However, with numerous race book options available, selecting the right platform can be overwhelming.
To ensure a satisfying and secure betting experience, it is crucial to consider several key factors. In this article, we will discuss the essential elements to evaluate when choosing a race book for online horse race betting.
- Trusted Sites for Betting on Horse Racing
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Reputation and Trustworthiness
Before committing to any race book, it is important to gauge its reputation and trustworthiness. Look for platforms with a solid track record, positive customer reviews, and a strong presence in the industry.
Reputable race books are licensed and regulated, providing a safe and fair betting environment. Conduct thorough research and consider feedback from experienced bettors to identify platforms with a reliable reputation and a proven history of fair dealings.
Reputable Books for Betting on Horses
Don’t want to do the research yourself? Betting News has compiled a list of highly reputable offshore books that can be used for betting on horse racing action around the world.
Betting Options and Race Coverage
The range of horse race betting options and the variety of races covered by a race book are key considerations. A good race book should offer a diverse selection of wagering opportunities, including win, place, show, exacta, trifecta, and more. Additionally, the platform should provide comprehensive coverage of races from various tracks around the world.
Look for a race book that caters to both novice and seasoned bettors, offering a wide range of races and bet types to suit different preferences and skill levels.
Despite the shrinking of the industry, there are still dozens of horse tracks in the United States and around the world. We assume that the majority of sites will offer odds on popular races like the Triple Crown Races and Kentucky Derby.
Bonuses, Promotions, and Loyalty Programs
Bonuses, promotions, and loyalty programs are enticing incentives offered by race books to attract and retain customers. Look for platforms that provide generous sign-up bonuses, free bets, and ongoing promotions for regular users.
Loyalty programs that reward bettors with exclusive perks, such as cashback offers and VIP treatment, can enhance the overall betting experience. However, it is essential to carefully read and understand the terms and conditions associated with these bonuses to ensure they align with your betting preferences.
Competitive Odds and Payouts
Most racebooks offer starting price odds, similar as the ones you will find at the racetrack but they also offer fixed odds bets that might offer good value.
The odds and payouts offered by a race book significantly impact your potential winnings. It is essential to compare the odds provided by different platforms and choose one that consistently offers competitive prices.
Look for racebooks that provide attractive odds and favorable payout rates to maximize your returns. However, remember that odds can vary depending on the race and the horses involved, so it is wise to consider long-term trends rather than individual races.
The racebooks we recommend here have a rebate system, or cashback system depending on the site, that offers a cash credit for the bet that you make at regular interval. These rebates can really add up and therefore betting on horses online on these websites offer a lot more value than local sites or the OTB.
User-Friendly Interface and Mobile Compatibility
A user-friendly interface is crucial when selecting a race book for online horse race betting. The platform should be intuitive and easy to navigate, allowing users to place bets swiftly and efficiently.
Consider whether the race book offers a mobile app or a responsive website, as this allows for convenient betting on the go. A well-designed and mobile-compatible platform enhances the overall user experience and enables seamless betting across devices.
Live Streaming
With so many tracks offering races, there still isn’t much horse racing on television these days. Off Track Betting locations will have the tracks coming in on closed feeds, so unless you are heading to one of those, you will likely be looking for a place to watch the races you are betting on online.
The top Horse Racing betting sites offer their players a live stream from most of the tracks, which means you can follow along with the races as opposed to just waiting for the results to post. Seeing the action on your computer or mobile device can also help when horses are scratched, as this can have an impact on betting right up until post time.
Banking Options and Security
The availability of secure and convenient banking options is crucial when choosing an online race book. Ensure that the platform supports reliable payment methods, such as credit/debit cards, e-wallets, and bank transfers.
Additionally, prioritize platforms that employ robust security measures, including encryption protocols and firewall protection, to safeguard your personal and financial information.
A trusted race book will prioritize customer safety and employ strict security measures to provide a secure betting environment.
Customer Support
Reliable customer support is vital for resolving any queries or issues that may arise during your betting journey.
