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Ernest Masuka

The “sport of kings” dates back to the ancient Greek Olympics, but modern times have ushered in a crop of new online horse racing betting fans looking to become experts. If you’re looking for better ways to identify top racebooks, lucrative bonuses, and value bets, we can help.

This guide will explore the best online horse racing betting sites available in Canada. We’ll also walk you through the different bet types, the most popular races, as well as some betting systems, and promos. You’ll even find expert betting tips at the end.

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07/09/22

100% Up To C$150

100% Up To C$150

  • Thousands of pre-match & live events
  • Fast payouts
  • Hugely competitive odds
9.8
5 Stars
NO CODE REQUIRED
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The offer available only to new customers, who have registered and made their first real-money deposit at Powbet. 6x times roll over requirements on single sports bets with odds of at least 2.0 and multi-bets with odds of 1.5. The wagering requirements must be met within 30 days of the player's first deposit.
20/03/23

100% Up To $C500 Bonus

100% Up To $C500 Bonus

  • Excellent sports coverage
  • Live chat support available
  • Fantastic live betting opportunities
9.7
5 Stars
NO CODE REQUIRED
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0
Opt In to this promotion, Deposit a minimum of $10. You must do this within 7 days of opening your account.  Each customer is only eligible to receive one Welcome Offer across our sports and casino offers, regardless of whether they open additional BetVictor accounts.
20/03/23

$400 Welcome Bonus

$400 Welcome Bonus

  • Variety of games
  • Generous bonuses
  • Easy payouts
9.7
5 Stars
NO CODE REQUIRED
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0
The promotion consists of a 100% match bonus up to $400. You must make a deposit of $10 or more to claim this bonus.The deposit plus bonus amount is subject to a 5X playthrough requirement before the bonus amount, and any winnings can be withdrawn. 18+ Terms and Conditions apply.
07/01/23

100% Up To $C150

100% Up To $C150

  • Bet on the biggest sports in CA
  • Live sports markets & Racebook
  • Wide range of slots & table games
9.7
5 Stars
NO CODE REQUIRED
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0
The bonus amount is 100% of the deposited sum (but not more than $C150 or or equivalent in your local currency). To withdraw the awarded amount, a player may need to make a ‘turnover’ required (30 times).
30/11/23

100% up to 300 CAD

100% up to 300 CAD

  • Regular bonuses
  • Unique sports features
  • Vip Program
9.7
5 Stars
Use bonus code
Copied
WLT001
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0
Promotion availabile only for customer’s first 5 deposits to the website. All first 5 deposit bonuses have same conditions and wagering rules. So players need to know that all rules are applied for five deposit bonuses separately.
26/08/22

100% Up T0 C$350 on Your First Deposit

100% Up T0 C$350 on Your First Deposit

  • One of the best new bookmakers
  • Dedicated live betting page
  • Online casino games also available
9.7
5 Stars
NO CODE REQUIRED
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0
You must first register for a new account on TONYBET in accordance with the T&C. This offer is only available to new players who made their first deposit and selected this offer as a welcome bonus. All players must be 18+ years old and of legal age to gamble. Make your first qualifying deposit of at least 15 CAD.
29/06/22

100% Welcome Sportsbook Bonus Up To C$100

100% Welcome Sportsbook Bonus Up To C$100

  • Newly launched Canadian bookmaker
  • All major sports covered
  • Quick and reliable withdrawals
9.7
5 Stars
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PRIBET100
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Promotion availability 01.04.2022 - 31.12.2023, only for a customer’s first-ever deposit to the website. Eligible customers will receive 100% up to C$100 (or equivalent to C$ in other currencies) on top of the deposited amount instantly upon entering the bonus code for this promotion: PRIBET100
20/03/23

