UK Horse Racing Tips

With the growth of virtual betting, bookies have also been on a steady rise, which is good news for gamers.

Nonetheless, a bettor must pick the ideal sportsbook to reap maximum benefits from their gaming experience.

One of the most obvious ways to tell a good sportsbook is from the kind of odds they offer. Also, how early do they communicate these odds? For daily plays, reputable bookies will release their lines at least twelve hours before the game.

Just as important when picking out a bookie is the kind of loyalty programs, bonuses, promotions, and rewards that they offer.

The following are the five best bookies for your horse racing games

1. Betway

Betway has one of the most user-friendly user interfaces among online casinos that makes navigating the site a breeze.

Other attractive features about this platform include £30 free bets on all sports and a 100% cash match bonus. The free bets come as a standard upon sign up.

The 100% cash match bonus means that for every bet you make, you get an equal amount back, such that if you bet £50, you will be entitled to an extra £50 worth of free bets.

The platform only requires a minimum deposit of £10

What’s more, sometimes horse racing punters have a special deal on Wednesdays where they are offered a money-back guarantee if they lose their bets.

2. Coral

Coral covers a wide range of horse racing events, from the most prominent to the relatively obscure.

One of the areas that Coral have perfected their game is in terms of customer service. The platform has a dedicated 24-hour customer service team.

In addition, they have a prompt system of communicating their odds to their customers via notifications where they give reminders of exceptional odds.

Over the years, customers have come to rely on these reminders greatly. The notifications mostly revolve around free bet insurance and price boosts. Where free bet insurance is on offer, it means a punter is eligible for a full refund of their stake in the event of a loss.

3. Ladbrokes

Ladbrokes is one of the most internationally renowned sportsbooks with a rich history in Horseracing.

It allows punters to pick their odds and collect their winnings instantly, thanks to the platform’s cash card.

Further, Ladbrokes carries innovative bet types and has a simple and easy sign-up process.

The bookie also constantly offers boosted odds on horse races. Their web-based platform is supported by innovative software that makes gaming on computers and other mobile devices easy.

4. Grosvenor

While other bookies offer fixed welcome bonuses to new punters, Grosvenor takes it a notch higher.

Upon signing up on the platform, punters are given the option of placing a £20 bet (or £10 each way) on any play within 60 days. In return, that entitles them to an odds boost token that doubles their bet.

Also, every Saturday, gamers can play large, with wagers of up to £1,000 on one of five selected horse races.

5. 888sport

888sport comes with iCard technology, which is a tool that allows punters to view the latest odds for each race in real-time.

Besides the freshness of the information availed by the technology, the platform also enables gamers to live-stream their races and enjoy the thrill of watching their races play out.

Beyond gaming, this sportsbook also has a dedicated blog in which they provide helpful tips to gamers to allow them to make informed choices.

Also, the bookie’s mobile app is there to keep you engaged even while on the go.

Brown Jack was one of the most famous and popular horses in Britain in the early twentieth century. Indeed, he is commemorated by a life-sized bronze statue at Ascot, where he won seven times. Fresh from winning the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham for his original trainer, Aubrey Hastings, Brown Jack made his first appearance at Royal Ascot in 1928, winning the Ascot Stakes over 2 miles 4 furlongs.

Sadly, Hastings died the following May and his stables in Wroughton, Wiltshire were taken over by Ivor Anthony. Nevertheless, Anthony saddled Brown Jack to win the Queen Alexandra Stakes – at 2 miles 6 furlongs, the longest Flat race run in Britain – at the Royal meeting in 1929. That was the first of six consecutive wins in the Queen Alexandra Stakes for Brown Jack, who was ridden on each occasion by Steve Donoghue.

Reflecting on his emotional sixth and final victory, as a 10-year-old, in 1934, Donoghue said, ‘All of my six Derby wins faded before the reception that was awaiting Jack and myself. I don’t think I was ever so happy in my life.’ Brown Jack was retired immediately afterwards. During his lengthy career, Brown Jack also won the Goodwood Cup, Doncaster Cup and Chester Cup, but never contested the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot. He was a gelding and ran during a period when castrated horses were ineligible to run in the showpiece event.

