How to Bet on Horse Racing: The Ultimate UK Guide for Beginners

The Absolute Basics: Understanding Your First Bet

Betting on horse racing can provide punters with several markets and bet types, but there are two fundamental bets that bettors should understand: ‘Win’ and ‘Each-Way’ bets.

These are common bets that are among the easiest to place on a meet, with each one often more favourable depending on the race that is being held.

For instance, the ‘Each-Way’ bet may be a “safer” option for bettors when wagering on a race that has a field of several horses (the Grand National, for example); while a ‘Win’ bet can be better for races with a handful of runners.

The ‘Win’ Bet (The Simplest Bet)

The most basic of bets for horse racing enthusiasts, the ‘Win’ bet is very simple. It is a bet that is placed on who the bettor believes will be the winner of the race. If a horse has odds of 4/1 to win and it finishes first, a £5 stake will return £20 in winnings (plus the original stake). If the horse finishes second with this bet, the bet loses.

For beginners, there is no bet that is any simpler than this one. It simply requires punters to bet on who they think will win and nothing else. Still, this bet can not be considered “safe”. A lot more risk is attached to this bet market, as it becomes a loser immediately if the horse does not win.

The ‘Each-Way’ Bet (Your Safety Net)

An ‘Each-Way’ bet can be complex and confusing to beginners. It is a bet that requires two stakes to be placed: one for the ‘Win’, and one for the horse to ‘place’. A “place” can be any number of positions in the race that the bookie has made available for a payout. These can range from finishing second to fifth or even sixth, depending on the race and number of runners.

Bettors who use an ‘Each-Way’ bet will only receive a fraction of the odds if the horse places. These are determined by the sportsbook, with a return of ⅓, ¼, or ⅕ usually available. If the horse comes first, the ‘Win’ portion of the bet will be paid out. If they finish in the place, the fraction of the odds will then be paid.

A £5 Each-Way bet will require a £10 total stake to be placed. If places are being paid at ⅕, and the horse to win is 4/1, the ‘Win’ will return £25 (£20 plus £5 stake); it will also pay an additional £9 because of the ‘Place’ part of the bet (£4 return on top of the initial £5 stake). This would total £34. If the horse only ‘Places’, the bet will return £9 (£4 plus £5 stake).

It can be viewed as a “safer” bet for beginners, as there is a greater chance of achieving a return. However, it can be more expensive to make, and there is no guarantee that a horse will ‘place’, which could result in a loss.

The best bookmakers for Horse Racing

How to Read a Racecard: Decoding the Puzzle with Flashscore

A horse racing racecard can look extremely confusing. It can be filled with a lot of information, and may not make sense to the untrained eye. So, understanding how to read it is vital, and puts you even more in charge of your bet.

Flashscore provides an easy-to-use racecard interface that helps punters understand the key statistics included. A racecard will feature the following aspects…

Horse’s Name & Number

A racecard will feature the horse’s name and the number that they will be wearing in the race.

Jockey & Trainer

It will also feature the jockey mounted on top of the horse and the colours they will wear to help identify them. The number on the horse will be too difficult to see when the race is ongoing, so colours, or silks as they are referred to, will help you identify your horse. The race card will also feature the trainer and the owner of the horse, which bettors can use for research purposes to make informed betting decisions.

The Form Figures (e.g., 12-F41)

Each racecard can feature a sequence of alphanumeric symbols and special characters. This is where bettors might become immediately confused, as they do not make much sense at first glance. However, knowing this is essential when betting on horse racing.

The following may be visible when looking at a specific horse’s form:

• 1-9 = finishing position (1 being first, etc.)
• 0 = outside top 9
• – = new season
• F = fell (horse fell over at a fence/jump)
• P = pulled up (horse did not complete the race as the jockey eased them out of the race)
• U = unseated rider (jockey fell off the horse)

Flashscore can provide users with a snapshot of a horse’s recent form in a readable way, allowing them to gather and digest essential betting information quickly.

The Weight (e.g. 9-5)

A racecard will also feature the horse’s weight. This will be shown in stone and pounds and refers to the total weight that the horse carries.

This can be essential information for bettors, especially when taking the ground’s going (how firm/soft) into account. It can also be worth noting for specific races, such as jumps, as the lighter they are, the more likely they are to clear the fences with ease.

The Odds

The odds of a horse winning the race will also be displayed on the racecard, usually on the right-hand side. These will be updated in the lead-up to a race if there are any movements.

