Jump directly to the content
Giddy up!

Best horse racing betting sites November 2023 – Bonuses, tips & odds

The market for gambling on horse racing online has never been more competitive and in this handy guide, with more than a number of providers on the market.

With major horse races coming up, it's the right time to brush up on your knowledge of the UK's best horse racing bookies and place your bets on one of the biggest events of the year.

To help, we have looked at the best bookmakers for betting on horse racing in the UK, listed their pros and cons, and shared our thoughts on what they have to offer.

Top 10 UK horse racing betting sites

  1. Tote
  2. William Hill
  3. BetVictor
  4. BetUK
  5. bet365
  6. Betway
  7. Spreadex
  8. Parimatch
  9. talkSPORT BET
  10. kwiff

UK horse racing in 2023

It’s set to be a vintage year in horse racing, with a host of big names gearing up to grace the sport over the next 12 months. 

The sport is a results business, meaning that the equine names are often as big as the human ones and the key horse to watch out for this year is Constitution Hill. Nicky Henderson’s charge is a hot favourite for the Champion Hurdle at the time of writing and ought to play a massive role in the two big Jumps meetings this spring – the Cheltenham Festival and the Grand National at Aintree.

Meanwhile on the Flat everything looks likely to revolve around legendary jockey and racing icon Frankie Dettori, who has announced that this upcoming season will be his last in the saddle. There aren’t many sports that are more exciting to bet on than racing and thanks to the huge range of online bookmakers, you don’t even have to be on the track to be a part of the action.

A rundown of the best horse racing betting sites

Our top pick: Tote

If you are into your racing, Tote is the brand for you, with an almost dedicated offering of markets on racing from around the world. Betting on Tote is part of a pool, which means that starting prices (SP) can often offer plenty of value to boot.

The Tote has specialised bets as part of its racing offering, which can boost your odds as a bettor substantially. For example, picking the first two homes in a race (Exacta) or the first three (Trifecta) can lead to huge payouts, while there are also meeting-wide bets such as Tote Placepot and Jackpot. 

Tote free bets offer

+£10 bonus

18+ New UK & Irish customers online only. Receive up to £/€10 in tote Credit if your first bet loses. 7-day expiry. The qualifying bet is the first racing pool bet added to the bet-slip. Totewin will be the qualifying bet when a Totewin and a Toteplace bet are struck at the same time. Full T&Cs apply. BeGambleaware.org.

SIGN UP

Tote has some great sports bonus offers and promotions available to their customers, paying a 10% bonus on all winnings from Tote+ races, while they will match the starting price (SP) with their Tote Guarantee. You just have to look for the Tote+ icon above the selected races. Finally, the cherry on top of the cake is the fact that you can watch all UK and Irish racing for free provided you’re logged in.

Pros:

  • A dedicated offering on horse racing, with betting markets on meetings in the UK, Ireland and the likes of Hong Kong, South Africa and the UAE
  • The home of specialised multiple racing bets like Exacta, Trifecta, Superfecta, Placepot, and Jackpot - which can lead to huge rewards
  • Playing in a pool often means you get excellent value on your selection
  • The Tote has a fantastic fantasy game offering, including the hugely popular Tote Ten To Follow, with the winner scoring a minimum of £20,000
  • You can watch all available racing for free without placing a bet

Cons:

  • The bookmaker is almost unrivalled when it comes to its racing offering, though if you are a sportsbook punter or enjoy playing the Lotto, the options are very limited.

Our runner-up: William Hill

William Hill is one of the biggest household betting names in the UK, so it should come as no surprise that their racing offering is excellent. 

Hills has a fantastic range of daily enhanced odds and specials – which apply to every meeting taking place on both sides of the Irish Sea. Distance bets mean that short-priced favourites can suddenly become more attractive, while the firm also has an impressive ante-post offering for big meetings. Meanwhile, there are also a number of extra place races each day, getting you more value for each way bet. All you need to do is look out for the extra places icon on the grid of races.

Prices are always competitive, as William Hill offer enhanced odds daily on several races in the UK and Ireland, and they have a Best Odds Guarantee. On top of this, you have the chance to enhance one selection each day with their Bet Boost promotion – which works on stakes up to £20 and is perfect for your nap selection. 

You can also watch lots of racing for free, with 24 racecourses on William Hill Betting TV. Away from the racing, there’s a broad range of things to bet on including online casino and the Irish Lotto.

