Horse Racing Odds: Compare Latest Lines at Gambling.com

Horse Racing Odds

How to Bet on Horse Racing

If you’re not entirely sure how to bet on horse racing, our concise guide below covers the basics.

What is a Futures Bet?

In horse racing, a futures bet is a wager placed in advance on the outcome of a major event, such as the Grand National, Melbourne Cup, Cheltenham Gold Cup, or Kentucky Derby. In the UK and Ireland, this is known as an ante-post bet.

These bets are often available weeks or even months before the race, and the odds fluctuate over time based on entries, form, trainer updates and weather conditions.

You might back a specific horse to win a high-profile race long before final declarations, giving you the chance to lock in more favourable odds if your pick improves in the market closer to race day.

Some of the world's most popular races to bet on well in advance of the race are listed below:

•    Grand National
•    Cheltenham Gold Cup
•    Epsom Derby
•    Punchestown Gold Cup
•    Kentucky Derby
•    Preakness Stakes
•    Belmont Stakes
•    Breeders’ Cup Classic
•    Melbourne Cup
•    L’Arc de Triomphe
•    Dubai World Cup

Popular Horse Racing Bet Types

While the win market (betting on a horse to finish 1st) is by far the most popular, many betting sites offer extended finishing position options and alternative bets such as:

Place: The horse must finish in the top 2, 3, or 4, depending on the race and field size.
Each-Way: A combination of a win and place bet. Your stake is split evenly – if your horse places, you receive a fraction of the win odds.
Top 5 or Top 10: More common in big international fields like the Melbourne Cup or Breeders’ Cup races.
Head-to-Head: Match bets between two or three named horses. Instead of picking the overall race winner, you simply bet on which horse finishes ahead of the others in that group.

How to Read Horse Racing Odds

Horse racing odds are presented in three main formats depending on your region and most online bookmakers allow you to choose between the formats in your account settings:

E.g. 5/1
Used in: UK, Ireland
The number on the left shows your profit relative to the stake on the right
Example: 5/1 means you win £5 for every £1 staked (plus your stake back)

Comparing Horse Racing Odds

Whether you're betting on Royal Ascot, the Melbourne Spring Carnival or the Triple Crown in the US, finding the best horse racing odds can significantly improve your returns.

At Gambling.com, we track odds in real-time from major bookmakers, giving you access to:

•    The best value on win, place and each-way markets
•    Exclusive free bet offers when you register a new betting account
•    Updated lines that react to market moves, declarations or non-runners

By following our up-to-date odds and expert betting previews, you improve your chances of earning a return.

Final Tip

Horse racing is fast-paced and form can change quickly. Always check for the latest racecards, ground conditions and non-runner updates before placing a bet – especially when betting in advance.

And remember, responsible gambling means setting limits and betting for enjoyment, not as a means to make money.