Experience the Thrill of Horse Racing at Bally Casino

Horse racing is one of the most popular sports here in the UK. And, with epic Spring festivals like Cheltenham and Aintree fast approaching, there's no better time to dive into the action at Bally Casino. 

Don't sweat it if you're a rookie, though. We've got you covered with all you need to know before joining the fun. We're talking everything from horse bets to reading your race card. 

Go on, keep scrolling to find out more. 

What is horse racing?

Let's start from the top. Horse racing isn't just about fancy hats and days out in the sunshine (though those are nice perks). It's also one of the oldest and most thrilling sports in the world, featuring thoroughbred horses sprinting toward victory while fans cheer, yell and place bets on who they think will win. 

The basic concept? Folks – called jockeys in this industry – ride horses at full speed over a set distance, aiming to be the first across the finish line. It's as simple as that. 

Types of horse races 

There are two types of horse races available in the UK: Flat racing and Jump racing. Back in the U.S., Flat racing reigns supreme, but both types are fan favourites here in the UK & Ireland – and it's easy to see why. 

See, Flat racing runs during one part of the year, while Jump racing runs for the rest of the year – meaning y'all can enjoy horse racing all year round. 

Jump racing takes place during the National Hunt season (October – April), when the air is crisp and the ground soft. Expect long distances, plenty of jumping of hurdles or fences and some falls. 

Flat racing takes over when the weather starts warming up at the end of March and ends in November. Unlike Jump racing, there aren't any hurdles involved in Flat racing. Just horses running as fast as they can along a track. 

Prefer one type of horse race over the other? No problem.  Some Jump meetings still take place over the Summer, with some all-weather flat events in the Winter. 

Horse racing odds 

With so many different ways to bet on horse racing available, knowing where to start is no small challenge. But don't think we're going to let our buds dive in without a helping hand! Nuh-uh. 

There are two main bet types to know: singles and multiples.  

Single bets 

These are your simplest forms of horse bets. 'Singles' are when you only bet on one race at a time. If you're new to horse racing, then this is the bet type you'll want to kick things off with. 

Here's some lingo you might come across when playing around with single bets.
 

• Win - Back the victorious horse to land a payout. Talk about revolutionary. 
• Each Way – Half your bet goes on the horse winning, the rest goes on it finishing in one of the top positions. Consider this a safety net for those who aren't keen on commitment. 
• SP – AKA 'Starting Price'. Back a horse to win, but you won't know the odds until the race begins. 
• Ante-Post - Got an eye on a horse for a future event? We offer odds months in advance on select horse racing events, so you might get a bigger price than the day of the race. But, if your horse doesn't run, then that's that.  

Multiple bets 

Mutliple bets (or 'multis') are for fans who want even more thrills. Forget just betting on one race, with multis there are even more betting options available. 

Bet on more races? Sure thing. More horses? You got it. Y'all can even combine different bets into one. 

• Double - Wager on a horse in two separate races. Both of them must win if you're to pocket a prize. 
• Treble - Three horses. Same deal as a Double bet - all three horses need to win for you to win. 
• Accumulator - Feeling bold? Accumulators can have as many selections as you like, but they've all got to win. 
• Trixie - We're getting to the fancier wagers now. A Trixie is made up of three selections and four bets - three doubles and a treble. Land at least two winners to win some cash. 
• Yankee - The next level up from the Trixie. Yankee bets have four selections that combine to make 11 bets in total, which are made of six Doubles, four Trebles and a fourfold accumulator. 
• Lucky 15 – Like a Yankee bet, but the four selections are backed as Single bets too. 
• Canadian - The Canadian multiple bet has a total of 26 wagers from five selections. Place 10 doubles, 10 trebles, five fourfold accumulators and one fivefold accumulator for your chance to win some bucks. 
• Forecast - Predict which horses will hit the line first and second in that exact order.  
• Tricast - Want to add another selection to your forecast? Bet on the first three horses to finish in the correct order from first to third. 

Race cards – AKA horse racing’s cheat sheets 

Before you throw (virtual) cash at a horse, we recommend learning how to read a race card.  

This handy information sheet tells you everything about the runners, including the trainer, jockey, and the horse. It's all on there: the weight of the jockey, the horse's form, and even the stats from recent runs. 

They key things to check out are the numbers. These represent where a horse has finished in its recent runs. '1' means they're a reigning champ that won the last race, '2' means they came in second, '3' means third, and you get the rest. 

