Horse Racing Betting Sites

Horse racing is one of the most popular sports for betting purposes in the United Kingdom. If you’re looking for the best horse racing betting sites in the UK, you’ve landed in the right place.

On this page, we’ll review the most important aspects of betting sites for horse racing. We’ll look at all the top UK bookmakers so you know exactly where to wager on the Sport of Kings.

Betzone Review
50% Back As Free Bets Up To £60
Promo Code: Cheltenham60

18+ | New Customer Only – Promo Code: Cheltenham60 required | 50% back on net LOSSES over your first 3 calendar days | requires min 3 x£10 qualifying bets in same 3 days| Min return £l free bet | T&Cs apply | UK residents using debit card | Please gamble responsibly

BetUK Betting
Bet £10 Get £30 in Free Bets
New customers, opt-in and deposit within 7 days, and settle a £10 minimum bet at odds of 1.5 or greater, to be credited with 3x £10 free bets. Free bets must be used on 4 or more selections with odds of 1.3 or greater, stake not returned. T&C’s Apply.
10bet sports
50% up to £50 bonus
New bettors get 50% of deposit up to £50; Once per household; Min deposit £15 (no Skrill/Neteller); Wager a total of 8 times deposit + bonus, with max qualifying bet stake equal to your initial bonus amount; Bonus expires after 60 days; Min odds of 4/5 on singles, or 2/5 per leg for acca; Some bet types excluded; See full terms;
Boylesports UK
BET £10 GET £30 IN FREE BETS
New UK customers (Excluding NI) only. Mobile exclusive. Min stake £10. Min odds Evs. Free bet applied on 1st settlement of any qualifying bet. 30 days to qualify. Free bets expire in 7 days. Cashed out/Free Bets won’t apply. Payment method restrictions. 1 Free Bet offer per customer, household & IP Address only. 18+. T&C's Apply **18+. UK/IRE customers only. Max refund £/€20. Win or win part of e/w outright singles only. 5 or more runners. 1st bet on each race. Free bet expires after 7 days. Free/void/antepost bets don't qualify. Unnamed 2nd Favs don’t qualify. T&Cs apply
StarSports Bet
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Offer applies to new accounts and have placed a bet of £10+ on any market (min odds evens/2.0). Full terms apply. 18+ | begambleaware.org | gamstop.co.uk | Play Responsibly

How we Rank Horse Racing Betting Sites

We’ve shown you the best betting sites for horse racing, but how did we decide which bookmakers made it onto the list.

Betting experts from MansionBet have used their years of industry knowledge to assess every aspect of online betting sites to determine how they stack up against the competition.

Some of the main elements they consider is whether the sign-up process is easy, what sort of bonuses are available and whether the odds are competitive.

Depth of markets, ongoing promotions, payment methods and withdrawal times are other aspects of betting sites that come under scrutiny.

Licensing and regulation are also important, as we want to ensure that the UK horse racing betting sites we recommend are trustworthy.

Fitzdares Betting
BET £30 GET A £30 FREE BET + 20 Free Spins

New customers only aged 18+. Minimum deposit £10. Qualifying bet must be placed at odds of evens (2.0) or greater. Get a matched Free bet up to £30 plus 20 Free Spins on Fishin’ Frenzy The Big Catch, credited within 24 hours. Free Bet and Spins expire in 7 days. Additional T&Cs apply. Please bet responsibly.

Top Horse Racing Betting Features

We’ve displayed a list of the top betting sites for horse racing and what we check to recommend them. Not all betting sites are the same, so what features do we look for?

