Florida Horse Racing Betting – Comparing the Best Horse Racing Betting Sites in Florida

Joseph Yarnold profile picture
Sports Editor Fact Checked by Sacha Kinser

Florida, the southeasternmost US state, is well known for its ties with horse racing, and we’re going to use this article to bring you everything you need to know regarding Florida horse racing betting.

Topics covered will include the best betting sites for horse racing in Florida, Florida land-based horseracing tracks, legalities surrounding gambling in Florida, and a look at some of the welcome bonuses you can claim as a Florida resident looking to bet on horse racing.

Best Florida Sports Betting Sites
BetOnline Sports logo

50% up to $1000 Welcome Bonus

5 Stars Get Offer
Bovada Sports logo

Get a Welcome Bonus of up to $750

5 Stars Get Offer
Everygame Sports logo

100% up to $500 Welcome Bonus

5 Stars Get Offer
BetNow Sports logo

100% up to $1000 Welcome Bonus

5 Stars Get Offer
BetUS Sports logo

125% Sign Up Bonus Up To $2,500

5 Stars Get Offer
MyBookie Sports logo

50% Welcome Deposit Bonus up to $1000

5 Stars Get Offer
Sportsbetting AG Sports logo

First Two Deposits Matched Up To $1,000 (2x $500)

5 Stars Get Offer
Jazz Sports logo

50% Sports Welcome Bonus Up To $1000

5 Stars Get Offer
Lucky Block logo

200% Bonus up to $10,000 + 50 Free Spins

5 Stars Get Offer
XBet Sports logo

50% Welcome Deposit Bonus Up To $500 + $10 Casino Chip

5 Stars Get Offer

In This Guide

The Top 10 Betting Sites for Horse Racing in Florida

Our list below includes the best betting sites for horse racing in Florida. These 10 ten betting sites have been ranked as the top sites from dozens of reviews. They all have different strengths (and weaknesses), which we will address at length in the next section.

  1. BetOnline – Huge welcome bonus worth up to $1,000
  2. Bovada – One of the best sites for horse betting in Florida
  3. Everygame – Great variety of betting options
  4. BetNow – Early betting lines for horse races around the world
  5. BetUS – Great looking platform with FL horse racing tips and picks in the media center
  6. MyBookie – Huge range of international races
  7. Sportsbetting.ag – One of the best-looking horse racing betting apps
  8. JazzSports – Customize your sportsbook!
  9. Lucky Block – The best Bitcoin sportsbook
  10. XBet – Great links with horse racing betting and sports betting

Reviewing The Best Sites for Horse Racing Betting in Florida

We’ve taken the top five from our list of best betting sites for horse racing in Florida and taken a deeper look at why they rank as high as they do. Use the pros and cons boxes to get a quick overview of what we like and what we think needs work.

1 – BetOnline – Huge welcome bonus worth up to $1,000

Florida Horse Racing Betting – Comparing the Best Horse Racing Betting Sites in Florida

BetOnline has developed into one of the leading offshore sportsbooks since its inception in 1999. When it comes to horse racing coverage, they perform really well, and although they don’t quite compete with the dedicated horse racing betting sites you might find in states with the proper legislature, they are considered by us to be “best of the rest.”

BetOnline has a dedicated racing section on its site. Within this racebook, you can access hundreds of racetracks and events every day of the week. The simple menu layout makes it easy to jump between countries and meetings, and there are several horse racing promotions to claim with and without the use of BetOnline promo codes.

Their extensive range of betting markets includes straight, exacta, trifecta, superfecta, daily double, pick 3, and pick 5 for just about all races.

Banking options include all the most popular methods, including Visa, Bitcoin, Mastercard, and American Express. Depositing and withdrawing are fee-free, unlike some sites, and deposits start from just $10.

BetOnline Review –
Huge Welcome Bonus Worth Up Tp $3,000
Pros Cons
✅ Great sports betting experience ❌ Lacks depth in terms of dedicated horse racing features
✅ One of the most respected betting brands in the U.S. ❌ No live streaming of horse racing
✅ Comprehensive coverage of big International races
✅ Wide range of markets on all races
✅ Early betting lines for races

Welcome Bonus Offer:

BetOnline’s $1,000 sign-up promo is a cracker! It’s a 50% bonus match of your first deposit using promo code BET1000.