100% Bonus up to $200CAD

100% Bonus up to $200CAD

  • Excellent bookmaker for live betting
  • Large number of ongoing promotions
  • Competitive odds
9.7
5 Stars
NO CODE REQUIRED
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0
A customer is entitled to only one bonus. The minimum required deposit to activate the bonus is 1 CAD. Wager 5 times the bonus amount in accumulator bets. Each accumulator bet must contain 3 or more events. At least 3 of the events included in an accumulator must have odds of 1.40 or higher. The start dates of all of these events should not be later than the validity period of this offer.
20/05/22
  • Competitive Welcome Bonus
  • Live Streams Of Some Events
  • Huge Range Of Betting Markets
9.7
5 Stars
NO CODE REQUIRED
Play Now
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0
This offer is only available to new customers, who have registered and made their first real-money deposit at Sportaza. The Bonus is 100% of a player's first deposit bonus up to C$150. In order to qualify for the bonus, the player must play through the full amount of the first deposit at least once with odds no less than 1.50. All bets must be settled.
Contents

The Best Horse Racing Betting Sites for Canadians

  1. Powbet – Top horse, harness and greyhound races
  2. BetVictor – Unparalleled selection of races
  3. Bodog – Next 5 races displayed on landing page
  4. Weltbet – Single, Combo, If and System bets
  5. Rabona – Helpful horse race betting articles
  6. Tonybet – Free horse racing bets
  7. Pribet – Rewarding welcome bonus for Canadians
  8. 1xBet – Free horse racing streams
  9. MegaPari – Broad coverage of global races
  10. Sportaza – Variety of horse race betting opportunities

Canada Horse Racing Sites – Our Top Picks

Many horse racing online betting sites offer a wide range of markets, but few really excel. Let’s delve deeper into the top 5 bookies that tick all the boxes required to provide a balanced gambling experience. Sign up with any one of these sites, and the trackside and best odds literally become just a few screen taps away.

1. PowBet – Features Top Horse, Harness, and Greyhound Races

PowBet covers all the notable races from every region. So, whether you want to find local events like the Queen’s Plate or want some American Triple Crown action, you’ll find what you’re looking for. The bookie even goes ahead to provide harness and greyhound races, both accessible with a single click.

Horse racing betting Canada PowBet

Most races are available to bet on in-play. This allows you to evaluate how the runners are performing and adjust your predictions accordingly. The odds are updated in real-time, depending on the flow of the race. Placing a bet is pretty straightforward, and it’s easy to edit your selections in the intuitive bet slip. PowBet doesn’t have a live streaming feature, you typically find a small note showing you where you can watch different races.

At PowBet, Canadian bettors are welcomed with a decent 100% welcome bonus of up to $150. Since a PowBet promo code isn’t required, you first have to deposit at least $30. You then have to wager the full amount at odds no less than 1.50 to become eligible.

Welcome Offer Wagering Requirement Minimum Deposit Maximum Withdrawal Payment Methods
100% match deposit up to $150 6x $30 $10,000 Interac, MasterCard, ecoPayz, MuchBetter, Neosurf, Crypto

What we like:

  • Plenty of payment methods
  • Flexible bet limits
  • Low 6x wagering on welcome bonus
  • Wide coverage of local and international races

What we don’t:

  • No live streaming

2. BetVictor – Find Any Race Using the BetFinder

BetVictor is incomparable with many other horse racing online betting sites. That’s because it comes from a company with a rich 7-decade history and a team of experts primed to provide bettors with the best possible products. You’ll find an unparalleled selection of races, including such as National Hunt Specials, Cheltenham, Aintree, Royal Ascot and many others. You can place everything from Win, Show, and Place bets.

Horse racing betting Canada BetVictor

The BetVictor platform was designed to make is easy for you to locate events and put down your money. A BetFinder search feature allows you to quickly find different races without having to scour the entire racebook. Players can also independently scroll 3 vertical bars on the website, allowing them to seek out different features without losing sight of other areas of interest.

Welcome Offer Wagering Requirement Minimum Deposit Maximum Withdrawal Payment Methods
$40 free bet 40x $10 $500,000 Trustly, Cards, Skrill, Neteller, PayPal

What we like:

  • Rich 7-decade+ heritage
  • BetFinder search feature
  • Intuitive website
  • High maximum payout amount
  • Multiple licenses and certifications

What we don’t:

  • Smaller bonus with high 40x wagering

3. Bodog – View Next 5 Races on the Landing Page

The Bodog racebook covers over 80 US thoroughbred and harness horse racing events, with information updated daily. The menu features all of the most popular racetracks, so you can follow the action from specific locations. All tracks are also listed in alphabetical order, so you don’t have to spend too much time finding the one you’re looking for. If you’re looking to wager in-play on the next available race, the landing page shows the next five races.

