Horse racing is popular around the world and the 24/7 nature of racing means there’s always a horse to back. From the Kentucky Derby to the Breeders’ Cup, the action never stops. Whether you love to watch horse racing online, bet on your phone or simply catch up with the latest results, US gambling sites offer something for every bettor.
Scroll down to check out the latest racing betting odds and choose your next bookmaker today!
Here are our top-rated and recommended online horse racing sportsbooks:
Placing a wager on the horses is a lot quicker and easier when you use one of America’s horse betting apps or online sites. Roughly 86% of all sports bets are placed online, which is why racebooks are always working to improve their smartphone platforms.
What’s more, you don’t even need to use an app! These days the best horse racing app is practically identical to its sister browser site. Therefore, you don’t need to waste time and mobile data downloading an app, and can instead join a sportsbook online in minutes and use its browser-based betting markets instead for your mobile sports betting needs.
Sportsbook sites are designed to maximize usage on phone and tablet screens, to make life easier for those who want to make those big bets. This means you can easily log into your profile wherever and whenever you like, make deposits and withdrawals, trigger horse racing bonus offers and place those all-important bets at a time and place that suits you.
While the three above bet types make up the vast majority of horse racing wagers, there are other combinations and markets available to players at select online sportsbooks. They include:
Since 1919, only 13 horses have achieved the honor of winning horse racing’s Triple Crown by finishing first in the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes. It’s interesting to note that 23 horses have won the Kentucky Derby and Preakness, but failed to win the Belmont, thus coming up one win shy of joining the exclusive Triple Crown club.
| Year | Winner | Trainer | Jockey |
| 1919 | Sir Barton | H. Guy Bedwell | Johnny Loftus |
| 1930 | Gallant Fox | Jim Fitzsimmons | Earl Sande |
| 1935 | Omaha | Jim Fitzsimmons | Willie “Smokey” Saunders |
| 1937 | War Admiral | George Conway | Charles Kurtsinger |
| 1941 | Whirlaway | Ben A. Jones | Eddie Arcaro |
| 1943 | Count Fleet | Don Cameron | Johnny Longden |
| 1946 | Assault | Max Hirsch | Warren Mehrtens |
| 1948 | Citation | Horace A. “Jimmy” Jones | Eddie Arcaro |
| 1973 | Secretariat | Lucien Laurin | Ron Turcotte |
| 1977 | Seattle Slew | William H. Turner Jr. | Jean Cruguet |
| 1978 | Affirmed | Laz Barrera | Steve Cauthen |
| 2015 | American Pharoah | Bob Baffert | Victor Espinoza |
| 2018 | Justify | Bob Baffert | Mike Smith |
It’s probably not a surprise to know online racing betting is hugely popular – and that means there is a lot of competition among racing sportsbook operators. Betting sites will offer extensive special offers, price boosts and great odds to attract players to their platforms, which is good news for you! With so much choice Gamble Online’s team of racing experts have reviewed the best of the best in horse racing gambling. Check our thorough sports betting reviews page for more information.
Betting on horse racing has been a pastime in America for decades, so much so that the majority of US states now authorize some form of legal horse racing betting. Indeed, there are plenty of horse wagering sites to choose from and place bets on meetings from all over the world. To date, there are 32 states that grant access to legal horse racing betting sites, which are as follows:
Alabama, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming.
Horse racing has two core race types: jumps and flats. But while the United Kingdom, Ireland and France tend to favor jump racing (called National Hunt), in the US, flat races are king. American thoroughbred racing is classified into levels in order to produce races with roughly similar standards of horse. As a horse develops and improves its game, it will rise up the classifications.
The reason for classifications is to make races competitive – otherwise there would be no point betting on them, and the sport would die! Now, it’s important to know the various horse race types you can bet on in a US sportsbook.
Almost half of US horse races are claimers. A claiming race is where owners buy and sell horses. Owners set a price on horses they have running in the race and buyers can make a purchase before the start. It should be noted that the initial owner is awarded prize money if the horse then goes on to win its race!
A maiden race is for horses that are yet to record a win and are therefore usually at the beginning of their racing careers.
One step down from graded stakes, allowance races often house some of the future’s best runners. Conditions such as weight allowances are provided in these races and horses that impress here will quickly be promoted to the grades.