2 – Bovada – One of the best sites for horse betting in Florida

Florida Horse Racing Betting – Comparing the Best Horse Racing Betting Sites in Florida

Bovada is one of the best-looking racebooks for betting on horse racing in Florida. They’ve spent an incredible amount of time developing this section of the site to make it as user-friendly as it possibly can.

One of the site’s strengths is that it offers early betting lines for its races in the form of Morning Line odds. These are released the day before for most races, which is very early compared to some.

The racebook is separate from the main sportsbook, and you get the option to choose races from a wide range of tracks throughout the US. It’s also one of the few offshore sportsbooks that live streams select meets, meaning you can bet and watch the action from within the site.

One of the few downsides for Bovada is that international coverage is limited, and you’d be better off using Everygame for global horse racing events.

Bovada Review –
One of the best sites for horse betting in Florida
Pros Cons
✅ Stunning site, comfortably best looking ❌ Lack of international race coverage
✅ Clean, concise racecard ❌ Lacks features outside of simple betting options
✅ Good range of betting markets for most races
✅ Low VIG charged on pool bets
✅ Live betting for some of the more popular races

Welcome Bonus Offer:

When you register a new account within Bovada, you will be able to claim up to $1,000 in bonus money using the platform’s fiat ($250) and crypto ($750) welcome offers. This bonus is based on a 100% match of your initial deposit and comes with a 10x rollover before you can withdraw it.

3 – Everygame – Great variety of betting options

Horse Racing Betting Site in Florida - Everygame

 

Everygame is the ideal destination for those looking for more niche betting options. At this sports betting site, you’ll find a larger array of prop bets and event coverage than anywhere else. Basically, if it’s not on Everygame, it’s not worth betting on!

Everygame’s extensive range of betting markets includes non-sporting events such as politics or popular entertainment.

The horse racing section of the site is easy to navigate, with the day’s meetings and races listed out in a straightforward fashion. There is a rather handy ‘Hottest bets’ box on the right-hand side of the page that lists the most popular bets on the site from that day.

Everygame Review –
Great variety of betting options
Pros Cons
✅ Great range of markets and prop bets ❌ No loyalty program
✅ Easy to navigate site ❌ No odds boosts
✅ Strong industry reputation
✅ Exclusive promos and bonuses
✅ Reliable site that suffers very little outage

Welcome Bonus Offer:

When you register a new account within Everygame, you will be able to claim up to $500 in bonus money using promo code WELCOME500. This bonus is based on a 100% match of your initial deposit.

4 – BetNow – Early betting lines for horse races around the world

betnow - fl horse racing betting

BetNow was built for US sports fans who love to bet on the pro leagues, so if the NFL, NBA, NHL, or MLB are your bag, then this is a great sports betting site for you, but it’s also a top spot for FL horse racing bettors:

BetNow’s racing coverage, which is compartmentalized neatly in their separate racebook, is primarily US-focused, but it does have markets on top international races like the Melbourne Cup, Prix de l’Arc de Triumph, and races at meetings like Royal Ascot in the UK. Early betting lines on those big races, as well as the bigger American races, are a standout feature on a site that caters to horse racing bettors very well.

Another standout feature on this sports betting site is the ‘Horse Rebate,’ which provides users with a 10% rebate (in free bets) on their overall horse racing losses for the previous week. If you have a bad week on the horses, you will at least wake up to some free bets the following Monday.

BetNow Review –
Early betting lines for horse races around the world
Pros Cons
✅ Great range of bonuses and promos ❌ Limited coverage of non-US leagues and events
✅ Heavy focus on top U.S pro leagues ❌ App feels outdated compared to rivals
✅ Exceptional customer support
✅ Free-to-enter weekly competitions
✅ Great variety of prop bets

Welcome Bonus Offer:

When you register a new account within BetNow, you will be able to claim up to $200 in bonus money. This bonus is based on a 200% match of your initial deposit. Use promo code CRYPTO200.

5 – BetUS – Great looking and free media center!

BetUS Sportsbook

BetUS is an oldie of the sports betting scene, having launched in 1994. Famed for its great sportsbook and casino, BetUS has a separate racebook that includes a comprehensive range of betting options from around the tracks.

BetUS isn’t just an ordinary sports betting site, though, because it’s also a FREE media center, thanks to BetUS TV and The Locker Room. The TV channel hosts talk shows around all the major sports, while The Locker Room is home to a great range of news stories and blogs, including expert picks on the biggest meets of the weekend. You don’t need to be logged in to view much of The Locker Room content.

