OUR TOP 5 BEST RACEBOOKS
You’re in the right place if you looking for a detailed guide on the top 5 horse race betting racebooks. We have taken the time to investigate and rank all the top sites to bring you the most reputable and most user-friendly sites for your betting needs. Whether you’re an experienced betting enthusiast or new to horse racing betting, these racebooks provide the best mix of track coverage, user experience, bonuses, and overall value for money.
TwinSpires
Official betting site of the Kentucky Derby
BONUS
$200 Sign Up Offer
• Extensive track coverage worldwide
• Official betting site of the Kentucky Derby
• Comprehensive educational resources for new bettors
T&C applies
Available in: AL, AR, DE, FL, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, MD, MA, MI, MN, MT, NE, NH, NM, NY, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SD, TN, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
TVG
Expert horse racing analysis and betting
BONUS
Up to $200 Back in Wagering Credit
• Integration with TVG television network for expert analysis
• Extensive track coverage worldwide
• High-quality live streaming of races
T&C applies
Available in: AR, AZ, CA, CO, DE, FL, ID, IL, IN, LA, MA, MD, MI, MN, MT, ND, NH, NJ, NY, NM, OH, OR, PA, RI, SD, VA, WA, WV, WY
Xpressbet
Comprehensive horse race gambling experience
BONUS
$20 Bonus for every $100 bet
• First US platform to offer parlay betting on horses
• Three different wagering interfaces for various user preferences
• Robust XB Rewards program
T&C applies
Available in: AL, AZ, AR, CA, CO, CT, DE, FL, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, MD, MA, MI, MN, MT, NE, NH, NY, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SD, TN, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
AMWAGER
Advanced horse racing betting platform
BONUS
$150 Deposit Match
• Advanced handicapping tools and features
• Extensive track coverage (over 1000 daily races)
• Generous cashback rewards program
T&C applies
Available in: AL, AZ, AR, CA, CO, CT, DE, FL, ID, IL, IN, IA, KY, LA, MD, MA, MI, MN, MT, NH, NY, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SD, TN, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
FanDuel Racing
Live horse racing betting
BONUS
$500 no sweat first bet
• Integration with FanDuel’s platform
• NumberFire statistics for betting
• High-quality live streaming
T&C applies
Available in: AR, AZ, CA, CO, DE, FL, ID, IL, IN, LA, MA, MD, MI, MN, MT, ND, NH, NY, NM, OH, OR, PA, RI, SD, VA, WA, WV, WY
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Horse Race Categories
There are three main categories of horse races in America:
Thoroughbred Racing
The most common type, featuring breeds known for their speed. Such includes races like the Kentucky Derby and others which are quite popular.
Harness Racing
In these types of races horses are made to pull a two wheeled cart known as a sulky. Horses compete in either trotting or pacing races, based on their gait.
Quarter Horse Racing
These are much shorter races – generally a quarter mile or less, and show off the speed of the horse breed right away.
Main Events
The Triple Crown series is the most prestigious horse racing in the USA. It includes:
- The most famous horse race in the US- the Kentucky Derby held at Churchill Downs.
- The second leg of the Triple Crown- The Preakness Stakes takes place at the Pimlico Race Course.
- The Belmont Stakes hosted at Belmont Park.
Another kind of races not less important are recognized as the Breeders’ Cup World Championship series. Some other Grade One Stakes are held throughout the year.
Legal Status of Online Horse Racing Betting
Horse racing is the only sport that has explicit federal approval for online interstate wagering in the States. The Interstate Horseracing Act of 1978, (as amended by the Interstate Horseracing Improvement Act of 2000), specifically legalized interstate off-track wagers on horse racing, including those placed via the internet.
This makes horse racing one of the few exceptions in comparison to other sports while observing the legal aspect of online betting in the country. Other types of online sports betting have slowly been legalized in several states after the striking out of PASPA (Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act) court decision in 2018. This is however state regulated and does not have a federal sanction for interstate betting like horse racing.
States that specifically prohibit horse racing betting:
- Alaska
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Nevada
- North Carolina
- South Carolina
- Texas
- Utah
Most Common Horse Betting Available These Days
It is important to familiarize yourself with the different types of bets that exist in the horse racing industry. Below are some of the bets that are typically offered by top racebooks in the industry:
Straight Bets
The Most Important Types of Bets
One of the simplest and most popular horse race bets is a straight bet on a horse. So it is simple enough and appropriate particularly for the newcomers or those who do not like complex betting.
- Win: Your horse comes in first.
- Place: Your horse comes in first or second.
- Show: Your horse comes in any one of the first three positions.
Exotic Bets
- Exacta: Choose the correct horse to come in first and second, respectively.
