Horse racing is one of the most popular and oldest organised sports in the UK. A big part of it is betting at the races, which has been modernised into online horse racing betting. Betting at the best horse racing betting sites in the UK is almost effortless today, offering dozens of new bets across the board, including live horse race betting.
Choosing one out of many horse racing bookmakers is not easy. That’s where we step in. In this guide, we’ll help you learn more about horse racing online, while presenting the best bookies for horse racing below.
Read more
Read less
Our List of the Best Horse Racing Betting Sites UK in 2025
The UK online sports betting market is flooded with a range of horse racing bookies. Choosing the best betting app for horse racing can be a challenge as there are various factors to consider before doing so. Our goal is to deliver an honest assessment of the best horse racing betting sites in the UK. We look for and test the things punters are looking for.
We’ll share some of the most important criteria for evaluating the top-rated sportsbooks with horse racing bets in the UK.
UKGC Licensing and Responsible Gambling: When testing horse racing sports betting sites, it’s crucial for them to be regulated. We check and ensure that all horse racing bookies are licensed by the UKGC and that they’re dedicated to responsible gambling as per local laws.
Horse Racing Bonuses and Free Bets: Our detailed review process involves checking out the bonuses and promotions on offer. The best betting sites for horse racing usually have lucrative horse racing betting offers for new and returning bettors that can enhance your betting experience. Amongst the most popular offers are welcome bonuses, free bets, no deposit offers, cashbacks, and VIP rewards.
Competitive Odds, Market Variety, and Event Coverage: Market variety is another crucial factor we consider when choosing quality horse racing bookmakers. The best betting sites for horse racing feature as many pre-race betting markets as possible, covering the top events with competitive odds.
In-play Betting and Live Streaming: Pre-race betting may be enough for most bettors, but experienced UK bettors always look for a good selection of live betting markets. It’s one of the factors we pay close attention to in our reviews and ratings. We make sure that the top horse racing betting sites have live betting available on most races, with live streaming being a big plus.
User and Mobile Experience: While some may not consider it that important, we believe that the best UK horse racing online betting sites should have a user-friendly layout and design. That should extend to the app or mobile website, which should be easy to use for new bettors and suitable for veterans, too.
What to Look for in Horse Racing Bookies
Punters should also take note of a few important factors before they join online horse racing betting sites. A good online betting site will have most of the features listed below. There may not be a website that has them all, but if it covers most, punters should give it proper consideration.
Competitive Odds and Each-Way Terms
Shopping for horse racing betting odds is important, as not all bookies have the same prices. Instead of wandering for days, you can look up our recommended new horse racing betting sites in the UK. Here’s a pro tip to recognise a good horse racing bookie easily – if the each-way terms and odds look fair, you can shortlist that bookie. If they aren’t and the odds look lower than average, you’re better off looking in another direction.
Extensive Race Coverage with Live Streaming and In-Play Betting
Punters should always aim for horse racing betting sites that cover a range of events. Major or minor, there’s a lot of horse racing action in the UK, so don’t make a compromise over the number of races. Additionally, it’s best to pick live betting sites with live streaming, as it’s way more exciting than pre-race markets.
Fast, User-Friendly Mobile Apps
The top horse racing bookies should feature both dedicated apps and mobile websites. Most punters will pick those with fast and user-friendly mobile apps. That shouldn’t be a surprise – apps are the way most UK bettors wager on horse races these days. The apps should have modern layout and design, missing no features available on the desktop site.
Racing Promotions That Go Beyond the Welcome Offer
Welcome bonuses are a good way to start the horse racing betting journey. However, punters shouldn’t settle for welcome bonuses alone. The best UK horse racing betting sites will also feature promotions for returning bettors and a range of free bets. We always look at the terms to ensure they’re fair.
The Process of Placing a Bet on Horse Racing Online
Wagering on horse races online is much easier than going to the races. Punters can do that from the comfort of their home or on the go if they prefer mobile betting. The best horse racing betting sites in the UK are flexible in that way, offering both apps and desktop websites so bettors can choose their favourites.
Here’s a quick and simple step-by-step guide that bettors can use to get started:
Choose a Bookmaker: Punters looking for trusted betting sites can take a look at our list of top UK horse racing betting sites and make a pick.
Register with Accurate Data: Punters should use accurate and up-to-date data when registering at online bookmakers. It will later need to be verified via KYC.
Deposit with a Trusted Payment Method: After logging in, it’s time to make a deposit. The best bookies for horse racing accept numerous trusted and UK-friendly payment methods.
Check out Horse Racing Betting Offers: Horse racing bookies in the UK often offer bonuses and free bets that are too good to pass up on. Punters should claim one if the terms are fair.
Browse the Horse Racing Section: The horse racing betting page is usually available on the left side at a bookie’s website. It lists all the current and future races to bet on.
Choose the Best Odds: Betting on horse races is as simple as clicking on the odds right next to the market. Choose a horse to win or place or bet in exotic markets.