  • Good odds on domestic and international races: If you’re betting on horse racing you want value for money. The sites we recommend offer competitive odds on domestic and international racing. Many of them offer Best Odds Guaranteed on UK & Irish racing.
  • Variety of horse racing betting online markets: We love betting sites that don’t just offer win and each-way bets on horse racing. Markets such as match bets – wagering on one horse to finish ahead of another – add another dimension to horse racing betting sites.
  • Coverage of major horse racing meetings: Bookies ramp up their activity when big meetings such as the Cheltenham Festival or the Breeders’ Cup come around. The best sites offer horse racing specials, boosted odds, extra places and more to entice you into betting with them.
  • Horse racing live streaming: This one is a biggie for us. When recommending UK horse racing betting sites, we love to see live streaming coverage of all meetings in UK and Ireland. Sites that also feature international action get extra points!

Our Recommended Horse Racing Betting Sites

Now you know about what we look for in betting sites for horse racing, here are our top picks.

10bet Horse Racing

10bet UK

10bet offers comprehensive horse racing coverage, with odds available on meetings in the UK, Ireland and several international jurisdictions.

  • Horse Racing Coverage: UK, Ireland, Europe, South Africa, North America, South America, Australia.
  • Betting Features: Bet Builder, Pulse Bet, Add2Bet, Teaser Bets.
  • Mobile Apps: iOS and Android.
  • Payment methods: Visa, Mastercard, PayPal, Neteller, Skrill, Paysafecard, Apple Pay, Trustly.

Get superb odds on horse racing throughout the year at 10bet. With a generous sign-up bonus, horse racing specials, fast withdrawals and more, this is a great place to wager on the sport.

50% up to £50 bonus

Bwin Horse Racing

Bwin UK

When a bookmaker declares they are the ‘best way to bet on sport’, you can be pretty confident their service is well worth a second look.

  • Horse Racing Coverage: UK, Ireland, Europe, South Africa, North America.
  • Betting Features: Live Streaming, Live Betting, Acca Builder, Build a Bet.
  • Mobile Apps: iOS and Android.
  • Payment methods: Visa, Mastercard, Maestro, PayPal, Skrill, Neteller, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Bank Transfer.

With Best Odds Guaranteed on UK and Irish racing along with live streaming of meeting from several jurisdictions, bwin is one of our favourite UK horse racing betting sites.

Get £20 Back-Up Bet

888sport Horse Racing

888sport betting

888sport goes above and beyond with their horse racing coverage, with the site offering odds on meetings staged on six continents.

  • Horse Racing Coverage: UK, Ireland, Europe, South Africa, North America, South America, Australia, Asia.
  • Betting Features: Live Streaming, Up For 8, BetFeed, Bet Builder
  • Mobile Apps: iOS and Android.
  • Payment methods: Visa, MasterCard, PayPal, Apple Pay, Skrill, Neteller, MuchBetter, ecoPayz, Trustly, Bank Transfer, Paysafecard.

If you’re looking for great bonuses, promotions and horse racing specials, look no further than 888sport’s fabulous sports betting site.

£30 in free bets +£10 Casino Bonus

Coral Horse Racing

Coral Bet

It is impossible not to be impressed with the horse racing coverage at Coral, with the site matching 888sport in offering odds from racecourses on six continents.

  • Horse Racing Coverage: UK, Ireland, Europe, South Africa, North America, South America, Australia, Asia.
  • Betting Features: Extra Places, Best Odds Guaranteed, Live Streaming, Racing Super Series.
  • Mobile Apps: iOS and Android.
  • Payment methods: Visa, Mastercard, Maestro, PayPal, Paysafecard, Apple Pay, Bank Transfer.

Coral offers loads of daily horse racing promotions along with comprehensive coverage of meetings from around the world.

Get a £20 Free Bet When You Bet £5

Boylesports Horse Racing

Boylesports UK

If you prefer to bet with an independently-owned bookmaker, Boylesports should be high on the list of sites you visit.

  • Horse Racing Coverage: UK, Ireland, Europe, South Africa, North America, South America, Australia, Asia.
  • Betting Features: Money Back Specials, Extra Places, Live Streaming, Best Odds Guaranteed.
  • Mobile Apps: iOS and Android.
  • Payment methods: Visa, Mastercard, Bank Transfer, Skrill, Neteller, PayPal, Paysafecard, Google Pay, Apple Pay, cash at Boylesports shops.

