Horse racing is one of the most popular sports in the world, and it’s a sport that lives hand-in-hand with betting. Several types of horse racing bets are available, each with its own rules and potential payouts.
Understanding the different types of horse racing bets is crucial for punters looking to maximise their winnings and enjoy the excitement of horse racing.
Our list below combines the most common types of horse bets you’ll likely come across and gives a brief overview of how each works.
32 Types of Horse Bets
Single – The most common horse racing bet type, a straight win bet placed on a horse to win a specific race.
Each-Way – An each-way bet is, in essence, two bets in one where half of your stake goes on the horse to win, and the other half goes on the horse to place. It costs double that of a traditional win bet and sees a return if the selection wins or is placed. An example could be £5 each-way on Jonbon to win the Arkle – this bet would cost £10 in total.
Double – A bet on two horses in two different races, requiring both selections to win for a return.
Treble – A bet on three horses in three different races, requiring all three selections to win for a return.
Accumulator – A bet with four or more selections, requiring all selections to win for a return.
Trixie – A bet with three selections and four bets – three doubles and a treble. A minimum of two selections must win for a return.
Patent – A Patent is a bet with three selections and seven bets – three singles, three doubles, and one treble. It is equivalent to a Trixie but with the addition of three singles.
Yankee – A bet with four selections and 11 bets – six doubles, four trebles, and a fourfold. A minimum of two selections must win for a return.
Lucky 15 – A bet with four selections and 15 bets – four singles, six doubles, four trebles, and a fourfold. Equivalent to a Yankee but with four singles, and only one selection must win for a return.
Canadian – Also known as a Super Yankee, a bet on five selections consisting of 26 bets – ten doubles, ten trebles, five fourfolds, and a five-fold accumulator. Two selections must win to see a return.
Lucky 31 – A bet with five selections covered with 31 bets – five singles, ten doubles, ten trebles, five fourfolds, and one fivefold. Only one selection must win for a return.
Heinz – A six-selection bet consisting of 57 bets – 15 doubles, 20 trebles, 15 four-folds, six five-folds, and one six-fold accumulator. Two winning selections are required to see a return.
Lucky 63 – A bet with six selections and 63 bets – six singles, 15 doubles, 20 trebles, 15 four-folds, six five-folds, and one six-fold accumulator. One winning selection will see you receive a return.
Super Heinz – A bet on seven selections consisting of 120 bets – 21 doubles, 35 trebles, 35 fourfolds, 21 five-folds, seven six-folds, and a seven-fold accumulator. Two selections must win for a return.
Goliath – A bet on eight selections consisting of 247 bets – 28 doubles, 56 trebles, 70 four-folds, 56 five-folds, 28 six-folds, eight seven-folds, and an eight-fold accumulator. Two selections must win for a return.
Alphabet – A bet on six selections consisting of 26 bets – two patents (14 bets), one Yankee (11 bets), and a six-fold accumulator (one bet).
Single Stakes About – An Any To Come bet consisting of two selections from events, producing two bets derived from two singles. Any return on each single funds another single on the other selection.
Double Stakes About – An Any To Come bet consisting of two selections in different events, producing two bets derived from two singles. Any return on each single, up to double the original stake amount, funds another single on the other selection.
Round Robin – A three-selection wager consisting of ten bets – three doubles, one treble, and three up-and-down single stakes about pairs.
Flag – A wager comprising six doubles, four trebles, one four-fold, and six up-and-down single stakes about pairs.
Super Flag – Comprised of five selections wagered as ten doubles, ten trebles, five fourfolds, one five-fold and ten Up-And-Down single stakes about pairs.
Super Heinz Flag – This bet consists of 21 doubles, 35 trebles, 35 four-folds, 21 five-folds, seven six-folds, one seven-fold, and 21 Up-And-Down single stakes about pairs.
Goliath Flag – A bet with eight selections split into 28 doubles, 56 trebles, 70 four=folds, 56 five-folds, 28 six-folds, eight seven-folds, one eight-fold, and 28 Up-And-Down single stakes about pairs.