The racebook has its own range of bonuses and promos, including a $250 cash bonus (plus a 20% casino bonus) for deposits of at least $100. BetUS also offers some great rebate promos around scratched runners in combo bets, as well as offering a consolation payout on scratched runners in Pick 3, 4, or 6 wagers.

BetUS Review –
Great looking and easy-to-use race card
Pros Cons
✅ Mega Welcome Bonus ❌ Deposit bonuses expire after 14 days
✅ Faster payouts than many rivals ❌ Limited payout options
✅ Wide range of international sports
✅ BetUS TV and The Locker Room are great media additions
✅ Free picks and commentary to help you wager

Welcome Bonus Offer:

When you register a new account within BetUS, you will be able to claim up to $2,500 in bonus money, using bonus code JOIN125. This bonus is based on a 125% match of your initial deposit and comes with a 10x rollover before you can withdraw it.

Comparing The Best Florida Sites for Betting on Horse Racing

Assessing which sites are best for horse racing is a long and time-consuming process. We employ a dedicated team of testers who are experts in the horse racing industry. It’s that industry knowledge that ensures we know what to look for and how to assess a site’s betting features.

We are fully aware that not all features suit all bettors – it’s not a one-size-fits-all game. For example, live streaming is a crucial feature on a sports betting site for many, but a lot of people place their bets at the start of the day and simply track the results as they come in, meaning that live streaming isn’t as necessary as you may imagine.

In the following section, we take a look at a range of areas (in no particular order) that we consider to be important when comparing the best sportsbooks in Florida.

Horse Racing Odds

An easy place to start with these features is the horse racing odds. These can vary massively from site to site, and whilst features like streaming, promos, and interactive racecards are great, there is no getting away from the fact that the most important part is making money.

The best Florida horse racing sites offer great odds for US horse races.

To be honest, all the top five picks for horse racing betting in Florida performed well when it came to testing the odds. BetOnline probably shaves this section, and one of the reasons for this is the reduced VIG/juice compared to other sites.

We found some markets with BetOnline that had VIG set at just 5%, which is low for fields with as many runners as horse racing has. Other notables were BetNow and Bovada, both good choices for horses that are slightly longer priced.

Horse Racing Betting Markets

Horse racing as a sport doesn’t lend itself to the sort of market depth that the likes of the NFL does, where you get hundreds of markets and props for every game.

All of our top five sportsbooks performed well when it comes to the number of markets available on any given event, and there was little to choose between them. BetOnline probably just edges it because their betting options include exacta, trifecta, and superfecta wagers on more races than the other Florida online sportsbooks.

Live Horse Racing Betting

Live betting is the most exciting way to enjoy a horse race. Basically, it’s the ability to bet on the race after the start gun has fired, but you will need to be sharp because odds change quickly, especially in sprint races. You also need to factor in the 30-second delay to live streaming pictures – basically, you can’t bet live based on those pictures.

Betting opportunities from a live stream are limited, in truth, but Bovada comes out top of the pile from our testing. Their markets moved quickly, as you would expect, but they were suspended (or closed) for the least amount of time from our testing.

Horse Racing Betting Promotions

Promotions that are specific to horse racing can be some of the most lucrative of any sport. Anything from money-back specials to free bets on high-profile races is quite common amongst all of our horse racing betting sites.

BetOnline had a good range of horse racing promotions for this section. We liked the inclusion of the cashback bets when your horse finishes 2nd or 3rd, and you’ve backed it to win (on selected races).

It’s also worth noting that BetOnline runs a lot of enhanced prices for the big races, which tends to make the best price as a result. The only downside here is that you’re limited to the amount of money you can wager on these enhanced odds bets.

Special Features for Horse Racing

Special features for horse racing is a broad subject, but there are some betting sites that do this better than others.

By far, the best platforms for horse racing features are BetOnline, Bovada, BetUS, and BetNow. They have things like handicap betting tools, expert analysis, race previews, horse racing news, free tipsters, and betting guides where novices can learn how to make money betting on horse racing from scratch.

Horse Racing Welcome Bonus

You may have noticed in the betting site reviews earlier in the piece we’ve included several welcome bonuses that you can claim when you create a new account. These are must-claim offers for us, and most of them offer a huge amount of value.

We’re going to pick two offers that are quite different. The first is the $1,000 bonus from BetOnline that you need to wager through 10x before you can withdraw the cash.

