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Insider Secrets: Expert Guide on How to Bet on a Horse Race and Win
Horse racing is an international sport, with dozens of horses running each day. With so many options to choose from, it can be difficult to identify betting value.
Our expert guide takes you through all the different types of wagers, explains how to find value, and teaches you how to bet on a horse race, no matter if you’re a beginner or an experienced bettor.
Top Horse Racing Handicappers
SH Mapping Error: Failed to decode the JSON.Understanding Horse Racing Betting
When you’re betting on horses, you need to do your research. Unlike team sports, where you can largely rely on the team’s overall performance during the season to make an informed wager, with horse racing you need to be meticulous. You need to consider the following:
- A horse’s age, breed, gender, and pedigree
- The race track conditions
- The jockey’s experience
- The trainer’s experience
- Post position
- Racing style
Stat platforms like Equibase provide all kinds of historical data on horses and races, making it an invaluable resource for horse race bettors.
It’s also advantageous to join a few racing forums to see what other bettors are saying about tracks, horses, and jockeys. Places like The Racing Forum and Horse Racing Forum are great for seeing new perspectives on current lineups.
Is Betting on horse racing legal in the United States?
Yes, betting on horse racing is legal in most of the US. The majority of states have a regulated sports betting market, which includes pari-mutuel bets on horse races. You can often place wagers at the physical track, or using an online racebook.
All Horse Racing Wagers Explained
Unlike football or basketball, which rely on a team of players scoring points, horse racing is all about the order in which horses finish the race. As such, all wagers revolve around predicting which horse will come in first, second, third, etc.
Here’s a quick look at the different wagers you can place on horses:
Straight Wagers
Straight wagers are the simplest and most common type of bet in horse racing. They involve picking a single horse to perform in a specific way during the race. Here’s a breakdown of the different types of straight wagers:
Win
Your horse must finish first for you to win. This offers the highest payout but is also the riskiest option.
Place
Your horse must finish first or second for you to win. The payout is lower than a Win wager but offers a better chance of success.
Show
Your horse must finish first, second, or third for you to win. This has the lowest payout but is the easiest option to win.
Win-Place
A combination bet where you wager on one horse to Win and Place. If your horse comes in first, you win the Win and Place wager, if the horse comes in second, you only win the Place wager. While not like hedging your bets, you’re putting extra money on the line to win twice off the same outcome while also covering your losses.
Across the Board
A shorthand way of saying you’re placing a Win, Place, and Show wager on the same horse. This covers all the possibilities for a top-three finish but requires a higher total wager.
Exotic Wagers
Exotic wagers are more complex than straight wagers and offer the potential for much higher payouts, but they also come with a greater degree of difficulty. Here’s a breakdown of some popular exotic wagers:
Exacta
You correctly pick the horses that finish first and second in exact order.
Learn more about exacta wagers here.
Exacta Box (Quinella)
You select multiple horses to finish first and second in any order.
Trifecta
You correctly pick the horses that finish first, second, and third in exact order.
Trifecta Box
You select multiple horses to finish first, second, and third in any order.
Superfecta
You correctly pick the horses that finish first, second, third, and fourth in exact order.
Superfecta Box
You select multiple horses to finish first, second, third, and fourth in any order.
Daily Double
This is a Pick 2 wager, where you have to correctly choose the winners of two consecutive races in order to win the wager.
Pick 3, 4, and 5
Multi-race wagers where you correctly choose the winners of consecutive races (3, 4, or 5 races respectively) to win the bet.
Horse Races You Should Wager On
With the right wagers, any horse race can be exciting. However, some of the biggest races in the United States have more at stake. The Triple Crown brings the best horses from around the world to Kentucky, Maryland, and New York, and provides many great opportunities to wager on the best at the top of their game.
Kentucky Derby
Nicknamed “The Run for the Roses,” this prestigious race is held on the first Saturday in May at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. It’s a Grade 1 stakes race for three-year-old thoroughbreds, known for its exciting atmosphere, mint juleps, and elaborate hats. The Kentucky Derby is the first leg of the American Triple Crown, and the most-bet-on horse race in the US.
Preakness Stakes
Often referred to as “The Middle Jewel,” this Grade 1 stakes race is held two weeks after the Kentucky Derby at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland. It’s also for three-year-old thoroughbreds and is known for its energetic infield crowd.
Belmont Stakes
Nicknamed “The Test of the Champion,” this Grade 1 stakes race is the final leg of the Triple Crown, held three weeks after the Preakness Stakes at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. It’s the longest and most demanding race of the Triple Crown, contested over 1 ½ miles. Winning all three races in a row is a rare and remarkable feat.
Breeders Cup
The Breeder’s Cup isn’t a single race, but rather a two-day championship series featuring multiple Grade 1 races for thoroughbreds of all ages and genders.
Held at different locations across the United States each year in November, the Breeders’ Cup showcases the best horses in the world competing for a massive purse.
Other International Horse Races
Horse racing is quite popular in the United States, but there are plenty of races around the globe that draw bettors’ attention.
Canada
- Canadian Triple Crown: This prestigious series consists of three races – The King’s Plate (Woodbine Racetrack), Prince of Wales Stakes (Fort Erie Racetrack), and Breeders’ Stakes (Woodbine Racetrack) – contested by three-year-old thoroughbred horses.
- Woodbine Mile: Held annually at Woodbine Racetrack, this Grade 1 stakes race for older horses is run on turf over a distance of one mile.
