The Ultimate Horse Race Betting ‘Cheat Sheet’
For many, horse race betting is their first foray into the world of sports betting. After all, which kid hasn’t had their parents ask them which horse they want to bet on for the Grand National? Of course, this does mean that many people end up underestimating just how complicated horse race betting can be, so we figured that we would put together a quick little guide to betting.
Use the right online betting site
It is always going to start with the betting site that you are on. If you are on a terrible site that always offers terrible odds, then you are getting off on the wrong foot. The site needs to be packed to the brim with decent odds. Now, this is not to say that whatever site you choose is always going to have the best odds when it comes to horse racing.
There are a lot of factors at play which could seriously shake up the odds on a race, but as long as they get it right ‘most of the time’, then you are going to be in a good position. If you are looking for the best site to gamble on, then you will be pleased to know that we have put together a wealth of information on this site that you can sink your teeth into.
Horse Forms
The biggest mistake you can make when you are betting on a horse race is to only look at the odds. They are only going to tell some of the story. Remember; odds are not dictated by the online betting site. They are dictated by the people betting, and the odds can wildly change on horse races with even a small bet.
Your best chance of winning is to look at the horse form guides. Look at how the horse you want to place a bet on has performed over the past few races. You may even want to look at what the racing conditions were like in those races and compare it to the conditions on the day you are betting (hopefully you are betting the same day the horses run). This will tell you all the information that you need to know.
Always go for the straight win
If you are betting, then you will want to make sure that you always go for the straight win. Never go for each way. You are just throwing cash away if your horse ends up winning, and the rewards if it comes in second place are just negligible and it isn’t worth it. You are better off going for the straight win and taking a couple of losses here and there. It is going to level out in the long run.
Bet from your brain, not your heart
In my younger days of gambling, I was the type of person who would gamble based upon the name of the horse rather than its odds or form. Stupid, I know. However, I know that there are a lot of people out there who gamble like this too. Don’t do it. Never bet from your heart. If you have ever been broken up with, you know that your heart is sometimes wrong! Your brain rarely is. Well, it is. But it isn’t driven by emotion.
Take advantage of horse betting bonuses
Always make sure that you take advantage of any horse betting bonuses that a site has available. While you are not going to be able to withdraw the cash you win (in most cases), it is going to provide you with a nice little bit of cash you can play about with and get a feel for what your betting style is. It will also make you a lot less sad during the early days when you are losing a bit of cash with your betting. You can find the latest betting bonuses listed here.
Know when to quit
Finally; a gambler will always know when to quit. You will know when you are drawing a blank and are unlikely to make a profit from your betting, so step away before your losses become greater. There will always be another horse racing event in the future that you can have a flutter on.
Looking to get started with horse race betting?
If you are, we have put together a list of the best sites to gamble on below. Make sure you check it out as they offer horse racing, top odds and great betting offers for all new customers
| Betting Sites | Bonus | Visit |
| Betiton Sports & Casino  | Bet £15 Get £10 Betting Bonus Site Promotions Including Boosts,Cashouts & Fast Markets Experienced Company New Trusted Site Tons of Options | Visit |
| 18+ T&C's | BeGambleAware® New customers only. Max one £10 free bet. Qualifying bets must be placed at odds of 1/1 or greater. Paid as bonus token with min 4/5 odds required. Skrill, Neteller & Paypal not eligible. T&Cs apply. 18+ | ||
| Mr Play Sports  | Bet £10 Bet £10 Acca Offers, Daily Site Promotions Fantastic Betting Odds All the major leagues & events Great Bonuses & Daily Offers Trusted Platform Read Review | Visit |
| 18+ T&C's | BeGambleAware® Standard Welcome Offer terms(Bet 10 Get 10): This offer is for new customers only and is available once per household. Max. FreeBet amount: £10 Minimum Deposit and wagering on sport to activate the Free Bet is: £10 Void/cancelled or cashed out bets do not count towards wagering to activate the free bet. Offer valid only to customers making a first deposit of £10 or more. Offer only applies to players who are residents of United Kingdom, Norway, Finland, Germany and Canada. | ||
| TonyBet Sport  | 100% up to £300 Welcome Bonus Use Bonus Code: TONY200 Excellent Support Full Range of Betting Markets Competitive Odds Read Review | Visit |
| 18+ T&C's | BeGambleAware® Offer is only valid for players located in the United Kingdom. New customers only. The offer is valid for 3 days after the registration. 10 Welcome Spins must only be wagered from the real money balance on Net/Ent slots. The wagering requirement for the winnings of Welcome Spins is 35x the amount awarded. Wagering is 35x the total of bonus money, deposit and extra spins. £5 max bet. Deposits made by Skrill and Neteller are not eligible. Unused bonus fund expire after 30 days. Unused bonus spins expire after 10 days. Always read full terms. | ||
| Karamba Sport  | Bet £10 Get £10 Unlock the KaramBOT Extra Rewards Stable Platform Well-Known Brand Plenty of Action Read Review | Visit |
| 18+ T&C's | BeGambleAware® New customers only and is available once per household. Max. Free Bet amount £10. Min Deposit £10. Customers who deposit using Neteller, Paysafe, Skrill or Skril 1-Tap will not be eligible for any free bet offer. Bonus Policy and Terms of Service apply. | ||
| Betfred  | Bet £10 Get £30 in Free Bets 60 Free Spins on Justice League Comics Slot Experienced Company Behind The Brand Huge Betting Selection In Play Betting Read Review | Visit |
| 18+ T&C's | BeGambleAware® New UK & NI customers only. Promo code SPORTS60. Deposit and place first sports bet of £10+ in one transaction, at odds of Evens (2.0)+, settled within 60 days. First bet must be on Sports. £30 in Free Bets credited within 48 hours of bet settlement. 7-day expiry. Payment restrictions apply. SMS validation may be required. Max 60 Free Spins on Justice League Comics. 7-day expiry. Full T&Cs apply. | ||
| Betfair Sport  | £5 Risk Free Bet (Exchange Betting) Best Odds For Rugby & Football
| Visit |
| 18+ T&C's | BeGambleAware® Risk £5 or more in your first bet on the Exchange and if it loses Betfair will refund you £5 in CASH. This offer is only available to customers who have never placed a bet on the Betfair Exchange. | ||
| LeoVegas Sport  | Up to £100 Extra Winnings on your First Deposit Welcome Offer Huge Betting Options Top For In-Play Fast & Secure Payouts Read Review | Visit |
| 18+ T&C's | BeGambleAware® New customers only. Deposit £10 min and claim in ‘my offers' 1x100% mobile in-play profit boost. Max stake £10. Max extra winnings £100. Valid for 30 days. Skrill/Neteller deposits do not qualify. 18+ Full T&Cs apply | ||
