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Sabrina Kolaen Sabrina Kolaen
Modified: July 1, 2024
Horse Racing Betting

Horse Racing Betting Odds

horse racing betting

🤑 Horse Racing Free Bet Bet €15, Get €10
🏇🏽 Bet on Horse Races Grand National, Cheltenham, Royal Ascot
🍀 Irish Horse Races Irish Grand National, Punchestown, Irish Derby
💳 Deposit Methods PayPal, paysafecard, Mastercard, Skrill + more!

While average horse racing betting revenues have declined slightly during the previous decade, sportsbooks still generate more than €1 billion from this vertical.

This makes it the second most generative online sports betting niche after football, with stellar events and meetings scheduled all year round.

Horse racing betting also tends to provide highly competitive race odds and potential returns, while you can leverage form and past performances to create additional value in pricing.

Below, we’ll take a closer look at online horse betting while appraising some of the most popular wager types and markets.

Horse Race Betting Online on the Biggest Events

The so-called ‘sport of kings’ is contested all year round, with the prestigious National Hunt (or jump) season in Great Britain commencing on May 1st and continuing until April the following year.

Here, the flat race campaign also runs annually from March through October, with a large number of iconic meetings and Grade 1 races crammed into this period.

You can also access horse racing in Ireland and across the globe throughout the year, with meetings held in Australia (the Melbourne Cup), the US (Kentucky Derby) and the UAE (the lucrative Dubai World Cup).

Let’s take a closer look at some standout horse racing fixtures in the global calendar!

🏇🏽 Horse Racing Competition🏟️ Place📅 Dates
☘️ Epsom DerbyEpsom Racecourse, UKJune 6th – June 7th 2025  
☘️ Irish Derby FestivalCurragh Racecourse, Ireland  June 28th – June 30th 2024  
☘️ Kentucky DerbyChurchill Downs Racecourse, United States  May 3rd 2025  
☘️ Irish Champion StakesLeopardstown, IrelandSeptember 14th – September 15th 2024
☘️ Fairyhouse Easter FestivalFairyhouse Racecourse, Ireland  April 19th – April 21st 2025  
☘️ Royal AscotAscot Racecourse, UK  June 18th – June 22nd 2025  
☘️ Epsom OaksEpsom Downs Racecourse, UK  June 6th 2025  
☘️ Irish OaksCurragh Racecourse, Ireland  July 20th – July 21st 2024  
☘️ 1000 GuineasAscot Racecourse, Australia  March 1st 2025  
☘️ 2000 GuineasNewmarket Rowley Mile Course, UK  3rd May 2025  
☘️ Prix de l’Arc de TriompheHipódromo de París-Longchamp RacecourseOctober 5th – October 6th 2024  
☘️ Champion HurdleCheltenham Racecourse, UK  March 11th 2025  
☘️ Glorious Goodwood  Goodwood, UKJuly 30th – August 3rd 2024
☘️ Cheltenham FestivalCheltenham Racecourse, UKMarch 11th – March 14th 2025
☘️ Irish Grand NationalFairyhouse Racecourse, IrelandApril 5th 2025
☘️ English Grand NationalAintree Racecourse, UKApril 10th – April 12th 2025
☘️ King George RaceAscot Racecourse, UKJuly 27th 2024

Epsom Derby 2024 Betting

The Epsom Derby, also sometimes called the Derby Stakes, is a Group 1 flat race that is open to colts and fillies that are three years of age. It takes place at Surrey’s Epsom Downs

Racecourse on the first Saturday in June every year. It was run for the first time in 1780 and it is 1 mile, 4 furlongs, and 10 yards long.

With a first place prize of a little over £900,000, it is the richest flat horse race in Britain.

The Irish Derby 2024 Betting

The Irish Derby is a Group 1 flat race that is open to fillies and thoroughbred colts that are three years old. It is run at the Curragh Racecourse in County Kildare and is 1 mile and 4 furlongs in length.

It is the Irish equivalent of the aforementioned Epsom Derby, and it takes place three weeks after. This is a big race to win as the first prize is just a tad under €600,000, and there is plenty of Irish Derby betting done when it is run.

Irish Derby

Kentucky Derby Odds

The Kentucky Derby is a Grade 1 race that takes place at the Churchill Downs Racecourse in Louisville.

This race, which is 1 1/4 miles long, is open to Thoroughbreds that are three years old.

The geldings and colts are required to carry 126 pounds, while the fillies need to carry 121 pounds.

