Best Irish Horse Racing Betting Sites for 2023
Horse racing is a huge sport in Ireland and as you’d expect pretty much every bookmaker offers racing betting. Our betting experts have signed up and bet at the leading Irish bookmakers and ranked them based on your experience of betting on the horses.
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✅ WHTV for live horse racing streaming
✅ Well established and trusted brand
✅ Regular existing customer promotions
Claim a €100 Bonus
✅ Almost endless number of racing events
✅ Great signup bonus
✅ Apps for iOS and Android
Claim a 100% upto €100 Bonus
✅ Daily racing specials
✅ 'Betfinder' to create your own bet selection
✅ Well known brand for horse racing
Claim a €20 Free Bet
✅ 'Supercharged' odds on horse racing
✅ Live betting on horse racing
✅ New racing bookmaker
Claim a €40 Sports + €10 Casino Welcome Offer
✅ Great coverage of races
✅ Market leading racing app
✅ Competitive odds
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✅ Best odds guarantees on racing
✅ Cash-out function
✅ Large UK and Irish racing selection
Betting with PayPal
Top Ten Irish Horse Racing Betting Sites
Novibet
Pros
- Great welcome bonus
- Easy to use
- 24/7 customer support
Cons
- No bonuses or offers for Grand National or Cheltenham.
Great site for those new to betting on horse racing as the welcome bonus is excellent. Punters may feel that their lack of a VIP program for ongoing users does the site a disservice, but they still offer plenty of promotions to keep you interested.
bet365
Pros
- Accepts bets during live races
- Has live streaming
- Loads of bonuses and offers for horse racing betting
Cons
- Live streaming isn’t available for every race.
Bet 365 is perfect if you’re looking to bet on horse racing. They have a handy news section to help you get some background on the horses and jockeys, and they accept in-play bets while the race is ongoing. They are an extremely popular bookies, and well worth a punt.
William Hill
Pros
- Well established and trusted brand
- Streaming service via WHTV
- Fast withdrawals
Cons
- There are bigger bonuses available elsewhere
William Hill is one of the oldest bookmakers out there and they come with a wealth of experience and reliability. While there are plenty of reasons to use this site, punters may want to check out the free bonuses on other sites first. That being said, many promotions (especially welcome bonuses) usually come with a long list of terms and conditions, so you may want to forgo the seemingly attractive offers and stick with an old reliable.
888sport
Pros
- Great sign-up bonus for race betting
- Extensive range of horse racing markets
- Lots of payment methods
Cons
- Customer service isn’t always available
888sport is a firm favourite horse racing betting site. It has loads of promotions and live streams for pretty much every race. The site is easy to navigate, and the layout is easy to understand. Live streaming is generally available, and they have statistics readily available.
BetVictor
Pros
- Great daily racing specials
- Handy “betfinder” feature
- Specialists in horseracing
Cons
- You need to place a bet in order to livestream a race
Betvictor is very much aimed at horse racing betting, although they do offer bets on other sports. Their offers particularly favour racing betting, so this is a really good one to check out when looking for a horse racing betting site.
Kwiff
Pros
- Live betting
- Unique “supercharged” (or “Kwiffed”) odds
- 24/7 support
Cons
- Limited banking options
Kwiff have fantastic offers and promotions, as well as odds being “Kwiffed” seemingly at random, which is a firm favourite with users. Their live betting options are a fantastic addition, and they are fast becoming a firm favourite with punters.
Coral
Pros
- Best odds in Ireland racing
- Live streaming
- Generous welcome bonus
Cons
- No in-play betting on horse racing
Coral is another well recognised high street bookies that have transferred their excellent service online. The live streaming is high quality, but you have to have money in your account to watch.
Unibet
Pros
- Excellent coverage of horse races
- Good odds
- The racing app is one of the best around
Cons
- Their live support can be relatively slow
Unibet is one of the top horseracing betting sites, and the refer a friend feature could get you around €700, it is a good one to take a look at.