A good race book should offer multiple channels of customer support, such as live chat, email, and phone support. Prompt and helpful assistance ensures a smooth betting experience and adds value to the overall service provided by the platform.
The Right Horse Racing Betting Site for You
When selecting a race book for online horse race betting, thorough evaluation is essential. Consider factors such as reputation, betting options, user interface, odds, bonuses, banking options, and customer support.
By carefully assessing these aspects, you can find a reliable and enjoyable platform that enhances your horse race betting experience and increases your chances of success. Remember, a well-informed choice is the key to a satisfying betting journey.
Basic Horse Racing Betting Strategy
While there is a lot of interest in the Triple Crown races (The Kentucky Derby, The Preakness, and The Belmont), there are hundreds of races being run every day at tracks around the world. Gaining a sense of the basic betting strategies is a good place to start for every stakes level of bettor, so we have broken down 5 simple rules to follow.
In addition to our betting advice on this page, we’ve also created some detailed articles on the specifics of handicapping and betting on horses written by our resident in-house expert:
- How to Read a Horse Betting Program
- How to Bet on Turf Racing
- How to Bet on Dirt Tracks
- Using Speed Figures for Betting
- Understanding Pace Handicapping
- Basics of The Horse Racing Class System
- Using the Class System For Betting
- Pimlico Preakness Stakes Betting Guide
- Saratoga Race Track Betting Guide
- Gulfstream Park Betting Guide
- Belmont Park Betting Guide
- Belmont Stakes Betting Guide
Understand the odds
Betting on horse races is unlike any other type of sports betting. Let’s start with the fact that the races are subject for the most part to pari-mutuel odds. These are odds that are dictated by the amount bet on a horse as a percentage of the entire pool of bets being made on a race.
This is much different than the fixed odds for other sports. For horse racing, the larger the race, the larger the pool of money. Once the house removes their cut, the remaining amount of money is used to determine the odds. This eliminates any risk for the operator of course, and it puts the power of oddsmaking into the players’ hands.
The types of bets you can make on a horse race are also slightly more complicated than on another sporting event. We have a whole page dedicated to explaining exactas, trifectas and pick sixes – if those bets didn’t ring a bell, then you should definitely head right to that page.
Research – do it.
Horse racing betting comes down to how much information you can gather on a horse. This can be anything from the info on the lineage of the horse to the breeder and trainer, to the jockey-horse combination and if they have had success in the past.
All of this information comes from different sources, but you would be best served to both look online and subscribe the Daily Racing Form, which is considered the industry standard for horse racing data.
Horse racing is also a very personal sport, so maybe you have some connections at tracks or training facilities which may be able to offer some information you can’t find anywhere else.
This would be a good time to comb through your Facebook friends to see if any of them have an interest in horses…
No matter what, horse racing bets, like any other sport, require you to have done enough research to make informed decisions on the outcome.
Follow the leader
Sometimes, even reading all the available information doesn’t make things any more clear for you. In this case, you need to turn to the experts.
There are many handicapping services to which you can subscribe, where you can get insider information from experts in the field.
Of course, they are also gambling on the races, so they are in the same position as you, but their experience and expertise can be worth the few bucks you shell out for their assistance.
Watch for late scratches
The one issue with horse racing that occurs time and time again is the late scratches of horse from a field. This can be for injury or other factors, but this will have a direct impact on the odds and your bets.
You want to be playing with a site that offers live updates if possible, or else you will need to find a site that lets you know the late changes. Also, finding a site that offers a live stream from different tracks can help keep you up to date and interested in each race.
This can also mean the difference between making adjustments to your bets in time, so you have a better chance of winning with the new information on your side.
Manage your bankroll
This one seems obvious to most people, but when it comes to betting on horses, there are far too many factors that put novice gamblers in a terrible position to end a session a winner. For this reason, we strongly encourage you to tread slowly into the waters of horse racing betting.
The races aren’t going anywhere, and not every “sure thing” comes in, so make sure the bankroll you bring to the track is representative of what you can afford to lose while being entertained by the races themselves. Yes, this sounds like we are sheltering you…but, in the long run, you will thank us.
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