William Hill sign up

Bet £10 get £30

18+ New customers using Promo code H30 only, Min £10/€10 stake, min odds 1/2, free bets paid as 2 x £15/€15, free bets credited after settlement of first qualifying bet, free bets will expire 30 days after the qualifying bet is placed, payment method/player/country restrictions apply.  T&Cs apply.

SIGN UP

Pros:

  • Offers competitive prices on a range of meetings around the world
  • Daily specials on everything from distances to jockey multiples and enhanced odds
  • Stream from 24 UK racecourses for free
  • A large number of extra place races each day, offering extra value

Cons:

  • Some enhancements are quite hard to find on the busy site interface.

Our other recommendations

BetVictor

BetVictor has an excellent horse racing offering, particularly on meetings in the UK and Ireland. A major selling point is the firm’s Lengthen The Odds bet, which allows you to get better odds on every horse in Britain and Ireland by nominating the margin of victory by lengths. This is available from 11 am every day.

On top of this, you are also guaranteed a run with their Run For Your Money offer. For instance, if your horse refuses to race or loses all chance in the stalls, you’ll get your money back with a full refund. 

BetVictor’s live streaming and ante-post offerings are solid, while there’s plenty of value to be had with their daily racing specials and bet boosts on every British and Irish meeting. And if you’re struggling to find a horse, there’s betting advice from respected racing gurus Timeform to help with your betting. 

BetVictor best odds guaranteed

Get the best odds

18+ only | Take the Early Price at any UK or Irish Horse Racing or Greyhound Meeting (applies to bets placed on the day of the race between 09:00 & the start of the race) & we’ll pay out at the Starting Price if it’s bigger. Full T&Cs apply

SIGN UP

Pros:

  • Unique Lengthen Your Odds promotion offers great value, particularly with short-priced favourites
  • Run For Your Money offer insures against mishaps
  • Daily racing specials and Bet Boosts are competitive

Cons:

  • The selection of bets isn’t quite as in-depth as some other sites

BetUK

It may be one of the newer brands on the market, but BetUK has quickly established itself as a steady hand when it comes to betting on racing. 

The firm offers betting on a range of meetings around the world, with streaming available on all UK and Irish racing. There are daily specials available at each meeting, while you can also opt for distance betting and forecasts and tricasts if you are looking for some value. 

You can boost your betting bank with BetUK’s Free Bet Club promotion, which offers two £3 free bets a week once you meet their criteria. They also offer the Best Odds Guaranteed on all daily UK and Irish horse racing bets.

There are free spotlights and verdicts on every British and Irish race from Timeform, while there are also free selections from former champion jockey Peter Scudamore. The offering for ante-post betting is solid, with markets available for the top races around the world. 

BetUK sign up

Bet £10 Get £30 in Free Bets

New customers, Deposit & Place a Bet within 7 days, and settle a £10 minimum bet at odds of 4/5 (1.8) or greater, to be credited with 3x £10 free bets: 1 x £10 Horse racing, 1 x £10 Free Bet Builder and 1 x £10 Football. Stake not returned. Full T&Cs Apply.

SIGN UP

Pros:

  • Boost your betting bank with their Free Bet Club, by earning up to two £3 free bets each week
  • You can make informed choices thanks to free spotlights and verdicts from the highly respected Timeform gurus
  • Stream all British and Irish racing on the platform and enjoy the mobile app

Cons:

  • Their offering best suits players looking for no-nonsense offering on daily British and Irish racing, with limited choice beyond that

bet365

bet365 PROMO CODE

Sign up at bet365 with our bonus code TSPORT and get £30 in Free Bets

Min deposit requirement. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits and are available for use upon settlement of qualifying bets. Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. The bonus code TSPORT can be used during registration, but does not change the offer amount in any way. Time limits and T&Cs apply.

SIGN UP

bet365 is one of the biggest names in betting and while their offering is very good, their big status means that they don’t have to entice customers with some of the offers, promotions and bonuses you might get elsewhere.

With that being said, they offer a wide range of markets on racing around the world, with streaming and Best Odds Guaranteed on all British and Irish racing. 

The pricing is always competitive with bet365 and they are one of the standouts with ante-post betting at the Cheltenham Festival – offering Non-Runner No Bet on most if not each of the 28 races across the four days. Away from racing, there’s an excellent selection of Casino, Bingo, Poker and Lotto to play. 