Keep an eye out for '0' - this means the horse finished 10th or worse. Don't want to back the underdog? Then avoid these horses, bud. 

Mastering race cards means you're one step closer to making an informed decision instead of just picking the horse with the coolest name. And some of them have some seriously awesome names.

Major UK horse racing events to wager on 

If you only watch a few horse races a year, make it these bad boys.  

Cheltenham Festival 

Known as the Olympics of Jump racing, Cheltenham is one of the most popular horse racing events taking place in the UK. Expect four days of thrilling action at Prestbury Park in March, with fans flocking from all over the country to see which horses will be the best. 

The Grand National 

Coming in hot on the heels of Cheltenham Festival is the Grand National. Possibly the most unique test of jumping for the horses, and the course is a full four miles and two furlongs, making it an epic watch.  

It's no surprise this is the most bet-on race in the country - over £250m was staked on the race in 2024.  

The Royal Ascot 

On the flat, Royal Ascot brings the glitz and the glamour to the sport of kings. A royal procession takes place before each of the meeting’s five days in the middle of June, with horses travelling from across the world to try and win millions in prize money. 

The Epsom Derby 

The Epsom Derby takes place just before Royal Ascot and is steeped in nearly 250 years of history, with the first run being held in 1780. 

Speed and stamina are tested over one mile and four furlongs, on one of the trickiest flat tracks in the country. 

International horse racing 

The UK isn't the only place with fast horses. At Bally Casino, y'all can bet on horse races from the USA, Dubai, South Africa, Italy, Australia, and more. 

Check out the international racing section for events happening over the next two days. Who knows? Your next winner might be on the other side of the planet. 

How to bet on horse racing at Bally Casino 

Want in? Here's how to bet on horse racing without breaking a sweat: 

1. Log in or sign up – First step. Very important. You can't bet online without a Bally Casino account. 
2. Hit 'Sports' – This opens our online sports betting site, where you'll find sports events in every corner. 
3. Click 'Racing' – Boom! You're in. Pick a race from the day's meetings, and add a horse to your bet slip. 
4. Enter your stake, click 'Place Bet' – And just like that, you've placed your first wager on horse racing. 

Then, kick back and watch the race unfold in real time via our live horse racing streams. If your pick is first past the post, you'll be a winner. 

Missed a race? No biggie 

We keep track of all today's horse racing results, so you can stay up to date if you didn't catch the action live. 

Just click on the race, and you'll see: 

• The finishing order 
• The jockey/trainer combo 
• The all-important SP (Starting Price, in case you've forgotten already) 

You can also take a peek at horse racing cards for tomorrow. They're available 24 hours before the action kicks off, so you know exactly who's running. 

Horse Racing FAQs 

Still scratching your head over horse racing? We've got you. Check out some common questions below: 

How do I pick a winning horse? 

The million-dollar question. There's no magic formula to winning the big bucks, but here are some things to look at: 

• Form – A horse's recent race results. Lots of 1's and 2's? Good sign. Lots of 0's? Maybe not. 
• Trainer & Jockey – Some duos just have that winning chemistry. Like peanut butter and jelly, but with more horsepower. 
• Track Conditions – Some horses love dry, fast tracks. Others prefer it muddy. Check the weather and track surface before betting. 
• Distance – Horses have their preferred race lengths. A sprinter isn't going to win a marathon. 

What's the safest type of bet for beginners? 

If you're just getting started, an Each Way bet can be a popular choice. Half your bet goes on your horse to win, and the other half goes on it placing in the top positions. That way, you still have a shot at getting something back even if your horse isn't first past the post. 

What happens if my horse doesn’t run? 

If your horse is a no-show (aka withdrawn, scratched, decided it wasn't feeling it today), you might be able to get a refund. The big exception? Ante-Post bets - if you bet way in advance, and your horse doesn't run, tough luck. That's the risk you take for better odds. 

What's the difference between a handicap race and a non-handicap race? 

• Handicap Race – Horses carry different weights based on their ability, to even out the competition. Basically, stronger horses get extra weight as a handicap, so it's not a total blowout. 
• Non-Handicap Race – No weight adjustments. Just pure, unfiltered horse power. 

Where can I find the latest horse racing promotions? 

Just check out the Bally Casino sports site for all the latest offers, rewards, and exclusive deals, include the most recent odds available to bet on. 

And there you have it, folks! Your ultimate guide to betting on horses at Bally Casino. 

Ready to saddle up? Hit that 'JOIN NOW' button to get started. 

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