Horse racing has long existed as a form of entertainment and for gambling, even in the days of ancient China, ancient Rome and ancient Greece. Of course, betting on racing has evolved in a major way since then. Driven by media coverage, live race broadcasts and, naturally, the arrival of online sports betting platforms and casinos, betting on horse races has become incredibly popular. The internet is a good place, too, to learn how to bet on horse racing and building knowledge about the sport before placing bets down.
There are some big horse racing events coming up this year, and large sums of money will go down on them. Below is a look at some of the horse racing odds for some of these big events and at the different betting markets available when it comes to horse racing.
The Grand National
The Grand National, which takes at Aintree on April 13, is the greatest steeplechase in the world and is contested over 4 miles and 2.5 furlongs. Last year’s winner, Corach Rambler, remains the favorite, with odds of around 4/2, to win this year’s race as well. He finished third in the 2024 Cheltenham Gold Cup and is fond of both the Cheltenham and Aintree courses.
Kentucky Derby
May 4 is the day of the 150th Kentucky Derby, which takes place at Churchill Downs, in Louisville, Kentucky, USA. Three of the horses that are competing in this race have already made it to $1 million in career earnings, so punters can be sure the horses are going to fiercely contest this prestigious event.
The favorite for this one is Sierra Leone at 7-1, followed by Fierceness at 9-1. Sierra Leone won the Risen Star and was the runner up in the Remsen on the Road to Kentucky Derby. The colt is expected to deal with the Churchill Downs course easily… better than the second favorite handled February 2024’s Holy Bull Stakes, at Gulfstream, where he was upstaged by Hades and finished third.
Royal Ascot Gold Cup
The Royal Ascot Gold Cup is the most prestigious flat race in stayers racing and will take place on June 20. The favorite to cross the line of the race, which lasts 2 miles and 4 furlongs, is Kyprios at 5/2, but Courage Mon Ami and Vauban are both expected to make strong challenges, having been placed at 6/1 (or 7/1 and 8/1 respectively, depending on the sportsbook) by the sportsbooks. The Irish thoroughbred last ran at Ascot in October 2023, in the British Champions Long Distance Cup, and second out of the eight running the race.
Understanding the horse race betting markets
One of the beautiful things about betting on horse races is the variety of markets you can do it on. The most straightforward bet you can make is to place money on the horse you think will be the outright winner. Here are some more ways to bet, however, if you want to spice up your betting:
Each way
Think your horse is a winner, but that it could also come second or third? Then make an each-way bet, which is two bets on the same horse: one on it coming first, the other on it coming second or third. This increases your chances of winning. If your horse wins, you receive a return from the first place bet, but also from the placing bet, whereas if it comes second or third you’ll receive a return from the placing bet but not from the bet on it to win.
Place
This bet is similar to an each-way bet. You simply bet on a horse coming first, second or third.
Show
This bet is similar to an each-way bet, only you’re betting on a specific horse to finish in any place within the top four.
Exacta
Think you know exactly how the horses will place? You can place a bet on the horses that will finish first and second in the exact order. It’s a handy bet if you can’t choose between two horses.
Trifecta
If you think you can predict the horses that will finish first, second and third in order, you can go for the more complex trifecta bet. You can choose as many horses as you want for this bet.
A trifecta bet can be straight line, boxed or a roving banker. In the straight line, your horses must place in the order predicted, whereas in a boxed trifecta they can fill any one of the first three placings. In a roving banker, your horse must fill any one of the first three placings and your other selections must fill the one your banker doesn’t.
Horse racing is a thrilling sport and punters have been betting on races for a long, long time. If you’ve followed any of the races above or bet on them, why not make this the year to do so?