Horse racing betting Canada Bodog

Canadian bettors can easily place, modify and remove bets using the intuitive bet slip. The “My Bet” feature allows you to filter resolved bets, so you can keep track of your bets. Another feature that comes in handy is the Race Coupon, where you’ll find jockey names and morning line odds of all the runners.

Welcome Offer Wagering Requirement Minimum Deposit Maximum Withdrawal Payment Methods
100% up to $400 6x $20 $10,000 Bitcoin. Tether, Visa, Mastercard, Litecoin, Ethereum, Interac

What we like:

  • Well-laid-out race line-up
  • Covers over 100 race events
  • Wide range of payment methods
  • Handy My Bet and Race Coupon features

What we don’t:

  • No horse racing live streaming

4. Weltbet – Bet Slip with Single, Combo, If, and System Bets

Weltbet appears to be one of your standard racebooks, offering a decent selection of betting options. But if you dig a little bit down the surface, you’ll find numerous unique features, starting with the bet slip, which makes it easy to place Single, Combo, If, and System bets. You can also easily toggle the odds formats between American, decimal, and fractional.

Horse racing betting Canada Weltbet

Plenty of events are available for Canadian bettors to dig their teeth into. Punters looking to catch upcoming races can instantly see the next three races on the racebook landing page. You can also view events occurring in the next two days, or choose to browse through future events. Deposits and withdrawals are quick and seamless using popular processors like ecoPayz, Interac, Skrill, and credit/debit cards.

Welcome Offer Wagering Requirement Minimum Deposit Maximum Withdrawal Payment Methods
5-tier bonus up to €3,500 10x $20 $4,000 ecoPayz, Skrill, Visa, Mastercard, JCB, Rapid Transfer, Interac

What we like:

  • Bet slip with Single, Combo, If, and System bets
  • Local payment methods
  • Massive 5-tier welcome bonus
  • Next 3 races on the landing page

What we don’t:

  • Less established site

5. Rabona – Horse Racing Betting Blog Articles to Help New Punters

We’re massive fans of getting helpful info to new horse racing bettors, which is why we were seriously impressed with the blog articles on the Rabona racebook. You’ll find quick explainers for different concepts, including bet types and expert tips. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg—Rabona has comprehensive coverage of both mainstream and niche horse racing events.

Horse racing betting Canada Rabona

Each race has a flag icon showing which country it’s from. So, you’ll find a track like Ludlow with an English flag and Greyville with a South African flag. Race information is powered by Latrobet, one of the premier horse racing APIs, making for efficient info updates and more.

Welcome Offer Wagering Requirement Minimum Deposit Maximum Withdrawal Payment Methods
100% up to $150 6x $30 $10,000 ecoPayz, Jeton, Neosurf, Tether, Visa, Mastercard, Litecoin, Flexepin, Ethereum, Interac

What we like:

  • Betting guides for beginners
  • Live streaming
  • Native mobile apps
  • Reasonable wagering requirements
  • Flag icons identifying racetrack countries

What we don’t:

  • Few ongoing promos

How We Rate the Top Horse Racing Betting Sites in Canada

Our team has, over the years, developed a reliable evaluation process to rank the best horse racing betting platforms. Here are some of the features we look at to provide you with the most accurate top lists.

Track and Race Coverage

Our team looks for sites that not only cover races close to home but all around the globe, all around the clock. So, in addition to finding loads of action from Century Downs and Grand River, you’ll also find races from the US, UK, Australia, Asia, and more locations.

