Betting on racing in Britain can be a lot different to punting in Australia, but our British horse racing tips will help you work out all the key factors. We’ve detailed the top races and venues for you. We identify the main differences between horse racing bets in Britain and Australia and we’ll tell you how to bet on and watch British racing while answering your most important questions.
Top British Horse Races
Britain has a very strong programme of horse racing in both flat and National Hunt codes. While ‘Glorious Goodwood’ and the classic meetings are naturally huge, these three races and festivals remain the biggest of all:
Royal Ascot
Royal Ascot is the centrepiece of the British flat racing season. The royal meeting is staged in mid-to-late June each year.
Hosted over five days, Royal Ascot features no less than 35 races, eight of which are at Group 1 level. Events such as the Queen Anne Stakes, the King’s Stand, the Prince of Wales’s Stakes and the Gold Cup help to determine the champions of a given year for each division.
Our Royal Ascot betting tips are there to help you make the most of betting on this infamous race.
Grand National
The top race during a three-day festival at Aintree near Liverpool, the Grand National is huge. Britain’s biggest betting event and longest horse race, the Grand National is when punters, horse racing tipsters, media and all horsemen reach a peak for the year.
The Grand National is a National Hunt (jumps) event. The race is run over 4¼ miles, with 40 runners taking on 30 fences over two laps of the track. ‘The National’ can produce more than $900 million in betting turnover in Britain alone.
If you’re wanting to try your hand at betting on the Grand National, check out our Grand National betting tips.
Cheltenham Festival
The Cheltenham Festival is another huge jumps event. Staged over four days with a fifth to be added soon, Cheltenham racecourse features nearly all of the National Hunt’s major championship races for the British National Hunt season.
Take a look at our Cheltenham betting tips to find out more about how to bet on this historical British horse race.
Top British Horse Racing Tracks
Ascot
Ascot hosts not only the royal meeting in June but also the crucial Champions Day in October.
Cheltenham
The home of National Hunt racing, Cheltenham’s main meeting is the Festival each March, although other top meetings are hosted there throughout the winter months.
Goodwood
‘Glorious Goodwood’ is the main draw here. A five-day meeting held in July/August, the Glorious meeting is akin to Royal Ascot in that it features championship races staged over five days.
Newmarket
Known colloquially as ‘HQ’, Newmarket is the centre for training in Britain. Both the July Course and the Rowley Mile are in action throughout the flat season, with Newmarket hosting two of Britain’s five classic races.
York
Easily the best track in the north of the country, York is arguably the best-loved of them all. The Juddmonte International Stakes, staged in August, has been rated as the best quality horse race on the planet on more than one occasion.
What Are the Main Differences Between British and Australian Racing?
Ostensibly, flat racing is the same game in both countries. The differences are fairly subtle, though the two cultures differ a little more in terms of betting.
Tips are sought in Australia mostly for major events such as the Melbourne Cup. Similarly, British horse racing tips are at their most desired for the Grand National, Cheltenham and Royal Ascot.
In Australia, pari-mutuel or ‘pool’ betting is much more popular than in the UK. Even in non-pool betting, the decimal system is desired, while the fractional fixed-odds market dominates in Britain.
As long as you know how to read the various odds available, then making use of your racing tips and getting a bet on is just as simple in both territories.
The other major differences relate to weight and distances. Australia relies on the metric system. This way, racing weights are listed in kg’s, and race distances are given in metres.
In Britain, weights are shown in stones and pounds, with race distances measured in miles, furlongs and yards.
How to Bet on British Racing in Australia
While pool-style betting may still be available, the best way to bet is via the traditional fractional odds system. British racing is run this way. You’ll get the best value for your horse racing tips betting like the Brits.
So, make sure you go for a good international bookie that offers regular fractional odds on racing.
Which Bookmakers Can You Bet on British Horse Racing With?
The best way to get value on your British horse racing tips is with an international bookmaker. Many of the biggest names started out in Britain, with most still based there.
Odds are available every day on British racing with Ladbrokes, William Hill in particular.
Where Can You Find American Horse Racing Results?
As well as British horse racing tips, many punters look out for major American racing. Meetings such as the Kentucky Derby or the Breeders’ Cup remain hugely important on the international scene.
All major bookmakers carry results of American racing, while major American-based sites including usracing.com, drf.com (Daily Racing Form), twinspires.com and equibase.com have all the information you’ll need.
How to Watch British Horse Racing Live?
Some TV channels do cover British racing live, especially during the major meetings. On a daily basis, however, your best bet may be live streaming.
Many top bookmakers, especially UK-based, specialise in live streaming. Racing from all tracks in Britain and Ireland is available via this service.
Live streaming takes care of everything. It’s not all about Ascot, Newmarket and Goodwood, as races from Wolverhampton, Musselburgh, Thirsk and many others are all beamed live to punters in Australia and beyond.
The main thing to look out for with streaming is the likely attached mandatory bet. Most firms will require you to place a minimum $1 bet on a race in order to watch it live, but the quality is first-class and comes complete with commentary, the feed taken directly from either Sky Sports Racing or Racing TV.
Live Betting Disclaimer: Please note: due to the Interactive Gambling Act in Australia, any form of live betting cannot be conducted online. Play betting can only be conducted via telephone.
FAQ
Your most important questions answered about British horse racing tips.
Yes. Horse racing is the second most bet on and watched sport in the country after soccer. The Grand National is Britain’s single biggest betting event of any type.
The Grand National. Once staged over 4½ miles (7200 metres), the race is now run over 4¼ miles or 6800 metres.
The St Leger at Doncaster. The oldest and longest classic race, the St Leger was first run in 1776.
The five British classics are; the 2000 Guineas, 1000 Guineas, the Oaks, the Derby and the St Leger.
Other major horse racing tips outside the UK
If you are looking for more tips on horse races outside the UK, you should also consider horse races in the following countries:
