Horse racing can seem a little complex and tricky if you’re new to it. It has its own vocabulary, traditions, and a ridiculous number of bet types. But essentially, this is a sport of speed, skill, and strategy… and one where making the right bet can ramp up the excitement even more.
If you want to dive straight in, then today’s racing betting & odds pages are the perfect place to start. But before you do, here are some of the most popular and straightforward horse racing bets for beginners.
Why Start with Simpler Bets?
There are all sorts of bets you can make on a horse race… from straightforward single-win bets to the much more complex accumulators and exotics. But when you’re starting out, simplicity is key.
You need to know exactly what needs to happen for you to win your bet.
You start out with lower risk options - and not bet on lots of different outcomes in one big bet (no accas!).
Start with bets that you’ve researched.
Once you’re comfortable with how it all works, you can start upping the ante a bit with more advanced wagers like forecasts, tricasts and exotic wagers.
Win Bet
The easiest of them all… you pick a horse, and if it finishes first, you win. This bet lets you focus on race analysis without having to worry about the various complex combinations. So, for example, you place £10 on Horse A to win at odds of 5/1. If it wins, you get £60 in total… your £10 stake plus the £50 in winnings.
Beginner tip: Start by looking for consistent performers rather than betting on one-race wonders. If the horse finishes in the top three a lot, it’s safer than going for one that’s inconsistent.
Each-Way Bets
This one’s basically two bets in one. First, you're betting on the horse to win, and secondly, you’re betting on it to place (finish in one of the top positions… usually top 3, but it depends on the race). Your stake will cost you double as it’s betting on two outcomes, but if you win, you win both bets!
Imagine you place £5 each-way on Horse B at 8/1. If the horse wins, you’ll win both the win and the place bets. However, if it only places, you’ll be paid out for the ‘place’ part of the bet, which is usually 1/4 or 1/5 of the winning odds.
This is great for beginners as it gives you a better chance of getting a return on your bet.
Place Bets
This is just the “place” part of an each-way bet… but without the win part. To win, your horse doesn’t have to win, just finish in one of the top places. It’s ideal for newcomers who are a little more cautious.
For example, you bet on Horse C to place in the top 3. If it finishes 1st, 2nd, or 3rd you’ll win. You won’t get as much in winnings as a win bet, but you have a better chance of a payout.
Show Bet
This one’s more popular in the US betting markets. Your horse just needs to finish in the top 3, and you’ll be paid out accordingly… it’s one of the easiest bets to try.
Betting on the Favourite
Statistically, the favourites tend to win around 30–35% of the time. While it’s not enough to guarantee you a profit, it’s a straightforward approach that’s good if you’re a beginner who wants to reduce the complexity factor.
Beginner tip: However… don’t blindly back the favourite. If you can, look to see whether the odds actually reflect real dominance or if it’s just hype.
Single Race Accumulators - Two Selections
Accas can get complex, but if you start with a simple ‘double’ bet (where two horses in different races both need to win) it can be a good way to get started with them. It’s higher risk, but the potential rewards reflect that.
Example: You bet on Horse D in Race 1 at 3/1 and Horse E in Race 2 at 2/1. If both of them win, the bets will be multiplied together for a bigger payout.
Reading Odds and Markets
Before doing anything, you need to understand how odds work - which represent both how likely the event is to happen and how much you’ll win. For example:
Fractional odds: 5/1 means you win £5 for every £1 staked (plus you’ll get your stake returned).
Decimal odds: 6.0 means your total payout (including stake) will be 6 times your bet.
Moneyline odds: +500 means you win $500 if you bet $100.
The odds can change a lot, depending on how the markets are moving and factors like weather, track condition, and late withdrawals, etc.
