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UK Horse Racing Betting Guide 2024

UK horse racing betting is as traditional as it gets, for this is the sport of kings. Racing horses has a rich history in the British Isles which continues to this very day.

This our detailed guide to UK horse racing betting in Canada. What’s in store for you on this page? All this and more:

  • An explanation of how UK horse racing odds work
  • Background and a potted history of the sport
  • A list of the best UK horse racing betting sites for Canadian gamblers

Top Horse Racing Betting Sites for Canadian Players

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An Introduction to Horse Racing in the UK

Before we start handing out UK horse racing betting advice, we’re going to look at some of the key facts about this sport:

  • Horse Racing in the UK - Fact 1

    Horse racing in the UK is either done over jumps or on the flat

  • Horse Racing in the UK - Fact 2

    Flat horse races range in distance from five furlongs (just over half-a-mile) up to over two-and-a-half miles

  • Horse Racing in the UK - Fact 3

    Trainers are allowed to run their racehorses both over jumps and on the flat, provided they have licenses to do so

  • Horse Racing in the UK - Fact 4

    Jumps horse races range in distance from about two miles to over four miles. They can be over hurdles, steeplechase fences or no obstacles at all which are known as National Hunt Flat Races, also called bumpers

  • Horse Racing in the UK - Fact 5

    Races in the UK take place on turf (grass) or All-Weather surfaces (tapeta, polytrack)

  • Horse Racing in the UK - Fact 6

    All officially recognized horse racing takes place under the Rules of the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) first set out by The Jockey Club

  • Horse Racing in the UK - Fact 7

    These are the laws governing horse racing in the UK to ensure each race is consistent and fair

  • Horse Racing in the UK - Fact 8

    Each race will have a closing date for entries, but horses may be supplemented after this time if terms allow

  • Horse Racing in the UK - Fact 9

    There is a rigorous drug testing policy to prevent racehorses from being doped

  • Horse Racing in the UK - Fact 10

    If any trainer or jockey is found to have broken the Rules of racing, then their horse may be disqualified. They can also be banned from riding or training, or receive a fine

How UK Horse Racing Odds Work

The best way to show you how UK horse racing odds work is to look through an example. In this hypothetical race, some of the great two-mile steeplechasers line-up:

Altior
Altior
2.00
(Evens)
Badsworth Boy
Badsworth Boy
2.50
(6/4)
Fortria
Fortria
5.50
(9/2)
Hilly Way
Hilly Way
13.00
(12/1)
Master Minded
Master Minded
2.88
(15/8)
Moscow Flyer
Moscow Flyer
3.25
(9/4)
Sprinter Sacre
Sprinter Sacre
3.75
(11/4)
Viking Flagship
Viking Flagship
7.00
(6/1)

Altior is the horse with shortest price next to his name as the number is the smallest. For every $5 bet on him, you would double your money if he won.

That means total returns of $10 and a $5 profit. The bigger price (the larger the number), then the greater your winnings could be.

Hilly Way, for instance, is the outsider in the race. The same $5 stake would return $65 - $60 of which is profit.

With UK horse racing odds, it’s common to see prices expressed as fractions so we’ve put them in brackets next to the decimal ones. For more on comparing different odds types, see our calculator below.

UK Horse Racing Betting Options

Although we’re concerned with UK horse racing betting in Canada here, it’s good to know British terms for the bet types you’ll encounter. Here are some of the most popular:

  • To win

    To win

    Keeping things simple, you can back a horse just to win a race.

    Eg:
    Altior
    2.00
    Altior
  • Without the favourite

    Without the favourite

    Sometimes a betting favourite is such a short price that UK betting sites offer a market without that horse in it. This is to attract people who feel the favourite isn’t value.

    Prices on all other runners are shortened up as a result of the favourite’s absence from this market.

    Eg:
    Sprinter Sacre
    without the favourite
    2.38
    Sprinter Sacre

    (11/8)

  • Each-way

    Each-way

    You can also back a horse each-way, that is to win and place in a race. It is essentially two bets in one. A fraction of the outright win price – determined by the type of race and number of runners – is available for a place.

    Depending on how many horses run governs how many places betting sites offer. At least five are needed for each-way betting to be allowed. You can thus still make profit even if your chosen horse doesn’t win.

    Eg:
    Hilly Way
    each-way
    13.00
    Hilly Way

    (12/1)

  • To place

    To place

    If you’re not certain a horse can win a race, but feel it can place, there’s a market for that. As above with each-way betting, the number of places paid out on varies depending on the number of runners and the type of event.