Fansbet
Pros
- Generous welcome offer
- Plenty of offers for loyal customers
- Cash out options
Cons
- New and unknown brand
Despite being new, Fansbet is already right up there with some of the more established bookies. It’s defiantly worth a look, to see how you like the format and the site. The cash out option is also a good safety net if you’re just getting started.
Ladbrokes
Pros
- Best odds guaranteed
- Allows in-play bets and cashing out
- Has a huge list of horse racing markets
Cons
- Live streaming and cash-out options aren’t available for all races.
Ladbrokes is another established brand that is trustworthy and has plenty of experience. Their results page is a testament to this, as punters can keep a track on their horse’s performance easily.
Introduction
Horse racing is one of the worlds oldest sports, and today around two in five people in Ireland have an interest in horse racing. With the rise of online bookies and live streaming horse races, people can now indulge in a little flutter on the horses without leaving the house. If you’re looking at using a horse racing betting site this article will provide all the information you need to get started.
Horse racing is a year-round sport, and there are two kinds of race; Jump Racing and Flat Racing. Both are just what they sound like, a race with jumps or a race on the flat. Generally, the top flat racing is in the summer, and jump racing is best in the winter. Whatever the race, the key factor is the horse. Even an inexperienced jockey can win on a good horse, and the best rider out there will struggle if the horse is slow. Horses are – in general – quite consistent and predictable in how well they race which makes betting on the horses interesting as it is not entirely pure luck. However, while you can make an educated guess as to how the race will go, as with all betting nothing is set in stone. There are so many factors that can affect a horse’s performance, and experienced punters know all the variables that should be considered. With all this, is it any wonder that horse racing betting sites are so popular?
Horses can run at up to 60 km per hour and are amazing animals in many ways. Experienced bettors can tell a lot about a horse just from the way it walks, its build, and demeanour. However, this doesn’t mean that they are entirely predictable. The fantastic thing about using racing sites to bet is that they have all of the horse’s statistics at your fingertips, meaning you can research the horses easily
Q&A
|
Question |
Answer |
|
What types of races are there? |
Flat or Jump |
|
Should I bet on the Jockey or the Horse? |
The quality of the horse is more important than the quality of the jockey |
|
When are the best Jump races? |
Winter |
|
When are the best Flat races? |
Summer |
|
Should I research before betting? |
If you want a higher chance of winning, yes |
A Guide to Betting on Horse Races Online
When betting online there are many factors to consider, but it can help if you are familiar with the terms and language before you dive in. In this section we’ll give you a brief overview of the types of bet you can place, as well as what to look out for in a racing betting site.
Types of Bets – Quick Guide
The first thing you’ll find when betting online is the many types of bet you can place. A lot of them are combinations of other, and it can get rather complicated, so below we’ve provided a basic guide to the types of bet you might encounter on the horse racing betting site. Bets that contain multiple bets also multiply how much you have to put down for example, if you are placing a single bet, a €1 stake will cost you €1. However, if your bet contains 57 different bets, a €1 stake will cost you €57.
