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Horse racing is one of the oldest forms of betting, so it’s only right that some of the best sports betting sites in North America also offer the ability to bet on horse racing. In fact, horse racing has more of a reach, as it’s legal in 41 states while sports betting is legal in 38 states.
While every racebook offers the ability to bet on daily horse races from locations across the country, the biggest events are the three races that make up the Triple Crown (the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes) and the Breeders’ Cup, which takes place in November.
Simply put, the Kentucky Derby is horse racing’s version of the Super Bowl. It takes place every year on the first Saturday of May at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky, and is the first race of the Triple Crown. It draws national attention and is often called “the most exciting two minutes in sports.”
The race drew a record $210.7 million in wagers in 2024.
The Preakness Stakes is the next leg of the Triple Crown and is run two weeks after the Kentucky Derby. It takes place at the Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland. Nicknamed the “Middle Jewel of the Triple Crown,” much of the hype for the race is based on whether or not the Kentucky Derby winner will win the race and move one step closer to winning the Triple Crown.
The Belmont Stakes, the last race in the Triple Crown, takes place three weeks after the Preakness at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. It’s considered one of the fastest racetracks in America, and the race covers one lap of the track. That speed makes it one of the most exciting races in the country regardless of whether a horse is going for the Triple Crown.
While the Breeders’ Cup isn’t part of the Triple Crown, it’s still another must-see event for fans of horse racing. The two-day event happens at a different location every year and features 14 different races from different categories.
The Breeders’ Cup was created in 1984, so only two Triple Crown winners (American Pharoah in 2015 and Justify in 2018) have had the opportunity to win the Triple Crown and the Breeders’ Cup. American Pharoah became the first horse to win the “Grand Slam of Thoroughbred Racing” when it won the Triple Crown and the Breeders’ Cup in 2015.
FanDuel Racing
FanDuel Racing is the horse racing arm of FanDuel Sportsbook and has quickly become one of the biggest names in mobile horse racing betting.
FanDuel Racing is offering a special sign-up offer for new users in the form of two no-sweat bets up to $20 each. If your first bet with FanDuel Racing doesn’t hit, you’ll receive the same amount back in the form of a bonus bet up to $20.
The bonus bet can only be used with FanDuel Racing and can’t be withdrawn.
These states require you to download a separate FanDuel Racing app to wager on horse racing: AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DE, FL, ID, IL, IN, IA, KY, LA, MA, MD, MI, MN, MT, ND, NH, NY, NM, OH, OR, PA, RI, SD, VA, WA, WV and WY
You can also bet on horse racing through FanDuel’s affiliate, 4NJBets, in New Jersey.
DK Horse
Like FanDuel, DraftKings is one of the biggest names in mobile sports betting and has its own racing app, DK Horse. In addition to offering bets on all of the big races, DK Horse offers wagers on daily races as well. It also has a streaming service that allows bettors to watch races live.
DK Horse has a sign-up offer that allows new users to receive a 100% deposit match up to $250. To get the bonus, a new user must sign up and deposit at least $25 into their account. There is a 2x playthrough requirement, so a bettor would have to wager $500 to receive the full $250 bonus.
So if a new user deposits $50, they’d need to place $100 in wagers to earn their $50 in bonus bets. It doesn’t matter if the bets win or lose, but all wagers must settle within seven days of the first eligible deposit.
Bettors will receive their bonus bets in $25 increments within one business day.
DK Horse is available in CA, CO, FL, IL, IN, IA, KY, LA, MA, MD, MN, MT, NY, OH, OR, PA, VA, WA, WV and WY.
Caesars Racebook
Caesars Sportsbook has its own racebook, Caesars Racebook. Much like the sportsbook, Caesars Racebook offers a plethora of markets for interested bettors.
The racebook offers betting markets on over 300 race tracks across the country along with international races in places like China, France, Ireland and Australia.
Caesars has a sign-up offer that gives new users a 100% deposit match up to $150. To receive the offer, sign up for Caesars Racebook using the promo code CZR150 and deposit money into your account. After that, you’ll automatically receive the same amount in racebook credit within 48 hours.
The deposit match may not be cashed out until you’ve wagered the amount of the match. So if you receive a deposit match of $100, you’ll need to wager $100 on Caesars Racebook before you can withdraw the $100 bonus.
This promotion runs from April 15, 2024, to Dec. 31, 2024.
Caesars Racebook is available in CA, CO, CT, FL, IL, IN, KY, LA, MA, MD, MN, MT, NY, ND, OH, OR, PA, VA, WA, WV and WY.
BetMGM Horse Racing
BetMGM Horse Racing has many great features, including a state-of-the-art interface that allows bettors to easily keep track of their wagers and monitor live races.
After signing up, you can earn 100% of your first bet in bonus bets, up to $200.
BetMGM Horse Racing is only available in OH, FL and LA.
TwinSpires
TwinSpires, which is operated by Churchill Downs, is the official betting partner of the Kentucky Derby. It was founded in 1996 as a physical racebook at Churchill Downs and now has a mobile app as well.
Its welcome offer gives new users the opportunity to earn up to $200 in bonus credits. To get the full bonus, enter the code BET200 during registration and wager $800 within 30 days of creating an account. New users will get $100 in bonus bets for every $400 wagered.
TwinSpires’ horse racing app is available in most states throughout the country.
How to Claim the Offer
Offer Available in: AZ, AL, AR, CA, CO, CT, DE, FL, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, MD, MA, MI, MN, MT, NE, NH, NM, NY, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SD, TN, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI and WY.
Create your new wagering account with TwinSpires.com and earn a $200 sign-up bonus. Players must use promo code on registration to be eligible. Valid for one use per household. $200 bonus cash will be credited in increments of $100 for every $400 wagered.
To earn the full $200 bonus players must wager $800 within 30 days of creating a TwinSpires account. Completed wagers mean that the race has run and the results are official.
This sign-up offer cannot be combined with any other registration bonus offer. Certain exclusions apply.
Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What should you look for in a horse racing promo?
It depends on your betting strategy. If you plan to place a lot of bets with a racebook, you should choose one like TwinSpires that rewards you for betting more money. But if you plan to bet only occasionally, you’re probably better off picking a racebook like Caesars that has a standard deposit match.
Why should you claim a betting promo?
Betting promotions allow new users to receive bonus bets, site credit, deposit matches and more, giving them bonus money to play around with. This lets new customers get out of their comfort zone and explore different bet types or place no-sweat wagers on underdogs.
What is the Triple Crown in horse racing?
The Triple Crown is when a horse wins the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes in the same year. It has been done 13 times, most recently by Justified in 2018.
How do you bet on horse racing?
You can bet on horse racing at any of the racebooks listed above as long as you’re located in a state where horse racing is legal.
To bet on horse racing, sign up through a horse betting site. You’ll need to enter some personal information and confirm your identity, but this only takes a few minutes.
Once you’ve completed registration, deposit money in your new account and start wagering.
What is the easiest bet on horse racing?
The most straightforward horse racing bet is the “win” bet, which is similar to a moneyline bet in other sports.
If you bet on a horse to win, then you’re betting on it to come in first. If it does, you’ll receive your winnings. If it doesn’t, your bet loses.
If you bet on a horse to “place,” then you’ll get your winnings if the horse comes in first or second. A “show” bet would win if your horse comes in first, second or third.
These bets are safer than “win” bets but have shorter odds and pay out less if they win.