The next is the free wager offer from Everygame. Here, you simply get a $500 bonus (based on a 100% deposit match), and then any winnings from that bonus you get to keep.

User-Friendly Design

Design is a key aspect of any element of a horse racing betting site. By far and away, the best here is that of Bovada. Not only does the online site look great, but their dedicated mobile betting app is an absolute triumph as well.

Live Streaming

Live streaming is one of the coolest features that any Florida horse racing site can include. Streams need to be clean, accessible, and easy to load.

The standout operator here is Bovada, which offers the best quality feeds in its live streaming facility.

Below, we’ve included a table that highlights a range of features and which Florida horse betting sites accommodate said features.

Comparing The Best Sites For Horse Betting Florida Has To Offer
Live Streaming   Racecard Enhanced Lines Welcome Offer Mobile App Handicapping Sports Betting Casino
BetOnline
Bovada
Everygame
BetNow
BetUS
MyBookie
Sportsbetting.ag
Jazz
Lucky Block
XBet

How to Choose the Best Florida Horse Racing Betting Sites

We’ve already spoken about how horse racing in Florida is accessible via betting sites and what features they include. We now want to look at how you can pick the best betting sites based on how well these sites perform as sportsbooks.

For this section, we want to briefly move away from horse racing and focus on betting attributes that all the best betting sites will include.

Brand Recognition

You need to be able to trust the brand that you’re about to use. Trust is something that is earned, and it’s not just a case of picking who has been open the longest. Whilst the length of time in the industry shows that they’re doing something right, often, brand recognition is something that is earned.

We’ve taken the time to make sure that we include brands that we trust. This allows us to confidently promote and recommend sites based on this trust. If you’re new to a brand, you need a certain amount of trust before you start, and the only way to get this is by reviews or sites like ours.

Payment Methods

Moving money is a major focus in our Florida horse racing reviews. We include this because each site is different, and even though they might have the same payment methods on offer, they can work in very different ways.

Florida Horse Racing Betting – Comparing the Best Horse Racing Betting Sites in Florida

Another key area to note here is fees. You want to avoid these at all costs, especially those that charge to deposit money. There are enough betting sites and payment options online that will allow you to both deposit and withdraw money without being charged a fee.

Crypto payments are incredibly popular these days. If you’re comfortable banking with crypto (Bitcoin, etc.), then often you get increased deposit limits and even faster withdrawals.

Safety & Security

Safety on a betting site is a priority. We take the time to make sure that all the horse racing betting sites on this page are 100% safe and secure.

There are several areas that we look for to ensure this, and these include SSL certificates, legitimate licenses, and trusted payment methods for banking.

Speed & Design

The speed of the site and how it looks are two more key areas. You need to have a reliable site where you can jump between races quickly and without any lag. A good design would enable this.

Customer Service

Finally, you need to be able to get in touch with someone should things go wrong. This is not to say that things will, but there is always a time when you might need advice, information, and help with your account, which is all undertaken by the customer service team.

Accessibility is key here. The likes of email, phone, and live chat are generally the three most common forms of contact for the customer service team.

What To Look for In the Best Florida Horse Racing Betting Sites
Brand Recognition ✅ Trustworthy

✅ Reliable

Payment Process ✅ Safe Payment Options

✅ Fast, Secure Payouts

Safety & Security ✅ Safety & Security

✅ Protecting Privacy & Personal Information

Speed & Design ✅ Fast Software

✅ User-Friendly Design

Customer Service ✅ 24/7 Live Chat

✅ Friendly Customer Service

Overall Value ✅ Best Odds

✅ Live Streaming

✅ Promotions Offers

✅ Special Features

Is Horse Racing Betting Legal in Florida?

Horse racing betting in Florida is legal. You are permitted to bet on horse races both on track and off track. This includes online betting as well.

Florida is on the cusp of legalizing all forms of online gambling, and sports betting has been given the green light for November 2021. However, there has since been a fallout between the Seminole Tribe and the state regarding a renegotiated compact, meaning that the bill is now on pause until it can be resolved.

This bill has not affected horse racing as in Florida; the state allows most forms of betting that are not deemed to be games of chance. You need to be 21 years or older to bet on horse racing both online and at the track.

Horse Racing Betting Guide – How to Bet on Horse Racing in Florida

We’re going to take a deeper look at how to bet on horse racing in Florida. The guide below will highlight how horse racing betting works online, odds, bet types, and betting terms.