Understanding Horse Racing Odds

UK horse racing odds are typically displayed in fractional forms, although it is possible to change these to decimals (some may find it easier to read).

Odds are set based on implied probabilities. Using the odds that have been set, bettors can infer how likely it is that a horse is perceived to win. The following formula is used:

Implied Probability= Numerator + Denominator/Denominator ×100%

Using odds of 4/1 as an example, this would go into the formula as: 4+1/1×100%=20%; this would imply that the probability of the horse winning is 20%.

Odds of 1/2 would be worked out in the following way: 1+2/2×100%=66.7%; this implies that there is a 66.7% chance that the horse would win.

The smaller the figure relating to the implied probability of winning, the greater the potential return. However, this means there is more perceived risk. Those with a larger implied probability figure suggest that there is a lower risk of a return, but they will be smaller in size.

What are Fractional Odds (e.g. 5/1)?

As highlighted, the UK betting industry’s standard method of displaying horse racing betting odds is fractionally. Bettors will find odds appearing in all sorts of combinations, with some often not making too much sense.

While some odds are as easy to understand like 5/1, it’s possible to find odds like 7/2 or 9/4 being offered regularly. To understand fractions, simply find how divisible they are until the bottom number reaches one.

For example, 7/2 can be simplified to 3.5/1, while 9/4 can be reduced to 2.25/1 (4.5/2). Understanding this method can help bettors understand their potential returns a little more easily. When betting, the first number is what the stake will be multiplied by.

Listed below are some easier and more complex examples:

• 5/1 would see £5 be returned for every £1 that is wagered (plus the return of the stake).
• 7/2 would provide bettors £3.50 for every £1 that is staked; a £2 bet would return £7 (plus stake).
• 9/4 would return £2.25 (plus £1) for every £1 wager.

Favourites vs. Longshots

Bets with odds as short as 2/1 would signify that a horse is perceived to be the favourite in a race to win. Depending on the size of the field, 10/1 would suggest they have an outside chance, whereas odds of 20/1+ would often signify that they are a long shot and have little chance of winning (although not impossible).

Still, odds are set based on implied probabilities, which can cause discrepancies and present betting value to punters. You may find that a horse has been given long odds that aren’t quite reflective of their chance to win. A horse at 10/1 may have a greater chance of winning than the odds reflect, especially when there are many aspects to consider in a horse race.

Using Flashscore’s detailed statistics and racecard features can help bettors find value and make decisions that may prove more profitable.

How to Place a Bet Online: A 5-Step Walkthrough

Placing a horse racing bet can be an overwhelming experience for beginners. Horse racing is prevalent across the UK, with many races taking place daily as multiple locations host several races.

Follow this foolproof step-by-step guide to learn how to place an online horse racing bet.

It is essential to double-check each aspect of the bet before confirming it to make sure the right bet has been made.

Beyond the Basics: Beginner Analysis & Strategy

Horse racing betting experiences can be enhanced and maximised when bettors take into account various strategies that can be used.

While the sport can provide some unpredictable moments that make it hugely popular, there are methods in which UK punters can better their sessions and give themselves the best chance of obtaining a return. Still, it is important to remember that wins cannot and are never guaranteed.

These are three simple things that bettors should consider before placing a bet:

‘Going’ (Ground Conditions)

In horse racing, the ‘Going’ describes the condition of the racecourse surface, from dry and hard to very wet and soft. This matters because different horses perform better on different types of ground; some thrive on fast, firm turf, while others excel in slow, heavy mud.

• Firm: Fast, dry, for speed horses.
• Good: “Just right”; most horses like it.
• Soft: Wet, slow, favours strong, stamina-rich horses.
• Heavy: Very tough; only specialists do well.

Flashscore’s racecard will highlight the ‘Going’ at the top of it, above the horses that are scheduled to run in that contest. Bettors are advised to check a horse’s form and see how well it performs to maximise potential betting returns.

Distance

Distance is another factor that race bettors need to ensure they consider when looking at a meet. Not all horses can run the same distance. They can often be categorised as a different type of horse:

• Sprinter – these are the horses that are fast and explosive over short distances (usually five or six furlongs in the UK (a furlong is 1/8 mile, about 201 metres).
• Middle-Distance – a horse that can go a little further in trip (distance) and has a mixture of speed and stamina. They will usually run around a mile or a little more.
• Stayer – horses that have stamina and can run long-distance races of two or more miles. They are built for endurance and will often feature in longer races, including the Ascot Gold Cup (about 2½ miles), Grand National (over 4 miles in jumps racing), and the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase (3 miles and 5½ furlongs) at the Cheltenham Festival.

