They do of course call it the Sport of Kings, and as HM the Queen is a very avid fan of horse racing too, it is true to say it is the sport of Queens too!
If you are interested in venturing into the world of betting on horses, then you do have a lot to learn, and in this guide I will be introducing you to some of the many different bet types that can be placed on any upcoming horse race, and letting you know which bookie is famed for offering some of the most diverse betting markets on horse racing too.
Plus, to give you some ideas as to just which horse race meetings do tend to attract the very largest volumes of bets and wagers form punters, I have listed many of the most popular ones too below.
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Types of Bets You Can Place on Horse Racing
Let me start off by first looking at some of the different bets that can be placed on horse races, for you are bound to find some of the following ones appealing, and with some luck in betting you could win big when placing any of them too.
- Tote Pool Betting
- Ante Post Betting
- Straight Forecasts
- Tricasts
- Exactas
- Trifectas
- Each-way Betting
- Place Betting
- Bet without the Favourite
- Yankees
- Tricasts
- Accumulators
I would advise you to take a look over the William Hill betting site for when it comes to horse racing there is nothing about that sport they do not know, and as such are guaranteed to be offering you plenty of betting opportunities on any horse races and plenty of special horse racing betting offers and deals too.
Major Horse Race Meetings
Whilst the list of major horse race meetings is almost endless, I have managed to compile a listing of many of the most attended meetings, and whenever those meetings are being held you are going to have more than enough betting opportunities made available on every single race that makes up those major horse races meetings too.
Cheltenham Festival
When it comes to a jump meeting that does attract by far and away the largest crowds, many of whom come over from Ireland to watch each race live, it is the Cheltenham Festival that gets the most punters through their turnstiles.
It is jump racing that the Cheltenham Festival is famed for and some hefty bets will be placed on each race of that race meeting too. A for when that race meting is held, it is in mid-March when it is scheduled to take place, weather permitting of course.
Randox Health Grand National Festival
It is true to say that a huge proportion of the UK population and punters form many different parts of the world are going to want to place a bet on the greatest jump race there is, that being the Grand National, and as such they will be very eager for the Grand Nation Festival to get underway.
That race meeting is held each year in early April at the Aintree racecourse, and make no mistake about it all betting sites are going to be offering you their own set of outright winner odd son each race that has been entered into that race, so hunt around for the very best odds on the horse you have your eye on
Coral Scottish Grand National Meeting
As it is Coral that sponsor the Scottish Grand National, then I would always suggest to punters that fancy betting oh that race to check out the odds being offered by that bookie, as often they do offer plenty of consolation bets and will be offering you bets odds guarantees and the such like on that race,.
The Scottish Grand National race meeting is held at the Ayr Racecourse in mid-April, so do make a date in your diary, and always check the ante post odds on that race too.
All Weather Championships Finals Day
Quite a few racecourses across the UK are all weather tracks, and whilst you may or may not enjoy betting races that are held on that type of surface, there is one race meeting that could offer you plenty of valuable betting opportunities.
It is the All-Weather Championships Finals Day that does, and that annual event is held on Good Friday each year over at the Lingfield racecourse, and there is very little chance of that race meeting being cancelled due to the weather.
QIPCO Guineas Festival
It is always the Newmarket racecourse that host the much anticipated QIPCO Guineas Festival with is a flat meeting that has the first major races of the flat season held within it and it is held in Early May each year.
If you do love your flat horse racing, then that is always going to be a race meeting to have on your betting dairy and it is one that ITV Racing will always be covering too.
Boodles May Festival
One of the trickiest racecourse for jockey is of course Chester, and it is often those horses that are drawn low or can make it to the first bend in the lead that have a great chance of winning that race, if of course that horse has the pace to stay in the lead.
One of the best attended race meetings at the Chester racecourse that really does pack in the crowds is the Boodles May Festival and that takes place on the flat course in Early May of each year, and no matter what the weather the crowds still flock to the course in very large numbers.