To kick things off, we want to look at the types of races you can bet on. In the US and Florida, in particular, most horse races are going to be flat races. The alternative to this is jump races, and whilst the latter is less common in the US, in places like the UK and across Europe, it’s much more popular.

Betting markets for each race are going to vary. They will vary based on the profile of the race and the betting sites that are covering the race.

Florida Horse Racing Betting – Comparing the Best Horse Racing Betting Sites in Florida

Most sites will be able to offer basic win, place, and show bets. Any less than this, and we would state that they were poor when it comes to market coverage.

It can be expanded further with the likes of daily doubles, trifecta, superfecta, and a range of combination bets. This requires the punter to bet on the outcome of more than one horse in a single race. It makes it much tougher to call, but the rewards are incredibly high.

Check Out Our Popular Horse Racing Guides

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How Does Horse Racing Betting Work in Florida?

Horse racing in Florida works in much the same way as it does in the rest of the country. You choose your race, pick your horse, decide on a betting market, and place your bet.

The bones of horse racing betting are incredibly simple to get to terms with; the skill is making money!

One of the advantages of betting in Florida is that you have a handful of tracks that you can visit to watch live racing. The biggest benefit of this is that it allows you to see first-hand which horses might be worth betting on and see how markets are moving at the track.

If do find yourself at one of the Florida horse racing tracks, don’t feel like you are confined to using the on-track bookmakers to place your bets. Online betting on horse racing is legal, so you can bet online to make sure you get the best price.

Odds aren’t always displayed on track as they would be online. At the track, some bookmakers change between fractional (more popular across Europe, especially the UK) and American-style odds. It’s worth learning how both work if you’re planning on betting at the track.

If you’re betting online, you’re going to be able to flick between the style of odds that you want to use. This might be American, decimal, or fractional.

FL Horse Racing Betting Explained

We want to run through a quick example of a betting site and how they might typically show horse racing betting odds.

An Example of a Florida Horse Racing Card

In the image above, there are several key areas to note. The first section is the Win, Place, and Show. These are your bet types for this market and race. You simply enter your stake in those boxes and then click on the add to bet lisp. We talk more about

To find out the odds, you need to shift your attention to the M/L column, which stands for the Morning Line. These are your odds for the race, and they will change quite a bit as the race gets nearer.

As you can see, the odds are displayed as a fraction. The easiest way to work out returns is to assume that every unit in the right column returns the digit in the left. So, a 4/1 bet would mean that for every 1 unit staked, you would win four units.

FL Horse Racing Betting Odds

Choosing the best odds possible is the number one priority when it comes to horse racing betting. You need to be able to move between betting sites to take the best price as often as you can.

A major mistake we see from most punters is that they use one betting site and take whatever price they are offering for all bets. This is a massive leak.

The best betting sites offer competitive odds for Florida horse racing

In the image above, you can see the odds for a race in the UK. The horses are listed vertically, and the betting sites horizontally.

This should give you an idea of how the odds differ from site to site. For example, for Jabber to win, we have odds from as high as 7/4 to as low as 11/8. A little further down, we have Delphinus at best price 5/1 and worst 7/2. This means that just by betting with the right betting site, you would make $15 extra for every $100 you staked should the horse win.

Generally, horse racing odds fall into three categories. We’ve outlined these below.

Fixed Horse Racing Betting Odds FL

Fixed horse racing betting odds are where the betting site sets the price, and then the user can take it or leave it. This is your more traditional style of bookmaking, although it’s not necessarily the most popular in the US.

Pari-Mutuel Betting for FL Horse Racing

Pari-mutuel betting is where you bet into a pool. Payouts from this bet will be based on the number of people who’ve wagered on the same result. The more people, the lower the payout. This is a common horse racing bet type in the United States.

Pool Betting for Horse Racing in FL

Pool betting for horse racing is a lot like pari-mutuel, but the key difference is that pools can be fixed in terms of the payout. So, you still bet into the pool, but the odds are set by the bookmaker, and then you gamble on if the payout is going to be more or less than you would have got with an even split with a pari-mutuel bet.

What Are the Different Types of Horse Racing Bets?

The best Florida horse racing sites offer several different types of bets.

Most horse races come with a range of bets you can place. It’s not a sport that has a huge range, but there is enough diversity to keep things feeling fresh and to allow you to take advantage of bets that offer high value.