Collect Your Winnings: If the predictions are correct, punters can use a familiar payment method to collect their winnings from online horse racing betting sites. With e-wallets, the withdrawal times are cut short to hours or a few days at most.
Horse Racing Types, Bets, and Terms
Horse racing is an equestrian sport that differs from team sports or even individual sports. Navigating horse racing betting sites means learning several important betting and horse racing terms. This is because there are different types of horse races, which translates to different bet types.
Below are the most popular horse race types punters should be aware of:
Flat Racing: The most common type of horse race in the UK. Flat races are run on tracks with an oval shape and are generally flat – hence the name.
Jump Racing: Jump racing or National Hunt Racing is a type of race which usually involves hurdles or obstacles to jump through. These racetracks are designed for more experienced horses that have better stamina, are taller, and typically weigh more.
Harness Racing: Harness races are a form of horse racing where the horses race at a specific gait. They pull specially designed two-wheeled carts known as spider, sulky, or chariot.
Endurance Racing: This form of equestrian race is held on controlled long-distance races. Most endurance races don’t go over 160 kilometres in one day.
Punters who join betting sites with horse racing markets will immediately be immersed in a range of markets that differ a lot from football betting sites or other sports. We’ll cover some of the most popular types of horse race bets below.
Win-place-show: A bet where punters select a horse to win, finish 1st/2nd, or 1st/2nd/3rd
Trifecta bet: For a Trifecta bet to win, a punter’s three chosen horses must finish 1st, 2nd, and 3rd in that order.
Exacta bet: Choose a pair of horses to finish 1st and 2nd in the exact order.
Quinella bet: Also known as an Exacta box, two horses need to finish 1st or 2nd in any order for the Quinella to win.
Superfecta bet: A four-horse bet where the picks must finish 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th in the right order.
Daily double: A special bet often on offer at the best UK horse racing betting sites. It involves two races and two picks – if they finish 1st in both races, the daily double is a winner.
Pick-3: A bet that’s similar to the Daily Double. As the name suggests, it requires picks for three consecutive races instead of two.
Most Popular Horse Racing Betting Markets
One of the reasons why punters love horse racing bookmakers in the UK is the varied selection of markets. Compared to football or basketball, equestrian races offer numerous exotic betting opportunities. The table below will present the most popular ones—including basic and exotic bets.
Market
What it Means
Win
Picking a horse to win a race
Each-way
Two separate bets on one runner – a win and a show. The chosen horse must win an event or finish first.
Without the Favourite
A bet on a horse to win or finish 2nd excluding the race favourite. The pick needs to beat the field without the favourite for the bet to be a winner.
Patent
A bet consisting of seven different wagers across three races – three singles, doubles, and one treble. Punters back three horses to win three different races.
Accumulator (acca)
A combination type of bet that involves a mix of multiple individual bets tied into a single one.
Trixie
A Trixie bet consists of four bets from three selections. They include three doubles and one treble, with at least two winners required for a proper return.
Lucky 15
The Lucky 15 bet covers 15 bets on four selections. It’s a complex bet involving four singles, six doubles, then four trebles, and a four-fold acca.
Lucky 31
A Lucky 31 bet pushes the previous concept even further. It consists of 31 bets in total, including five singles, ten doubles, then ten trebles, and a five-fold acca.
Lucky 63
This exotic wager consists of 63 bets across six selections. It includes 6 singles, 15 doubles, 20 trebles, 15 four-fold accumulators, 6 five-folds, and finishes with 1 six-fold accumulator.
Heinz
This bet includes 57 separate wagers built around six selections. It features 1 six-fold accumulator, 6 five-folds, 15 four-folds, 20 trebles, and 15 doubles.
Super Heinz
One of the most complex horse racing bets. It involves a total of 120 selections. These include 21 doubles, 35 trebles, 35 four-fold accas, 21 five-folds,7 six-folds, and one seven-fold.
Yankee
A bet involving four selections and 11 individual bets, including six doubles, four trebles, and a four-fold.
Canadian Yankee
Five selections and 26 different parlays. It includes ten doubles and trebles, five four-folds and one five-fold.
Goliath
A Goliath bet includes a massive 247 separate bets across eight different selections. It covers 28 doubles, 56 trebles, 70 four-folds, 56 five-folds, 28 six-folds, 8 seven-folds, and one eight-fold accumulator.
Best Horse Racing Betting Offers for UK Punters
Bookies with horse racing in the UK have a variety of betting bonus offers on hand. These include welcome bonuses and deposit offers, free bets, as well as a range of specials.
Best Odds Guaranteed (BOG): This promotion offers UK punters the highest odds when betting on horse races. When a punter bets on a horse and the starting price is higher than the initial odds, the bookie will pay at the higher odds.
Extra Places: With extra places, horse racing bookmakers pay out an extra place rather than the standard payouts on each-way bets. If a horse ends in the 4th spot, for example, and the sportsbooks pays for 3 places, the place part will still be paid out under the extra places terms.