Dante Festival
Moving onto a race meeting that is held in mid-May, that is the Dante Festival and the racecourse that is always proud to stage that meeting is York.
York really is one of the best looking and most picturesque of British racecourses, and if you do find you have some time when the Dante Festival is on then I am more than confident that you will enjoy yourself if you do pay a visit to the York racecourse and watch each of the many races that make up that race meeting.
Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes Day
The Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes Day is another of the many major flat race meetings that you are going to find being held over at the Newbury racecourse, and it is usually around mid-May each year that that race meeting is held so that is another one that fans of flat racing with want to have a financial interest in.
Community Day
The Community Day race meeting is ever popular and plenty of fun can be had at the racecourse in between the horse racing, it has proven to be so popular that it is now an annual event and it will be in late May that Haydock Park racecourse will be staging that event
Investec Derby Festival
You really should pay a visit to Epsom Downs at some point in your betting career for you are going to have plenty of flats races whenever a meeting is scheduled there, however one that is always a very busy affair is the Investec Derby Festival
As for when that race festival is held it is in early June each year, but keep in mind if you plan on staying over for any length of time the local hotels do fill up rather quickly, so you will have to book them well in advance so secure some accommodation for the event.
Royal Ascot
You will be keeping good company if you do pay a visto to the Royal Ascot race meeting, which is held over several days, for several members of the Royal Family will be there including HM the Queen, that race meeting is held in June each year.
Not only are you going to want to bet on any horse running that Royal Ascot, but you are also going to be able to bet on what colour outfit you think that the Queen will be wearing each day, and a whole host of other very unique betting opportunities too, which will add a touch more fun to your betting activities during the meeting.
Northumberland Plate Festival
If you live up North and you fancy paying a visit to another major horse race meeting but one that is held nearby to where you live, without having to make a trek down south then you should consider visiting the Newcastle racecourse where a very warm welcome always awaits punters.
They do hold several race meetings throughout the year but one that is a very popular event is the Northumberland Plate Festival, and if you do fancy going to that race meeting then it is usually at the end of June when it is held and as such you should get some decent weather.
The Summer Festival
You do of course have plenty of choice as to just which flat race meeting that you can visit during the course of any season, however there is another one that I do know many punters do enjoy visiting, and in fact a huge number of them do attend.
That is the Summer Festival and it is at Sandown Park racecourse that you will find that race meeting being staged at each and every single years, as for just when it is held, it is usually in the first week of June, so do keep that in mind if you fancy a fantastic day out at the races.
Moet & Chandon July Festival
The Newmarket racecourse is there the Moet and Chandon July Festival is held, and there are no prizes for guessing in which month of the summer that race meeting is staged, but if you can’t work it out it is in July that you will be able to visit the race meeting.
Keep in mind too though that many betting sites will also let you watch each race of that race meeting via their website or betting apps, as long as you place a bet with them on any of the races you do also wish to watch being broadcast live on their betting apps or via their betting platforms.
King George Weekend
It is over at the impressive looking Ascot racecourse that the King George Weekend will be held and it is in the last weekend in July that the event usually is staged, and punters will be ever eager to pick out as many winners as they can when the races are run.
If you do fancy placing a bet on any of the horses running there, then look out for those bookies that are offering you guaranteed bets odds, for by making use of those types of promotional offers you are always going to be paid out at the best odds, whether they are the odds you took when placing such bets or the Starting Price if it is higher.
Qatar Goodwood Festival
It us usually at the end of July and into the first few days of August that the Qatar Goodwood Festival is run, and fans of flat racing will be planning their betting activities long in advance of that race meeting starting in the hope of securing some high valued ante post odds.
It is of course over at the glorious Goodwood racecourse that flat meeting is held at, and there will be plenty of red-hot favourites that punters will be hoping wins some of those races, which they may just do of course.