On this page
Horse racing is woven into British and Irish sporting life. From a Tuesday afternoon at Wolverhampton to the roar of the Cheltenham Festival, there are races to bet on almost every day of the year. In this guide we explain how horse racing betting works, which bet types you can choose, how to read the odds and which races are the highlights of the calendar in the UK and Ireland.
18+ · New UK players only · T&Cs apply. 100% up to £1.500 + 250 Free Spins Please gamble responsibly · BeGambleAware.org
18+ · New UK players only · T&Cs apply. 100% up to £1.500 + 300 Free Spins Please gamble responsibly · BeGambleAware.org
18+ · New UK players only · T&Cs apply. 100% up to £300 + 200 Free Spins Please gamble responsibly · BeGambleAware.org
18+. New customers only. Promo code WHV200. Stake £10 on slots to receive 200 free spins on Big Bass Splash. 10x wagering on winnings, spins valid 72 hours, max. winnings £30. Payment method exclusions apply. BeGambleAware.org
18+. New UK customers only. Deposit £10 within 7 days of registering and wager it once on eligible games within 7 days. 50 x £0.10 spins on Big Bass Splash, no wagering on winnings, spins expire after 3 days. Full T&Cs apply. BeGambleAware.org
No casinos match this filter yet.
How horse racing betting works
New! Our Top 3:
18+ · New UK players only · T&Cs apply. 100% up to £1.500 + 250 Free Spins Please gamble responsibly · BeGambleAware.org
18+ · New UK players only · T&Cs apply. 100% up to £1.500 + 300 Free Spins Please gamble responsibly · BeGambleAware.org
18+ · New UK players only · T&Cs apply. 100% up to £300 + 200 Free Spins Please gamble responsibly · BeGambleAware.org
No casinos match this filter yet.
When you bet on a horse race, you pick one or more horses and choose a bet type. The odds show how much you win if your bet is successful. In the UK, odds are usually shown as fractions. Odds of 5/1 mean you win £5 for every £1 you stake, plus your stake back. Odds of 1/2 mean you win £1 for every £2 staked. The shorter the odds, the more likely the bookmaker thinks the horse is to win.
There are two main moments to bet:
- On the day: you bet once the final runners are known, usually the day before or on the morning of the race.
- Ante-post: you bet weeks or even months before a big race, often at bigger odds. The catch is that if your horse does not run, your bet usually loses, unless the bookmaker offers Non-Runner No Bet.
Horse racing bet types
| Bet type | What you bet on | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Win | Your horse wins the race | The simplest bet |
| Each way | Your horse wins or finishes in the places | Two bets, so double the stake |
| Place | Your horse finishes in the places | Offered by some bookmakers and on the Tote |
| Forecast | The first and second, in the correct order | A reverse forecast covers both orders |
| Tricast | The first three, in the correct order | High odds, hard to win |
| Lucky 15 | Four horses in 15 bets | Singles, doubles, trebles and a four-fold |
| Placepot | A placed horse in each of the first six races | A Tote pool bet |
Each way betting explained
Each way is the most popular bet in British horse racing. It consists of two equal bets: one on the horse to win and one on the horse to finish in the places. A £5 each way bet therefore costs £10. If your horse wins, both parts pay out. If it finishes in the places, only the place part pays, at a fraction of the win odds.
The standard place terms depend on the number of runners and the type of race:
| Runners and race type | Places paid | Fraction of the odds |
|---|---|---|
| 5 to 7 runners | 2 | 1/4 |
| 8 or more runners | 3 | 1/5 |
| Handicap with 12 to 15 runners | 3 | 1/4 |
| Handicap with 16 or more runners | 4 | 1/4 |
For big races, many bookmakers offer extra places, such as five or six places on the Grand National. These enhanced terms can make each way bets much more attractive.
Best Odds Guaranteed and other features
Best Odds Guaranteed
With Best Odds Guaranteed, or BOG, you are paid at the higher of the price you took and the starting price (SP). If you back a horse at 6/1 and it starts at 8/1, you are paid at 8/1. Most major UK bookmakers offer BOG on UK and Irish racing, sometimes with conditions such as a maximum payout. It is one of the most valuable features for regular racing punters.