Flexible Bet Types

Some racebooks only dabble with basic horse racing bets, like the race winner. But whether you’re looking to have the most fun betting on ponies or looking to score a few bucks, you need more options than that. So, we choose sportsbooks with bet types including:

  • Straight (Win, Place, Show)
  • Exotic Single (Exacta, Trifecta, Superfecta)
  • Exotic Multiple (Pick 3, 4, 5, 6, All)
  • Combination Straight Bets

Mobile betting

All the horse racing betting sites we reviewed are mobile-friendly. So, whether you’re at home or betting live from the racetrack, you’ll love the slick designs and intuitive one-hand navigation UIs that allow you to wager in a few taps.

Customer Support

Even the most efficient machines falter once and again. When that happens while you’re wagering at any one of the best racebooks, you have around-the-clock customer support to solve any challenges. Our team checks if you’ll be able to browse through FAQs or contact support via various channels, including live chat, email, and telephone.

Banking Methods and Payout Speed

We always recommend betting sites where you’ll find a broad selection of banking options, specifically the most popular ones in Canada. Getting your winnings as soon as possible post-race is also a critical consideration.

Security and Reputability

You should only sign up with licensed online racebooks with security features like SSL data encryption, at the very least. Bookies with multiple licenses from regulators like the UK Gambling Commission and Curacao eGaming, as well as independent security certifications, are even better.

Important Features of The Best Horse Racing Online Betting Sites

Being able to follow and bet on different races as they happen presents a lot more excitement and winning chances. So, does getting access to specialized tools like bet builders and being able to claim a payout before the race is over. The table below offers a quick snapshot of which racebooks provide these and other features.

Sportsbook Live Betting Live Streaming Enhanced Odds Cashout Each Way Specials Bet Builder
powbet
bodog
weltbet
rabona
pribet
megapari
Sportaza

Betting Systems for Horse Racing

Experienced horse racing bettors understand the wisdom of putting eggs in separate baskets. As such, they devise different systems to include more than one selection per wager, based on different factors. The idea is to moderate your risk and attempt to get moderate, consistent returns.

Matched Betting

Matched betting is backing a horse to win using a free bet or another sportsbook promo, then laying it to lose on a betting exchange. By doing this, you’ll get a return, whatever the outcome may be. This sounds simple enough, but you’ll need to calculate the stakes and odds to guarantee a profit.

Beaten Favourites

The Beaten Favourites system is even easier to grasp. The idea is to find horses that were tipped to win their last races, but due to any number of reasons, failed to rise to the occasion. If the horse is in its best shape, hopefully, the trainer and owners are geared up to recoup their losses.

Dutching

Dutch betting, or the Dutching system, is a technique used to back more than one outcome in the same race. The idea is to at least get something if one of your predictions comes out correct. For example, you can:

  • Bet $10 on horse A with odds 3/1
  • Bet $10 on horse B with odds 3/1

You’re now $20 in, and if either horse wins, you get $40, or a $20 return.

Betting Exchanges for Horse Races

With traditional online horse racing betting platforms, the bookie sets the lines, and you take or leave what you get. Betting exchanges, on the other hand, allow bettors to give and take between themselves. So, for example, if Bettor A strongly believes the horse Spirited Jax will lose and is prepared to wager 4/1 on it, and you think the horse will win, you can match this bet. If it turns out you were right, your winnings come from Bettor A’s account, and the betting exchange takes a small commission.

The difference here is most bookies would only offer, say, 2/1 odds on Spirited Jax winning. On betting exchanges, bettors can become the bookmaker by trading bets and laying odds. Instead of only being able to wager on horses winning or coming up in a specific position, you can also wager on them losing.

Betting exchanges offer Canadian bettors numerous advantages, compared to traditional racebooks. For one, they typically provide the most competitive odds, since players compete against each other. You can even set your own odds, and wait for another bettor to match them. Since they don’t have specialized teams to research events and set the lines, exchanges also take a smaller cut from each transaction. Lastly, bettors can also monitor the market price movements and trade in and out of positions before the race ends.

Horse Racing Lay Betting for Canadians

When you place a bet on a typical horse racing betting, you’re predicting that the outcome will occur. A horse will win or cross the line in a specific position. Betting exchanges allow you to do the exact opposite—wager that a horse won’t achieve a certain outcome. This is known as lay betting. In practice, this means you take the bookmaker’s role in the race. You present odds for a horse not winning, for example. Another player can then come up and back the very same horse to win at the odds you set. If the horse loses, you keep the other player’s stake. If the horse loses, you pay out the horse’s backer.

Lay betting can be simple or extremely complex, depending on your strategy. Some players can lay every horse on the track, and attempt to make a return on the overall race, regardless of which horse wins. Others will focus on just one or two horses. Because there are always more losers than winners in any race, you’re more likely to accurately pick a horse that won’t win than one that will.

New Canadian Horse Racing Sites to Bet At

We’ve been in the game for a while, so we’ve seen quite a few promising online racebooks come and go. Many of them are the currently-renowned top brands. We, therefore, understand that nothing beats discovering a new bookie that’s still trying to earn its stripes. Bookies like this will typically offer bigger bonuses, innovative betting tools, boosted bets, and more. What’s better, the first players to get into VIP programs can reap virtually unattainable perks down the road when the horse racing betting site becomes more established.

But there’s a catch. It takes an experienced eye to identify brands that’ll stand the test of time. We check if there’s any real innovation to talk about. We also look at the companies behind new sportsbooks, the bookie’s licensing status, and whether it’s affiliated with any other longer-standing sites.

Sticking to Experienced Sportsbooks in Canada

While you’ll occasionally find a new horse racing betting site with significantly better products than established brands, experienced sportsbooks are almost always a safer bet. You pretty much know what you’re signing up for and won’t set yourself up for nasty surprises. Let’s look at some of the most veteran racebooks from our list.

BetVictor – Established in 1946

Established in 1946, BetVictor is one of the oldest racebooks you’ll find anywhere in the world. Throughout its history, the bookie has maintained close ties to the horse racing betting industry and sponsored numerous tournaments, including the Cheltenham, from 2016 to 2019. BetVictor covers most UK, Irish, and USA races, offering a wide range of straight and exotic betting options.

Bodog – Established in 1994

Bodog will likely be a Canadian bettors’ favourite, as it was founded by a fellow Canuck, Calvin Ayre, in 1994. The bookie has had its ups and downs, but a steadfast provision of competitive odds and reliable payments has kept Bodog in the game. Players can count on this sportsbook’s over three decades’ worth of experience to deliver speedy payouts and reliable support. You can wager on over 80 North American thoroughbred and harness racing events.

Tonybet – Established 2011

An online horse racing betting site doesn’t have to be from the 90s to fit into this description. With over a decade’s worth of skin in the game, Tonybet is as experienced in terms of modern trends as Bodog and BetVictor. The bookie has a dedicated racebook, allowing you to check the results from previous races, including each horse’s pre-race price. Players won’t only find Canadian tracks, but race meetings from the UK, and Australia with courses like Doomben and Launceston, and even South Africa.

Popular Markets & Bet Types for Horse Race Betting

Horse racing betting can be a simple, fun activity, or complicated at a professional level. Some players enjoy the thrill of picking a random horse and backing it to win. Others extensively look into each race card, research the horse-jockey combinations, then place elaborate bets. Let’s look at some of the most popular markets and bet types you’ll come across.

Win

This is the simplest bet type, where you pick the horse you predict will win the race. As you can imagine, this bet type is relatively challenging to predict accurately.

Show

If you’re looking for a better chance to accurately predict your wager, a Show bet will be a great option. Here, you wager on a horse to finish first, second, or third.

Trifecta

Some bettors want to stretch their luck and expertise to the fullest, and the Trifecta bet will give them ample chance to do exactly that. This bet type requires you to predict the top three horses in the specific order they’ll cross the finish line.

Place

The Place bet is much like the Show, but instead of the top three, you pick a horse to come out first or second.

Exacta

The Exacta is like the Trifecta, but instead of predicting the top three, you pick the first and second-position horses in their specific order.

Distance Betting

You can stretch your odds by tipping a horse not only to win but outpace the field by a specific number of lengths.

