UK Horse Racing Betting Guide 2024

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

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

  Eg:

  Altior

  2.00

  
• 

  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

  

  (11/8)

• 

  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

  

  (12/1)

• 

  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

  

  (12/5)

• 

  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

  

  Sprinter
  Sacre second

  
• 

  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 to win

  

  Sprinter Sacre second

  

  Moscow Flyer third
• 

  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

  

  Viking Flagship