Below, we’ve highlighted a range of horse racing bets that you’re going to find from most online betting sites.

Win

The win bet is the most common, and this is simply where you bet on the horse to win the race. If it does, then you make some money. If it fails to win, then you lose. Most bets placed on horse racing will be for the horse to win.

Place

The place bet is where you bet on a horse to finish in the top two spots. In some races that have huge fields (Grand National, for example), some betting sites will expand the number of places that they payout on. For most races that have ten or fewer runners, the place bet will be the top two.

Show

The show bet is an extension of the place, and instead of betting on the two places, this pays out on the top three places. In smaller field races, the show bet is one of the easiest to call, but it also pays a lot less than the win or even the place.

Exacta

Exacta bets are the start of the combo bets for horse racing. This bet requires you to pick the first two horses in the race in the right order.

Trifecta

Trifecta bets are an extension of Exacta, and for this, you need to pick the first three horses in the right order. The odds for these bets can be huge, especially if you throw in a longer-priced horse as well as one of the favorites.

Superfecta

The Superfecta takes things up another notch, and for this, you need to choose the top four horses from the race. Like the previous two combo bets, you need all four horses in the correct order for this bet to win.

Daily Double

The daily double is where you choose the winner of back-to-back races from a single race meeting. This is not a bet where you choose two winners from any race; they must be races that follow on from each other.

Pick 3/4/5/6

Pick bets are an extension of the daily double, and for this, you need to back multiple consecutive winners. They come in 3, 4, 5, and 6 (most meetings have a max of 6 races) picks, with each of them needing to be the race that follows.

Comparing the Different Types of Horse Racing Betting Options
Bet Type Description
Win Overall winner of the race
Place To finish inside the top 2 places
Show To finish inside the top 3 places
Exacta First two horses in the correct order
Trifecta First three horses in the correct order
Superfecta First four horses in the correct order
Daily Double Winner of two consecutive races from the same meeting
Pick 3 Winner of three consecutive races from the same meeting
Pick 4 Winner of four consecutive races from the same meeting
Pick 5 Winner of five consecutive races from the same meeting
Pick 6 Winner of six consecutive races from the same meeting

FL Horse Racing Betting Terms

Horse racing has a lot of betting terms and abbreviations attached, which can be confusing for beginners. Knowing each of these terms is imperative, as it may be the difference between backing a winner or a donkey.

Below, we’ve created a list of some of the more common horse racing betting terms you need to know.

  • Across the board – A bet on a horse to win, place, and show
  • At the post – Signifies the start of the race
  • Blinkers – Headgear is worn by the horse to restrict their field of view (helps them concentrate)
  • Claiming Race – A race where all horses running are up for sale and have a fixed price attached
  • Classic – Race of particular importance (For example, Florida Classic)
  • Dead Heat – Two or more horses finish at the same time
  • DQ – A horse that’s been disqualified
  • Exotic bet – A bet that is not a win, place, or show
  • Favorite – Most likely to win the race
  • Furlong – 1/8th of a mile
  • Length – Distance that horses are measured in as they cross the line
  • Morning Line – Handicappers estimate what the odds on each horse will be
  • Odds – The price that you get when betting on a horse or market
  • PariMutuel – A bet that forms a pool of money and is distributed evenly to those who win the race
  • Purse – Amount of money that can be won by the horse owners/trainers
  • Tote Board – A board that contains the odds for that race
  • Wager – Bet that is placed on a race

Horse Racing Betting Calculator

When you place a bet on horse racing, the bookmaker will automatically work out your return. This will be determined once the race has started or, more commonly, once it’s finished (takes time to work out the money wagered and dividends that need to be paid out).

You can use tools like the Morning Line to get an idea of what professional handicappers think a reasonable starting price would be for that horse. Whilst this price is not the exact odds you will get, it’s usually not too far away.

In the next section, we’re going to look at how to calculate the odds for horse racing betting.

How To Calculate Horse Racing Betting Odds

There are two types of odds that you need to know about.

Fixed odds are where the betting site chooses the odds for that horse to win, and then the odds fluctuate based on the amount of money coming in. The more money that is bet on the horse, the lower the odds will be.

Pool betting or Pari-mutuel betting is where you bet into a pool. From here, the odds are formulated after the race depending on the number of people who have bet on that horse.