This prestigious American race takes place on the first Saturday of May, with many calling it two of the most exciting minutes in the sporting world.

Irish Champion Stakes 2024

The Irish Champion Stakes is a Flat Group 1 horse race that is open to horses that are three years or older. It takes place at Leopardstown, just south of Dublin, and is 1 mile and 2 furlongs in length.

The winner of this race takes home a little under €600,000, so it is one that every jockey and trainer is desperate to land. Dylan Thomas and Magical have both won this event twice, while the leading jockey and trainer is Michael Kinane and Aidan O’Brien.

Fairyhouse Easter Festival 2024

The Fairyhouse Racecourse is situated in Ratoath in County Meath, and is where the aforementioned Irish Grand National is run. There are a number of festivals that take place here throughout the year, and many flock here to enjoy a spot of horse racing betting.

The Easter festival is the most popular one since this is when the Irish Grand National takes place, alongside other top races such as the Mares Novice Hurdle Championship Final and the Festival Novice Hurdle.

Royal Ascot 2024 Betting

The Ascot Racecourse in Berkshire, England, is home to the Royal Ascot Festival, which is without doubt one of the highlights of the horse racing calendar.

If you only make it to one horse racing meeting in England in your life, make sure it is this one as it is a great spectacle.

Some of the big races over the course of the event include the Queen Anne Stakes, the King’s Stand Stakes, the Prince of Wales’s Stakes, the Coronation Stakes, and the Gold Cup.

Horse racing competition "Royal Ascot Derby"

The Epsom Oaks 2024

The Epsom Oaks, also known as the Oaks Stake or The Oaks, is a Group 1 race for 3-year-old fillies.

This 1 mile, 4 furlong and 6 yard long race takes place at Epsom Downs at the end of May or the beginning or June.

It is part of the Fillies’ Triple Crown with the 1000 Guineas preceding it and the St Leger coming after it. Frank Buckle is the leading jockey in this race with nine wins, while the leading trainer is Robert Robson with 13 wins to his name.

Irish Oaks 2024

This Group 1 flat race which is open to 3-year-old fillies only is run at the Curragh Racecourse in County Kildare. The Irish Oaks is 2,414 metres long and usually takes place in July every year – the winner of this race walks away with a little under €300,000.

The leading jockey in this event is Johnny Murtagh with six wins under his belt from 1997 to 2013, while Sir Michael Stoute is the leading with six wins as well.

Irish 1000 Guineas 2024 Betting

The 1000 Guineas Stakes is another Group 1 flat race that is only open to 3-year-old fillies. The race is run at the Rowley Mile Racecourse in Newmarket, Suffolk, and is just the one mile long.

It is usually scheduled to be run at the end of April or the beginning of May. The leading jockey is Geroge Fordham with seven wins in total, while the leading trainer is Robert Robson with nine wins.

Irish 2000 Guineas 2024 Odds

While the aforementioned 1000 Guineas is open to just fillies, the 2000 Guineas is a Group 1 flat race that is open to colts and fillies that are 3 years old.

It is also just one mile long, and usually takes place the day before the 1000 Guineas.

Jem Robinson is the leading jockey with nine wins, while O’Brien, like he is with many of the top horse races, is the leading trainer with no fewer than 10 wins.

1000 Guineas

Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe Betting Odds

As you can probably guess from the name, the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe is a French horse race. This Grade 1 flat race takes place at the Longchamp Racecourse in Paris and is open to thoroughbred horses that are three years and above. The race is 1 1/2 miles long and usually takes place on the first Sunday of October.

This race has one of the biggest prizes in horse racing as the winner claims a little under €3 million – there is also plenty of Arc de Triomphe betting that goes on. Frankie Dettori has ridden no fewer than six winners, while André Fabre has trained eight.

2024 Champion Hurdle Betting

The Champion Hurdle is a National Hunt hurdle race that is open to horses that are four years or above.

This Grade 1 race takes place at the Cheltenham Racecourse during the Cheltenham Festival, and it is highly popular when it comes to horse racing betting.

It is 2 1/2 miles long, and the participants need to navigate a total of eight hurdles.

Some of the best horses to have won this race on three occasions include Persian War, National Spirit, Istabraq, Lanzarote, and Hatton’s Grace.

Glorious Goodwood Odds

The Glorious Goodwood Festival takes place in Chichester, West Sussex, at the end of July and the beginning of August and is another great event for betting on horses as there are some top races that occur such as the Sussex Stakes, the Molecomb Stakes, the Stewards’ Cup, and the Goodwood Cup.