Accumulator

You can back more than one horse to win in different races. Accumulators allow you to bet on four horses in different races to ALL win. Your potential return significantly increases, but you lose if just one horse loses.

CA Horse Race Betting Bonuses & Promos

Everyone loves a good deal, and it’s no different with betting on horses online. Fortunately, the ever-increasing competition encourages bookies to offer enticing rewards. It’s never been a better time to sign up and claim a generous welcome offer or even enhanced odds. But before we get ahead of ourselves, let’s explore the different types of horse race betting rewards Canadians can claim.

Horse racing betting Canada Bonuses

Price Boosts

Think of price boost as racebooks’ version of a 3 for 2 offer you’ll find at your local grocery store, where you get a lot more bang for your buck. With the odds boosted you get a better potential payout for your wager.

Best Odds Guaranteed

The odds of each horse winning vary as circumstances and new information arises between when the first prices are presented and the time the race ends. With Best Odds Guaranteed, you get the highest price if you placed your wager when the odds were lower.

Acca Bonus

Accumulators present a higher risk since the loss of one horse can ruin your entire ticket. Some bookies, therefore, sweeten the pot for players by offering an up to 70% boost to your payout once all your bets have settled.

Extra Place Races

An Each Way bet requires you to wager on two things. The first is that a horse will win, and the second is that it’ll finish anywhere up to 5th place. An Extra Place Races promo enables you to turn a losing bet into a winner. For example, if a horse comes out 6th in our example, you’d still win, thanks to the extra place.

Each Way Extra

The Each Way Extra promo sounds much like the Each Way Races. But instead of having the bonus save you from a loss, you can add or remove places when you create your bet ticket. Adding places with reduce the odds, and removing places will increase your potential payout.

Free Bets

As the name suggests, free bets allow players to place their wagers on the house. You don’t lose real money on lost bets but can claim cash payouts on your accurate bets.

Terms and Conditions You Need to Know About

Betting on horses seems simple enough, and bonuses and promos allow players a bit of flexibility and enhance their winning chances. But you shouldn’t take everything at face value or mistake them for free money. Everything almost always comes with a set of terms and conditions, as we’ll list here.

  • Wagering conditions: this is the number of times you’ll need to wager winnings from your bonus before you can claim them as a real money payout.
  • Rule 4 deductions: if a horse you’d bet on wins, but another horse didn’t participate due to an injury or was withdrawn for other reasons. Your winning odds are reduced because fewer competitors each now have a higher chance of winning.
  • Minimum runners: this refers to the least number of runners required to make specific Place bets. For example, a minimum of 8 runners are required to back a horse to come in the first three.
  • Minimum odds: free bets typically require players to wager on a horse with specified minimum odds. This usually means you can’t wager on any of the favourites.
  • Non-runner no bet: usually shortened to NRNB, this means if the horse you’d tipped to win under this condition doesn’t run, your stake will be returned in full.
  • Payment restrictions: some racebooks exclude certain banking methods from eligibility to select bonuses. For example, you may not be able to use Skrill to claim a welcome match deposit offer.

Betting on the Races on Mobile & Apps

In addition to being able to bet on the standard desktop website, many of the best online horse racing betting sites work better on your mobile device. This means you can view the odds, horse info, today’s and tomorrow’s racecards, and watch races as they happen, all on the move. Some racebooks have downloadable mobile apps, but most have an HTML-5 mobile-optimised website. So, whether you have an iPhone or Android device, you’ll be able to follow your favourite races.

All of our recommended bookmakers on this page can be accessed from your phone, and bets placed securely on selected races. Whether you have an iOS or Android device, you will be able to enjoy these sites from your phone or tablet. 

Glossary of Horse Race Betting Terms

The horse racing track can be intimidating to newbies, as regulars sometimes seem like they are communicating in a different language. But it doesn’t have to be like this for you. Knowing some of the terms we’ll discuss below will help you become part of the inner circle.

