How to Bet on Horse Racing: A Beginner’s Guide

Horse racing is one of the oldest and most popular sports in the world. If you’re new to the sport and want to start betting on horse races, here’s a beginner’s guide to help you get started.

Understanding the Basics

• Track Types: Horse races can take place on dirt tracks or turf tracks. Dirt tracks are typically used for shorter races, while turf tracks are used for longer races.
• Race Types: There are many different types of horse races, including flat races, hurdle races, and steeplechase races.
• Betting Types: The most common types of horse racing bets include:
  • Win Bet: Bet on a horse to win the race.
  • Place Bet: Bet on a horse to finish first or second.
  • Show Bet: Bet on a horse to finish first, second, or third.
  • Across the Board Bet: A combination of a win, place, and show bet on the same horse.
  • Exacta: Pick the first two finishers in the correct order.
  • Trifecta: Pick the first three finishers in the correct order.
  • Superfecta: Pick the first four finishers in the correct order.

How to Place a Bet

1. Choose a Race: Select the race you want to bet on.
2. Choose a Betting Type: Decide which type of bet you want to place.
3. Select a Horse: Choose the horse(s) you think will win.
4. Place Your Bet: Tell the betting clerk your bet and how much you want to wager.

Tips for Betting on Horse Racing

• Do Your Research: Learn about the horses, jockeys, and trainers.
• Check the Odds: Understand how odds work and how they affect your potential payout.
• Set a Budget: Decide how much you’re willing to spend and stick to it.
• Manage Your Bankroll: Don’t bet more than you can afford to lose.
• Shop for the Best Odds: Compare odds at different sportsbooks to get the best value.

For more in-depth information and the latest horse racing news, odds, and picks, check out our Horse Racing News section.

Previous Betting News

With the holiday season approaching, horse racing lines become even more exciting as graded stakes races slow down, but this weekend at Aqueduct, Woodbine, and Del Mar, there are still top races to keep an eye on, including the Notebook Stakes, Central Park Stakes, and the Grade 3 Autumn, among others.

A Weekend for Horse Racing for Top Grade Stakes to Bet On
Race Day Riches: Bet Your Way to a Fortune

November’s Top Stakes Races: Third Weekend | Saturday, November 16th – Sunday, November 10th, 2024
Churchill Downs |

Betting the Top Stakes Races for the Weekend

Four graded stakes races happen this week.

On Saturday, Churchill Downs runs the Grade 3 Commonwealth Turf Stakes and the Grade Chilukki Stakes.

Also on Saturday, Del Mar runs the Grade 3 Native Diver.

Then on Sunday, three year olds head to Del Mar’s turf for the Grade 3 Red Carpet.

Keep reading for more information regarding all four graded stakes so that when morning line horse racing odds set, you can start handicapping.

Writer’s Picks on the Top Skates Happenning this Weekend

Grade 3 Commonwealth Turf Stakes

1 1/16 miles turf – 3 year olds
Saturday, November 23rd, 2024
Churchill Downs | Del Mar Thoroughbred Club

Nine will run in the Grade 3 Commonwealth Turf Stakes.

Steve Asmussen, Helen Pitts, and Mike Maker project to saddle the favorites.

Asmussen puts the bridle on Lagynos, fifth last out in the Grade 3 Bryan Station Stakes.

Pitts goes with third place Bryan Stakes winner Herchee and Mike Maker saddles Evade, which finished fourth in the Bryan Station.

Others with potential include Dashman, a Brian Lynch trained runner that finished fourth in the Grade 3 Jockey Club Derby and Hawthorne Derby winner Ak Sar Ben Derby.

If My Boy Prince bounces back from the ninth in the Bryan Station, the Mark Casse trainer is another that could run into the winner’s circle.

Grade 3 Chilukki Stakes

1 mile dirt – 3 year old fillies and up
Saturday, November 23rd, 2024
Churchill Downs

Eight will go in the Chilukki. All eight are in decent form.

Third place Grade 3 Princess Rooney finisher Imonra breaks from post position 1.

Saffie Joseph trains, which means Imonra is well meant.

Pigalle finished fourth in the Grade 2 Locust Grove.

Taxed finished fifth in the same race.

