Here at NetBet, we’ve got a whole load of great markets for sports betting, and we offer some of the best Horse Racing odds around. We don’t just take bets on individual races, we offer online betting on plenty of deeper markets on our UK betting site. If you want to place any sport bet, in this case, Horse Racing betting, here’s a quick guide on how exactly you should go about it.
What is Horse Racing?
Horse racing is an equestrian sport comprising two or more racehorses being ridden by jockeys over a set distance on a course to finish first.
The sport’s main objective is to win the race in competition with other contestants. It involves a great deal of insight, skill, and years of practice from the jockey and significant physical effort and training from the horse.
While a short sprint race may be straightforward and to the point, much longer races (namely the Grand National) are set over several miles. They require the jockey to race strategically, relying on their horse’s training and strength and calculating the right moment to really go all out and sprint for the finish line.
Thoroughbred racing is what we generally see today, and it gained popularity in Britain amidst the aristocracy, which is why the sport is often referred to as the “Sport of Kings”.
Although it is prevalent worldwide, it is particularly well-liked in the UK with races like the Grand National and in the US with the Kentucky Derby being the most notable event. The Middle East also celebrates the sport, where many top horses are bred and owned.
While there are numerous types of horse racing and ways horses can be raced, there are generally two main types.
Jump Racing: This involves horses competing around a track and jumping over obstacles and hurdles (referred to as the National Hunt in the UK) to win.
Flat Racing: This involves horses racing around an oval or straight racing track, which is unobstructed by fences, obstacles, or hurdles.
The History of Horse Racing
The now popular sport officially developed somewhere before 1000 BCE. That was when the Greeks invented a game that involved horses pulling two-wheeled chariots or carts. The game also caught the attention of the Egyptians and Romans as time went on, but there was still time before the sport would fully start to evolve.
Horse racing became a sport of formal competition in 665 BCE at the 33rd Olympiad when men started appearing on the racehorses rather than behind them. They were referred to as jockeys.
During the initial years of the common era, during the Romans’ quest to dominate the world, they introduced the sport to the islands of Britain. Despite Roman rule ending, the sport lived on through time and began to spread and evolve throughout the centuries.
The sport had gained mass popularity in England by the late 16th century but came under prohibition by some of the leaders in the country.
The sport was banned for a decade when Charles I was executed for tyranny in 1649 but was later restored by Charles II in 1660.
When the sport returned, it did so on a whole new level. It came under a ruler who had a great love for gambling and was a competitive rider as well.
The three founding sires of today’s Thoroughbred racehorse were founded during Charles II’s reign. Captain Robert Byerly captured a black stallion during the siege of Buda in 1688, bringing the horse back home.
Later in 1704, a British consul named Thomas Darley smuggled an Arabian colt from Syria to Yorkshire.
The final horse came into the picture in 1729. That was when a horse mysteriously appeared at the Earl of Godolphin’s breeding farm near Cambridge.
These horses were named the Byerly Turk, the Darley Arabian, and the Godolphin Barb, respectively.
Horseracing continued to gain popularity up until the 18th century. As racetracks were built, new horse racing rules were introduced, leading to the achievement of new records.
How to Bet on Horse Racing
Horse race betting is straightforward. You must open an account and deposit some funds. Then you bring up the runners list for a race and choose your favoured horse. Enter the amount you want to bet.
You can bet on the racehorse to win or place an “each way” bet. Below are the most common types of bets in horse racing:
Single/Win Bet: A single or win bet is one on a horse to win in a particular race.
Each Way: This is a win bet and place bet on a horse to win or finish within the places.
3/4/5 Fold etc.: A bet that comprises more than one horse, e.g., horse A (race 1), horse B (race 2), etc. All your selections are required to win for you to win anything in this bet. You may also place these bets an each way bet.
Doubles: This involves two selections for 2 races. The winnings you get for a double bet are the odds of the horses and each other, meaning they could be huge.
Yankee: You must make 4 selections for this bet, and 11 individual bets will be created. These comprise 6 doubles, 4 trebles, and 1 fourfold.
Trixie: You need to make three selections for this bet. It consists of 4 bets made of 3 doubles and 1 treble.
When you choose NetBet Sport, you can enjoy a whole range of top quality sports betting markets. Whatever you choose, always remember to bet responsibly. Here at NetBet, player wellbeing is our number one priority – check out our Responsible Gambling tips and tools page for more information.