Free Bets: These are amongst the most popular betting offers. Available on all major races, free bets typically match a punter’s stake. Some free bets allow punters to bet on runners without risking their own funds in the process.
Odds Boosts: Odds boosts increase the potential return on all selections. They’re usually available on selected races, lengthening the price of each selection.
Acca Boosts: Similar to odds boosts, acca boosts increase the potential return on accumulators. They usually apply to win parts of the acca. All other acca rules remain in place.
Money-Back Offers: With horse racing refunds, UK punters get returns even if their pick doesn’t win the race. It’s an insurance type of promotion that cuts out the probability of a loss.
Most Popular Races to Bet on at Horse Betting Sites
Betting at the races and online in recent times is a tradition in the UK. It helps that some of the world’s best races are held on UK turf, including the Cheltenham Festival, Royal Ascot, and the Grand National.
The Grand National
The Grand National is an annual National Hunt horse race held at Aintree. It’s one of the oldest horse races, first run in 1839. It’s a handicap steeplechase race type run over a distance of 4 miles and 2+1/2 furlongs. The runners jump over 30 fences across two laps. The Grand National is the most valuable jump race in Europe, and one of the main betting options at the best bookies for the Grand National.
Cheltenham Festival
One of the main events on the UK national horse racing calendar, the Cheltenham Festival spreads over 4 days every March. It’s the second-most valuable meeting on the calendar, just behind the Grand National. First run in 1860, it achieved a cult status amongst bettors and horse racing fans. The meeting is home to numerous Grade 1 races, including the Queen Mother Chase, Stayers’ Hurdle, and the Cheltenham Gold Cup.
Royal Ascot
Ascot is a world-renowned racecourse and the highlight of the British summer social calendar. It draws over 350,000 spectators every year and remains one of the most popular events to bet on at the top UK horse racing betting sites. In July, it’s home to the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes race, with a total of eight jump meetings held between October and March.
Epsom Derby
The Epsom Derby is one of Britain’s most prestigious Group 1 flat horse races. It’s open to three-year-old fillies and colts, and it’s run at the Epsom Downs Racecourse in Surrey on the first Saturday each June. The first Epsom Derby was held in 1780. The Derby is one of the most popular betting events at the top UK horse racing bookies, with many of them offering specials on the top events.
International Races
Other popular events punters will find include the Dubai World Cup, the Melbourne Cup, the Kentucky Derby, and Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. Some of these international races carry even higher prize purses than the Grand National, often being worth several million pounds.
Horse Betting Tips and Strategies
There have been many cases where punters lucked out and won big on horse races. However, veteran UK punters know that the key to long-term profit lies in horse betting tips and strategies, some of which we’ll share in the following points.
Do Your Research: This goes for all sports betting markets, not just horse racing. If you don’t do proper analysis and research, you can’t expect proper returns. Check the latest news, expert predictions, and follow expert tips to get the most out of your bets.
Check the Going and Conditions: Horse racing is more sensitive to conditions than most sports. Always check the going (firm, good, soft, or heavy), as certain horses perform better on specific surfaces. Look at recent form, not just the horse, but also the jockey’s current performance.
Compare SP Prices: The starting prices can vary significantly at different horse racing betting sites. Always compare them and choose the bookie that offers the best returns.
Bet Responsibly: Manage your bankroll before you even start betting on horse races. Always bet responsibly by keeping a track of your expenses, betting reasonable amounts, and never betting with money you can’t afford to lose.
Don’t Miss Out on the Best Horse Racing Betting Sites
Betting on horse racing is different from betting on other sports because of all the unique markets, which makes it even more exciting for punters. The best horse racing betting sites in the UK also offer a wide range of betting offers and specials that make the whole experience more entertaining.
Check out our list of recommendations and make your pick right now. Join the best horse racing sites in the UK, claim a bonus, and bet on the top races in the United Kingdom and internationally.
UK Horse Racing Betting Sites FAQs
Registration at the top horse racing betting sites takes but a few minutes. The process is straightforward – click on register or sign up and follow the instructions to fill out the form and confirm your account.
Yes, the horse racing bookmakers make it easy to place a bet. It involves clicking on the odds for each bet, which are automatically added to the betting slip.
Most horse racing bookies will have a free bet on offer to new and seasoned punters. The terms for each bet are different, so punters should read them before claiming the offer.
That’s up to our readers to decide. The top-rated betting sites with live horse racing on this page all feature live betting and even live streams, and they’re all good picks for most punters.
Reputable horse racing bookmakers will ask their users to verify their identity via the KYC check. This is mandatory before the first withdrawal and typically takes up to 24 hours.
Per UK’s laws, no one under the age of 18 can join horse racing online betting sites. Entering a false age on registration doesn’t work, as the KYC process verifies the punter’s age later.
It depends on the horse racing betting site. Most of them accept bank transfers, debit cards, and e-wallets, all of which can be used to collect winnings.