Flashscore’s racecard will highlight the distance of the meet at the top of its racecard, using a mixture of numbers and letters. An example could appear in the following way: ‘1m 5f 147y’. This means the race is one mile, five furlongs, and 147 yards.

It is recommended to check out how well a horse has done before betting on it by looking at its previous meetings using Flashscore’s comprehensive tool. Bettors can analyse and compare recent meetings and make better decisions based on statistical and historical data.

A Note on International Racing (France, Australia, USA)

Horse race betting is not just confined to the UK’s scene. British bettors can often place bets on races that take place worldwide, with many top races taking place outside of the UK & Ireland. These can include:

• Kentucky Derby – Kentucky, USA – 1¼ miles (10 furlongs): Known as “The Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports”; huge atmosphere; $2 million purse (£1.5 million)
• Dubai World Cup – Dubai – 10 furlongs (1¼ miles): One of the richest races globally; purse over $10 million (£7.5 million)
• Melbourne Cup – Melbourne, Australia – 2 miles (16 furlongs): “The race that stops a nation” in Australia; a historic event with a huge crowd and prize money (AUD$10 million/£4.88 million).
• Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe – Paris, France – 1½ miles (12 furlongs): Europe’s richest race; highly prestigious; €5 million purse (£4.35 million).
• Breeders’ Cup – Various, USA – Multiple distances: International championship event; $7 million (£5.24 million) prize pot for the biggest race.

These races attract plenty of British interest, but while much of the main betting principles remain the same, bettors are advised to consider each race individually and think about how races can be impacted from a betting standpoint.

Flashscore can provide complete global coverage for these race events, offering comprehensive details and data to make the best possible decisions.

A Quick Guide to Other Bet Types (Exotics)

Horse racing betting doesn’t have to be about basic bets. Those who are more advanced and feel comfortable can add alternative bet types to enhance their experience. Still, this is only advised when a full understanding of how they work is obtained; beginners are advised to stick to the basics.

The following bet types can be placed when betting on horse racing:

• Forecast (Exacta) & Tricast (Trifecta): A forecast bet requires you to predict the first two horses in order past the post accurately for the bet to be successful. A tricast increases this from two to three, further enhancing potential returns.
• Accumulators & System Bets: Accumulators are popular horse racing bets, with punters combining several horse race outcomes in one bet. To go further, some may use available ‘System Bets’.

A ‘System Bet’ could be one of the following:

Each of these bets can return significant returns if they are successful. Still, the risk is at a much higher level, as a lot more needs to happen for a win to be returned compared to the basic ‘Win’ and ‘Each-Way’ bets previously outlined.

Other bets can include:

• Tote & Pool Betting: A system where all bets of a specific type are placed into a central pool. After the event concludes, the pool is split among all the bettors who made successful selections, with a management fee taken by the bookie. You do not bet against the bookmaker, but bet alongside other people, and winners share the total pot.
• Ante-Post (Futures) Betting: A bet placed on a race well in advance. For example, making a bet on an event months away when the market initially opens. Value can be obtained, but plenty of risk exists.

Responsible Gambling: The Golden Rule

As with all types of gambling, horse race betting requires punters to follow responsible gambling practices to protect themselves from the pitfalls that can commonly be experienced.

Bettors must do the following to ensure they remain safe and enjoy a positive session:

• Only bet what you can afford to lose.
• Set a budget (deposit limits).
• Never chase your losses.

Betting should only ever be viewed as a form of entertainment; it should never be seen as a way to make money or become detrimental to daily living.

UK licensed betting sites will offer features that help players stay in control of their sessions. Tools can include:

• Reality checks
• Self-exclusion tools
• Deposit and loss limits

The UK has several charitable organisations and resources available when independent help is needed. These include:

• GamStop
• GameCare
• GambleAware

Conclusion

Horse racing betting doesn’t have to be difficult or overwhelming. It can be very simple when everything has been broken down.

Bettors will maximise their chances of overall success when they implement betting strategies with basic core principles. Once a racecard is fully understood, better betting decisions can be made as all the information becomes available to punters.

Flashscore is an essential tool that helps British bettors obtain everything they need for a positive horse racing betting experience. Still, the onus is on the player; remember to follow and practice the measures in place to gamble responsibly!