Horse Racing Betting & Odds

From the Grand National at Aintree to the Cheltenham Gold Cup and the Derby at Epsom, at BoyleSports we bring you all the best horse racing betting markets and odds for all the races that matter. And that’s not forgetting our continually updated horse racing tips and predictions too.

But we’re not just about the showpiece races. Our horse racing betting includes daily markets on all major single meetings throughout the racing calendar, with today’s horse racing odds live right up until the race begins. We also have virtual events running every minute with 10 different virtuals to choose from, giving you the chance to bet on horse racing just the way you want to.

And with a £20 free bet for all new customers when you bet £10, it’s time to choose BoyleSports for all your horse racing bets.

How do I bet on Horse Racing?

Before you make a bet on a horse, there are a few factors to consider. Form is key for horse race betting, as you want to pick a horse in strong form going into the race. The trainer and jockey also play a big part – just think what an experienced jockey matched with a top trainer can do. Then there’s also the age and weight of the horse to consider, as well as the timing of their last race. All of these factors can come into play in the heat of a race and can have a decisive role in the outcome.

So, you’ve considered all the important factors. It’s time to make your bet. But there’s so much more to a horse bet than simply picking a winner. Of course, you can bet on a horse to finish first, but you can also bet each way – this means you win if your horse either finishes first or in one of the top places. And then there’s spread betting. This is where you bet against the spread rather than placing a bet on fixed odds.

It’s time to choose your race, your horse and your type of bet. And off they go.

How do odds work on Horse Racing ?

You’ve read the betting tips and you’ve made your prediction, but how do horse racing odds work?

The first thing you need to understand is the odds to win. This could be 4/1 or 10/1 for example, or even 100/1 for a real outsider. A horse at 4/1 has a 20% chance of winning. If it were to win you would win 4x your original stake. So, if you bet £10, your return would be £40 plus your original bet.

Now that’s the simple part. Horse race odds will also include odds to place for each way betting. An each way bet is where you make two bets. One to win, and one to place. The odds to win will be shown in the usual way. The odds to place will also be a fraction, usually 1/4 or 1/5 – these reduced odds represent the fact there’s a higher probably your horse will finish in any of the top four or five places than first. For a £10 bet for a horse at 10/1 with EW odds of 1/5, your winnings would be calculated as follows:

• To finish first at 10/1 = £100 profit + £10 stake.
• To place @ EW 1/5 = £20 profit + £10 stake

To understand each way betting a little more and to calculate your potential winnings, check out our handy each way betting calculator.