Welcome to your comprehensive guide to horse racing betting sites in Australia! The team at AustralianBettingSites.net.au have been around the horse racing industry for decades and we are ready to impart our wisdom. Everything you need to know about the best betting sites for horse racing can be found here.
Horse Betting Sites Australia
Our Top 3 Trusted Horse Betting Sites Australia
In Australia, you are really spoiled for choice when it comes to the best online horse betting sites. However, not all horse racing betting sites in Australia are created equally! So, we have gone through some of the most popular race betting sites, ranking them based on several different factors and here are our top five choices.
PlayUp
Betting sites don’t get much better than PlayUp, especially for horse racing betting! Their racing features, like the best tote+ starting price, are one of the biggest drawcards for racing bettors. They also have a heap of racing promotions that help you get more bang for your buck when betting on racing events.
Pros
- Best tote+
- Competitive racing odds
- 24/7 customer service
Cons
- Not as many markets as others
Unibet
If you’re on the go a lot, then you’ll need one of the best betting apps going around and Unibet certainly fits the bill. They offer some of the biggest ranges of racing markets in Australia and you can stream horse racing live. Their features, like promotions like dead heat payout and protest payout, are also much-loved by racing bettors.
Pros
- Dead heat payout & protest payout
- Live streaming
- Huge range of racing markets
Cons
- Not as many unique promotions
Bet365
Bet365 is probably one of the most well-known bookmakers in the world and they operate in Australia as well. They are stacked with some of the best horse racing features in the market including very competitive odds, heaps of horse racing markets, daily promotions, live streaming and more.
Pros
- Daily racing promotions
- Live streaming for racing events
- Heaps of racing markets
Cons
- Known to ban winning customers
Tips for Choosing the Best Betting Sites for Horse Racing
We’ve listed some of the best horse racing websites in Australia above, just for you. But how exactly did we go about choosing those betting sites as the best for horse racing? Well, there are several different factors we look into before deciding just how good a betting site is.
Some of the key factors we look into include:
- Competitive Odds - You would have seen “competitive odds” mentioned a lot in the previous section. We believe that the odds are one of, if not the most, important factors. Different bookies will likely offer different odds for the same runners, so we look to see if each bookie is offering better odds more often than not
- Betting Apps - Bettors should have the option to use a highly-optimised app when they are out and about. Even when bettors have access to a computer, many still choose to use their phones due to the ease of use provided. Having a fast-loading and intuitive app is essential
- Range of Markets - We also look into the range of racing markets available when reviewing betting sites. The best online horse racing betting sites will always have an eye-watering range of markets available across both domestic and international races
- Live Streaming - Some of the betting sites for horse racing will offer live streaming for a range of racing events. It can be quite expensive to purchase the rights for live horse racing streaming, so not all of the best horse racing sites are able to offer this, but there are a handful of sites in Australia that do
- Responsible Gambling Tools - Gambling should be a fun experience for everyone and responsible gambling tools help ensure the experience remains an enjoyable and safe one. Features like deposit limits, self-exclusion and session limits should be available.
Full Horse Racing Guide
Horse racing as a sport is quite unique and there are a lot of little quirks that you should understand before you start betting. If you are new to the world of horse racing or are due for a refresher, this is the section for you! We will guide you through different key aspects of horse racing in Australia, like the different bet types available and the biggest racing events.
Horse Racing Bet Types
Bet Type | Description |
Win |
When you place a win bet, you are putting money on one specific horse to win the race. |
Place |
When you place a place bet, you are putting money on one specific horse to finish top three in the race (as long as there are eight or more runners). |
Each-Way |
If you’re not sure if a runner will win the race, you can place an each-way bet. This is where you place an equal bet amount on one runner to win and finish top three. |
Exacta |
Here, you pick two horses that you think will finish first and second in the race (in the correct order). |
Quinella |
Similar to the exacta, except this time, the two runners you selected can finish in any order (as long as it is in the top two). |
Trifecta |
With the trifecta, you are picking which horses you think will finish in the top three, in the correct order. If you “box” your trifecta, then the runners you select can finish in any order. |
First Four |
Similar to the trifecta, except this time you have to pick the top four horses in the race. Again, you can “box” your first four, but the potential payout won’t be as high. |
Quadrella (Quaddie) |
The quaddie is where you select which horse you think will win the race across the last four races of the card. You can choose more than one winner per race, but the more runners you select, the lower your return will be. |
Treble |
The treble is similar to the quaddie, except you only have to pick the winner of three designated races. |
Double |
The double is another step down from the treble and here you have to pick the winner from two pre-assigned races. |
When you place a win bet, you are putting money on one specific horse to win the race.
When you place a place bet, you are putting money on one specific horse to finish top three in the race (as long as there are eight or more runners).
Each-Way
If you’re not sure if a runner will win the race, you can place an each-way bet. This is where you place an equal bet amount on one runner to win and finish top three.
Here, you pick two horses that you think will finish first and second in the race (in the correct order).
Similar to the exacta, except this time, the two runners you selected can finish in any order (as long as it is in the top two).