Philip Bauer trained Two Sharp won an allowance at Keeneland in the last.

Royal Spa’s last race was a second at Keeneland.

Other contenders include Oeuvre, Positano Sunset, and Fancy.

Grade 3 Native Diver Stakes

1 1/8 miles dirt – 3 year olds and up
Saturday, November 23rd, 2024
Del Mar Thoroughbred Club

Pacific Classic winner Mixto returns to the track that propelled him to a start in the Breeders’ Cup Classic.

Mixto finished a disappointing eleventh in the Classic.

A return to Del Mar’s dirt could brighten the Doug O’Neill trained and Good Magic sired runner.

Skinner, trained by John Shirreffs, had a nice tune up for the Native Diver when finishing second in an allowance at Santa Anita on October 26.

Skinner could be ready to fire a decent shot on Saturday.

Bob Baffert saddles three: Imagination, Mirahmadi, and Ultra Power.

All three have a shot to win.

Mirahmadi, named after Frank Mirahmadi, might be the best of the three.

The last out maiden winner has the look of a nice runner.

Ed Moger Jr. trained Tarantino should also run.

Grade 3 Red Carpet

1 3/8 miles turf – 3 year olds and up
Sunday, November 24th, 2024
Del Mar Thoroughbred Club

Ten could break form the gate in the Grade 3 Red Carpet.

Only two of the ten ran in a graded stakes in the last.

Mouffy comes off a fourth in the Grade 2 Goldikova.

Top turf trainer Jonathan Thomas puts the saddle on Mouffy, which means the likely chalk is going to be tough to beat.

Thomas’s other equine in this, Mrs. Astor, also has a shot.

Mrs. Astor finished third in the Grade 3 Dowager.

Building tickets around Mrs. Astor, Mouffy, or both seems like the best strategy because neither of Graham Motions runners, Marksman Queen or Three Priests, showed decent form in their last race.

If you’re looking for a potential upsetter, consider Doug O’Neil trained Ima Joker.

She won an allowance at Santa Anita in her last.

O’Neill is a master at moving allowance winners into graded races with success.

Control Function, Maihana, Mizzyaan, and Moment’s Pleasure all have chance to hit the board.

Use them underneath.

Horse Races this Weekend | Bet the Horses MyBookie Betting Lines for the Races

Win Big with MyBookie’s Horse Racing Betting Lines this November

Stay ahead of the game with horse racing odds today and live horse racing odds—sign up now to place your bets and get in on the action for this weekend’s top races!

I have read enough, I need to place my bet now. What to do?

MyBookie Horse Racing Today
MyBookie Betting Lines for the Horse Races

Previous Betting News

This weekend promises exciting action for horse racing fans, with some thrilling graded stakes races on the horizon, and live horse racing odds giving you the chance to make informed bets. At Aqueduct, two non-graded stakes races take center stage on Saturday, while the stakes heat up with the Grade 3 Autumn, Grade 2 Kennedy Road, and Grade 3 Bob Hope at various tracks.

In addition to these, you’ll want to pay attention to the Notebook Stakes and Central Park Stakes, as these races could provide great betting opportunities. As race day approaches, live horse racing odds will become available, helping you decide where to place your bets.

A Weekend for Horse Racing for Top Grade Stakes to Bet On
Saddle Up for Success: Expert Picks and Betting Tips

November’s Top Stakes Races: First Weekend | Saturday, November 16th – Sunday, November 10th, 2024
Aqueduct Racetrack | Woodbine Racetrack

Betting the Top Stakes Races for the Weekend

Graded stakes races slow down a couple of weeks before Thanksgiving in the United States, which is why at Aqueduct on Saturday two non-graded stakes happen.

Woodbine in Toronto runs a couple of graded races and Del Mar has a graded stakes on Sunday.

Keep reading for more info on the Notebook Stakes, the Central Park Stakes, the Grade 3 Autumn, Grade 2 Kennedy Road, and Grade 3 Bob Hope so that when horse racing odds land, you’re ready.

Writer’s Picks on the Top Skates Happenning this Weekend

Notebook Stakes

6 furlongs dirt – 2 year olds
Saturday, November 16th
Aqueduct Racetrack

Often the winner of the Notebook is a lower level 2 year old with a ceiling in non-graded stakes races.