For example, if you have a pool that 100 have equally (stake) entered and a race with five horses. Then, payouts will be based on the number of people who have bet on each horse.

Assume that 100 people each bet $10; this makes a pool of $1,000. Fifty people bet on one horse, then ten each on the other four horses.

The total amount of money on the one horse that 50 people have bet on is $500. If that horse wins, we need to divide $500 by 50 to make a profit of $10. If one of the other horses won, then they would pay out $10 each equally.

Florida Horse Racing Odds Chart:

To give you an overview of the odds available for horse racing betting, we’ve created a table. In that table, we’ve included the American odds, the payout from a $2 bet, and the implied winning percentage from those odds.

Horse Racing Betting Odds Chart
Odds Payout on $2 Bet Implied Winning Percentage
-500 $2.40 83.33%
-400 $2.50 80%
-300 $2.60 75%
-200 $3.00 66.67%
-150 $3.33 60%
-100 $4.00 50%
+200 $6.00 33.33%
+300 $8.00 25%
+500 $12 16.67%
+1000 $22 9.0%
+5000 $102 1.96%

Florida Horse Race Tracks

If you asked us which offers better value betting on horse racing, at the track or online? We would always say that betting online is our preferred method as you get better odds and, in turn, better value.

However, you can’t beat a day at the races, and the atmosphere is truly unrivaled. The elation when your horse wins is second to none, especially if you’ve won with a group of friends.

Horse racing in Florida allows you access to a lot of very good racetracks and some not-so-good. Below, we’ve taken the top 5 horse racing tracks in the state and highlighted what you can expect from each.

Hialeah Park – 100 E 32nd St, Hialeah, FL 33013

Florida Horse Racing Betting – Comparing the Best Horse Racing Betting Sites in Florida

Opened in 1922 originally as a dog racing track, Hialeah Park was switched to horse racing in 1925. The Park is one of the most popular in the state and, in 2009, saw a return for Quarterhorse racing. On-site is a casino, restaurants, and live entertainment.

Tampa Bay Downs – 11225 Racetrack Rd, Tampa, FL 33626

Florida Horse Racing Betting – Comparing the Best Horse Racing Betting Sites in Florida

Tampa Bay Downs is a party town for horse racing. The nightlife is as famous as the racing, and the site includes casinos, live music venues, places to eat, and tons of evening entertainment. This is one of the winter venues for the state and is open for racing from November to May, with an additional 2-day meet at the end of June.

Florida Quarter Horse Racing – 9085 Magnolia Hill Dr, Tallahassee, FL 32309

Florida Quarter Horse Racing is, as the name would suggest, home to quarter horses. These are some of the fastest in the country, and they travel from far and wide to race here. The track is made of dirt and is incredibly quick, making for an exceptional spectacle.

Pompano Park – 777 Isle of Capri, Pompano Beach, FL 33069

Pompano Park is as well known for its casino as it is for its rich history in harness racing. This is another site that takes advantage of the warm winters in Florida but has 365 days of entertainment based within the casino.

Gulf Stream Park Racing and Casino – 901 S Federal Hwy, Hallandale Beach, FL 33009

Florida Horse Racing Betting – Comparing the Best Horse Racing Betting Sites in Florida

The Gulf Stream Park Racing and Casino is one of the most iconic horse racing spots in the state. It has races running from December through to October and is only closed for one month to carry out essential track maintenance. It’s home to the Triple Crown, which includes the Holy Bull Stakes, Fountain of Youth Stakes, and the Florida Derby.

List of Florida Horse Racing Tracks
Horse Race Track in Florida Address Phone Number Notable Races
Hialeah Park 100 E 32nd St, Hialeah, FL 33013 +1 305-885-8000 N/A
Tampa Bay Downs 11225 Racetrack Rd, Tampa, FL 33626 +1 813-855-4401 Tampa Bay Derby
Florida Quarter Horse Racing 9085 Magnolia Hill Dr, Tallahassee, FL 32309 +1 850-345-4777 N/A
Pompano Park 777 Isle of Capri, Pompano Beach, FL 33069 +1 954-972-2000 N/A
Gulf Stream Park Racing and Casino 901 S Federal Hwy, Hallandale Beach, FL 33009 +1 954-454-7000 Florida Derby

The History of Florida Horse Racing

In the table below, we’ve taken a trip down memory lane with the Florida horse racing history. Florida is one of the top states in the United States for horse racing.

