Bet on horse racing with Betway
From the gates at Turffontein to the final furlong in Tokyo, you can bet on the best horse racing events from all over the world all from the comfort of your own home with Betway. Whether it’s a 1,100-yard sprint or a three-mile chase, we’ve got a huge selection of horse racing markets for you to bet on.
Are you ready to pony up on the greatest show on turf? Get up to R1,000 when you register as a 100% 1st deposit match and start betting on all of the world's most thrilling races.
How to bet on horse racing
With Betway, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to bet on horse racing. Because we offer races from all over the world, you can bet on horse racing throughout the entire day.
We know that with jargon like Win, Place, Show, Exacta, Trifecta, and Superfecta things can get a bit confusing. In reality, placing your first bet on horse racing is quite simple. Follow our guide below to place your first Winner bet on the next big race:
- Sign up or log in to your Betway account
- Click the Horse Racing icon on the homepage
- Choose a track/venue from the list of options
- Use the form guide, odds, and horse, trainer, and jockey information to choose a winner
- Enter the amount you’d like to bet
- Click or tap on Bet Now to confirm
Once you’ve placed your bet, the only thing left to do is sit back and enjoy the race. Not only is horse racing one of the most exciting sports to bet on, but it is incredibly thrilling to watch – you will be on the edge of your seat from the second the ponies leave the gates.
Horse Racing Bet Types
Depending on the venue and type of race, you’ll be able to place different bets on certain races. While not all races will offer each Bet Type, it’s a good idea to become familiar with the ones that are most popular with seasoned horse racing punters:
Winner
As the name suggests, a “Win” bet is exactly that: a bet on a certain horse to win. To give yourself the best chance of winning, there are a number of tools you can use to make your decision. The odds are your first starting point – the lower the odds, the more likely the bookies think the horse is going to win.
You can also look at the horse’s recent form. Under the “form” section, you’ll see where a horse placed in previous races. It is important to remember, though, that each horse runs differently on different surfaces and in different conditions.
Each Way
If you’re looking for a bit of added insurance, you can change your “Winner” bet to an “E/W,” or “Each Way” bet. An Each Way bet combines two bets, one on the horse to win, and the other on it to place (either first, second, or third). If your horse wins, you win both bets, if it places in the top three sports, you win your Each Way bet.
Place & Show
When you bet on a horse to “place,” you are betting on that horse to finish in either first or second place.
The only difference between a “Place” bet and a “Show” bet is that when betting on a horse to “show,” you are giving yourself a bit more leeway and are betting on the horse to finish in any of the top three positions.
Exacta, Trifecta, Superfecta
This is where things get interesting. When placing and “Exacta,” “Trifecta,” or “Superfecta” bet, you are picking which horse will finish in each of the top four positions at the end of the race. Here is a breakdown of each Bet Type:
Exacta: a bet picking the 1st and 2nd finishers in a race.
Trifecta: a bet on the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd finishers.
Superfecta: a bet on the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th finishers in a race.
When placing any of these bets, it is important to remember that the horses you pick to finish in each position must finish in that position for your bet to win.
A brief history of horse racing
Horse racing has a long and illustrious history, having been practiced in civilisations all across the globe for centuries past. Horse racing is known to have occurred in Ancient Greece, Ancient Rome, Babylon, Syria, and Egypt, according to archaeological evidence.
Initially, Chariot Racing was the most popular version of horse racing, especially amongst Ancient Greeks and Romans. Later, thoroughbred racing became incredibly popular, especially among aristocrats and royalty, earning it the moniker “Sport of Kings.” It remains the most enjoyed version of the sport to this day.
Horse racing became popular in the United Kingdom in the 18th century, and by 1750, the Jockey Club had been established to oversee races, establish regulations, prohibit dishonesty, and maintain a level playing field.
Soon, the wagering system became critical to the industry's expansion, and everyone from the destitute to royalty took part. High society was in charge, and they made a concerted effort to keep the riff-raff and criminal element out of the betting. With real money on the line, the system required competent jockeys, trainers, grooms, and breeding experts, resulting in new prominent jobs for working-class rural males. Every young, aspiring stable hand fantasised of making it big in the world.
Betting support
If you need any help with any aspect of your account including placing a bet on horse racing, feel free to Contact Us at any time and one of our friendly and professional support staff will get you on the right track.