|
Bet name |
Bet explained |
|
Single |
Most common bet for beginners on one horse to win one race |
|
Single Stakes About |
Place a single bet on two separate events, the second bet relies on the success of the first |
|
Double |
Two different horses to win two different races – both must win to win the bet |
|
Double Stakes About |
Similar to above, but two selections and two bets. These kinds of bets are also referred to as up-and-down bets. |
|
Treble |
Three different horses to win Three different races – both must win to win the bet |
|
Accumulator |
A bet on 4-20 horses, all must win for your bet to yield a return |
|
Trixie |
Four bets in total on three horses – 3x doubles and 1x treble. Two selections must win for you bet to be successful |
|
Patent |
Seven bets in total on three horses – 3x singles, 3x doubles, 1x treble. One selection must win to get a return |
|
Yankee |
Eleven bets on four horses. 6x doubles 4x trebles plus a fourfold accumulator |
|
Alphabet |
Twenty-six bets on six different horses |
|
Lucky 15 |
The same as the Yankee but with the addition of x4 singles. |
|
Canadian |
Twenty-six bets on five horses |
|
Lucky 31 |
Thirty-one bets on five horses |
|
Heinz |
Fifty-seven bets on six horses |
|
Lucky 63 |
Sixty-three bets on six horses |
|
Super Heinz |
One hundred and twenty bets on seven horses |
|
Goliath |
Two hundred and forty-seven bets on eight horses |
|
Round Robin |
Ten bets on three horses |
|
Flag |
Similar to the Round Robin, but twenty-three bets on four horses |
|
Super Flag |
Forty-six bets on five |
|
Super Heinz Flag |
One hundred and sixty-two bets on seven horses |
|
Goliath Flag |
Three hundred and three bets on eight horses |
|
Each-way |
This means that you bet that the horse will come in the top three – also called “place.” |
|
Forecast |
Bet on two horses in one race, your selection must come first and second place |
|
Reverse Forecast |
Pick two horses that will place first and second. |
|
Combination Forecast |
Pick three horses, and two must finish first and second place |
|
Tricast |
Pick the horses you think will win first second, and third position |
|
Combination Tricast |
Pick the three horses that will cross the finish line first, without determining the order |
|
Match Bet |
Place a bet on both outcomes to guarantee a win |
|
Placepot |
A pool bet where you pick six horses who you think will place in their respective races. |
|
Jackpot |
The same as the placepot except your chosen six have to win their races. |
How to Choose a Horse Racing Betting Site
When looking for a site to use when betting on horses, there are a few things you’ll what to look out for. At the end of this article, we have listed out top ten sites, but there are some boxes you’ll defiantly want ticked before you deposit with a site.
- Promotions and offers – All betting sites offer bonuses or promotions of some kind, although different sites tend to favour different things. Some will offer free spins for the casino; others will give free bets on football matches. You’ll want to look out for those sites that favour horse racing in their free offers. You can usually find this out by exploring the site itself, but checking reviews is also an option.
- Good odds – Many sites will state that they guarantee the best odds, but what does this mean? Horse racing odds are determined depending on the amount of money bet on each horse and each race plus the percentage the bookie wants to keep. This means odds can fluctuate right up until the start of the race. You can check the odds with different sites to determine which are offering better odds, but basically the more popular sites can give better odds than the smaller ones.
- Live streaming – The fun of betting on a horse race is watching it, right? Ok, well it might actually be winning the money, but watching the race is fun too. Most sites live stream horse races, which is great for watching how your bet is doing. Finding a site with a good live stream can keep you up to date with the action.
- Cash out options – if you’re watching a race and your chosen horse falls right out of the gate, its nice to be able to get a bit of money back. Having a cash out option during races can mean the difference between losing a bit and losing a lot!
- News updates – sites with live racing news updates can save you time scrawling through the internet. You’ll want a site that has “everything under one roof” so to speak.
Popular Events
Now you’ve got to grips with the types of bets, you just need to choose an event. Of course, the best thing about betting online is that there are no restrictions as to when you can bet, and you will have access to races worldwide. That being said, there are many important racing events that you won’t want to miss. Here are our top picks of events that will be covered by all the top horse racing betting sites, and most will also provide live stream coverage of the event.
Punchestown Festival
Punchestown racecourse is known internationally as being the home of jump racing, also known as National Hunt, in Ireland. Of all the racing events that take place at Punchestown, this one is the biggest. The event takes place in April, starting on a Tuesday and running through until the following Saturday. It is full of exciting races such as the Punchestown Gold Cup, Champion Hurdle, Champion Chase, and the Tattersalls Ireland Champion Novice Hurdle.