Trifecta
With the trifecta, you are picking which horses you think will finish in the top three, in the correct order. If you “box” your trifecta, then the runners you select can finish in any order.
First Four
Similar to the trifecta, except this time you have to pick the top four horses in the race. Again, you can “box” your first four, but the potential payout won’t be as high.
Quadrella (Quaddie)
The quaddie is where you select which horse you think will win the race across the last four races of the card. You can choose more than one winner per race, but the more runners you select, the lower your return will be.
Treble
The treble is similar to the quaddie, except you only have to pick the winner of three designated races.
Double
The double is another step down from the treble and here you have to pick the winner from two pre-assigned races.
Main Horse Racing Events in Australia
There is no shortage of epic horse racing events in Australia, that’s for sure! All throughout the year, racing fans are treated to high-quality racing. On the racing calendar, there are over 100 key races in Australia each year, but some certainly draw more attention than others.
Some of the biggest horse racing events of the year in Australia include:
- Melbourne Cup - Known in Australia (and right around the world) as the “race that stops the nation. The Melbourne Cup is raced on the first Tuesday of November each year at Flemington Racecourse over a distance of 3,200m and is worth $7,750,000.
- Victoria Derby - The Victoria Derby is also run at Flemington Racecourse during Melbourne’s Spring Racing Carnival. The race takes place the Saturday before the Melbourne Cup, is raced over a distance of 2,500m and is worth $2 million.
- Cox Plate - The Cox Plate is run each year at Moonee Valley Racecourse and is part of Melbourne’s Spring Racing Carnival. It is run over a distance of 2,040m and is worth $5 million in prize money.
- Caulfield Cup - The Caulfield Cup is also part of Melbourne’s Spring Racing Carnival and it takes place each year at Caulfield Racecourse. It is raced over a distance of 2,400m and there is a mammoth $5 million worth of prize money up for grabs.
- The Everest - The Everest is a slot-based race where there are 12 slot owners and those owners get to choose which runner they want to race in their slot. It is raced at Randwick Racecourse during Sydney’s Spring Racing Carnival and there is $20 million in prize money available.
- Golden Slipper - The Golden Slipper forms part of the Autumn Racing Carnival in Sydney and is run over a distance of 1,200m. There is also a sizable $5 million worth of prize money on the line.
- Doncaster Mile - The Doncaster Mile is the highlight of what is known as Day One of The Championships at Randwick Racecourse. It is raced over a distance of 1,600m and there is $4 million in prize money.
- Queen Elizabeth Stakes - The Queen Elizabeth Stakes is the key race on Day Two of The Championships during Sydney’s Autumn Racing Carnival. It is raced over a distance of 2,000m and there is $5 million in prize money.
Horse Racing Bonus Bets
Betting bonuses in horse racing is always a much-talked-about topic, especially when it comes to Melbourne Cup betting. The laws around bonus bets in Australia have changed a lot over the years and these days, betting sites aren’t able to offer sign-up inducements (i.e. bonus bets) for new customers.
The rules change once an individual has signed up though and bettors can get their hands on all sorts of promotions and bonus bets. This is why you’ll notice that you can’t see any promotions on each betting site’s website if you aren’t logged in. Once you have logged in, you can see all the different bonuses and promotions that are available to you!
Horse Racing Tips & Best Bets
With so much horse racing action all year round, make sure AustralianBettingSites is your go-to resource for all the best horse racing tips and best bets. We have every aspect covered, from your weekly Wednesday tips to your Melbourne Cup tips and everything in between.
We also make sure we’re always on the lookout for the best new horse betting sites in Australia. This means you can get the best deals and utilise the best racing features when placing your bets based on our horse racing tips and best bets.
Horse Racing Betting Sites FAQs
What is the best online horse betting site?
Some of the best horse racing betting sites include the likes of PlayUp, Unibet, Betfocus, BoomBet and Bet365. These betting sites aren’t just great for horse racing betting, either. If you’re looking for tennis betting, NRL betting or AFL betting, they are also great options!
Where can I bet on Australian horse racing?
Any Australian bookie will offer horse racing markets, so you have a lot of options. Remember, not every online betting site is created equal, so make sure you read our reviews to see which one is best for you.
What is the most popular horse racing bet?
There are a few betting sites for horse racing that are quite popular both in Australia and around the world. The likes of Unibet and Bet365 are popular on an international level and have a stack of racing features that bettors love.
How to bet on horse racing online?
The process of betting on horse racing online is easy. After you’ve chosen your bookie and signed up/ logged in. Go to the specific race you are looking for. Select the runner/ market of your choice. Then, that option will be displayed in your bet slip. Choose your stake amount and then confirm your bet.
Can you bet on horses on your phone?
Yes! All the best horse betting sites in Australia will offer betting apps, or you can even bet through their mobile website as well. This means that if you are on the go and want to place some horse racing bets, you can do so with ease.
What types of bets are available for Australian horse racing?
There are a few different bet types available at horse racing betting sites. Some of the most popular bet types include win, place, each-way, quinella, exacta, trifecta, first four and quaddie. Most betting sites will offer a similar range of bet types for horse racing.