If you enjoy handicapping horse racing, you’ve come to the right place. We will go over all of the best horse racing betting sites operating in the US, along with providing exclusive sign up bonuses.
Horse betting sites are legal in most states, as these sites have been available longer than sportsbooks. Our site only includes legal horse handicapping sites that are safe to use.
Read more to learn all you need to know about betting on horse racing! There are plenty of bonuses to use, loyalty programs to be a part of, and races to stream directly from your phone.
Online Horse Racing Betting – Top Sites & Promos
In our horse betting site reviews, we look at several categories to determine which ones are the best to use.
The top horse betting sites include a plethora of bonuses, multiple handicapping tools, a loyalty program, an easy-to-use mobile app, and live streaming services.
These are our favorite and what we believe to be the best horse racing betting sites available.
TVG
TVG is a horse racing betting site and television network. It is owned by the FanDuel Group. Horse racing fans have become very familiar with TVG since it was founded back in the 90s.
Sign up, place first single horse win-type bet, get up to $200 back if your horse doesn’t win.
When using our TVG promo code, you will receive a risk-free bet of up to $300. The code is “RISKFREE300,” and it only works for win-type bets. If your wager loses, TVG will refund your account in bonus credits, equaling the amount of the wager.
TVG is one of the best sites to use for handicapping tools. You can look at past performances, read the latest racing news, or see who the experts are picking in the top races. And of course, you can stream TVG from your desktop or mobile phone.
AmWager
AmWager may not have the recognizable name that other horse betting sites have, but it is easily one of the best apps to use. It boasts about being faster than any other racing site, and you will immediately notice how quickly the platform operates.
The AmWager sign up bonus is a 100% deposit match of up to $250. If you deposit $250, AmWager will give you an additional $250 in bonus credit.
By placing bets on AmWager, you will be earning cash rewards. There are no points or tiers. It’s a simple and great rewards scheme.
Twinspires
Churchill Downs, the home of the Kentucky Derby, is the company that owns Twinspires. It is a great spot to bet on all of the Triple Crown races.
The Twinspires promo code is BET200. For every $400 you wager, you will receive $100 in bonus credits. The maximum bonus is $200, and you have 30 days to get as much as possible.
Twinspires has been a horse racing site for years, but it has recently added an online casino and sportsbook. The racebook is one of the most popular choices for horse racing betting in the US.
How to Sign Up for Horse Betting Sites
To sign up for horse racing betting sites, you will need to be in a state that allows for horse betting. The following states are legal but might not offer all three sites that we have mentioned. You can check the racebook review or your state’s page on our site.
- Alabama
- Arkansas
- California
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Illinois
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Montana
- New Hampshire
- New York
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Once you have chosen the horse betting site you want to sign up for, it’s time to claim the sign up bonus. You can use every welcome offer available, but only once.
Horse handicapping sites will ask for basic info such as name, email, address, and phone number. You will need to prove your identity to verify your age.
Make sure you read our review and understand the terms of the offer. For example, there may be a minimum deposit or certain amount of time you have to use the promotion.
Downloading Horse Betting Apps
After you have created an account, you can download the app on your iPhone or Android. Everything that can be done from the site can also be done from the app.
It will require your location so it can confirm you are within the state lines of a legal state. Horse racing betting apps are simple to use and continue to improve.
Live Stream the Races from your Mobile Phone
It’s fun to go to the track. Keeneland is one of my personal favorites. But you don’t need to attend the races or even buy a special TV package to watch horse racing.
Each of the horse racing sites and apps we covered has live streaming. You will be able to access most races on your mobile phone.
Bet on a race while sitting at a local bar? Simply pull out your phone and watch the race live! These aren’t re-plays. Every single race isn’t available on streaming, but the site will show you which ones are.
For example, if you are betting on TVG, it will say “On TVG” next to the races that are being streamed.
Horse Betting Bonuses and Loyalty Programs
After you use the sign up bonus, there are tons of other promos for current customers. Bonuses are especially popular around the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, Belmont Stakes, Breeders’ Cup, and other top races in the US.
Exacta insurance bonuses are some of my favorites. You can place an exacta bet, but if you lose, you will get a partial refund. Plus, there are other risk-free bets that will be offered for the best tracks, such as Churchill Downs and Keeneland.
One of the easiest ways to get a bonus on TVG is by referring a friend. You will get a $25 bonus for every friend you get to sign up for TVG, and you can earn up to $1,000!
If your state has every site available, you can sign up for each one. It’s great to be able to look for the best horse racing bonuses and promos for the most popular events. However, there are loyalty programs that will reward you with bonuses. These rewards schemes can make it worth sticking with one racebook so you can earn as much as possible.
For example, AmWager has rewards levels. The more you bet – the more you will earn in cash back.
How to Bet on Horse Racing
When betting on horses, there are several things to take a look at. The horse will have a record, which you will be able to look at on the site. You will also be able to see who owns the horse, who the trainer is, and who will be the jockey.
The track condition is one of the most important factors to keep in mind. These are all involved in the handicapping tools on the best horse racing betting sites.
Then, there are several bets you can make:
- Win – Horse has to finish in 1st place.
- Place – Horse has to finish in at least 2nd place.
- Show – Horse has to finish in at least 3rd place.
- Across the Board – Placing a win, place, and show bet at the same time.
- Exacta – Picking two horses to finish 1st and 2nd.
- Trifecta – Picking three horses to finish 1st, 2nd, and 3rd.
- Superfecta – Picking four horses to finish 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th.
- Super 5 – Picking five horses to finish 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th.
If you are placing an exacta, trifecta, superfecta, or super 5 bet, you have to get the order correctly. However, you can box these bets, which is more expensive, but the horses can come in any order. You can also wheel or key these bets, which means picking a winner and the rest to finish after.
Betting on Multiple Races
If you are wanting to place bets on multiple races, it can be very profitable.
- Daily Double – Picking the winners of two races.
- Pick 3 – Picking the winners of three races.
- Pick 4 – Picking the winners of four races.
- Pick 5 – Picking the winners of five races.
- Pick 6 – Picking the winners of six races.
How do Horse Betting Odds Work?
If you are placing win bets in horse racing, each horse will have odds next to their name. This represents how much you will win.
If you are placing a more complicated wager, such as a superfecta, the horse betting site will tell you your approximate winnings before you submit the bet.
Major Horse Races to Bet on
The most infamous horse race in the US has to be the Kentucky Derby, which is the first leg of the Triple Crown. The Kentucky Derby takes place at Churchill Downs on the first Saturday in May. Take a look at this years Kentucky Derby odds where you can explore all of the best options for wagering, watching, and handicapping the race.
It is followed by the Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes. If a horse wins the Kentucky Derby and Preakness, it all comes down to the Belmont and makes it that much more exciting.
Other popular horse races include the Kentucky Oaks, Breeders’ Cup, Pegasus World Cup, Florida Derby, and the Travers Stakes.
Since more people bet on these races than most others, there will be loads of bonuses and promos to use.
Safety and Security
The best horse racing betting sites are 100% legal. There are still sites out there that operate overseas and aren’t safe to use.
This is why we recommend using one of the horse betting sites on our page. You are guaranteed to be paid out and all of your personal information is safe.
You will also have access to responsible gaming tools that will help you control how much you are spending on horse racing.