    Odds will invariably be shorter than the outright win price, but should be comparable with the fraction available for an each-way place bet.

    Eg:
    Hilly Way
    to place
    3.40
    Hilly Way

    (12/5)

  • Straight or Reverse Forecast

    Straight or Reverse Forecast

    You can also bet on two horses in the same race to finish first and second. When you specify the order, this is known as a straight forecast in the UK.

    If no order is specified, then you are placing two bets in one and this is called a reverse forecast. These wagers are better known globally as exactas or reverse exactas.

    Eg:
    Altior

    to win
    Altior
    Sprinter
    Sacre
    second
    Sprinter Sacre
  • Straight or Reverse Tricast

    Straight or Reverse Tricast

    Along the same lines as a forecast, you can also pick three horses in the same race and bet on them. Here, it’s to finish first, second and third either in any order or a specified one.

    These are called straight or reverse tricasts in the UK, but better known outside the British Isles as trifectas and triactors in Canada. A reverse tricast is six bets in one as you have all possible finishing orders for the three selections covered.

    Eg:
    Altior
    Altior to win
    Sprinter Sacre
    Sprinter Sacre second
    Moscow Flyer
    Moscow Flyer third
  • Match betting

    Match betting

    You can also bet on one horse to finish in front of another. This type of wager is called match betting and can be worth exploring when two horses line-up against one another having met before.

    The horse you pick to win the match doesn’t have to win the actual race, but just beat the specified opponent from the field.

    Eg:
    Master Minded
    Master Minded
    Viking Flagship
    Viking Flagship

Mobile UK Horse Racing Betting

Using your mobile to place horse racing bets is now commonplace in the UK and all over the planet. What are the benefits of mobile UK horse racing betting?

  • If you have an Apple or Android smartphone, then chances are the betting sites you use will have a dedicated app you can download for free
  • This gives you a streamlined mobile gambling experience that makes betting on horse racing and other sports easy
  • Having an app that allows you access to mobile UK horse racing betting means you can place a wager anywhere with an internet connection
  • It’s the height of convenience to have this literally at your fingertips
Mobile horse betting

A Brief History of UK Horse Racing

Following the Restoration of the Monarchy, Charles II helps to formalize horse racing at Newmarket in Suffolk. In 1671, he rides the winner of the Newmarket Town Plate

1660

Royal Ascot is founded by Queen Anne. It is an annual tradition for the Flat racing held there every June to take place in front of royalty

1711

The Jockey Club is established to bring in uniform Rules for horse races

1750

The St Leger is first run on Town Moor at Doncaster. This is the oldest of British horse racing’s five Classic races for three-year-old colts and fillies

1776

The Derby is inaugurated with The Oaks at Epsom being first held the previous year

1780

The 2000 Guineas is first run at Newmarket with the 1000 Guineas for fillies inaugurated five years later

1809

The first official running of the Grand National takes place at Aintree near Liverpool

1839

Sandown Park becomes the first racecourse to open a separate enclosure for members only

1875

The Cheltenham Festival is founded with the first championship race, the Stayers’ Hurdle inaugurated the following year

1911

The Cheltenham Gold Cup is run for the first time

1924

The Champion Hurdle is inaugurated

1927

The King George VI Chase at Kempton Park is held for the first time

1937

The Queen Mother Champion Chase is inaugurated

1959

Red Rum wins a record third Grand National at Aintree

1977

A Foot and Mouth Disease epidemic sweeps through the British countryside leading to the cancellation of the Cheltenham Festival

2001

Conclusion

And that’s our guide full of UK horse racing betting advice. As you can see, it literally is the sport of kings.

If you’ve got further horse racing queries, then the answers may be found in the FAQs section below. It’s a mine of information!

Conclusion

FAQs

Horse racing Icon How does horse racing betting work?

Betting on horse racing is simple. You simply find the race you want to bet on, then select the horse you’ve picked and add them to your betslip. Enter your stake (remember to specify if it’s an each-way bet) and place the wager!

Star Icon What are the most popular bets for UK horse races?

Some of most popular bets placed on horse racing in the UK are:

  • To win
  • Without the favourite
  • Each-way
  • To place
  • Straight or Reverse Forecast
  • Straight or Reverse Tricast
  • Match betting
Popular darts Icon What are the best betting sites for UK horse races?

We only put forward the best UK horse racing betting sites for you to choose from on this page.

Mobile Icon Can I bet on UK horse races on mobile?

You can bet on all UK horse racing through mobile and other digital devices.

Canada Icon Is horse racing betting legal in Canada?

Betting on horse racing was legalized in Canada back in 1969, so it’s all good!

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