Horse Racing Odds

Compare odds on today's racing or scroll down to access odds for upcoming major races. 

About Our Odds

We collate and display odds from some of the UK and Ireland's best horse racing betting sites into our odds comparison grids which are displayed at the top of this page and on every individual race page on the site. We try to refresh the odds as often as we can but the best way to access the very latest odds is to click through to the betting site where the selection will be opened for you in the operator's betslip. This makes it super easy to uncover the best odds and then place your bet. If you don't have an account with the betting site offering the best odds, you may be eligible for horse racing free bets which are usually given us a sign-up bonus to new customers. 

More Popular Races And Festivals Covered by Our Odds

We provide the best horse racing odds across a huge range of races and festivals taking place around the world. Indeed, the big-name events are only scratching the surface of what we cover. Still, it’s a good idea to familiarise yourself with the most prestigious races before placing a bet, so let’s have a closer look.

Cheltenham Gold Cup

Taking place each year in March during the Cheltenham Festival, the Gold Cup is a Grade 1 National Hunt steeplechase. It’s the feature race of the festival and takes place on day four. Run over a distance of about 3 miles, 2 furlongs and 60 yards, the course includes 22 fences to be jumped. The Gold Cup was inaugurated in 1924, and the most successful remains Golden Miller after five consecutive wins from 1932 to 1936.

Grand National

The Grand National is perhaps the most famous National Hunt horse race in the world. Held annually at Aintree Racecourse in Merseyside, it’s a handicap steeplechase that was first run in 1839. The distance covers around 4 miles and 2½ furlongs and features 30 fences over the two laps. The prize purse is the largest for any jump race in Europe, totalling £1 million since 2017 — Corach Rambler, the 2023 winner, took home £561,300. Many casual punters have a flutter once a year when the Grand National rolls around, so be sure to check in here in 2024 for the best racing odds for this event.

Epsom Derby

The Epsom Derby is a flat horse race open to three-year-old colts and fillies. It takes place at Epsom Downs Racecourse in Surrey on the first Saturday of June each year, covering a distance of 1 mile, 4 furlongs and 10 yards. First run in 1780, the Derby is one of the showpiece races of the flat season and is considered the most prestigious of the five Classics. Lester Piggott is the all-time leading jockey with nine wins spanning three decades.

Royal Ascot

The highlight of the British summer social calendar, Royal Ascot is a five-day flat racing event that takes place in June each year. Held at Ascot Racecourse in Berkshire, which opened back in 1711, the Royal Meeting features several historic races including the Queen Anne Stakes and the Gold Cup, which is Britain’s most prestigious event for long-distance racing specialists. Each day of the event begins with the Royal Procession, where the King and Queen arrive by carriage before watching the races from the Royal Enclosure.

King George VI Chase

Run at Kempton Park, the King George VI Chase is a Grade 1 National Hunt race that’s roughly three miles long. It first ran in 1937, although was paused during World War II while the racecourse was repurposed. Since then, this thrilling race for four-year-old horses has taken place each year on Boxing Day. Kauto Star is the most successful runner, with four consecutive wins from 2006–09 and another first-place finish in 2011. 

Glorious Goodwood

Set among the beauty of the South Downs, Glorious Goodwood takes place each summer at the eponymous racecourse. The track is known for its complexity and is the location of a number of prestigious flat races such as the Sussex Stakes, Nassau Stakes, and Goodwood Cup. You’ll find all the best horse racing odds for these events and more on our Goodwood odds page. 

Melbourne Cup

The Melbourne Cup is one of Australia’s biggest sporting events, with plenty tuning in from around the globe. Almost two miles in length, the race is open to horses that are at least three years old and was first held in 1861. With an A$8 million prize purse, it attracts some of the world’s best horses and jockeys. Makybe Diva has seen the most success on the track, with three consecutive wins in 2003, ‘04, and ‘05. 

Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe

A highlight of the flat racing calendar for many, the Prix de L’Arc de Triomphe is run at Longchamp Racecourse in Paris. Roughly 1½ miles in length, the race is open to horses of all ages and was first run in 1920. Today, over 60,000 spectators attend the Arc weekend. No horse has won the race more than twice, although legendary jockey Frankie Dettori has six wins under his belt. 

Dubai World Cup

One of the youngest horse racing events, the Dubai World Cup was inaugurated in 1996. This Group 1 race takes place at Meydan Racecourse on a left-handed dirt track and is roughly 10 furlongs in length. Since 2019, it’s been the richest horse race in the world, with a total prize purse of $12 million in 2023. Thunder Snow has picked up two wins at the event (2018 and ‘19), while Frankie Dettori and Jerry Bailey are tied with four wins each. 

How to Read Horse Racing Odds

Horse racing odds may seem a bit confusing at first, particularly if you’re not sure what the difference is between fractional and decimal. However, once you get the hang of it, you’ll be able to identify the favourite and the outsiders from just a quick glance at the racing odds.

Let’s start with fractional and take the example of 5/1 — here you’d stand to win £5 if you bet £1. The same goes for when the number on the left is smaller — at 1/2 odds you’d need to bet £2 to win £1. In each example, you’d get your £1 stake back as well.

A larger number on the left of the slash therefore represents what we call longer odds, which means the event is less likely to happen. If the number on the right is larger, these are short odds, meaning the event is more likely to happen.