- Trifecta: Exactly select horses placing first, second, and third respectively.
- Superfecta: Correctly select the first four placing horses in that order.
Multi-Race Bets
- Daily double: Locate the victors of the next two racing events.
- Pick 3, 4, 6: These bets challenge you to predict the winners of multiple consecutive races:
- Pick 3: Select the winners of three consecutive races.
- Pick 4: Choose the winners of four consecutive races.
- Pick 6: Predict the winners of six consecutive races.
The more races you include, the higher the potential payout, but also the greater the challenge. All these types of bets allow for different levels of risk and reward. However, as you get used to the intricacies of horse racing, you will gradually start looking for more interesting bets which will probably yield higher returns for you.
Most Important Aspects of the Best Online Racebooks
There are such outstanding features in great racebooks that you must look for such as the following when it comes to choosing a racebook:
Live Streaming
Through quality video feed, you are able to view races as they happen which makes the whole betting process more fun. It is advisable for you to seek sites that allow for HD streaming with minimal buffering.
Handicapping Tools
Having access to past performance data, trainer’s statistics, speed figures and salient expert picks enhances your betting strategy. The best racebooks also give you lots of resources to do your own handicapping.
Mobile Apps
Betting apps for iOS and Android devices are easy to operate and allow placing bets from any location. You may also want to look out for other options such as race alert push notifications and one-click betting.
Promotions and Bonuses
Taking advantage of welcome bonuses, reloads and special offers for big race days is a massive plus. However, it is necessary to highlight that any bonus will come with its terms and conditions that should be respected.
Rewards Programs
Loyalty programs which award players points, cash rewards or any other benefits for their wagering activity will significantly improve your overall experience and maybe even the level of your profits.
Banking Options
Preferred gaming options should also include several options for the depositing and withdrawal methods within the selected website including PayPal, credit/debit card and bank transfers.
How to Choose the Right Racebook
There are certain characteristics that have to be met for a racebook to fit one’s requirements:
- Track Coverage: Do check the coverage that the site claims on the tracks and races that you want to follow the most.
- User Interface: It should be as simple as possible for users to place a bet and get the information that they are seeking.
- Bonuses and Promotions: Look at the sign up bonuses as well as bonuses that come later to the clients, but always be careful of the fine print.
- Mobile Experience: Use the applications or the mobile websites effectively and interactively if you intend to place bets with mobile phones.
- Customer Support: Vivacious customer support, including live chat should be looked out for and tested.
- Reputation and Security: Use platforms that have been established over a period of time and have a good reputation with relevant authority and reasonable transactions.
Responsible Gambling Practices
Horse race betting can indeed prove to be a pleasurable past-time activity. But it is important undertaking the activity with moderation. Here are some of the wants to gamble in moderation:
- Set a limit when gaming and follow it.
- Refrain from trying to recoup losses.
- Do not bet for a long period nudging every time after a lost bet.
- Go for self-exclusion orders when you know for certain that betting is crossing those lines.
- Professional assistance is needed for those individuals that feel that they may have developed issues related to gambling.
Don’t forget to make use of site features, as various racebooks provide useful devices such as bet limit options, deposit limits and account restriction choices in the case you do wish to wager in a responsible manner.
The Future of Online Horse Racing Betting
Trends in the online horse racing betting industry bringing new changes can be said to be many corresponding:
- Integration with Sports Betting: With most states now legalizing sports betting, the culture where horse racing is seen as separate from the general sports betting market will change.
- Implementation of Better Tools: There is nothing wrong if it is a live stream coverage, surround virtual reality environment, or an efficient machine learning based bookmaker.
- Embracing Cryptocurrencies: Some platforms already begins to integrate cryptocurrencies as a payment method, which is welcomed by some modern bettors.
- Availability of Social Betting Elements: The internet users may be able to use enhanced social features to post their picks or even challenge friends, and even more, competitors, to any online gambling site.
And as the industry expands in terms of size and scope, the process of picking out the best racebook becomes all the more critical in ensuring that you are getting the most out of the said mentally draining experience in the shortest time possible.
Conclusion
For one to enjoy and even earn some cash through horse race betting, it is important to land on the right racebook. The top 5 racebooks we’ve chosen – TVG, TwinSpires, Xpressbet, AmWager, and FanDuel Racing, have their weaknesses but offer reasonable betting platforms for all types of bettors.
Take into account your personal preferences, the manner in which you generally place your bets, and the certain aspects that you find most important in making your decision. Do not forget to heat things up and bet sensibly and also do check out if placing online horse race bets is allowed in your state.
Choosing the proper platform and a rational approach allows for entertaining and profitable online horse race betting. All the best, and as your horses run, may they do so both quickly and accurately!