Boylesports leaves no stone unturned with their horse racing coverage, offering odds each day on meetings staged worldwide. 

BET £10 GET £30 IN FREE BETS

Horse Racing Betting Offers

UK horse racing betting sites advertise a vast array of offers throughout the year. The best deals are as follows:

  • Welcome Offer: Most bookies reward punters for opening an account on their site. This is often in the form of a percentage match on your first deposit.
  • Free Bets: Punters can receive free bet offers as part of sign-up deals or ongoing promotions. One of the common horse racing offers is where the bookie gives you a free bet if your selection finishes second in a race.
  • Racing Specials: Popular racing specials included odds on horses to win a series of races or which jockey will ride the most winners in a season.
  • Price Boost Offers: Many bookies boost the odds on selected races each day. Price boosts can also be found on multiple bets involving two or more selections.
  • Extra Places: On big races such as the Grand National, horse racing betting sites pay out on extra places. For example, some bookies pay out each-way bets at 1/5 the odds if your selection finishes in the first six.

It is worth noting that all horse rating betting offers have terms and conditions attached to them. Always read the small print!

Horse Racing Betting in the UK

Punters in the UK love wagering on horse racing, but what makes it so popular?

  • Tradition: Betting on horse racing has been passed down from generation to generation.
  • Availability: With the top betting sites covering meetings around the world, punters can wager on the sport 24/7.
  • Live Streaming: All of the top bookies live stream horse racing meetings every day, allowing punters to follow the progress of their bets in real time.
  • Quickfire Action: Unlike many other sports you know the outcome of your bets in horse racing in just a few minutes.

Horse Racing Betting Odds Explained

 Betting OddsUK horse racing betting sites generally display their odds in one of two ways – fractional odds or decimal odds. 

Fractional odds are displayed in this format – 3/1, 4/1, 9/2 – while decimal odds are 4.00, 5.00. 5.50 and so one.

Most of the top betting sites for horse racing use fractional odds. The number displayed on the right is the unit stake you must place to win the number on the left.

For instance, if you place a £1 bet at odds of 3/1 and the horse wins your return would be £4 (£3 winnings plus your £1 stake returned.

If you see fractional odds where the number on the right is bigger than the number on the left, this means the horse is ‘odds-on’ to win a race.

For example, if you back a horse at 1/3 you would have to wager £3 to make a profit of just £1 if it wins the race.

If you bet each-way on horse racing, the bookie will pay out the place part of your bet as a fraction of the win odds.

This will generally be 1/4 or 1/5 of the odds dependent on the type of race and how many runners are taking part.

Horse Race Form Guides and Horse Racing Tips

The betting sites we recommend provide punters with loads of useful information to help them make informed betting decisions.

The racecard contains details about the runners, jockeys, trainers and colours, while many bookies go the extra mile by previewing and providing tips for each race.

There will also be details about any non-runners, while the latest odds will be published alongside each horse on the list.

The most important piece of information is the horse’s form, which gives you an insight into how it has run over the past six races.

Form runs from left to right on the racecard, with the oldest race on the left and the most recent on the right. They key information to look for is as follows:

  • Numbers 1-9: The position the horse finished in a race.
  • Number 0: Indicates the horse finished outside the first nine.
  • Letter P: Indicates the horse was pulled up in a race.
  • Letter F: Indicates the horse fell in a race.
  • Letter U: Indicates the horse unseated its jockey.
  • Letter R: Indicates the horse refused to race or jump a fence.

The – symbol is used to separate runs in different seasons, while the / symbol indicates the horse has been out of action for more than one season. 

Most Popular Payment Methods for Horse Racing Betting Sites

 Banking OptionsThe best betting sites for horse racing offer punters a wide range of ways to make deposits and withdrawals on their sites. Here are some of the most popular payment options.

