Betting on horse racing is one of the oldest forms of sports betting, made famous in the UK in the early 1600s. It enjoys a substantial following, and the racing calendar features many top-quality events throughout the year, with the Grand National and Cheltenham Gold Cup being just two of the highlights.
While attending horse races is still an enjoyable way to pass the time, many bettors flock to online sportsbooks to place their bets. Betting on horse racing can be as easy or as difficult as you’d like it to be, but either way, it’s beneficial to choose the right platform. Boylesports has been a stalwart on the betting scene for over 30 years. With its knowledge and expertise, you’ll be set up with the best Boylesports horse racing bets.
Main Events in Horse Racing
Horse racing is the darling of the British betting public, with a season running from March until December. Some events feature highly on the racing calendar each year and draw huge crowds, both for the excitement of the race and the social scene that’s developed among fashionable followers.
There are plenty of betting opportunities for racing lovers at Boylesports to turn a profit or to sit back and soak up the atmosphere from one of the world’s most-loved sports. These are some of the horse races that feature prominently in the UK and Ireland.
1000 Guinea Stakes
Each year, the 1000 Guinea Stakes is a flat one-mile race on the straight and flat Rowley Mile at Newmarket. It’s only open to three-year-old fillies and is one of the five British Classics. The race is traditionally held at the end of April or the first Sunday in May and attracts large crowds.
2000 Guinea Stakes
Another British Classic is the 2000 Guinea Stakes, which gets its name from the amount of the first purse. This one-mile race also takes place at Newmarket on the same weekend as the 1000 Guinea Stakes. The two races are very similar, apart from the fact that the 2000 Stakes is open to fillies and colts.
Along with the 1000 Guinea Stakes, this race is one of the first in the racing season and acts as an icebreaker for the longer races later. It’s also the first race of the UK’s Triple Crown.
Epsom Derby
This is one of the UK’s great races, so much so that even those unfamiliar with horse racing will have heard of the Epsom Derby. It takes place on the first Saturday in June at the famous Epsom Downs in Surrey, over a flat course of one and a half miles. As popular as this race is with the viewing public, it attracts bettors in their droves, all looking to cash in on the action.
The race is contested by both fillies and colts, but it is restricted to three-year-olds. The Epsom Derby is another of the British Classics and the second race in the Triple Crown, with a purse exceeding €1,500,000.00.
Epsom Oaks
Epsom Oaks is run at Epsom Downs in Surrey, over one and a half miles. It’s exclusive to three-year-old fillies and is one of the primary races on the calendar for this category of horses. This British Classic is also one of the oldest races, with the inaugural event in 1779.
St Leger Stakes
The St Leger Stakes at Doncaster in Yorkshire takes place in September and is the last race making up the Triple Crown. It’s the longest of the five British Classics, run over the course of one mile, six furlongs, and 132 yards. As with the other Classics, this race is only for three-year-old colts and fillies but excludes geldings from entering.
The Grand National
The Grand National is a significant attraction on the race calendar. It draws even the most reluctant bettors out of hibernation to place their annual wager. It’s a hunt race, where runners must jump over 30 fences and water-filled ditches along the course, creating more excitement for the spectators.
Aintree in Merseyside is the home of the Grand National and has been since 1839, interrupted only by the world wars. This is a true test for all runners and their jockeys, with a course stretching to four miles and four furlongs.
Cheltenham Gold Cup
The Cheltenham Gold Cup is one of the top-billed races on the Cheltenham Festival held at the Cheltenham Racecourse in Gloucestershire. It’s also a National Hunt event, but grander than the Grand National due to the prestige and size of the purse. However, it’s a shorter race, over just three miles and two and a half furlongs, with 22 fences.
The Cheltenham Festival takes place over four days in March. The Gold Cup is traditionally held around St Patrick’s Day, making it a popular race with Irish bettors.
Royal Ascot Festival
It’s doubtful that anyone in the UK or Ireland hasn’t heard of Royal Ascot. This is the pinnacle of the racing season for competitors and spectators alike. Not only is the racing schedule action-packed with 30 events over five days, but it’s a chance to show off your sartorial splendour and enjoy the action in style.