That has occurred the past couple of years with Works for Me beating Detective Tom and Aggelos the Great in 2023 and Acoustic Ave beating Don’t Lose Cruz and Starquist in 2024.

Linda Rice, Todd Pletcher, and maybe even Chad Brown should enter runners.

Since entries don’t happen until Thursday, were not sure which 2 year olds will run in the Notebook.

Central Park Stakes

1 mile turf – 2 year olds
Saturday, November 16th
Aqueduct Racetrack

The Central Park Stakes because it is on grass is regarded as a higher non-graded stake than the Notebook.

Plenty of talent promises to break from the gate in this Saturday’s Central Park.

Rudy Rodriguez plans on running McDiesel.

Davy Crockett will go for Cristophe Clement and George Weaver plans on running Super Swift and Not For Hire.

Todd Pletcher will saddle Manhattan Twist.

The favorite could end up Chad Brown trained Early Adopter.

Grade 2 Autumn Stakes

1 1/8 miles synthetic – 3 year olds and up
Saturday, November 16th
Woodbine Racetrack

Connections for the top two finishers in the Ontario Derby plan on running their horses.

Lorne Richards trained Dresden Row beat Bail Us Out from the Kevin Attard barn.

Dresden Row and Bail Us Out drew post positions 11 and 10.

Attard has another runner in Never Surprised.

Mark Casse saddles Paramount Prince, which will attract action.

Sir London goes for Graham Motion and deserves respect after finishing third in an allowance at Laurel in the last.

Grade 2 Kennedy Road Stakes

6 furlongs synthetic – 3 year olds and up
Saturday, November 16th
Woodbine Racetrack

Ice Chocolat has finished second in the last two runnings of the Kennedy Road Stakes.

There is no indication Ice Chocolat will run in the 2024 Kennedy Road.

But Ice Chocolat is a 6-year-gelding and, therefore, can’t breed, which means running Chocolat for a third try makes sense.

If Ice Chocolat goes, the gelding is a contender.

2023 winner Flag of Honour is also active.

So is 2023 third place finisher Dream Shake.

If all three go, expect a great race.

Grade 3 Bob Hope Stakes

7 furlongs dirt – 2 year olds  
Sunday, November 17
Woodbine Racetrack

Bob Baffert plans on saddling three: Madaket Road, Kalea Bay, and Emerald Bay.

McKinzie Street goes for Tim Yakteen and might be the biggest threat to the Baffert trio.

Give Mike McCarthy trained Bullard and Dr.

Ruben M from the Doug O’Neill barn big chances.

Both 2 year olds come off decent maiden victories and McCarthy and O’Neill are terrific at readying horses for stakes action after breaking the maiden.

Horse Races this Weekend | Bet the Horses MyBookie Betting Lines for the Races

Win Big with MyBookie’s Horse Racing Betting Lines this November

To stay ahead of the curve and maximize your betting opportunities, make sure to check the horse racing odds today and explore the live horse racing odds as they come in. Sign up now to bet on these exciting races and more!

I have read enough, I need to place my bet now. What to do?

MyBookie Horse Racing Today
MyBookie Betting Lines for the Horse Races

Previous Betting News

While many weekends following the Breeders’ Cup feature lower-tier stakes races, 2024 is an exception. Aqueduct and Churchill Downs are hosting top-grade races throughout the weekend, providing exciting opportunities for bettors to take advantage of live horse racing odds. Whether you’re a seasoned bettor or new to the sport, this weekend offers a chance to place smart wagers on some of the best races of the year.

A Weekend for Horse Racing for Top Grade Stakes to Bet On
This Weekend’s Horse Racing: A Bettor’s Dream Come True

November’s Top Stakes Races: First Weekend | Friday, November 8th – Sunday, November 10th, 2024
Aqueduct Racetrack | Churchill Downs

Betting the Top Stakes Races for the Weekend

Often, the weekend after the Breeders’ Cup makes for low level stakes racing.

That isn’t the case in 2024. Aqueduct and Churchill Downs run graded races all weekend.

The top events happen at the Big A starting on Friday when the Duct runs the Grade 3 Pebbles.