The firm offers Bet Boosts on certain horses each day, while they are often generous when it comes to free bets. They offer money back on the next televised race if you back a winner at 4-1 or more on an ITV race, while their standout offer is the fact that they provide the Best Odds Guaranteed on all ITV races in the UK and Ireland from 10 am that morning. 

Pros

  • A wide-ranging offering of markets and bet types on racing around the world
  • Competitive pricing and PayPal as a payment method
  • A strong option if you focus your betting on races televised on ITV

Cons

  • They don’t offer as many bonuses and price boosts to existing customers as some other firms
  • Skrill and Neteller removed from payment methods

Betway

Betway is an established name when it comes to betting on racing and you are able to bet on every race in the UK and Ireland. 

This firm suits horse racing punters who like to back their horses on the nose, with a win and each way bets the bread and butter of Betway’s offering. There are specials on every British and Irish race, however, which include match bets and betting on horses to finish in the places. 

Betway offer boosts on several different outcomes on British and Irish racing each day, while if accumulators are your thing, you can opt into their Free Bet Club and earn £10 in free bets each week by staking £25 or more on multiple bets. The bets are credited in the form of two £5 free bets and can be used until their expiry 30 days later.

The firm offers competitive pricing on racing and you can stream every race in Britain and Ireland on the platform. There are also free Timeform verdicts to help you make informed decisions, so you can’t go far wrong with Betway.

Betway welcome bonus

GET £30 in Free Bets + 50 Bonus Spins

18+ | New UK customers only. Min Deposit: £5. Maximum Free Bet: £30. First, bet on a Football or Horse Racing multiple with 3+ selections. Overall odds: 3.00 (2/1) or higher. Free Bets are available upon settlement of the qualifying bet. This offer is valid for 7 days from your new account being registered. 50 Bonus Spins credited on placement of qualifying Acca bet.50x bonus wagering applies as do weighting requirements, bonus Spins are only available on selected games and expire 7 days after being awarded. Debit card deposits only. T&Cs apply

SIGN UP

Pros:

  • Their simple and easy-to-navigate site is perfect for punters who like to place no-nonsense racing bets
  • If you are into your accumulators, you can earn great rewards with their Free Bet Club
  • Competitive starting prices on British and Irish racing.

Cons:

  • Not a great range of specials and boosts on horse racing

Spreadex

If spread betting is your thing, Spreadex is the place to go for horse racing, with the firm offering markets on racing around the world. 

The staple of Spreadex’s racing product comes from the UK and Ireland, where you can stream all of the racing for free without placing a bet. There are form and Timeform verdicts available for every race on both sides of the Irish Sea and if spread betting isn’t your thing, you can also place conventional bets on their fixed odds markets. 

Spreadex offer some specials and match bets on every British and Irish meeting and their standout offer is that they will give you a free bet of up to £25 if your selection is second to a 33-1 winner or higher. Meanwhile, they also offer extensive betting in-play on the racing, meaning they are one of the best around for betting on horse racing.

Spreadex sign up

Bet £10 get £40

18+ only | Place a qualifying £10 fixed odds bet at odds of 1/2 or greater. Qualifying bet cannot be placed in-play or cashed out early. get a £10 free fixed odds bet, a £5 free Total Goals football spread bet, a £5 racing Winning Favourites spread bet and a £1 racing Race Index spread bet. Free bets expire in 28 days if unused. T&Cs apply*

SIGN UP

Pros:

  • Lots of markets are available at meetings around the world
  • Competitive offers, including money-back specials and free streaming
  • Perfect if spread betting is your thing

Cons:

  • The free form available isn’t as extensive as some offerings elsewhere

Parimatch

Parimatch has a solid offering when it comes to betting on racing, with a varied amount of markets on every British and Irish race. 

The firm offers Best Odds Guaranteed on every race in the UK and Ireland after 9 am and alongside the conventional win and each-way bets, you can also access place betting, betting without and lengthening the odds markets. 

You can stream every British and Irish race on Parimatch and while it isn’t extensive, they also offer daily racing specials and a solid selection of ante-post markets within the sportsbook. 