  • Back: wagering that an outcome will occur. For example, a horse winning.
  • Lay: wagering that an outcome won’t happen. For example, betting against a horse winning the race.
  • Length: length of a horse from nose to tail. Typically referred to when discussing how far ahead a winning horse crosses a line ahead of runners up.
  • Evens: a horse paying at 1/1 odds. So, if you wager $10, you stand to win $10.
  • Non-runner: a horse that has been withdrawn from a race.
  • Banker: a bet thought to be absolutely certain.
  • Drifter: a horse whose price significantly gets bigger before the race begins.
  • Longshot: a horse appearing not to be unfancied in the market (for example, 20/1 odds).
  • Cash out: taking a payout from the bookmaker before the race ends.
  • In the money – a horse finishing in the 1st, 2nd or 3rd

Online vs Offline Betting on the Horses

Horse race betting has been a thing for over a millennium, so such an activity moving online is bound to come with some gives and takes. For one, you can’t yet experience a land-based racetrack online as you would in person. Seeing and hearing the horses neigh and jostle to come out first is just a sight to behold. But betting online comes with a lot of benefits too.

Canadians can follow as many races as they want from all around the world, all without ever leaving their houses. Heck, you can even watch the action as it happens. This makes your betting experience convenient, quick, and simple. Players can also sign up with multiple bookies and shop around for the best odds. Lastly, the best racebooks offer more markets and generous bonuses and promos, something you rarely get at physical race tracks. Here are the pros and cons of registering with an online racebook.

What we like:

  • Claim generous bonuses
  • Get a wider range of betting markets
  • Wager on the move using mobile apps
  • Access races from different tracks and countries

What we don’t:

  • Can’t recreate a land racetrack atmosphere

The Biggest Races to Bet On

We’ll discuss each event briefly in the next section, but here’s a quick picture of the most popular races to bet on.

Race Course Country Type Distance Month Prize Pot (in CAD)
Cheltenham Gold Cup Cheltenham Racecourse England Grade I National Hunt Steeplechase 3 miles 2½ furlongs March $10 million +
Kentucky Derby Churchill Downs Racetrack USA Grade I Stakes Race for 3yos 1 1/4 miles May $3 million +
Preakness Stakes Pimlico Race Course USA Grade I Stakes Race for 3yos 1 3/16 miles May $1.65 million
Belmont Stakes Belmont Park USA Grade I Stakes Race for 3yos 1 1/2 miles June $1.5 million
The King’s Plate Woodbine Racetrack Canada Stakes race for 3yo Canadian thoroughbreds 1 1/4 miles August $1 million
Prince Of Wales Stakes Fort Erie Race Track Canada Stakes race for 3yo Canadian thoroughbreds 1 3/16 miles September $400,000
Breeders’ Stakes Woodbine Racetrack Canada Stakes race for 3yo Canadian thoroughbreds 1 1/2 miles October $500,000
Canadian International Stakes Woodbine Racetrack Canada Grade I Stakes Race 1 1/4 miles October $750,000

Popular Horse Racing Events to Take a Punt On

Like any other sport, horse racing features hundreds of events, all garnering a varying degree of local and international interest. Horses from all around the world compete for massive prize pools. We’ll cover five of the most popular events to keep an eye on.

The King’s Plate / Queen’s Plate

The Queen’s Plate was founded by Queen Victoria in 1860, making it the oldest thoroughbred horse race. It’s run at the Woodbine Racetrack in Ontario, Canada, with a maximum of 17 starters over a distance of 2km (1.25 miles or 10 furlongs). You can catch the action each summer in August.

Cheltenham Festival

The Cheltenham Festival is arguably the most popular jumps racing event. It roars into life every March at Cheltenham Racecourse in England, featuring races like the Champion Hurdle, Queen Mother Champion Chase and Cheltenham Gold Cup across four days.

Belmont Stakes

The Belmont Stakes takes place every June at New York’s Belmont Park racetrack. The race is dubbed the “Test of the Champion” due to its relatively long 1.5-mile distance. It’s also part of the American Triple Crown, along with the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes.