- Canadian Derby: Held at Northlands Park in Edmonton, Alberta, this race features three-year-old thoroughbreds competing on a dirt track over 1 1/8 miles.
Check out our list of all the best horse races in Canada to bet on.
United Kingdom
- Epsom Derby: This flat race, also known as the “Derby,” is the most popular one in the UK and is considered the premier classic race for three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies.
- Royal Ascot: This prestigious racing meeting, held over five days in June, features multiple Group 1 races, including the Queen Anne Stakes, Gold Cup, and King’s Stand Stakes.
- St. Leger Stakes: Run at Doncaster Racecourse since 1778, this Group 1 race for three-year-old thoroughbreds is contested over a distance of one mile and six furlongs.
Check out our list of all the best horse races in the UK to bet on.
Australia
- Melbourne Cup: This Group 1 race held on the first Tuesday in November is a national holiday in Victoria and is considered the “race that stops a nation.”
- Cox Plate: Held at Moonee Valley Racecourse in Melbourne, this Group 1 weight-for-age race is open to horses of all ages and is run over a distance of 2,040 meters (about 1 ¼ miles).
- Golden Slipper: Held at Rosehill Racecourse in Sydney, this Group 1 race is for two-year-old thoroughbreds and is considered the world’s richest race for this age group.
Check out our list of all the best horse races in Australia to bet on.
Hong-Kong
- Hong Kong International Races: This prestigious race meeting, held in December, features four Group 1 races – the Hong Kong Cup (turf), Hong Kong Mile (turf), Hong Kong Sprint (dirt), and Vase (extended turf).
- Champions Chat: Held at Sha Tin Racecourse in April, this Group 1 race for four-year-old and older horses is run over a distance of 2,000 meters (about 1 ¼ miles) on turf.
- Queen Elizabeth II Cup: Held at Sha Tin Racecourse in April, this Group 1 race is open to horses aged four and above and is run over a distance of 2,000 meters (about 1 ¼ miles) on turf.
Check out our list of all the best horse races in Hong Kong to bet on.
Japan
- Japan Cup: Held at Tokyo Racecourse in November, this Group 1 race for horses aged three and above is run over a distance of 2,400 meters (about 1 ½ miles) on turf.
- Takarazuka Kinen: Held at Hanshin Racecourse in June, this Group 1 race for horses aged three and above is run over a distance of 2,000 meters (about 1 ¼ miles) on turf.
- Tenno Sho (Spring): Held at Kyoto Racecourse in April, this Group 1 race for four-year-old and older horses is run over a distance of 3,200 meters (about 2 miles) on turf.
Check out our list of all the best horse races in Japan to bet on.
Tips for Betting on the Horses
Even if you’ve placed horse wagers before, there are a few hard-and-fast tips that help you become even better at betting on horses.
Research Horses, Jockeys, and Trainers
As you’re looking at what wager to place, it’s important to do a bit of research on the horses, jockeys, and their trainers.
You want to know what kind of running style each horse has (are they a front-runner or a closer?), as well as where they tend to shine. Do they excel on dirt tracks, or under heavy pressure? These kinds of stats will help you determine A) is this horse one I can bet on at XYZ race? and B) are the odds on this horse reflective of its potential?
But don’t stop at the horses. Look up which jockeys are riding the horse, and who the trainer is. Some trainers are better at getting horses ready for a big race, so you’ll want to know a bit of the conditioning that happened behind the scenes before putting your money on the line.
Know the Track and the Conditions
The three common track surfaces in horse racing are dirt, synthetic, and turf. Each track requires a different running style. A horse that thrives on dirt or turf, might not perform well on a synthetic track. You also have to consider whether the track is flat, inclined, or banked, all of which can impact a horse’s performance.
When researching the track, be sure you’re also researching the weather and typical conditions. A sloppy track due to rainfall might favor a horse with good hoof action for better traction. On the other hand, a dry track will favor horses known for their speed. Humidity and temperature are also factors, both of which can fatigue a horse and jockey if they’re used to running in colder climates.
Check Post Positions
Post position, which is the starting stall number for a horse in a race, is randomly selected, and it can greatly impact how a horse finishes a race. Horses on the inside rails have a shorter distance to travel around the track compared to those on the outside. This gives them a slight edge, especially in shorter races. Inside horses also have a better chance of securing a favorable position early on, avoiding getting boxed in by other horses.
Post position can impact their ability to adopt their preferred style. An inside position might be ideal for a front-runner, while an outside position might force a closer to use more energy early on to get into position. Not only is it a good idea to know your horse’s racing style, but see how their post position might make the race easier or more challenging for them.
Subscribe to a Handicapper or Picks Service
One of the best ways to stay on top of betting value is to subscribe to a handicapping service. These folks spend their days hunting down horse racing value to hand out to opportunists. If you’re strapped for time, reading picks from a handicapper is one of the best things you can do.
Even if you don’t agree with their picks, seeing their data and processes can help you become a more informed bettor yourself. By using their stats and predictions, you can place your own wagers with confidence.
Get Your Maiden Win from Horse Racing Betting Experts
Even though horse racing is a fast sport (with many races over in a blink of an eye), there’s a lot to learn before you can successfully make winning wagers on every race.
To kickstart your horse race betting career, we suggest checking out our horse handicapping service. Our bettors are always digging up value on small and large horse races alike, and they love sharing their winning wagers with our subscribers. To get access to the full roster of data, picks, and expert analysis, sign up for our premium subscription today.