Then on Saturday, Aqueduct runs the Grade 3 Hill Prince and the Grade 2 Red Smith.

Churchill Downs’s graded race this weekend is the Grade 3 River City.

Check out more info for this week’s top stakes races.

Writer’s Picks on the Top Skates Happenning this Weekend

Grade 3 Pebbles Stakes

1 mile turf – 3 year old fillies
Friday, November 8th
Aqueduct Racetrack

Chad Brown, who trained Sierra Leone to an upset win in this past Saturday’s Breeders’ Cup Classic, has a strong hand.

Brown saddles Dea Matrona and puts jockey Irad Oritz on her back.

Chad also plans on running Oversubscribed, which should find the going easier than she did in the Queen Elizabeth II.

Cristophe Clement has a contender in See You Around.

Whiskey Decision and Macanga from the Richard Dutrow barn can get it done.

If you’re looking for a horse that should offer overlay odds with a shot, give Save Us Melania a chance.

Grade 3 Hill Prince Stakes

1 1/8 miles turf – 3 year old colts
Saturday, November 9th
Aqueduct Racetrack

Seven participants should run in the Grade 3 Hill Prince.

Although only seven will break from the gate, the race should be competitive.

Chad Brown boasts two contenders in Right to Vote and Main Beach.

Bill Mott trained Royal Majesty finished second in the Gio Ponti Stakes in the last.

Cugino goes for Claude McGaughey and John Servis saddles Bartlett.

Deterministic is the likely chalk after finished second in the Grade 3 Jockey Club Derby in the last.

Grade 2 Red Smith Stakes

1 3/8 miles turf – 3 year olds and up
Saturday, November 9th
Aqueduct Racetrack

Brown trained turf specialist Adhamo returns to the races after a disappointing tenth in this past summer’s Grade 2 United Nations.

The field at the Red Smith isn’t nearly as tough as what Adhamo faced in the United Nations.

Cristophe Clement will run City Man and Richard Dutrow goes with Pioneering Spirit.

Dutrow’s top contender should be Master Piece.

The favorite, though, is likely to be Integration.

McGaughey puts the saddle on Integration.

Shug will also enter Limited Liability.

Longshot players should consider backing Curbstone.

The Thomas Morley trained runner will save ground after breaking from post position 1.

Also, John Velasquez rides.

Grade 3 River City Stakes

1 1/8 miles turf – 3 year olds and up
Saturday, November 9th
Churchill Downs

Emmanuel could be sitting on a top effort.

The Mike Maker trained runner sired by More Than Ready finished fourth in the Grade 1 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic in the last.

There’s a chasm between Grade 1 and Grade 3 races.

So Emmanuel should be tough to beat.

Hades from the Joe Orseno barn and Reckoning Force both have chances.

Horseplayers should keep an eye on the action that lands on a couple of allowance winners: Joe Sharp trained Wonderful Justice and Shug McGaughey trained Battle of Normandy.

If either steps it up, they can win this.

Grade 3 Long Island Stakes

1 3/8 miles turf – 3 year old and 4 year old fillies and up
Sunday, November 10th
Aqueduct Racetrack

Sunday’s Grade 3 Long Island will attract at least nine entrants.

Christophe Clement could walk into the winner’s circle after the race.

Clement saddles Grade 3 Waya winner Le Mehana and fourth place finisher Avenue Niel.

Bill Mott puts the saddle on the Waya second place finisher, Immensitude.

Forever After All and No Show Sammy Joe are both contenders.

Forever After All finished second in the Grade 3 Dowager in the last.

No Show Sammy Joe won the non-graded All Along Stakes.

No Show Sammy Joe trainer Graham Motion also plans on entering Marksman Queen.

If Marksman Queen can bounce back from an eighth place finish in the Latonia Stakes, she could be tough to keep out of the trifecta.   

Horse Races this Weekend | Bet the Horses MyBookie Betting Lines for the Races

Win Big with MyBookie’s Horse Racing Betting Lines this November

Don’t miss out on the action—sign up now to access the latest horse racing odds today and live horse racing odds to make your best picks.

Place your bets and get ready for a thrilling weekend of top-tier racing!

