Horse races in the UK go on all year long. Whether it’s a local race with a rich history or a grand tournament on a national level, there’s always a track to follow.
All the biggest bookmakers are vying for punters action during the festivities and some of them have special promotions and offers dedicated specifically for the event day. We have created a curated list of the best of these offers from the top betting sites, pick a favourite and get to betting.
Below you will find the UK’s best horse racing betting sites, compared side by side and re-tested by our team every month.
The best horse betting sites will go a long mile in an attempt to entice punters to use their betting platform for their horse betting needs. The wise punter will take advantage of the offers made by the bookies and increase the value of their first deposits and beyond. It is important to compare the bonuses and offers from bookies and specifically those that relate directly to horse racing, often, major events in the horse racing calendar will correlate with special promotional offer from the bookies but there will also be offers available year round and a good bonus offer from a bookmaker can make all the difference between having a good or bad day at the tracks.
Our list is rebuilt every month, so new horse racing betting sites that pass our checks – licensing, odds quality and payout speed – enter the table as soon as they earn their place, with an Added/Re-tested date shown next to every bookmaker.
Horses are one of the most popular forms of sports betting and have been that way all the way back to at least ancient Greece. Nowadays, the yearly sports calendar features events such as the Cheltenham festival, Royal Ascot and the Grand National and almost every country in the world has festivities related to the year’s largest horse racing events, be it the Kentucky Derby in the US or the Melbourne Cup in Australia. These events have become almost national holidays and all this stems back to the excitement and fun associated with betting on horse racing results.
Before placing your first horse racing bets and understanding why people have enjoyed this specific type of betting for so long it is important to get acquainted with the different kinds of bets available: The most common types of horse racing bets include:
Horse racing betting is a world within itself and there is a lifetime of knowledge to accumulate. But there are a few things that new punters should be aware of:
When it comes to choosing an online bookie, your safety comes first. That’s why we only recommend sportsbooks that are fully licensed by the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC)—one of the most trusted regulatory bodies in the industry. The UKGC, backed by the UK government, ensures every licensed bookmaker meets strict standards for fair play, data protection, and responsible gambling. It also requires betting sites to safeguard your funds, meaning your deposits and winnings are kept secure and separate from the bookie’s own finances. So, when you bet with a UKGC-regulated site, you can punt with confidence, knowing you’re playing at a sportsbook that plays by the rules.
There’s nothing worse than finding a cracking sportsbook, placing a well-thought-out bet, and then struggling to deposit funds due to a poor selection of payment options. Even worse? Bagging a big win and being left twiddling your thumbs for weeks waiting for your payout. That’s why we only recommend fully licensed and regulated UK bookies, ensuring fast, secure payments and hassle-free withdrawals. With a solid range of payment methods and industry-leading security, you can bet with confidence, knowing you’re playing at a trusted, UKGC-approved site that puts punters first.
Now that you have read up, compared the bookie list we have prepared for you and know the types of bets and things to follow – you can feel safe and go ahead and pick your favorite horse racing betting site from the chart above.
No. Betting winnings are tax-free for UK punters – the betting duty is paid by the bookmakers, not by you.
An each-way bet is two bets in one: one on your horse to win and one on it to place. All the bookmakers in our table support each-way betting on UK and Irish races.
It depends on what matters most to you – odds quality, welcome offer or payout speed. We re-test every brand in the table each month, so the current ranking always reflects our latest checks.
Many of the bookmakers in our top 10 offer live streaming of UK and Irish races once you have a qualifying bet – check the streaming rules on each site before you deposit.
Yes – most welcome offers in our table can be used on horse racing markets, and many brands add extra race-day promotions during the big festivals.