Parimatch sign up

Bet £10 get £20

18+, New customers only. Opt in, bet £10 on any sports (odds 2.00+) in 7 days. No cash out. Get 4x£5 sports free bets for set markets (odds 2.00+), which expire in 7 days. Offer is valid from 10:00 UK time on 16/01/2023. Card payments only. T&Cs Apply. begambleaware.org | Please Gamble Responsibly

SIGN UP

Pros:

  • Easy to navigate website is perfect for beginners betting on racing
  • Solid choice of options on every British and Irish race, with streaming available
  • Fairly competitive pricing compared to competitors

Cons:

  • Racing forms and tips are not readily available on site

talkSPORT BET

It may be the new kid on the block, but talkSPORT BET has quickly established itself as a betting operator to take seriously – especially when it comes to betting on horse racing. 

The firm offers betting and streaming on every British and Irish race every day and there are free Timeform verdicts to help you make a decision. 

This platform suits punters looking to keep it simple, with their main offering consisting of win and each-way bets, as well as placed betting and betting without markets. However, there are daily specials available and the ante-post markets cover the big festivals.

talkSPORT BET is perfect for beginners and would suit punters who like to also have a dabble on both boxing and football, with the bulk of their markets centred around these three sports in its sportsbook.

talkSPORT BET sign up

Get up to £40 in football free bets

18+ New customers only. Opt in, bet up to £40 (min. £20) on any football market at odds of 2.00+, in 7 days. Get up to £40 in free bets on selected markets. Bonuses expire in 7 days. Card payments only. Click for T&Cs. begambleaware.org | Please gamble responsibly.

SIGN UP

Pros:

  • A smooth and easy-to-use interface is perfect for beginners
  • Suits punters looking to keep it simple with their betting on the racing.
  • Streaming is available on every race in the UK and Ireland.
  • Free Timeform verdicts to help with making your selections.

Cons:

  • Not the most competitive in terms of starting prices

kwiff

Perhaps the most unique bookmaker on this list is kwiff, as they have a unique feature which could see your odds significantly boosted.

The firm has a Supercharge feature, which is completely random and can kick in at any point someone on the site places a bet. It doesn’t matter about the stake, bets are randomly given a supercharge and you can find yourself sat on a bet at five, ten or even twenty times the price you bargained for – a result of your nap suddenly quadrupling in price!

You don’t always get Supercharged, though their racing offering is solid without it, with markets on all British and Irish racing. With just win and each-way bets on offer and no streaming available, kwiff tends to suit punters looking to keep it simple and perhaps bag a mega price on the way.

kwiff sign up

Bet £10 get £20

18+ only | New customers only. Min. deposit of £/€10. Qualifying real money bet of £/€10. Min odds greater than or equal to 1.5 required. E/W bets excluded. Offer credited within 48 hours. Additional T&Cs apply.

SIGN UP

Pros:

  • Supercharge offer means you could end up with a much higher price than you bargained for
  • Betting markets on all British and Irish racing
  • Perfect site for beginners.

Cons:

  • kwiff’s unique format means that the prices aren’t particularly competitive when not boosted

How we rated each horse racing betting site - what we looked at

Money-back offers

Top bookmakers will compete with each other to offer the best features for their customers, which can lead to big rewards. There is plenty of money-back offers which are enticing on the market, including BetVictor’s Run For Your Money pledge – which takes away any worry of the improbable happening!

Bet with BetVictor

Best Odds

A key aspect of betting on horse racing is ensuring that you have the best odds available, whether that’s by securing your price early or by shopping around at post time. It’s something that bookies take pride in and the vast majority offer Best Odds Guaranteed on UK and Irish racing – which means they’ll give you the bigger price if the odds of your selection drift. These guarantees generally apply to every race on both sides of the Irish Sea, with no expiry. 

Bet with William Hill

Streaming

Many punters bet on the move these days, which means that access to streaming of British and Irish racing is crucial. Lots of bookmakers give you access to a live stream after you’ve bet on the event though some firms – such as Tote and William Hill – allow you to watch the racing for free.

Bet with The Tote

What betting markets are available

There are so many different things which can happen in a horse race, which means that choice is a valuable commodity. Aside from the conventional win, each-way and accumulator bets, having options like Lengthen The Odds and betting without markets are key when it comes to enticing customers.

Bet with bet365

Coverage of big racing festivals

Racing is a sport which rarely sleeps, though there are some key days each year which you don’t want to miss. The biggest National Hunt meeting of the year is the Cheltenham Festival each March, though it's quickly followed by the Grand National in April and the Punchestown Festival in Ireland in late April/Early May. 