It is one of the most picturesque racecourses in England, so if you find yourself in that part of the country when Glorious Goodwood is on, see if you can grab a ticket and try your luck with some horse racing bets.

Champion Hurdle

Cheltenham Horse Racing Betting

Another major horse racing competition you can bet on is the Cheltenham Festival. You can bet on Cheltenham racing, set to take place in March 2025, at Betiton Ireland. The Cheltenham Festival is a four-day festival held at the Cheltenham Racecourse in Gloucestershire in March.

Millions are bet on the Cheltenham Irish horse racing results over the week, and although it’s held in the UK, it’s one of the most popular events for Irish horse racing enthusiasts.

Irish Grand National 2024 Race Odds

The 2024 Irish Grand National was won by Any Second Now and his jockey T.M Walsh. If you’re already looking for horse racing cards for the 2025 Grand National, you’ll be able to find all the available markets well ahead of the big event.

The Irish Grand National is an annual steeplechase in Ireland, open to horses of at least five years old. It’s always held at the Fairyhouse Racecourse in Ireland and typically takes place on Easter Monday.

English Grand National 2024

The English Grand National also takes place in April, usually after the Irish Grand National. It’s also a National Hunt steeplechase horse race, and it always takes place at the Aintree Racecourse in the UK.

Jockey Paul Townend won the 2024 English Grand National with his horse, I Am Maximus. The next edition of the race is scheduled to start on the 10th of April 2025, and you’ll be able to place your bets weeks in advance.

King George Horse Race Betting Odds

The King George VI Chase is a Grade 1 steeplechase in the UK, open to horses four years and above. It was first held in 1937 and has since taken place annually at Kempton Park in Sunbury. It’s also part of the National Hunt Racing calendar and is characterised by the eighteen fences horses must jump over.

The event is usually held in December and is part of Kempton Park’s Christmas Festival. Hewick and his jockey Gavin Sheehan won the last race, while the 2024 King George Chase betting odds predict that Fact to File has the highest chance of winning.

How to Bet on Horse Racing at Betiton Ireland?

For horse racing betting to be explained fully, you’ll need to understand the wagering process. Here’s a snapshot of how to place bets at Betiton.

  1. Open Your Betiton Account – To open your Betiton account, click through the ‘Join’ button on the top of the homepage and enter the requisite information (including your name, email and physical address). Then click ‘Open Account’ to confirm.
  2. Credit Your Account – The next step is to deposit money into your new account. Head to the ‘Payment Methods’ page and select your preferred banking option, before confirming the amount you’d like to credit. The funds should appear in your account immediately.
  3. Claim Your Welcome Offer – At this stage, you can also claim the Betiton welcome bonus if you wish to. This comprises a €10 free bet when you deposit and wager €15 at minimum odds of 2.00, while there’s no additional requirement to opt in when you register. Full T&Cs apply.
  4. Build Your Betslip – Whenever you wager on UK or Irish horse racing, you’ll need to first build your betslip. You can select outcomes and bet types to add these to your slip, before entering the desired stake amount into the ‘stake box’. Then, review your selections and the final odds before clicking on ‘Submit’.

Live Horse Race Betting Odds

Live or in-play horse race betting online involves placing wagers on horse races that are in progress. Betiton Irelands offers the opportunity to try online betting on horse racing while the race is taking place, and the markets are typically available on our platform as soon as the race begins.

 Unlike pre-match horse bets online, which involves placing bets before the race begins, live horse racing betting requires you to check the latest betting odds and place your bets accordingly. Live betting is an interesting form of Irish horse racing betting, but it requires quick decision-making and good observation skills. The returns of a live horses bet are often lower than pre-match bets, but it’s also fair to say that you should be able to predict horse race results better when the race starts.

Horse racing betting odds

Betiton Ireland Horse Racing Bet Types

Before you engage in horse racing betting online, you’ll need to understand the full range of markets available. Here’s a breakdown of each individual horse racing bet type!

