The Emerald Isle is the perfect home for horse breeders with its rolling hills and vales of green. So, it’s not surprising to discover that several thoroughbred racehorses originate from Ireland and that there are no less than 26 racecourses dotted about the country.
Incredibly, there are over 2,000 horse racing fixtures that take place every year within Ireland, so it comes as no shock that this age-old sport is a popular choice for keen sports bettors. Our guide will explore the best horse racing betting sites Ireland has to offer, the most popular betting markets along with the top horse racing events, plus tips on how to bet and ultimately win.
How to choose the best horse racing betting sites
With such a huge choice available, selecting the best horse racing betting site that suits your needs can prove quite tricky. For that reason, we have put together some important factors that you need to consider prior to registration. Later on in our guide, we will share our top picks, but first, here’s how to spot a top horse racing betting site:
Licensed and regulated: All reputable betting sites will be licensed and regulated by trusted authorities such as the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland (GRAI) or the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC).
Safety and security: Top betting sites will utilise SSL encryption technology to protect all sensitive data, only reliable payment options will be supported, and responsible gambling tools should be offered.
Horse racing markets: The best horse racing betting sites will offer a wide range of horse racing events from the major races to the smaller niche races from around the world.
Payment methods: Top betting sites will offer numerous ways to transfer money to and from your account, whether through debit card, e-wallet or bank transfer. Deposits will be instant and withdrawals will be processed quickly.
Competitive odds: It’s a good idea to shop around for competitive odds as all the top sportsbooks compete with each other to grab a punter’s attention and great deals can be taken advantage of.
Bonuses and promotions: The best betting sites will offer an attractive welcome offer and generous promotions for existing players such as free bets or deposit match reloads.
Livestreaming: Top betting sites will often livestream the horse race in real-time enabling you to bet on your favourite and watch as the action unfolds.
Mobile compatibility: For sports bettors on the move, most betting sites offer fully optimised platforms for betting on the go, while others will also offer a dedicated mobile app for a more tailored experience.
Customer support: The best horse racing betting sites will provide responsive and knowledgeable customer support through live chat, phone or email. This is often a 24/7 service.
Top horse racing calendar fixtures
Worldwide, there are over 1,000 race meets per year covering more than 10,000 races. Top horse racing betting sites in Ireland will have these covered, including those that we’ve highlighted below which are hold on the Emerald Isle with a couple of major events from the UK thrown in:
Punchestown Festival
Punchestown Festival is the highlight of the Irish National Hunt season. It’s held over five days in April and attracts over 100,000 visitors. Among the feature races are the Irish Champion Chase, the Irish Champion Hurdle and the Punchestown Gold Cup.
Galway Races
Galway Races is held over seven days from the last Monday in July and attracts over 130,000 visitors. Feature events include the Galway Plate Chase Handicap, Ladies Day and the Galway Hurdle Handicap.
Curragh Irish Derby Festival
This historic three-day festival offers the biggest prize for the biggest race in Irish horse flat racing and is typically held in June or July. The festival also features live music and a fashion show!
Fairyhouse Easter Festival
This three-day festival held in County Meath hosts the Irish Grand National on its second day when over £1.25m is up for grabs.
Royal Ascot (UK)
Famous for its connection to the Royal family with the late Queen Elizabeth II attending every year, the Royal Ascot features five days of glorious flat horse racing with prize monies exceeding the £7m mark.
Aintree Festival (UK)
The Aintree Festival takes place over three days in early April and features one of the biggest races in the world, the Grand National. It’s the one event that every jockey dreams of winning.
The most popular betting markets
There are multiple bet types offered by the best horse racing betting sites. These tend to fall into two categories, standard or exotic:
Standard bets
The most popular horse racing bets are also the easiest to understand and the best picks for beginners, including:
- Win: Bet on the horse to finish first.
- Place: Bet on the horse to finish first or second.
- Show: Bet on the horse to finish first, second or third.
Exotic bets
Exotic bets are a little more complex and involve betting on multiple horses and/or on multiple races. The odds of winning are lower than standard bets, but the payouts are significantly higher. Below are the most common exotic bets, but not all of them:
- Quinella: Bet on which horses will finish first or second in either order.
- Exacta: Bet on which horses will finish first and second in the correct order.
- Trifecta: Bet on which horses will finish first, second and third in the correct order.
- Superfecta: Bet on which horses will finish first, second, third and fourth in the correct order.
- Pentafecta: Bet on which horses will finish first, second, third, fourth and fifth in the correct order.
- Daily Double: Bet on the horses which will finish first in two consecutive races.
- Pick 3/Pick 4/Pick 5/Pick 6: Bet on the horses which will finish first in three, four, five or six consecutive races, respectively.
How to place a bet
Placing a wager on your chosen horse racing event is pretty straightforward, you just need to choose a reputable site and follow this quick-step guide:
- Select from one of our highly recommended horse racing betting sites.
- Register and activate your sportsbook account and deposit some funds.
- Browse the different horse racing events and select your favourite.
- Click on the available betting options for that race and select one.
- Enter the amount you wish to bet and click ‘Place Bet’.
Top tips for winning
There are no guarantees for winning but we can give you some useful tips to extend your budget:
- Only use recommended and licensed sports betting sites.
- Shop around for the best odds, there’s plenty of competition.
- Be disciplined with your betting, set yourself limits and stick to them.
- Take advantage of the many sports bonuses being offered by top sites.
- Do your research, study the horse’s form, check the track conditions and watch replays.
- Stick to standard win, place or show bets until you feel confident in placing more complex bets.
- Never chase losses and only ever gamble with what you can afford.
The best horse racing betting sites Ireland
As promised, here are our top five picks for the best horse racing betting sites where Irish punters can take advantage of attractive bonuses, a wide choice of horse racing events, multiple betting markets and a safe and reliable sports betting platform that’s licensed by a trusted authority:
10bet
This popular sports destination has a superb reputation and established player base. It is licensed by the GRAI and offers odds on multiple horse racing markets. Bettors will be welcomed with a 50% deposit match of up to £50 plus an exclusive horse racing bonus of up to £5,000 on pre-race accumulator bets.
888sport
Licensed by the GRAI, 888sport is a well-known horse racing betting site which offers the best odds guaranteed on all Irish and UK horse races. There are multiple betting markets and the welcome bonus offers new members up to £30 in free bets plus a £10 casino bonus.
Kwiff
This reputable horse racing betting site is licensed by the UKGC and offers its punters a wide choice of betting options, competitive odds and horse racing markets. Kwiff invites new members to make a bet of £10 to receive a £30 surprise bet.
bet365
This popular UKGC licensed sportsbook offers the best odds guaranteed on horse races for multiple countries. Its welcome bonus invites new members to bet £10 to receive £30 in free bets while existing punters can look forward to over 20,000 boosts on major sporting events every month.
NetBet
Also licensed by the UKGC, NetBet offers its customers over 2,000 horse racing markets to select from. It has multiple betting options, competitive odds, an excellent reputation and a welcome bonus that invites new members to bet £5 to receive £10 in free bets.
