Did you know there are hundreds of horse raci ng festivals around the world each year? It’s a popular sport for many reasons – there’s fast-paced action, it provides a great day out and it’s ideal for betting.
A recent survey from YouGov states that horse racing is comfortably the second most popular betting sport in the UK, slotting in behind football and ahead of golf. Each year, more people are keen to bet on the horses and attend some of the best horse racing festivals around the country.
We know what you’re thinking: how do you get involved? Keep reading to see an introduction to betting on the biggest horse racing festivals in the UK.
Find A Reliable Online Bookmaker With Great Odds
Before you place a bet, look for a reliable online bookie to provide some excellent odds. Many of the traditional British betting sites have limited odds on the horses, so consider looking elsewhere. There’s a list of non-GamStop horse racing sites on BettingNonGamStop with very competitive odds on every UK horse racing festival.
Once you’ve picked a site, it’s time to figure out which events to bet on. We recommend trying to attend them in person to get the full effect. It’s far more enjoyable to bet on the races when you’re there watching with friends.
Attend The Top 3 British Horse Racing Festivals
There are more than three horse racing festivals in the UK, but we’ve picked out the three best places to go for a great time and some wonderful bets:
- Cheltenham Festival
- The Grand National
- Royal Ascot
Cheltenham Festival – March
After a long winter without racing, Cheltenham signals the true start to the horse racing season. It’s held in March every year, normally on the weekend of St Patrick’s Day. Ireland has always had a close affinity with horse racing, so the two go hand in hand perfectly.
As a result, Cheltenham offers a true festival experience. Half the time you forget there are races as everyone’s having a great time drinking and singing songs. The Jockey Club notes that there’s no formal dress code in place here, so you can wear whatever you want. Lots of fans like organising fancy dress with friends – so why don’t you give this a go?
The Grand National – April
Even people without the slightest interest in horse racing have heard about The Grand National. It comes a few weeks after Cheltenham and is a massive event. Hundreds of thousands of people flock here each year to watch one of the most exciting and unpredictable races on the calendar.
If you’re looking for a sneaky gambling strategy, The Grand National is a brilliant event to bet on. You can put a little wager on one of the outside favourites and stand a huge chance of winning. It’s such a long race with so many jumps; anything can happen. Try to attend on Ladies’ Day if you can – it’s when everyone dresses to the nines in their fanciest clothes, so it’ll be a very unique experience!
Royal Ascot – June
Held at the start of summer, the Royal Ascot is a celebrity-filled horse racing festival. The Royal Family are regularly in attendance and it can sometimes feel like you’re at a fashion show.
It’s an outstanding event to witness as there are so many different races on a plethora of tracks. From a betting perspective, this means you’ve got plenty of chances to win money.
Place The Right Horse Racing Bets
If you’ve never bet on the horses before, you instinctively go to place a single bet. This means you pick a horse to win an event and slap some money on it. Some of the football fans out there might do an accumulator, selecting multiple horses to win all the different races at an event.
Neither of these stands a good chance of winning! Horse racing is so unpredictable and the slightest stumble or trip can ruin a jockey’s race. It’s never a good idea to place single bets or accumulators on their own.
A much better tactic is to choose one of these two bet types:
- Each-Way – This bet effectively helps you make two predictions. Money is wagered on your horse winning the race, but half of your stake is put on them placing. For example, you put a £10 each-way (£20 total) on a horse to win the race or finish in the top three. If they win, you collect winnings for both bets. If they don’t win – but finish in the top three – you still win money.
- Lucky 15 – Arguably the most popular bet amongst horse racing fans. This means you make four selections across different races, and 15 bets are placed in total. Four singles, six doubles, four trebles and a fourfold. If one of your selections wins, you get a return.
Both bet types increase the chances of winning, making every race more exciting. Armed with this knowledge, you can now head out there and start betting on the best horse racing festivals in the UK!
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