On the Flat, meetings to look out for include the 2000 and 1000 Guineas at Newmarket in May, the Epsom Derby and Royal Ascot in June and Glorious Goodwood in late July/early August.

Best horse racing betting sites. 18+ BeGambleAware.org Please play responsibly.
2
Best horse racing betting sites. 18+ BeGambleAware.org Please play responsibly.

Horse racing betting quick facts

  • The biggest-ever starting price for a winner of a horse race in the UK and Ireland was the Conor O’Dwyer-trained Sawbuck, who was a massive 300-1 when winning at Punchestown on 24th May 2022
  • Five horses have won the Grand National at a starting price of 100-1, with the most recent being the Venetia Williams-trained Mon Mome in 2009
  • The shortest-priced Grand National winner was Poethlyn, who was an 11-4 chance when winning for Harry Escott in 1918
  • A punter called Darren Yates – who’s now a successful National Hunt owner – won over £500,000 when betting on Frankie Dettori to complete his ‘magnificent seven’ in September 1996
  • Gambling has a long history, dating all the way back to before runners, races and indeed written history. The earliest six-sided dice date to about 3000 BC in Mesopotamia, modern-day Iraq

How to place a horse racing bet 

Once you have chosen your bookmaker and the horse you would like to back, it’s very easy and can be done by following these simple steps.

  1. If you haven’t already, look through the form or your favourite horse racing tips site and choose the horse you would like to bet on – for example, Red Rum at 3-1 in the 12.00 at Hereford.
  2. Decide the stake you are comfortable with and head to the race in question on the ‘Horse Racing’ section of the site. If this horse is your nap, you may like to place a slightly bigger bet depending on your stake plan. 
  3. Head down to Red Rum and decide the type of bet you would like to place – such as win, each-way, forecast or betting without the favourite.
  4. Let’s say you’re backing him to win. Click on the price next to him – in this case 3-1 – and put your stake on the ticket
  5. Press ‘place bet’ and cross your fingers! If you can watch the race you will be able to find out the outcome on the results page of the gambling website

If you like snooker as much as you do racing, take a look at the best snooker betting sites.

What is the most popular horse racing bet?

Sometimes simple is best and the most popular bet amongst punters is outright betting on horse racing. For example, a £5 bet on Min to win the 12.00 race at Hereford would return £15 in winnings plus your £5 stake should he cross the line in front

Check out the best £5 betting sites

Another popular bet is each-way betting, in which you are taking on a horse to either win the race or finish in the places. A £10 each-way bet would have a £5 win part and a £5 place part and should Min go on to win, you would be paid out for both in your winnings.

What bonuses and offers are available for horse racing bets?

The racing betting scene is a competitive one, which means you can take advantage of some fantastic offers and bonus bets promotions as bookmakers try to entice you into becoming a customer. 

For instance, Tote offers £30 in bet credits when you complete the registration for an account, make a 1st deposit and bet £10. Those tokens can be spent on racing until its expiry seven days later. Furthermore, Tote customers can get a 10% bigger payout on winning bets from markets with the Tote+ symbol.

Tote free bets offer

Bet £15 get £20 in Free Bets

18+ only in the UK and ROI | Place your first bet on racing pools for a minimum of £/€5 and win or lose you will receive £/€20 Tote Credit. £/€20 Tote Credit rewarded as £/€10 redeemable against racing bets only and £/€10 redeemable against UK and Irish placepot bets only. Tote Credit cannot be withdrawn, exchanged, or substituted and expires after 7 days. The qualifying bet is the first racing pool bet added to the bet slip. Ten to Follow, virtual and football bets do not qualify. Totewin will be the qualifying bet when a Totewin and a Toteplace bet are struck at the same time. Full T&Cs apply. BeGambleaware.org.

SIGN UP

William Hill has a similar offer and you can earn a £30 free bet bonus token when you sign up for an account and deposit and stake £10. Once you’re all set up, you can take advantage of their Bet Boost feature, which lets you enhance the odds on one bet each day for up to £20.

William Hill sign up

Bet £10 get £30

18+ New customers using Promo code H30 only, Min £10/€10 stake, min odds 1/2, free bets paid as 2 x £15/€15, free bets credited after settlement of first qualifying bet, free bets will expire 30 days after the qualifying bet is placed, payment method/player/country restrictions apply.  T&Cs apply.