I have read enough, I need to place my bet now. What to do?

MyBookie Horse Racing Today
MyBookie Betting Lines for the Horse Races

Previous Betting News

The weekend after the Breeders’ Cup World Thoroughbred Championships often has few graded stakes opportunities.

Saturday, November 11 and Sunday, November 12 are no different. However, there are four graded stakes, the River City at Churchill Downs and three graded stakes at Aqueduct, for us to bet.

Check out more info on the top graded stakes races happening this weekend, plus MyBookie offers the online racebook odds for each Grade 2 and Grade 3 races.

Betting Top Horse Races: Red Smith Stakes Plus More Grade 3 Races Worth Your Thought | MyBookie Horse Racing Preview

Top Stakes Races Second Week of November: Saturday, November 11th – Sunday, November 12th, 2023

River City Stakes | Grade 3

1 3/8 miles turf – 3 year olds and up
Saturday, November 11th, 2023
Churchill Downs, Louisville, Kentucky

The Grade 3 River City should boast one of the most competitive graded race fields of the meet. George Arnold trained Cellist finished second in the Grade 3 Sycamore in the last.

Cellist will attract action, but Grade 3 Singspiel Stakes second place finisher Rockemperor is likely to go off the chalk. Rockemperor hails from the Chad Brown barn.

The 7-year-old gelding appears to be rounding back into his best form. Red Run, Smokin T, Grand Sonata, F Five, and Siege of Boston will also attract betting dollars. 

Bet River City Stakes
MyBookie Betting Lines for the Horse Races

Pebbles Stakes | Grade 3

1 mile turf – 3 year olds
Saturday, November 11th, 2023
Belmont Park, Elmont, New York

Only four right now project to run in the Grade 3 Pebbles. For sure, more will step into the starting gate, but right now, just four have committed.

Among the four, Chad Brown trained Implicated could be difficult to beat. However, Implicated likely won’t go off the chalk. Unless horses in excellent form enter, Cristophe Clement trained Silver Skillet, second in the Ticonderoga Stakes in the last, projects as the chalk.

Sacred Wish from the George Weaver barn should also break from the gate. Brown plans on entering Startup Mentality, which broke the maiden at first asking and appears to have a lot of talent.  

Bet Pebbles Stakes
MyBookie Betting Lines for the Horse Races

Red Smith Stakes | Grade 2

1 3/8 miles – 3 year olds and up
Saturday, November 11th, 2023
Aqueduct Racetrack, Queens, New York

Chad Brown trained Francesco Clemente put it all together in the last race. This might be the perfect event to back the Brown runner because if Francesco Clemente wins, the Dubawi sired runner will never again offer decent odds.

Soldier Rising, the Clement trainee, is likely to break from the gate the favorite. The Frankel sired 5-year-old gelding finished second in the Grade 1 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic in the last.

Chad Brown’s second runner in this, Faraday, will garner interest. Ghostzapper sired the 3-year-old gelding. Faraday is on a 2-race win streak after scoring victories in allowances at Saratoga and at Kentucky Downs. Brown could have a legit graded stakes horse on his hands.

Marwad, Limited Liability, and So Hard should also run. There’s a chance all three offer overlay odds.  

Bet Red Smith Stakes
MyBookie Betting Lines for the Horse Races

Long Island Stakes | Grade 3

1 3/8 miles turf – 3 year old fillies and up
Sunday, November 12th, 2023
Aqueduct Racetrack, Queens, New York

Like is often the case for graded turf stakes at Aqueduct, Chad Brown and Cristophe Clement will saddle runners in the Grade 3 Long Island. So far, Brown has said he will put the saddle on Dubawi sired Idea Generation.

The 3 year old filly finished second in the Grade 3 Waya in the last. Idea Generation could end up going off the favorite.

Clement will try to beat Chad’s runner with Amazing Grace, Atomic Blonde, and Avenue Niel. Among the three, Avenue Niel is in the best form after finishing third in an allowance at Aqueduct on October 19.

Brendan Walsh claimed R Calli Kim and bumps her up and into a graded event. If the Walsh runner steps it up, R Calli could produce a decent win payout.    

Bet Long Island Stakes
MyBookie Betting Lines for the Horse Races

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