Union Jack – A type of bet consisting of eight trebles that requires nine selections to be arranged in a 3×3 grid, forming three horizontal trebles, three vertical trebles, and two diagonal trebles.
Jackpot – Pick the winner of the first six races at a selected meeting each day. With a minimum guaranteed pool of £10,000 each day, it’s your chance to win big for a small stake. Permutation betting offers more chance to win and is available on the Jackpot where you can select more than one horse in each race. Perm bets will cost more depending on the number of selections. To calculate the cost of a perm bet, simply multiply the number of selections by each other. For example, 1x1x3x2x1x3 = 18 bets. Then calculate your total stake by multiplying the number of bets by your unit stake. For example, 18 bets x £1 = £18.
Placepot – A popular bet where you select a horse in each of the first six races at a specific racecourse on a single day. If your selected horse finishes in the placings, you win a share of the prize pool.
Quadpot – Just like the Placepot but on less races, pick a placed horse in races 3-6. Available at all UK and Irish meetings, every day. The number of placed horses in a race depends on how many runners there are. Races with 4 or less runners – win only. 5-7 runners – 1st and 2nd. 8 or more runners – 1st, 2nd and 3rd. Handicap with 16 or more runners – 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th. Permutation betting offers more chance to win and is available on the Quadpot where you can select more than one horse in each race. Perm bets will cost more depending on the number of selections. To calculate the cost of a perm bet, simply multiply the number of selections by each other. For example, 2x1x4x1x1x2 = 16 bets. Then calculate your total stake by multiplying the number of bets by your unit stake. For example, 16 bets x £2 = £32.
Forecast – A bet that involves correctly predicting the finishing order of the horses in first and second place in a race.
Reverse Forecast – A type of bet where you select two horses to finish first and second but not in a specific order.
Exacta – An Exacta is essentially the same bet as a Forecast but paid to a Tote declared dividend.
Tricast – A Tricast is similar to a Forecast but sees you correctly predicting the finishing order of the first three horses in a race
Ante Post Betting – A bet placed before a race has started, often months in advance and can see you receive far larger odds than you would on the race day.
Swinger – One bet, two horses, three ways to win. Simply pick two horses to finish 1st, 2nd or 3rd in any order. Collect if your selections finish 1st and 2nd, 1st and 3rd or 2nd and 3rd. So, you can win with the Swinger without even picking a winner. Available on all UK races with six or more runners.
Tips & Advice for Punters Looking to Make Successful Bets
For those seeking success in horse racing betting, a nuanced approach is key. Begin with thorough form analysis; for example, a horse consistently finishing in the top three over similar distances and conditions is a solid bet. Track conditions dramatically influence outcomes; a horse that excels on soft ground at Ascot might struggle on firmer surfaces. Diversifying bet types, such as combining win and place bets, can mitigate risks. Smart bankroll management, like allocating only 2-3% of your bankroll per bet, preserves funds over time. Additionally, following expert tips and race trends can provide insights beyond basic statistics. Lastly, always consider the horse’s draw, as certain tracks have biases that can affect the race outcome.
Research the horse form
For punters looking to place profitable horse racing bets, several tips and advice can help increase your chances of winning. First, it’s essential to research each race and horse before placing a bet – this includes studying each horse’s form and any relevant news or updates regarding their well-being.
Compare Bookmaker Odds
Comparing bookmaker odds is important in horse betting because it allows you to find the best value for your bets. Bookmakers set odds for each horse based on their perceived chances of winning the race. These odds are essentially a prediction of the probability of a horse winning.
By comparing the odds from different bookmakers, you can identify discrepancies in their predictions. For example, one bookmaker may have a horse at 3/1 odds, while another bookmaker may have the same horse at 4/1 odds. This indicates that one bookmaker believes the horse is more likely to win than the other. By finding the best odds, you can increase your potential payout if your bet is successful.
Stick to your budget
Additionally, setting a budget and sticking to it can prevent overspending and limit potential losses.