The legendary jockey Joe Mercer, who died suddenly in May, 2021, at the age of 86, will always be best remembered for his association with Brigadier Gerard, who remains the joint third highest rated Flat horse in the history of Timeform. All told, Mercer rode Brigadier Gerard to victory in 17 of his 18 races between 1970 and 1972, including the 2,000 Guineas in 1971, in which he beat subsequent Derby winner Mill Reef. Mercer also rode Bustino in the King George and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot in 1975, which was billed as ‘Race of the Century’, but had to settle for second place behind Grundy, ridden by Pat Eddery, after a protracted duel up the straight.

Champion apprentice in 1952 and 1953, Mercer subsequently enjoyed successful spells as stable jockey to Jack Colling and his successor at West Isley Stables, near Newbury, Dick Hern and, later in his career, to Sir Henry Cecil and Peter Walwyn. Indeed, it was during his time with Sir Henry Cecil that ‘Smokin’ Joe’, as Mercer was popularly known, became Champion Jockey for the one and only time. In 1979, at the age of 45, Mercer rode 164 winners, including the 1,000 Guineas winner, One In A Million, to beat reigning champion Willie Carson to the title. As stylish as he was prolific, at the time of his retirement in 1985, Bradford-born Mercer had ridden 2,810 winners and won eight British Classics.

Of course this is a world away from the modern sport and especially betting, where the online experience is now key. In many regards we’ve ‘gone global’ in terms of how we perceive and watch sporting events (and also the number of camera angles, and qualities of footage we now have). The convenience of involvement too, where you no longer need to even leave your living room to place a bet and watch any high profile event.

Keeping a horse is a labour of love that takes more work than any pet you’ve had before. They will need a designated home and dedicated care every day. But it can be well worth the work. Owning a horse will give you the fitness and companionship of a pet, dialled up to eleven, as well as teach responsibility and promote a good work ethic. Horse-owners are social people so you might even make some friends as well as a loyal companion for life.

Take a look at our guide to see what goes into owning a horse.

Nutrition

Being herbivores, horses have a unique digestive tract different from ours and will therefore have specific dietary needs. Ultimately, they will need a high-fibre diet that is consumed in small amounts over time. There are no feasts for horses, but many appetisers over the day. But because they have nothing telling them to stop, you will have to ration their food.

When your horse isn’t grazing on the field grass, feed them hay and grains in the morning and evening. You can supplement this with concentrate mixes made up of grains, flaxseed and beet pulp for energy and flavour, but keep them away from brans like wheat and rice bran, since they can potentially cause mineral imbalances. Also, don’t attempt to use up your lawn clippings by letting your horse eat them, because they will contain plants that are toxic to horses.

The occasional treat is a nice moment for you and your horse. These can be apples, carrots, handfuls of grain, sugar cubes or candies.

Exercise

As you can imagine, horses need a lot of exercise. More than the walk around the block your beagle needs. Beagles aren’t trained to race, perform, or cover obstacle courses. Well, they can be, but not to the same extent. You can check odds for horse racing (and dog shows) and other betting opportunities online, like Netbet blackjack for example on your phone while exercising your animal.

At minimum, your horse needs to exercise several times a week. You can ride them around the ring, on a trail or by lunging your horse on a long rein. Lunging is a surprisingly useful exercise for both horse and handler as it will allow the horse to burn off some extra energy and it will help you teach your horse obedience as well as allow you to observe your horse’s gaits and make sure it’s not lame.

Environment

A horse’s stable needs ongoing maintenance every day, with the basics being to muck out the stalls morning and night, replace your horse’s bedding, and remove any blankets in the morning and replace them in the evening during winter.

There is also the care of your lack, which includes the saddle, bridle, halter, lead rope and blankets.

Other things that will need done every day for ongoing maintenance are to check and pick out your horses hooves, empty and replace water buckets, spray your horse with fly spray in the morning during hot weather, and other ongoing grooming like brushing.