SIGN UP

bet365 also offers an attractive signup bonus, and you can get £50 in free bet credits when you sign up for an account and deposit and stake £10. You can get the Best Odds Guaranteed on all British and Irish racing and Non-Runner No Bet on certain ante-post markets at the Cheltenham Festival. 

bet365 PROMO CODE

Sign up at bet365 with our bonus code TSPORT and get £30 in Free Bets

Min deposit requirement. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits and are available for use upon settlement of qualifying bets. Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. The bonus code TSPORT can be used during registration, but does not change the offer amount in any way. Time limits and T&Cs apply.

SIGN UP

With BetVictor, you can get £40 in free bets and bonuses when you sign up for an account and deposit and stake £10 on horse racing at evens or higher. They also offer to Lengthen Your Odds markets on each British and Irish race which can help boost the odds of particularly short-priced favourites.

BetVictor sign up

Bet £10 get £40

18+ Opt in, bet £10+ at odds 2.00+ within 7 days. No cash out. Get 3x £10 Free Bets on selected events. Plus a £10 Slot Bonus, selected games, wager 20x to withdraw max £250. 7-day expiry. Card payments only. Full T&Cs apply

SIGN UP

What are the most popular racing festivals and meets in the UK and Ireland?

Racing rarely takes time for breath during the year, with some big festivals in both the UK and Ireland. These take place both on the Flat and also in the National Hunt sphere and we’ve listed the best for you below.

Cheltenham Festival: Tuesday 14th March – Friday 17th March 2023

Known as the greatest show on turf, the Cheltenham Festival grips the nation with top-class jumps racing for four days in March. The meeting is attended by around 70,000 people each day and is watched by millions more at home. The Festival is a huge event and is thought to be worth more than £100 million to the local economy.

Grand National Festival at Aintree: Thursday 13th April – Saturday 15th April 2023

The Grand National is the biggest horse race in the world and is the showpiece event of a three-day racing festival at Aintree in Merseyside. Around 150,000 people attend the meeting across the three days, which is known as a betting bonanza. It’s estimated that hundreds of millions of pounds are staked on the big race each year.

The sheer variety of sports bets and sportsbook markets available for Grand National betting, and the big steeplechase in particular, makes this festival an unmissable element of every bet-slip.

Punchestown Festival: Tuesday 25th April – Saturday 29th April 2023

Ireland’s answer to Cheltenham, the Punchestown Festival takes place over five days in late April and early May. It’s popular with racegoers, with around 120,000 people descending on the Leinster venue over the five days. The festival is celebrated for its sporting moments, though it will take something special to match trainer Willie Mullins, who in 2015 won 10 of the 12 Grade One events at the meeting and finished second in the other two!

Guineas weekend at Newmarket: Friday 5th May – Sunday 7th May 2023

The first Classic races of the Flat season are the 1000 and 2000 Guineas at Newmarket, traditionally held on the first weekend in May. The Rowley Mile is often packed out for the 2000 Guineas, with up to 20,000 fans in attendance for a race which has over 200 years of history.

Epsom Oaks and Derby: Friday 2nd June and Saturday 3rd June 2023

Attention then switches to Epsom for the second Classic races of the season for fillies and colts, in the form of the Epsom Oaks and the Epsom Derby. With The Hill enclosure being free, attendances regularly head into six figures on Derby Day – which was part of Her Majesty The Queen’s official Jubilee celebrations in 2022.

Royal Ascot: Tuesday 20th June – Saturday 24th June 2023

Another meeting with a key link to the Royal family is Royal Ascot, which takes place for five days in June. The event was one of the late Queen’s favourite events of the year and on the racing front punters are treated to some of the best Flat horses from around the world.

Galway Festival: Monday 31st July – Sunday 6th August 2023

One of the most popular racing events of the year is the Galway Festival, which has races on both the Flat and over Jumps and lasts an astonishing seven days. Last year’s meeting attracted over 150,000 people when an estimated half a million pints of Guinness were poured!

Glorious Goodwood: Tuesday 1st August – Saturday 5th August 2023

One of the most glamourous festivals of the year comes at Glorious Goodwood, which earned its moniker for a reason. Around 100,000 people head to the Sussex track for the meeting each year, at an event where the champagne is in as plentiful a supply as the racing action.

