Best Horse Racing Betting in New Zealand 2024

Whether you're a high roller looking to take your usual horse racing bets online, or you're a newcomer looking to make your first bet, you can enjoy top betting odds at the best betting sites in New Zealand. Making a bet on horse racing is quick and easy online, which means that winning is also straightforward. Gallup towards the finish and start betting today at one of our recommended sites for 2024.

Keep reading to discover:

  • Types of horse racing bets available
  • Insider tips and strategies to win big
  • Different horse races to recognise
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While favorites might have the better chance of winning, they might not pay out as well. Betting on the dark horse in a race can be exhilarating, but much riskier.

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Getting Started with Horse Racing Betting

Getting Started with Horse Racing Betting

Basic Rules of Horse Racing

Horses race around a track, with the first horse declared a winner. It’s very important to consider the breeding, training and jockey - defining factors - before placing your bet.

  • Straight Bet: This simple, common bet is also known as a single or a win bet. You bet on the winner at given odds and collect when your horse is first across the finish line.
  • Place: A wager on place means your chosen horse finishes either first or second.
  • Show: A bet to show means you win as long as your horse finishes in the top three.
  • Pick 3: As the name implies, you pick three winners of three consecutive races. This is more challenging than wagering on a single race but offers higher payouts.

Common Horse Betting

The core of a race may be the same, with several horses running as fast as they can to finish first on a track, however, there are some distinct differences in the types of races.

FLAT RACES

As the name implies, flat racing takes place on courses without any obstacles. Distances can vary from five furlongs to a little over two miles.

NATIONAL HUNT RACES

The horses are required to jump over obstacles and are usually divided into Steeplechases and Hurdles. Hurdles are smaller while Steeplechases are more challenging and varied with other obstacles including ditches and water jumps.

TRIPLE CROWN

Triple Crown comprises three races. Winning all three of the races is considered a major accomplishment. In the US, the races are the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes while in the UK they are the 2000 Guineas Stakes, The Derby and the St Leger Stakes.

Rules of the game

Are you a novice when it comes to horse racing? Get the general gist below.

  • Pick 6: Even more difficult to do, you need to pick the winner of six consecutive races. With the longest odds, these wagers usually have the best horse racing payouts.
  • Quinella: Pick two horses that will finish first and second on a single race, but they can finish in either order.
  • Perfecta or Exacta: Like a Quinella, except you must wager on the exact order the horses will finish in.
  • Trifecta: Like a Perfecta or Exacta, you must pick the first three horses to cross the finish line in the correct order.

Top Horse Betting Odds and Tips

Here are some handy tips to get you started with horse betting and boost your lucky chances!

Pick your races carefully

As exciting as it can be to bet on horse races, you'll need to be selective about choosing the races to bet on. Don't bet on every possible race, instead look for races with smaller top tiers.

Be prepared to layout cash

You'll need to commit enough money to make a proper bet when you find a race. Pick 3, Pick 6 and Trifectas can require a significant outlay to have a real chance of hitting big. Saving a couple of bucks and eliminating a horse or two could end up costing thousands of dollars.

Bet within your bankroll

If you can't afford to outlay the funds for more exotic bets, it's better to stick with the win/place/show wagers. You can still have a lot of fun and make some great wins, but with a smaller bankroll.

Turf conditions matter

Some horses do better on turf vs dirt, and others do well on dry vs wet tracks. Check the horse's record on wet or dry tracks and also heed recent weather and track conditions.

Beware class drop-downs

Horses that are significantly dropping in class from their last race are now at the top of the heap and could be serious threats to the competition.

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You should always check that the casino you’re ready to play at is legitimate, has the correct licenses and attractive features such as fast payments. That’s why our expert New Zealand gambling team combs through the casinos with precision so only the best get recommended.

Choosing an online betting site

Our team of experts work hard to help you find the best betting sites online. The reviews are thoroughly researched and trustworthy, so you can rely on expert opinion when looking for a place to make your first bet. Casino operators online often include bookies, which means there are even more options for online betting.

To find the best online betting sites, we urge you to check for the following elements, as we do ourselves.

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Licensing and Security

It's vital to gamble at betting sites that are fully licensed with regulatory bodies. They also need to use the latest encryption technology to keep your personal and financial data safe.
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Software

Whether it’s with apps or browser-based betting, sports betting sites must have customised interfaces or apps for computers and mobile devices.
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Variety

The selection of available wagers must be large and varied, with all the best sports and bets that punters are looking for.
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Banking Methods

Online betting sites must offer fast deposit and withdrawal options using a variety of secure and popular banking methods.
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Customer Support

High-quality customer service is essential. Issues should be dealt with in a friendly manner, as well as being prompt and effective. There should also be numerous communication channels.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • You can bet on everything from local tracks to international events, such as anything from the Kentucky Derby to the Dubai World Cup.
  • Yes, it’s totally safe to place wagers at any reputable horse betting sites.
  • Of course! All of our recommended sites for online bets offer generous welcome bonuses to get you started!
  • Each race has unique odds with bookies calculating the chances of a given horse on specific tracks.
  • Definitely! Most betting sites have customised apps to suit modern mobile devices, including iOS and Android, as well as sites specially designed to work well on mobile browsers.