The highlight of the Festival is the Ascot Gold Cup, run over a flat two and a half miles on the third day. The race is open to horses four years and older, and the winner of this race stands to receive a share of over £6,000,000.00.
Irish Grand National
Boylesports has sponsored this Irish equivalent to the Grand National since 2014. The race takes place on Easter Monday during Fairyhouse’s Easter Festival. It’s open to five-year-old horses, who fight it out over a three-mile course. It’s the most significant race on the Irish calendar in terms of prize money, with a winner’s purse of €216,000.
Punchestown Irish National Hunt Festival
Punchestown Racecourse in County Kildare hosts the Irish National Hunt Festival every year in April. It’s the final major festival in the hunting season and features ten championship races. The most notable is the Punchestown Gold Cup, a contest over three miles with 17 fences.
Bonuses and Promotions
The bonuses for horse racing are a massive drawcard for new customers and regular bettors at Boylesports. The first bonus you encounter is the sign-up offer for new customers. What you need to do to get it is to deposit and bet £10. When your bet is settled, you will get a total of £25 in free bets.
Once you’ve used your free bets from the welcome offer and found your way around the Boylesports site, it’s time to explore other Boylesports promos. UK and Irish accumulator fans will eagerly welcome the Acca Loyalty promotion. It’s a great way to bet on a bevvy of upcoming races, and you stand to gain a free Acca bet.
Boylesports takes the initiative and runs additional promotions throughout the year for selected sports, including some great offers on horse racing. Some Boylesports bonuses are time-sensitive, particularly if they apply to specific races during the season.
Additional terms and conditions may apply to these periodic Boylesports bonuses and offers, as well as to the ongoing bonuses, and it’s worthwhile familiarising yourself with them before committing.
How to Enjoy Virtual Horse Racing?
Horse racing is one of the main features of Boylesports, so it stands to reason that virtual racing is an option on its platform. But while betting on digitally simulated races isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, it does serve to pass the time between actual races. In addition, it can be a very entertaining way of enjoying both horse racing and sports betting.
Experienced bettors who enjoy wagering on the races will likely steer clear of virtual racing. Still, this is a valuable opportunity for novice bettors to learn the ropes before betting on the events. There are fewer betting markets, and you don’t need to consider the external influences, like the weather, that would usually play a part in a race. You simply make your pick, place your bet and sit back to enjoy the virtual action.
Boylesports has a lengthy list of virtual races covering Sprint Racing, Flat Racing, and National Hunts. It features some innovative virtual racecourses, among which are the following:
- Lucky Lakes
- Down Boyle
- Boylestown
- Aintree Race Course (virtual version)
The Boylesports horse racing action plays out on your device screen, enhanced by realistic sound and commentary.
Apps and Mobile Options
To make sure that you never miss a bet, Boylesports has a mobile app that covers all aspects of your wagering. You can download this to your iOS device from the App Store or Google Play if you have an Android operating system.
The app is easy to use. All options you’re familiar with on the desktop site are also available on your mobile. Cashiering functions, wagering, and even in-play betting are accessible with just a few clicks.
Suppose you prefer not to download an app. In that case, Boylesports has a mobile site that automatically adjusts according to your screen size, giving you optimal functionality streamlined to your device. With its desktop website, mobile site, and app, Boylesports has got everyone covered.
Conclusion and Grade
- Pros
- You can enjoy a decent range of bonuses for horse racing betting.
- There’s a mobile app and mobile site for betting on the go.
- A well-designed website that’s easy to navigate.
- Live betting and live streaming are available for horse racing.
- The site features a bet calculator for working out your expected return on a bet.
- Cons
- There are limited live streaming options.
Boylesports is a serious player in the sports betting industry and a considerable force for horse racing betting. Its user-friendly platform and mobile app cater to experienced bettors and those still finding their feet. All the relevant information is well laid out and easy to find.
The sign-up offer is attractive, with other appealing Boylesports bonuses. We feel confident that Boylesports is worth it when it comes to betting on horses. With many events, betting markets, and high odds, the company has established its name as one of the most preferred online bookmakers for horse racing.