Graded Stakes are the pinnacle type of horse race in America and feature some of the best thoroughbreds on the planet, as well as the most lucrative race meetings. There are three levels of graded stakes: Grade I, Grade II and Grade III. The American Graded Stakes Committee decide on the grades of each race and determines if the gradings such change each year.
Grade I includes iconic races such as the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes. Only horses that have a strong record can compete in Grade I and, should they begin to lose too many races, then they could drop down to Grade II. That’s because all horses are regularly rated in order to determine their grade level.
Within the grades there are types of race that stipulate different conditions. For example, in “age for weight” races the horse carries a set weight dependent on its age. Likewise, a “set weights” race sees hoses all carry the same weight, while a “conditions” race requires a handicapper to assess the ability of each horse, and thus determine each individual weight.
New racing betting fans can sometimes make the mistake of placing big wagers too soon. Don’t! Like anything in life, perfecting the art of sports betting requires patience if you want to make big profits. Small bets on regular races will help you develop your knowledge of racing and provide opportunities to win big, without any sizeable risk.
Placing a Win bet is very easy but it’s not always the smartest option. Place and Show bets give you some insurance if your pick doesn’t win the race outright, and you can still earn big money if you bet smart. It’s the same principle as betting on an NFL team to reach the Super Bowl, but not win it, or a baseball team making it to the World Series. Sometimes, there are better odds out there than simply backing the winner.
Being able to read the racecard is paramount to perfecting your online horse racing bets. The racecard will tell you everything you need to know about each horse, as well as the conditions on the track. Look out for factors such as weight and form, as well as which races the horse has previously run in. If a horse has really strong form, make sure they haven’t just been promoted up a grade! Otherwise, that form likely counts for little against a new, superior field.
Being able to watch live horse racing can make the difference between placing a winning bet and a losing bet. The reason? You get access to far more knowledge when you stream horse racing, and that knowledge can help you make smarter bets. factors such as the going, latest odds shifts and updates from the racetrack can combine to help you make better choices.
Some horse racing betting sites offer live streaming of each race they feature, but more often than not your best bet for watching races live is via a TV network. ESPN, NBC and FOX all have broadcast rights to broadcast the sport, which means you’ll never be short of a way to watch horse races online.
There are scores of horse racing promotions out there just waiting to be triggered. Some promos are only available to new customers as a carrot for joining a racebook. Others award loyalty to existing customers, and provide extra bonuses such as better odds. Whether you’re seeking a new sportsbook or just want to discover the latest deals, here are some examples of current horse racing betting bonus options:
A horse racing sign-up bonus, or a welcome bonus, is likely the first thing you will encounter when choosing a new betting site. The bonus could be free cash to start wagering, or a free bet. Whatever the bonus, be sure to double check the details and wagering requirements!
Some sportsbooks offer enhanced odds to new and current horse racing punters who want to wager on specific events. This usually focuses on a particular horse. So, for example, there might be enhanced odds on a firm favorite in the Kentucky Derby, or boosted odds on a trifecta or exacta bet type.
Some horse racing betting sites let you bet ‘across the board’ or ‘each way’ on the horses, in which you split your bet in half. One half wagers on your horse to win, the other on your horse to ‘place’ in the top three or four. In big races, sportsbooks can offer extra places to increase your likelihood of winning.
Horse racing futures betting is when you wager on a horse to win a race before it has been confirmed to run. Punters use futures to wager on the Preakness Stakes, for example, months before the race. And bookmakers will often boost the odds of futures horses in order to make them more bet-worthy.
Check out the most useful horse racing terms and cut through the complex jargon below:
A bet on your horse to either win, place or show. It is similar to an Each Way bet and carries lower odds than a conventional bet but enhances your chance of winning a return.
Thoroughbred horses count January 1 as their birth date in order to age each new year of entries.
Weight reductions that can be granted horses in specific conditions races. Allowances can be given for form, age, experience of jockey and gender of horse.
A flurry of bets on one horse will cause it’s odds on ‘back in’ to a shorter price than originally set.
The final straight of the track that runs towards the finish post and usually in front of the main grandstand.
