If we go back in time… and I mean a long way in time, before sports and leagues like the NFL, NBA and even soccer took hold, people watched – and bet on horse racing. This “Sport of Kings,” has been a part of betting culture for centuries but it has been overshadowed by more modern counterparts in the last 50 years or so. 

However, for those who know and love the sport, it still has a certain allure – and with its combination of tradition, excitement, and opportunity, it really is one of the most enduring and rewarding sports to bet on.

Here’s exactly why many still see horse racing as one of the best sports to bet on…

A Huge Variety of Betting Options

One of the best things about betting online on horse racing has to be the sheer variety of betting opportunities it offers.

Win, Place, and Show

You can bet on a horse to win, place, or show – which are the easiest options for beginners. These bets are super easy to understand and they come with different levels of risk and reward.

Exotic Bets

For the more experienced bettors, there are exotic bets like exactas, trifectas, and superfectas, which means you have to try to predict the correct order of more than one horse. These bets can come with huge payouts and they’re great for risk-takers.

Parimutuel Betting

Unlike the basic fixed-odds betting you get in other sports, with horse racing, you can find parimutuel betting systems – which means that the odds are determined by the amount of money that’s been wagered on each horse – making it even more dynamic.

The Availability of Information

To give you the best chance of winning, you need to be able to have access to reliable information, and horse racing is great for this.

Form Guides and Data

If you know where to look, you can find excellent form guides that give you all sorts of detailed statistics about horses, jockeys, trainers, and track conditions. You’ll also be able to find records on past performances, weight carried, and even weather conditions.

The Experts

There are also lots of tipsters and analysts that are great for offering insights and predictions – perfect if you’re just getting started. Moreover, lots of racecourses and online sites provide you with live updates, so you’re always well-informed before you place your wager.

The Thrill of the Race

It’s also fair to say that there aren’t many sports out there that can match the excitement and thrill of a live horse race. Horse races are short and intense… they might only usually last just a few minutes, so you won’t have to wait long to see the outcome… and that adrenaline rush of watching your horse sprint to the finish line is unrivalled.

And there are some seriously intense races and festivals to get involved with – the Kentucky Derby, Royal Ascot, and the Melbourne Cup all offer world-class racing and attract fans and punters from all over the world. Even the smaller local races have their own unique atmosphere which can be hard to resist.

A Real Potential for Big Wins

Horse racing is famous for turning small bets into huge payouts.

Because horse racing is so unpredictable, it’s not uncommon for underdogs to win, which is great for punters who don’t mind taking calculated risks. Because of this, stories of punters winning life-changing sums with just a small bet aren’t that uncommon. Try your luck with an accumulator or rolling double means you can build your winnings incrementally and manage those risks.

A Traditional Sport

Betting on horse racing is traditional – and it has a history that practically no other sports can rival.

It’s huge all over the world – From the Grand National in England to the Breeders’ Cup in the United States, it has a global presence and manages to attract fans worldwide. However, although it’s classic, it still embraces the modern – and has evolved a lot thanks to technology, whilst keeping the core essence of the sport intact.

Ultimately, while there are lots of different sports to watch and bet on, sometimes the oldies really are the goodies. This is a sport of tradition, excitement and massive win potential, which is precisely why it’s still one of the best sports to bet on – and always will be!