  • Win Bet -This is the most straightforward horse betting wager, which requires you to pick the winner of a particular race. If your runner finishes lower than first, your stake will be lost.
  • Place Bet -A place bet on horse racing requires you to pick a runner that will finish in top three of a particular race. While this increases your chances of winning, it also carries lower odds and less impressive returns.
  • Each Way Bet -Each way betting splits your stake between two wagers, which back your horse to win and place in the top three, four or five respectively. If your chosen runner wins, you’ll win both bets and be paid out in full, while you’ll bank a fractional return if they place.
  • Accumulator Bet -With an accumulator bet, you’ll combine between four and 20 selections within a single wager. Individual odds are then multiplied to create an extended price, but each pick will have to be successful and win their race for the wager to pay out.
  • Exacta Bet -A popular wager when horse betting online, this requires you to pick two horses who will place first and second in a particular race. You’ll also have to get the order to correct to receive a payout.
  • Quinella Bet -If you want to engage in this type of online horse racing betting but aren’t as confident about the precise order in which two horses will finish, you can place a quinella wager. In this case, you just have to predict which runners will finish in the top two without worrying about who crosses the line first.
  • Trifecta Bet -With a trifecta bet, you’ll have to pick three horses in a single race and predict the precise order that they’ll finish in. This is a high risk but high reward wager that’s synonymous with quite lucrative payouts.
  • Superfecta Bet -An extension of the trifecta wager, a superfecta bet requires you to pick the top four horses in a single race. This method of betting on horse racing online carries incredibly high risk, as you’ll once again have to get the order exactly right.
  • Super High Five Bet -This is a little-known wager type when betting on horse racing, while it’s also one of the hardest markets to crack. In this case, you’ll have to pick the runners that will finish in the top five of a race, while also predicting the correct order.
  • Betting Without Market -A ‘betting without’ market lets you remove specific horses from a list of runners and predict outcomes involving the remaining field. The odds can vary widely depending on which runners are removed, especially in instances where you eliminate a clear, short price favourite.

Horse Racing Betting Odds Explained by Betiton Ireland

As one of the market leading sportsbooks in Ireland and the UK, we understand just how popular horse racing betting is with our punters. In fact, horse racing fans are among the most engaged bettors in the marketplace, with an estimated 97.4% of the viewing audience known to wager regularly on races and meetings.

That’s why, we strive to provide the best and most competitive horse racing odds across the biggest meetings, ensuring that you can make the absolute most of your bankroll. This makes it much easier to gamble responsibly without having to compromise on your potential returns!

Now that you understand the most popular ante post and live horse racing betting markets, the next step is to consider how odds are presented to convey risk and reward. This can help you to tailor individual stake amounts and use a horse racing betting calculator more effectively.

horse racing betting tips

Fractional Horse Racing Odds

Most commonly used in the UK, fractional odds are easy to understand and presented as two numbers separated by a slash.

These display the amount of profit that can won in relation to the stake amount, with fractional odds of 10/1 indicating that you can bank €10 for every €1 wagered.

So, if you bet €10 at odds of 10/1, you’ll bank €110 in total, comprising €100 of profit and your original stake.

Decimal Horse Racing Odds

Referred to as European odds and widely used in the Irish market, this pricing feature two decimal places and tells you how much you’ll win for every €1 staked.

So, in instances where you successfully wager €10 at decimal odds of 10.00, you’ll recoup €100 in total including your original stake (and profit of €90). It’s also incredibly easy to convert decimal into fractional odds, simply by taking the published decimal and subtracting one.

For example, if your betting selection has decimal odds of 10.00, just subtract one to unlock a fractional price of 9/1.

American Horse Racing Odds

American odds are largely exclusive to the US market, while they augment digital pricing with minus or plus signs and use a baseline value of €100.

Typically, the odds for favourites will display a minus (-) sign and tell you how much you’ll have to stake to win €100. Conversely, less fancied outcomes will feature a plus (+) sign and offer an insight into how much you’ll win for every €100 wagered.

If you’re backing on a -150 favourite, for example, you’ll have to stake €150 to win €100 from your chosen sportsbook, but odds of +150 enable you to win €150 for every €100 staked.

Betiton Ireland Horse Racing Betting Tips

No horse racing betting guide of this type would be complete without offering some advice on how to successfully navigate the available betting markets.

So, here are some horse racing betting tips to help you make the most of your bankroll:

  • Check the Form – Form is a key metric when engaging in horse racing betting, so long as you know what to look for. It’s important to appraise a runner’s results when racing at the relevant grade, for example, while also seeing how they perform over specific distances and in certain conditions.
  • Who’s the Trainer? – You should also give consideration to a horse’s trainer. After all, some trainers have a proven track record of success at specific racecourses, while others are known to perform particularly well at certain festivals and race meetings.
  • Don’t Forget About the Jockey – The sport’s best jockeys (such as Ryan Moore and Frankie Dettori) often enjoy strategic partnerships with trainers, yielding some exceptional results at certain racecourses. At Goodwood, for example, trainer Andrew Balding and jockey Oisin Murphy have combined to outstanding effect, earning a cumulative total of 96 wins during the previous five seasons alone.
  • Check the Weather – Runners will encounter variable conditions at different times of the year, which are referred to as ‘the going’. Typically, spring and summer see good-to-firm and firm going, where the ground is hard and suited to fast runners. Conversely, the going is softer during colder months, and therefore more synonymous with jump races and the National Hunt season.
  • The Racecourse – We’ve already touched on how certain trainers and jockeys fare well at certain racecourses, while the same also applies to horses. So, when appraising past form, it’s important to see how often runners have raced at specific tracks and their horse racing results.
  • Check the Horses’ Post Position – The post position describes where horses will start at the beginning of a race, and it can have an impact on their performance at certain courses. So, review each runners’ historic performance from relevant post positions and whether there are obvious trends at specific tracks.
  • Manage Your Bankroll – It’s important that you manage your bankroll efficiently when engaging in horse racing betting. This means setting an initial amount you can comfortably afford to lose during a predetermined timeframe, while also tailoring individual stakes to suit individual betting odds, your implied probability of winning and potential returns.
  • Find Value Bets – You should also use your knowledge and understanding of the form to identify value in the published odds. This enables you to pursue potentially higher returns, while you can also leverage handicap betting markets to create value in some instances.
  • Understand Hedging – Hedging refers to the practice of betting on multiple horses in a race to minimise your risk of loss. This may involve a combination of win, place and each way bets, depending on the race in question.
  • What is ‘Dutching’? – ‘Dutching’ is the practice of placing wagers on multiple runners in order to optimise your chances of winning. It’s an aggressive betting strategy that requires you to identify the most likely runners and manage your bankroll carefully.

Betiton Ireland Free Horse Racing Betting Offer

If you’re interested in free horse racing betting, Betiton’s current welcome bonus comprises a €10 free bet offer when you deposit and wager a minimum amount of €15.

Your qualifying bet must be placed on an outcome with odds of 2.00 (1/1) or greater, while you’ll have 14 days to leverage your free bet once it has been added to your account.

horse racing betting at betiton ireland

Also, if you complete your first deposit using PayPal, Neteller, Skrill, Skrill 1-Tap or the Paysafecard, you won’t be eligible for the free bet offer.

This bonus is not subject to any wagering requirements at all. Don’t forget to read the full Terms & Conditions before signing up.

Other Sports to Bet on at Betiton Ireland

While the horse racing calendar may be packed full of stellar events, the wider world of sport is even busier and home to a dazzling array of betting markets.

From football’s iconic Premier League to the Rugby World Cup and golf’s Ryder Cup, there’s a huge range of events and markets to wager on all year round.

Whether you’re interested in football betting, golf betting or rugby betting, the good news is that we have you covered at Betiton, with a large selection of ante post and in-play betting markets and some of the most competitive odds around.

Responsible Horse Racing Gambling at Betiton Ireland

We take the principle of responsible gambling seriously at Betiton, which is why we offer a selection of tools to help you manage and restrict your betting activity.

These include customisable deposit limits and so-called “time outs”, while our reality check feature lets you monitor your account history and average spend.

You can also enter into a period of self-exclusion, where you’re unable to access your account and betting markets or receive promotional offers.

We also offer support through various third-party charities, including BeGambleAware and GamCare.

Frequently Asked Questions about Horse Racing Betting

What does outright betting mean in horse racing?

In UK and Ireland horse racing, outright betting refers to backing the winner of a particular race. This is an especially popular type of ante-post betting, as the odds tend to be at their most competitive before a race starts.

How to fill out a horse racing betting slip?

You can add one or more selections to your bet slip, before choosing whether to execute single wagers or combine them into an accumulator. Then, enter your preferred stake amount into the relevant box, before checking the confirmed odds and clicking ‘Submit’.

How do you know what horse to bet on?

There are several datasets that can be used to pick winners and pre-empt horse racing results, including recent form, handicap levels and a runner’s trainer / jockey combination. You should also quantify form over specific distances and within relevant race grades.

What is the most common bet in horse racing?

The win bet is the most common wager in horse racing, primarily because of its simplicity and ability to unlock significant returns. Each way betting is also incredibly popular, while accumulators are widely deployed at multi-race meetings such as the Cheltenham Festival.

What is the best horse racing bet?

This will depend entirely on your knowledge base, bankroll, and appetite for risk, although ‘win’ bets and place wagers are arguably best suited to new or inexperienced bettors!

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