Best Sites for Horse Racing Bets

The Beaten Favourite

As far as strategies go, backing the beaten favourite is a great and simple way for new bettors to get comfortable. For this strategy, bettors will need to take a look into the horses that failed to live up to market expectations at some point in their careers and back them.

This strategy is based on the idea that just because the horse disappointed in the past, this does not necessarily mean that the horse will do the same in future.

In addition, beaten favourites usually participate in an easier race on the way back to achieving their previous glory. If you are considering backing a beaten favourite, you can expect to see bettor odds when you back the same horse in the future. This strategy shows bettors that overlooking an unexpected loss and giving a beaten horse the benefit of the doubt, could be profitable if you do sufficient research to make sure that the loss was random and not habitual.

Dutching

When it comes to placing a horse racing bet, there is no harm in hedging your bets and choosing to back more than one horse for a competitive or large event. Choosing to bet on more than one horse for one event is called Dutching and includes betting activities where players back several outcomes to receive an overall profit, regardless of the outcomes.

While the Dutching betting strategy might seem complex, it can be simplified by placing the same bet on two or more horses in the same event. Otherwise, bettors can adjust their stakes based on the odds. Strong numeracy skills would come in handy in this case but there are also many online calculators that can do the relevant math for you.

Winners

Backing a horse on a winning streak is perhaps the most logical and popular horse racing betting strategy out there today. If a horse wins race after race, it’s safe to say that this horse is in good form and has built momentum for another win. As such, we recommend that bettors who make use of this strategy consult their racing cards to see which horses have won in previous events.

Since this is a popular and logical strategy, oddsmakers also keep track of these results and odds will then be priced to give winning horses shorter odds. This means that winners will receive less profit. However, for those who are okay with a significantly smaller profit, backing an undefeated winner is an easier bet.

Consider the Jockey

While considering the career and statistics of horses is vital to your success, many bettors forget to consider the jockey. The jockey can play a huge role in whether the horse will achieve the expected result or not. The next time you place a horse racing bet, take a look at the jockey’s statistics to determine whether they are on form or not. It is not unheard of for some horses to perform particularly well with certain jockeys. If a horse and jockey are paired up that usually work well together, this is a great chance for you to consider backing this team.

Look at the Form of the Horse

Similar to the importance of the jockey’s form, the form of the horse is vital to whether or not the horse will win the next race. Luckily, sportsbook providers usually have the statistics for each horse available on the racecard. In addition to this, you can watch previous races for specific horses to see the kind of racing you can expect.

Manage your Bankroll

One of the key aspects that players need to remember is that any form of gambling, horse race betting included, should only be enjoyed with real money that you can comfortably afford to lose. The management of your bankroll should always be in the forefront of your mind and will determine which types of bets you can make and the risks you can take.

Part of managing your bankroll is ensuring that you set a time and betting limit for yourself whenever you play. Considering how complex bets for horse racing can become, managing your bankroll becomes all the more important.

Shop Around

Finding greater value for the funds in your gaming account can be considered a part of bankroll management. To find the best odds that offer the best value, you might need to shop around and look for your ideal odds. The majority of top-rated betting sites for horse racing tend to have similar odds, which usually have the best value.

Starting Positions

In flat races, horses are assigned different starting gates based on draw bias. Naturally, a good start to the race provides the horse with better chances of winning and a slow break could cost the horse the race and prevent them from catching up, particularly with sprints. However, jump races do not make use of the same starting position structure and instead draw a tape across the track and release it when the race begins.

Career Lengths

When it comes to flat races, the age requirements for a horse racing career are stricter and usually don’t last very long. However, exceptions have been made for a handful of exceptional horses in history. Flat racehorses begin their careers in the spring of their second year and usually race for a maximum of three years.

On the other hand, jumps horses have longer careers that start from their second year, or even later, and could continue until the horse is a teenager. From a betting perspective, flat races would present bettors with less data to analyze since the careers of flat horses are much shorter.

Condition of the Track

One of the aspects of horse racing that many bettors tend to overlook is the condition of the track. Flat races should be held on good ground that has sounder surfaces to ensure that the speed of the horse will not be affected. Meanwhile, jumps horses should be racing on softer ground to provide cushioning for their landings after clearing the race’s obstacles. As we’ve explained, the condition of the track can directly affect the outcome of the race and a horse’s performance significantly and should be considered before you place your wager.

Different Weights

Naturally, horses with lower weights can run faster and are, therefore, more aerodynamic. Since the criteria for passing most flat races is speed, the weight of flat racing horses is usually significantly lower than the weights of jump horses. Steeplechases are focused on the endurance, stamina and strength of a horse. If you’ve watched horse races before and are not confident that a horse can bear its weight well enough to win, we recommend backing another choice.

Different Distances

The difference in distance between jump and flats races can be quite varied. On average, the shortest flat racetrack is only 1000m and the longest jump races, such as the Grand National, can be up to 6,900 m long. It is important to consider the form, weight and age of the horse to determine which horse, or horses, have a greater chance of crossing the finish line first.

Competitive Odds

Before we recommend an online horse racing site, we look into the best prices and how the operator ensures that bettors have greater value. The list of sites that we recommend all over competitive odds for a wide variety of markets as well as a range of bet types to entertain every bettor.

Range of Events to Bet On

Horse race betting has always attracted lots of attention and the introduction of online sports betting has only added to this genre’s popularity. This means that bettors from all over the world are looking for odds for events that appeal to them. As a result of this, we only recommend online sportsbooks that provide bettors with a variety of local and international events to bet on.

Promotions and Bonuses

From best odds guaranteed and extra place terms to non-runner no bets and cashback deals, free bets and bonuses are vital to whether an online sports betting site can be considered top-rated by our standards. We know that there are often times when races take unpredictable turns and we believe that promotions should be the opposite of unpredictable, and instead, expected.

Online Racing Forms

Online racing forms are similar to racecards and provide bettors with expert insights and results from previous races. Online racing forms have taken it a step further and should include an analysis of each horse’s form and recent history. Failure to provide an accurate and comprehensive online racing form could result in us choosing not to endorse an online horse racing site.

Customer Support

Since problems experienced when placing a bet on a horse racing event can be time-sensitive, we expect online operators to provide our bettors with friendly, helpful and efficient support. Our CasinoTop review team tests the level of support received via all available mediums and only recommends the sites that exceed our expectations.

Mobile Functionality

Regardless of whether you’re placing your bet from the horse racing track’s stands or the comfort of your home, our recommended sites will offer you a convenient and simple process. To make this a reality, all of the sites that we endorse to feature a mobile betting experience via a dedicated app or optimized mobile site.