  • Debit Cards: This is still the go-to method for many punters. Visa and Mastercard are the most popular debit card options.
  • e-Wallets: Payment methods such as PayPal, Skrill and Neteller have become increasingly popular in recent years as they add an extra layer of security to each transaction.
  • Mobile Payments: Increased smartphone usage has sparked a growth in the use of Apple Pay and Google Pay on horse racing betting sites.
  • Open Banking: Payment methods such as Trustly allow punters to make instant deposits and withdrawals from their betting account.
  • Payment Cards: Many punters deposit easily and securely with Paysafecard. However, it is generally not possible to make withdrawals via this method.
  • Bank Transfer: Most UK horse racing betting sites allow punters to make payments via bank transfer. Withdrawal times can be slow using this option.

How to Make a Horse Racing Bet Online

We’ve assessed most aspects of horse racing betting sites – now it’s time to consider how to wager on the sport. Generally speaking, the process is as follows:

  • Visit one of the sites we’ve recommended.
  • Sign-up for a new account or login to an existing.
  • Click on the account page and make a deposit.
  • Head to the horse racing section and choose an event
  • Click on your selection(s).
  • Enter your stake in the betting slip and place the bet.

If your bet is successful, the winnings will be credit to your betting balance!

Things to Consider Before Betting on Horse Racing

Before you part with your hard-earned cash, there are a few things you need to consider when placing a bet:

  • The current form of the horse, jockey and trainer.
  • The weight the horse must carry.
  • Ground conditions.
  • The horse’s record at the track.
  • The horse’s record over the distance.
  • The strength of the opposition.
  • Breeding.
  • The draw.
  • Whether the odds are competitive.

The most successful punters are the ones who spend time analysing races in detail to look for angles they can use to their advantage.

Has a horse been running over the wrong distance? Has it got the going it needs? Does the trainer do well at the track? Is the horse overpriced?

Betting on horse racing is a skill. Whether you use new betting sites or a well-established brand, spend time perfecting your craft for the best results.

Horse Racing Betting Strategy

You’ve got betting basics in place, so let’s look at implementing a sound betting strategy.

One of our favourites is an adapted version of the Martingale System which is often used to great effect on casino games.

Start by picking one meeting per day to bet on. In this example, we’ll use the Haydock meeting staged on Saturday, April 23.

The system starts by placing a £10 bet on the favourite in the first race. You only do this if the horse is priced at 5/4 or greater. If it isn’t, wait for the next race.

The first selection was New Comedy which won at 5/4. This gives a return of £22.50. At this point you pocket the profit and revert to the £10 stake for the next race.

If the horse lost, you would double the next stake.

The second race selection was Dream Together, which won at 10/3. The return here would be £43.33. You once again revert to the start.

In the next race there were joint favourites, so you sit this one out and wait for race four. This provided another winning favourite at 13/8 – a return of £26.25.

The fifth race on the card saw the favourite finish second, which means the £10 bet is lost. A £20 bet is then placed on the next race.

Unfortunately, this horse also lost which means a £40 bet must be placed on the final race of the day.

The 4/1 favourite Glen Esk won the race, giving you a whopping £200 return. You would then revert back to your £10 stake for your chosen meeting the following day.

If the horse had lost, your first bet on that day would be doubled to £80. If you stick to the odds and stake doubling criteria, you are guaranteed to make a profit when a favourite wins a race.

The Top UK & International Horse Racing Events

One of the biggest attractions of horse racing is meetings are staged every day.

However, for many punters the sport is all about the biggest events that take place during the year.