Rule 4 deductions
If a horse is withdrawn shortly before a race and there is no time to form a new market, bookmakers apply a Rule 4 deduction to winning bets that were placed before the withdrawal. The deduction depends on the odds of the withdrawn horse. It is a normal part of horse racing betting, but it is good to know why your winnings can be slightly lower than expected.
Live streaming
Many bookmakers stream UK and Irish racing for customers who have a funded account or a bet on the race. Watching the race live makes in-play betting and cash out decisions much easier.
The biggest races in the UK and Ireland
| Event | Course | Usually held |
|---|---|---|
| Cheltenham Festival | Cheltenham | March |
| Grand National | Aintree | April |
| Irish Grand National | Fairyhouse | Easter Monday |
| Punchestown Festival | Punchestown | Late April or early May |
| The Derby | Epsom Downs | Early June |
| Royal Ascot | Ascot | June |
| Glorious Goodwood | Goodwood | Late July or early August |
| Galway Races | Galway | Late July or early August |
| St Leger | Doncaster | September |
| Leopardstown Christmas Festival | Leopardstown | December |
Cheltenham Festival
The Cheltenham Festival is the high point of the jump racing season. Over four days in March, the best horses from Britain and Ireland meet in races such as the Champion Hurdle and the Cheltenham Gold Cup. The rivalry between British and Irish trainers adds an extra edge, and bookmakers compete with special offers and extra places throughout the week.
The Grand National
The Grand National at Aintree is the most famous race in the world for casual punters. Millions of people place a bet on it each year, often their only bet of the year. With a large field and demanding fences, it is notoriously hard to predict, which makes each way betting with extra places especially popular.
Royal Ascot
Royal Ascot combines top-class flat racing with a unique social atmosphere. Five days of racing in June include races such as the Gold Cup and the Queen Anne Stakes, with big fields and competitive betting markets.
Flat racing and jump racing
British and Irish racing is split into two codes. Flat racing takes place without obstacles and runs mainly from spring to autumn, with highlights such as the Derby, Royal Ascot and the St Leger. Jump racing, also called National Hunt, features hurdles and steeplechase fences and peaks in winter and early spring, with the Cheltenham Festival and the Grand National as its biggest events. The two codes favour different types of horses and form lines, so many punters specialise in one of them.
Tips for betting on horse racing
- Study the form: look at recent runs, the going (ground conditions), distance and course record.
- Take Best Odds Guaranteed: choose a bookmaker that offers BOG on UK and Irish racing.
- Compare place terms: extra places on big races can make a real difference to each way bets.
- Be careful with ante-post bets: bigger odds come with the risk that your horse does not run.
- Keep your stakes steady: a long day of racing makes it easy to bet more than planned. Set a limit before the first race.
Choosing a bookmaker for horse racing
The best bookmakers for horse racing combine Best Odds Guaranteed, fair each way terms, live streaming and quick payouts. The betting sites in our list above all hold a UK licence and offer a full horse racing service. Read our full guide to UK betting sites to compare their features, and check our guide to fast withdrawals to get your winnings quickly. Since January 2026, wagering requirements on free bets are capped at 10x, and bookmakers may not combine racing bets and casino games in one promotion.
Before you bet, read our guide to gambling with real money and set a deposit limit that fits your budget.
An each way bet consists of two equal bets: one on your horse to win and one on it to finish in the places. A £5 each way bet costs £10 in total.
Best Odds Guaranteed means you are paid at the higher of the price you took and the starting price of your horse.
On the day of the race, your stake is usually returned. For ante-post bets, a non-runner usually loses, unless the bookmaker offers Non-Runner No Bet.
A Rule 4 deduction reduces winnings when a horse is withdrawn shortly before a race and there is no time to form a new market.
The biggest events are the Cheltenham Festival, the Grand National at Aintree, the Derby at Epsom and Royal Ascot.
Play responsibly. Only bet with money you can afford to lose, set limits before you start and never chase losses. For free and confidential support, visit BeGambleAware.org. 18+ only.