A bit like a Nap, a Banker is a horse that tipsters believe is likely to win.
A horse or jockey has broken their maiden when they win for the first time.
14 races take place on the Breeders’ Cup race weekend and feature races such as the Dirt Mile, Distaff and the Breeders’ Cup Classic ($6m purse).
Claiming races feature horses that are effectively for sale. Each horse has a price and can be purchased by anyone who makes a valid ‘claim’ before the start of the race.
Jockeys that are working their way up to full professionals. They are afforded conditions or allowances in races.
A form of race traditionally restricted to three-year-olds. All three races in the Triple Crown are derbies.
A form of wager where half your stake is bet on the win, and half on the place.
A female horse.
The class levels in US horse racing that help group horses of similar standard together. Grade I races are the elite-level and include the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes.
The going in horse racing explains the condition of the racetrack or turf. The going for dirt tracks ranges from fast and good to muddy and sloppy. Turf races feature goings such as firm, good, yielding, soft and heavy.
A race type where horses can be given more or less weight depending on factors such as form, age and sex. Handicaps help ensure races are competitive.
Horse racing inquiries are required when the race stewards believe a ‘foul’ may have been committed by a horse or jockey during the race. Inquiries can last a few seconds but can also take days to resolve. They can lead to winners being disqualified, and even fines and bans handed out.
A horse will ‘lug in’ when it drifts towards the rail in the final stretch of the race. It usually suggests the horse is tiring and slowing down.
The track sets its own odds for upcoming races each day, before the pools open.
The big tip a racing tipster believes will win the race.
A stakes race for fillies aged three.
When a horse is odds-on, a bettor will make less profit than their original bet if the horse wins. For example, a $10 bet on a horse with odds of -400 will yield $2.50 (profit) + $10 (stake) = $12.50.
An overlay in horse racing is when you bet on a horse at odds greater than you think it is actually worth. For example, you might wager on a horse at odds of 15/1 even though you believe it should be priced at 6/1. You’re effectively getting an odds boost relative to the quality of the horse.
A bet type where you combine numerous wagers into one big bet. The aim of a parlay is to increase your odds and therefore your potential winnings.
This wager requires you to pick the winner of three (or more) successive races. Pick bets feature high odds and are a great way to wager on the favorite of each race and bump up your potential profits.
The online platform where you can place horse racing bets. Many online gambling operators and casinos feature sportsbooks on their sites. You can check out the best sportsbooks here.
A superfecta bet is when you wager on the first four finishers of a race, in order. Superfectas have notoriously high odds because they are difficult to master.
A trifecta bet is when you wager on the first three finishers of a race, in order. Trifectas aren’t as hard to master as superfectas and still carry sizeable odds.
A term for three big US stakes races: Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes. Winning the Triple Crown (i.e. winning all three races in one season) is very rare.
The weight each horse must carry on their backs during a race. Weights are used to even out the competition and includes the weight of the jockey and riding gear. If a horse needs more weight added then lead plates will be slipped inside the saddle.
To place a horse racing bet, first you need to sign up to a sportsbook. Then simply search for your chosen race, click on the odds you want to back and complete the wager in the online bet slip. If your bet wins, you’ll see your winnings in your balance!
Newcomers to horse racing are advised to start on small races, such as claiming races, before moving up to grade stakes. However, many fans also find huge enjoyment in leaping straight to the Grade I races like the Kentucky Derby and those at the Breeders’ Cup.
Most sportsbooks will show you your potential profit in your bet slip before you place a bet. However, if you want to calculate your profit, the formula is: (Stake * Odds) / 100. For example, a $5 bet on a horse at odds of +500 would read: (5 * 500) / 100 = $25.
If you want to bet on online horse racing, but don’t know which site to join, why not read through out reviews of the best racing betting sites today? We look at everything from how easy it is to join, to what odds and promos are available to bettors.
Reading horse racing odds may seem difficult, but can easily be picked up on the fly. The most common odds style found in horse racing are British odds, also known as fractional odds. So, a favorite might be 3/1, which means you win $3 for every $1 wagered. Sometimes the number on the left is larger than the right, but same value applies, so a heavy favorite horse’s odds at 4/5 would mean you’d win $4 for every $5 wagered.