What about decimal, then? Essentially, the number represents the total amount that is won for a £1 bet. If the horse racing odds say 3.00, the payout for a £1 bet is £3. If you bet £10, meanwhile, the potential payout would be £30. With decimal odds, the number represents the total payout, including the stake. So in our example the actual profit would be £2. It’s easy to calculate the potential payout using decimal odds — simply multiply them by your stake amount.

Although the odds factor in things like how much money has been placed on a horse and the bookmaker’s profit margin, the price roughly represents probability. The calculations can be a bit tricky, but for an example let’s say a favourite is priced to finish in the places at 8/13. We need to use the formula B / (A + B) x 100%, where A is the smaller number and B is the bigger number. That gives us 13 / 21 * 100% = 61.9%. For another example, say, 7/2, the calculation would be 2 / 9 x 100% = 22.2%.

Betting Markets for Horse Racing Odds

If it’s your first time betting, you’ll want to clue up on the different bet types you’ll find at bookmakers with the best horse racing odds. The odds will vary between each market so it’s easy to find something that caters to your preferred level of risk vs reward. Here’s a quick rundown:

• Winner – Plain and simple, this is a bet on the horse you think will come first in the race. Betting on the favourite gives a higher chance of winning with a lower reward, or you can take a punt on a long shot that might yield a bigger win.
• Place – A place bet allows a bit more breathing room for your bet to come good. Rather than winning outright, your horse simply needs to finish in a top position. The number of places paid usually depends on how many runners there are, and can vary from just two places up to eight or more in the biggest and most prestigious events.
• Each-Way – An each-way bet combines winner and place bets into one, splitting your stake between the two. If your horse comes first, both legs of the bet win and you get the maximum payout. And if it falls a little short but still gets a good enough finish, the place bet will win while you lose the win bet. Many punters like to start with this type of bet. 
• Double – A double is a bet combining two selections across separate events, say Horse A to win Race 1 and Horse B to win Race 2. Both picks must win for your bet to succeed. Place and each-way bets can also be placed as doubles. 
• Treble – A treble is just like a double, but with three picks instead of two, so it’s a bit harder to win. 
• Accumulator – An accumulator works like a double or treble but usually refers to bets with four selections or more. Each leg of the acca must succeed for your bet to win. 
• Trixie – A Trixie is a type of combination bet involving selections across three separate races. The bet is made up of three doubles and a treble for four bets in total. At least two of your selections need to win in order to land a return. 
• Yankee – A more complicated system bet is the Yankee, which requires four selections: six doubles, four trebles, and a four-fold acca. At least two picks need to win to land a return. 
• Lucky 15 – This bet is very similar to a Yankee, but with the addition of four singles to make 15 wagers in total. That means you’ll still get a return if just one selection wins. 

Horse Racing Enhanced Odds

Want a better price on a particular horse? Watch out for enhanced racing odds, a promotion found at many of the best betting sites. The premise is simple: place a bet on a market with enhanced odds, and if it wins, you’ll get a better payout than you would otherwise. 

Loads of top bookmakers offer price boosts — which are usually indicated with a special symbol beside the relevant bet — on daily racing around the UK and Ireland. It’s also worth looking out for these offers in the run-up to the biggest horse racing meetings such as the Grand National, Cheltenham, or Royal Ascot. 

Some bookies also dish out odds boost tokens which can be used by the punter to enhance the odds on a bet of their choice. Perhaps the best way to take advantage of these is enhance a bet on the favourite, thus improving the odds on a result that’s more likely to come in.

Responsible Gambling at Horse Racing Odds Sites

As entertaining as betting on horse racing can be, it’s essential to understand the risks involved and always gamble responsibly. The activity can quickly become addictive, so staying mindful of your habits and behaviours is extremely important. A few warning signs to watch out for include:

• Prioritising gambling over other responsibilities;
• Hiding your gambling from others;
• Needing to bet increasingly large amounts to receive the same enjoyment from gambling;
• Borrowing money in order to gamble;
• Feeling anxious or ashamed about gambling.

If any of these resonate with you, it’s time to take a break and seek support from an organisation such as GamCare. 

Here are a few other tips to help keep your gambling safe.

Use trusted websites

Only gamble at a sportsbook licensed by the UKGC. These sites must meet certain requirements around player safety and responsible gambling. All the horse racing odds sites we recommend check this box.

Use secure payment methods

While all licensed sportsbooks implement strong security measures such as encryption and anti-fraud monitoring, it’s wise to pick a secure payment method too. We recommend e-wallets or prepaid cards for your deposits and withdrawals as you won’t have to share bank details with the sportsbook.

Set your own budget

Before you start betting, make an honest assessment of what you can afford and decide how much you want to spend during your session. Once you hit this amount, it’s time to call it quits. On-site limiters can be enabled in your account settings to help you stay on track.

Don’t bet on markets you are not familiar with

It’s not wise to bet on something you don’t understand, so be sure to do a bit of research before you place your wager. 

Only bet with money you can afford to lose

Ensure you’re not gambling with money that needs to be used for other things, such as bills, rent, or your mortgage. This goes hand in hand with setting a realistic budget.

Don’t try to win back what you’ve lost

Don’t chase losses. It’s easy for your spending to spiral. Remember, you’re never guaranteed a win in gambling no matter what. 

Frequently Asked Questions About Horse Racing Odds