The Curragh Derby Festival
As ‘Curragh’ means the place of the running horse, it should come as no surprise that the Curragh racetrack is world-renowned. The venue hosts all five Irish Classic Races and is also home to the second day of the Longines Irish Champions Weekend. The Curragh Derby is usually held around the end of June or beginning of July, and it is easily Ireland’s most glamourous horse racing festival. This three-day festival offers the biggest prize in Irish horse racing, and the rich and famous come from far and wide just to be seen at this event. Now, you can feel part of the action from the comfort of your sofa thanks to the numerous horse racing betting sites that cover the race.
Galway Summer Festival
This weeklong event starts on the last Monday of July, and it’s a firm favourite with and race goers and online punters. In fact, many deem this event to be “unmissable” The festival sees seven days of racing action, including the Galway Hurdle Handicap and the Galway Plate Chase Handicap. To many, this festival is one of the most iconic race meetings worldwide.
The Listowel Harvest Festival
Horses have been raced at Listowel since 1858, and there are many events held here including a two-day festival in June. But one of the longest and most prestigious is the Harvest Festival. This event usually takes place around mid-September and lasts seven days. There are plenty of races to bet on, but the highlight is the Kerry National Chase handicap that is always held on the Wednesday.
Fairyhouse Easter Festival
This is one of the most anticipated events in the Irish racing calendar. In 2023, it will take place from Saturday the 8th to Monday the 10th of April. While there are races spanning the entire three days, bookmakers and punters alike will be focusing on Easter Monday, as this is when the BoyleSports Irish Grand National takes place. One horse racing site, Unibet, has stated that this meeting is one of the most popular events each year. The charm of this event is down to the many memorable occasions that have happened over the years and the parade of legendary horses that have raced there such as Desert Orchid, Brown Lad, Arkle, Bobbyjo, Commanche Court, and Organisedconfusion.
Some Horses to Watch Out For
So now you have some ideas about how and when to bet, now you just have to decide which horse to bet on. Here is a brief list of horses that you might want to watch out for in 2023. However, it’s always worth doing your own research. Following our recommendations, or anyone else’s for that matter, is never a guarantee of a win. No matter how sure you are of a win, you should always gamble responsibly and never wager more than you can afford to lose.
Tudor City
Trainer: AJ Martin. Owner: John Breslin
|
Runs |
4 |
|
1st place |
2 |
|
2nd place |
0 |
|
3rd place |
0 |
|
4th place |
1 |
|
Win Money |
€171,600 |
|
Place Money |
€2,250 |
|
Total Prize Money |
€173,850 |
Hewick
Trainer: John Joseph Hanlon. Owner TJ McDonald
|
Runs |
3 |
|
1st place |
1 |
|
2nd place |
1 |
|
3rd place |
0 |
|
4th place |
0 |
|
Win Money |
€162,000 |
|
Place Money |
€6,000 |
|
Total Prize Money |
€168,000 |
Busselton
Trainer: Joseph Patrick O’Brien. Owner Michael Hilary Burke
|
Runs |
2 |
|
1st place |
1 |
|
2nd place |
1 |
|
3rd place |
0 |
|
4th place |
0 |
|
Win Money |
€120,000 |
|
Place Money |
€16,000 |
|
Total Prize Money |
€136,000 |
Easy Game
Trainer: WP Mullins. Owner: Nicholas Peacock
|
Runs |
6 |
|
1st place |
5 |
|
2nd place |
0 |
|
3rd place |
0 |
|
4th place |
0 |
|
Win Money |
€83,700 |
|
Place Money |
€0 |
|
Total Prize Money |
€83,750 |
Prairie Dancer
Trainer: Joseph Patrick O’Brien. Owner: Sean Sweeney/Kieran O’Hare
|
Runs |
6 |
|
1st place |
3 |
|
2nd place |
1 |
|
3rd place |
1 |
|
4th place |
0 |
|
Win Money |
€50,400 |
|
Place Money |
€30,200 |
|
Total Prize Money |
€80,600 |
The great thing about using horse racing betting sites is that you will be able to easily access all the statistics about the horses in the race. Along with latest news, weather updates, and information about the jockey, most sites will have all the information that you need to make an informed choice.