Grand National

The Grand National Festival features three days of world-class horse racing including the world’s most famous steeplechase. This eponymous race takes place at Aintree Racecourse just outside Liverpool, England. The Grand National distance is a whopping 4 miles and 2½ furlongs, and the prize pool is £1,000,000, with the winner taking home £500,000.

Preakness Stakes

The Preakness Stakes is the shortest leg of the American Triple Crown, with a distance of 1-3/16 miles. Canadians can hop across the border and watch the race at the Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland, on the third Saturday of May.

Popular Canadian Payment Methods for Online Horse Racing Betting

One of the most fun aspects of horse racing betting online is placing winning bets and getting real money payouts. But for this to be possible, you need to fund your account and be able to quickly and conveniently withdraw your money. The following payment methods make all this possible for Canadians.

Horse racing betting Canada Payment Methods
  • Crypto: Digital coins like Bitcoin, Ethereum, Tether, and Dogecoin facilitate the quickest and most affordable online payments. Crypto is also secure and allows you to wager anonymously.
  • Cards: Visa and MasterCard provide a global debit and credit card payment network. You can get a card from your local bank and directly deposit and withdraw from your sportsbook account.
  • Interac: this interbank network is popular with Canadians and provides a convenient way to make payments online.
  • eWallets: PayPal and Skrill are the most popular eWallets, allowing bettors to make smooth deposits and withdrawals without sharing their banking details. As some eWallets may be restricted, ecoPayz provides Canadians with a go-to option to store funds and make quick online transactions.
  • Prepaid cards: You can purchase prepaid cards like the Paysafecard and use a 16-digit pin to instantly add funds to your betting account. The entire process is quick and anonymous.
  • Bank Wire: While it’s old and vulnerable to fraud, the bank wire method is still used on many betting sites in Canada. Its main advantage is allowing larger transfers than most eWallets and cards.

Top Tips for Betting on Horses

Whether you’re still a newbie or already know a thing or two about betting on horse racing, the following pro tips will help you make better, more rewarding wagers.

Check Racing Programmes

You can easily find and download racing programs, and find vital information to base your betting strategy on. Things to look at include horse stats and past performances.

Stream the Event

Streaming the race and betting in-play allows you to quickly evaluate your initial predictions and adjust your bets. Besides, rooting for your favourite horse in real-time, while you have money on the line is undoubtedly the best way to wager on horses.

Claim Bonuses

Claiming generous horse racing betting Canada bonuses and promos allows you to experiment with different bets without risking too much of your own money. You may not need to complete wagering conditions after claiming free bets, getting you closer to real money payouts.

Consider Jockey Experience

Checking a horse’s past experience is a must, but bettors may overlook the jockeys. How experienced a rider is plays into the overall chance of your prediction coming out correct.

Manage Your Bankroll

With not acting on your gut quickly enough, chasing losses, and betting on too many races, it’s easy to blow a solid betting strategy. Stick to the tips you think best improve your outcomes and stick to them for a while.

Make Sure You Get the Best Betting Odds

Understanding and securing the best odds is a key aspect of finding success as a horse racing bettor. While would you back a horse on 3/1 odds when another bookie is offering 4/1? This means you may need to sign up with multiple racebooks and shop around for the best prices on every race.

You also need to remember that odds continually fluctuate, depending on what percentage of the market is backing the different competitors. Fortunately, all the bookies on this page offer competitively priced odds, so you’ll almost always find the best bet.

Conclusion

If you’ve read the entire guide, you now can make informed decisions before signing up with one or more of the best online horse racing betting sites listed on this page. There’s a virtually endless variety of points to consider, depending on your preferences and intended betting outcomes.

Whatever you’re looking for, you can’t go wrong with PowBet. With a generous welcome bonus, competitive racing odds, loads of betting markets, in-play betting, and much more, the racebook is an easy choice for most Canadians. You can sign up today and start your quest for that stroke of luck.

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Ernest Masuka

Ernest Masuka is a casino gaming expert, having worked as a casino floor manager and written in-depth online gaming guides and reviews for the past 5 years. He joined SafeBettingSites as a freelance content writer in 2022 and is now a full-time contributing writer. He previously worked for publications like Silentbet and TopBettingSites.