St Leger Meeting at Doncaster: Thursday 14th September – Sunday 17th September 2023

The final Classic of the Flat season is at Doncaster, with the four-day St Leger meeting. Established in 1776, the race is the oldest of Britain’s five classics and more than 50,000 racegoers packed onto Town Moor in 2021. 

Champions Day at Ascot: Saturday 21st October 2023

The British Flat season comes to a climax with Champions Day at Ascot. The very best of the best battle it out on the six-race card, which features no less than four Group One races. Attendance on the day can top 30,000 as Flat racing hands over to the Jumps. 

November Meeting at Cheltenham: Friday 17th – Sunday 19th November 2023

Speaking of the Jumps, Cheltenham hosts its popular early season feature in the form of the November Meeting, which runs for three days. The feature is the Paddy Power Gold Cup on Saturday, which regularly attracts more than 30,000 racegoers. 

What is the best horse racing betting site in the UK? 

Tote free bets offer

Bet £15 get £20 in Free Bets

18+ only in the UK and ROI | Place your first bet on racing pools for a minimum of £/€5 and win or lose you will receive £/€20 Tote Credit. £/€20 Tote Credit rewarded as £/€10 redeemable against racing bets only and £/€10 redeemable against UK and Irish placepot bets only. Tote Credit cannot be withdrawn, exchanged, or substituted and expires after 7 days. The qualifying bet is the first racing pool bet added to the bet slip. Ten to Follow, virtual and football bets do not qualify. Totewin will be the qualifying bet when a Totewin and a Toteplace bet are struck at the same time. Full T&Cs apply. BeGambleaware.org.

SIGN UP

Topping our list is Tote, which is almost completely devoted to the sport of kings. Betting on Tote is part of a pool, which means prices can often beat the starting price (SP) on offer elsewhere, and the firm offers plenty of lucrative special bets.

The Tote is a good option if you’re looking for competitive horse racing odds and what’s more, you can watch every race in the UK and Ireland for free when you’re logged into the site. What’s not to like? New customers can get £30 in Tote credit when they sign up and stake £10.

Is betting on horse racing legal?

The UK has some of the most open betting laws in the entire world. Betting on horse racing is completely legal in the UK and has been for a long time. However, you may not be able to bet on horse racing if you are abroad or accessing a British betting site from abroad.

Residents travelling near an important race should ensure they won't have any such restrictions based on their temporary IP address before account opening. The best way to do so is contacting customer service.

William Hill sign up

Bet £10 get £30

18+ New customers using Promo code H30 only, Min £10/€10 stake, min odds 1/2, free bets paid as 2 x £15/€15, free bets credited after settlement of first qualifying bet, free bets will expire 30 days after the qualifying bet is placed, payment method/player/country restrictions apply.  T&Cs apply.

SIGN UP

What are the different bets in horse racing?

There are many different bets that you can make on horse racing. These can be simple win singles and each-way bets, while you can also predict the first and second horses past the post which is known as an exacta or a forecast. 

There is also a wide range of multiple bets available on horse racing, including the following…

  • Double – When you place money on two horses to win two different races. For example, you could place a £5 double on Frankel to win the 12.00 at Dundalk at 2-1 and on Min to win the 12.10 at Kempton at 3-1. The double would pay at 11-1 and produce a settlement of £60.
  • Treble – The same principle as a double, except you, is using three selections. For example, a £5 treble on Ribchester at evens in the 12.20 at Dundalk, Min at 4-1 in the 12.30 at Kempton and Enable at 6-1 in the 2.30 at Royal Ascot would pay out at 69-1 and return a settlement of a huge £345. 
  • Lucky 15 – This is where things get a little bit more complicated, but can lead to high rewards from small stakes. You need four horses for this multiple, which adds up to a total of 15 bets. If you were to stake 10 pence on each, the total amount of the bet would be £1.50 and for that, you would get 4 singles, 6 doubles, 4 trebles and 1 four-fold accumulator. You need just a winner to earn a payout and the potential settlement can quickly build up thereafter. 
  • Heinz – Much like the Lucky 15 bet, but with more selections. For this, you would need six horses you fancy and it would add up to a total of 57 bets. If you were to stake 10 pence on this, the total bet would be £5.70 and for that, you would get 15 doubles, 20 trebles, 15 four-fold accumulators, 6 five-fold accumulators and 1 six-fold accumulator. This time you would require two winners to secure a payout and any more than that would be good news for your total return!