  • Cheltenham Festival: This is the pinnacle of the jumps racing season in the UK. Staged over four days during March, the Festival features the very best National Hunt horses, jockeys and trainers.
  • Grand National: This annual marathon race at Aintree attracts a massive global television audience. It is the ultimate test of horse and jockey.
  • The Derby: Run in early June at Epsom racecourse, the Derby features the best three-year-old middle-distance horses in Europe.
  • Royal Ascot: A five-day meeting held in mid-June that boasts loads of top-class races, the best in fashion and pageantry courtesy of the close connections with the British Royal Family.
  • Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe: Staged at Longchamp in early October, this prestigious race features the best middle-distance horses aged three and over.
  • Melbourne Cup: Australia’s most famous race is a 3,200-metre contest for three-year-old thoroughbreds.
  • Breeders’ Cup: This two-day meeting is staged in early November at different tracks in North America. It is the climax of the international flat racing season.

Flat Racing vs Jumps Racing 

We’ve just highlighted the top UK and international horse racing events and you will have noticed we mentioned different types of horse racing codes – flat racing and jump racing. 

Flat racing is exactly as you would imagine it – races are run over different distances with no obstacles placed in the way of the horses. 
By contrast, jumps racing has two main components – hurdles and steeplechases. Hurdles are smaller obstacles, while steeplechases require the horse to jump big fences. 

The majority of flat horses race as two- and three-year-olds, although a fair percentage go on to continue their careers for a few more seasons. 
National Hunt horses tend to be around for much longer, with many spending more than ten years jumping hurdles and competing in steeplechases. 

From a betting perspective, flat racing can deliver extremely quick results, with five-furlong races taking just one minute to run. 

Jumps races such as the Grand National are at the other end of the scale, with horses generally taking nine or ten minutes to complete the course. 
Many flat horses switch to the jumps when they become four-year-olds, which adds another intriguing strand to betting on horse racing.  

Boylesports UK
BET £10 GET £30 IN FREE BETS
New UK customers (Excluding NI) only. Mobile exclusive. Min stake £10. Min odds Evs. Free bet applied on 1st settlement of any qualifying bet. 30 days to qualify. Free bets expire in 7 days. Cashed out/Free Bets won’t apply. Payment method restrictions. 1 Free Bet offer per customer, household & IP Address only. 18+. T&C's Apply **18+. UK/IRE customers only. Max refund £/€20. Win or win part of e/w outright singles only. 5 or more runners. 1st bet on each race. Free bet expires after 7 days. Free/void/antepost bets don't qualify. Unnamed 2nd Favs don’t qualify. T&Cs apply

Why Bet on Horses Online Rather than In a Betting Shop?

It is highly likely that if you enjoy wagering on horse racing you have probably visited a betting shop at some point in your life.

In fairness, we wouldn’t put anyone off using a betting shop. They serve a crucial function and the betting industry would be a poorer place without them.

However, when it comes to convenience it is difficult to top betting on horses online. All you need is a suitable digital device and a stable Wi-Fi connection.

They allow you to bet whenever and wherever you want, so if you’re unable to visit your local betting shop you can still wager on a race.

The addition of betting apps into the mix has made it even easier to bet online, providing punters with access to the latest markets in just a couple of clicks.

The best online sites also allow you to watch live streams of the races, although there is an argument to say that betting shops offer better coverage via their big television screens.

We are big fans of betting on the internet and think all horse racing fans should have at least one online account. Don’t neglect your local betting shop though!

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Best Odds Guaranteed?

Most of the top betting sites off Best Odds Guaranteed on UK & Irish racing. This means if the starting price returns higher than the odds you took when placing your bet, you will be paid out at the higher rate.

How long will my withdrawal take?

The timescale varies dependent on which site you use and the payment method you make the deposit with. Generally speaking, withdrawals should take no longer than 2/3 working days to reach your original payment method.

What is the difference between a sportsbook and an exchange?

Sportsbooks are where you place bets with a bookmakers. A betting exchange is a peer-to-peer platform where you can back or lay horses with other punters.

Which is the best horse racing bet?

To keep it simple, we like single bets. Adding more selections into the mix is fraught with danger. Having said that, each-way accumulators can offer decent returns for small stakes.

Which is the best horse racing betting site?

This one is almost impossible to answer! Each of the sites we have recommended offer top class service. Given the quality on offer, you could open accounts with more than one of them.