BetVictor best odds guaranteed

Get the best odds

18+ only | Take the Early Price at any UK or Irish Horse Racing or Greyhound Meeting (applies to bets placed on the day of the race between 09:00 & the start of the race) & we’ll pay out at the Starting Price if it’s bigger. Full T&Cs apply.

SIGN UP

Can you bet on all of the horses in a race?

There’s nothing to stop you from doing this if you really want to secure a payout, but bookmakers structure their markets in such a way that you would not make a profit by doing this. Each horse racing odds market has something called an "overround" and puts simply it is how bookmakers factor in their own profit margin when offering a market on something – for instance the first race at Royal Ascot or the last race at Dundalk.  

BetVictor sign up

Bet £10 get £40

18+ Opt in, bet £10+ at odds 2.00+ within 7 days. No cash out. Get 3x £10 Free Bets on selected events. Plus a £10 Slot Bonus, selected games, wager 20x to withdraw max £250. 7-day expiry. Card payments only. Full T&Cs apply

SIGN UP

How can I bet on horse races online?

Yes, you can bet on horse racing online and it is quickly becoming one of the most popular ways to enjoy horse racing. Punters can still bet on races on course, but in the modern world, it is easy to pick your phone out of your pocket and get your singles on all of the action at a course like Kempton.

Just make sure to set clear betting goals, choose a site that accepts bet stakes from users from different countries (if you're not at home in the UK), and read up on the sign-up experience previous members had on review sites - you don't want to have an issue with your withdrawal requests, conversion rates, or sports betting balance, after all. 

How to bet online with William Hill
2
How to bet online with William Hill

Our top tips for betting on horse racing

Betting on horse racing is one of the UK’s most popular pastimes, but you can be caught out if you are new to the sport. There is so much to factor in when choosing which horse to place a bet on and here are a few tips to help you get as much information as possible before placing a bet on your selection.

  • Get yourself familiar with racing jargon – Gambling on horse racing is an art and there are lots of intricacies in the sport of kings. Getting on the right page with things like equipment that runners can wear in a race – such as cheekpieces and a tongue strap - is a good start
  • Try and get a good understanding of form - Picking your favourite number or colours of runners may help in the short term, but learning as much as possible about each horse and how they have been getting on can help you gain a better understanding of who you think will win the race. The racing form is an intricate business and news, form and horse racing tips from sites like the Racing Post can be a good starting point for beginners
  • Get to know trainers and jockeys – Like with every sport, racing has its stars and it can pay to follow certain horsemen like Frankie Dettori or Harry Skelton in the saddle
  • Watch as much racing as possible – It may sound simple, but the more you watch the more you learn. Every horse and track is different and the more information you have will help you make an informed selection
  • Find the best price – Things like best odds guarantees can be helpful, but sometimes you need to shop around to find the best horse racing odds. Looking at comparison sites like Oddschecker can help you achieve that on a daily basis and keep you from losing a grip on your purse.

BetVictor best odds guaranteed

Get the best odds

18+ only | Take the Early Price at any UK or Irish Horse Racing or Greyhound Meeting (applies to bets placed on the day of the race between 09:00 & the start of the race) & we’ll pay out at the Starting Price if it’s bigger. Full T&Cs apply.

SIGN UP

  • Seek out advice – We’re lucky that we now have a great deal of information at our fingertips. Websites like Sporting Life, Timeform and Racing Post provide excellent news, tips and pointers about daily racing at a course like Hereford, while the likes of Hugh Taylor, Martin Dixon and Mark Howard are boffins worth paying attention to for horse racing tips!
  • Keep a notebook – Once you’ve started to watch the racing as much as possible, make sure you’re noting down any horses that catch your eye. The best way to do this is to head to the results page and add them to your tracker from there

Commercial content notice: Taking one of the bookmaker offers featured in this article may result in a payment to talkSPORT. 18+. T&Cs apply. Begambleaware.org

Remember to gamble responsibly

A responsible gambler is someone who:

  • Establishes time and monetary limits before playing
  • Only gambles with money they can afford to lose
  • Never chase their losses
  • Doesn’t gamble if they’re upset, angry or depressed
  • Gamcare – www.gamcare.org.uk
  • Gamble Aware – www.begambleaware.org

For help with a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133 or go to www.gamstop.co.uk to be excluded from all UK-regulated gambling websites.