A Timeline of the History of Florida Horse Racing
Date Description
1921 Pari-mutuel betting was legalized in the state for the first time and became very popular with horse racing.
1930 Horse racing is firmly established in the state. Miami is often referred to as the “center” for horse racing in Florida.
1964 Harness racing was introduced in the state for the first time.
2001 Florida went down to just four tracks: Gulfstream, Calder, Tampa Bay, and Pompano Bay
2004 Counties within the state were able to link casinos to horse racing tracks. A much-needed boost for the sport.

Florida Horse Racing Schedule 2023

We’ve taken the best races from the Florida circuit and included them in the table below. These races are recognized throughout the country, and some are feeders into bigger races such as the Kentucky Derby.

Florida Horse Racing Schedule 2023
Florida Horse Race  Florida Horse Racetrack Date
Holy Bull Stakes Gulfstream January
Donn Handicap Gulfstream January/Early February
Fountain of Youth Stakes Gulfstream February
Tampa Bay Derby Tampa Bay Downs March
Florida Derby Gulfstream End March/Beginning April

Florida Derby 2023

Florida Horse Racing Betting – Comparing the Best Horse Racing Betting Sites in Florida

The Florida Derby is the biggest race of the year in the state. It’s run at the end of March or early April at Gulfstream Park and comes with a massive $750,000 purse.

The race is run over 9 furlongs and is a classic sprint race, if ever there was one. The race is only open to three-year-old horses and takes place five weeks before the Kentucky Derby, of which this Grade 1 race is a feeder.

It’s been running since 1952, and no less than 20 winners of the race have gone on to win the illustrious Triple Crown, which includes the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, and Belmont Stakes.

In the table below, we’ve included the results of the Florida Derby 2021. Included are the Florida Derby entries and Florida Derby results.

Florida Derby 2021 Results
Florida Derby Results 2021 Florida Derby 2021 Entries Florida Derby 2021 Odds
1 Known Agenda 5-1
2 Soup and Sandwich 20-1
3 Greatest Honour 6-5
4 Nova Rags 12-1
5 Collaborate 6-1
6 Southern Passage 30-1

Comparing Betting at the Racetrack with Online Horse Racing Betting in Florida

Betting at the racetrack has a certain lure. There are aspects that you just don’t get when you bet online. The atmosphere is one, but also the ability to study horses before they go down to post.

However, there is little substitute for betting online. Most people are trying to win money whilst also having some fun, but the easiest way to maximize those winnings is by betting online.

When you bet online, you get access to more races, more data, better odds, betting bonuses, and horse racing tools, which allow you to make more informed picks.

The table below shows the pros and cons of online and at-the-track horse racing betting in Florida.

Comparing Betting at the Racetrack with Online Horse Racing Betting in Florida
Betting at the Racetrack Online Horse Racing Betting
✅ Able to see horses before they go down to post ✅ Easier to shop around and get the best prices
✅ Great experience, especially taking advantage of the Floridian weather. ✅ Value is often higher online due to lower margins compared to track-side bookies
❌ Odds can be poor across the board ✅ Welcome bonuses and horse racing promotions
❌ Can only bet on races on the day ✅ Huge range of races to choose from
❌ No bonuses or promotions to access ✅ More markets to bet on

General Terms and Conditions at Horse Racing Betting Sites in Florida

When you open a new account and claim the welcome bonus, you’re going to need to be aware of a few terms and conditions that will be applied.

One is that you need to roll over any bonus claimed. This means that you need to stake a multiple of that bonus. For example, a $1,000 bonus that has a 10x rollover applied means that you need to stake $10,000 before that $1,000 is turned into cash.

You also need to be aware that bonuses need to be wagered within a timeframe. Usually, you get 30 days before they expire, but it’s uncommon to see as short as seven days with some offers (you likely want to avoid these).

The table below shows the best betting sites for horse racing in Florida and the welcome bonuses attached. We’ve also included the rollover requirement for each of these.

Comparing Welcoming Bonuses at The Best Online Horse Racing Sites in Florida
Brand  Welcome Bonus Offer Rollover Requirement
BetOnline $1,000 Welcome Bonus – INSIDERS 10x Rollover of Bonus
Bovada Up To $750 – INSIDERS 10x Rollover of Bonus
Everygame 100% Up to $500 – INSIDERS 10x Rollover of Bonus
BetNow 100% Up to $1,000 – BN100 10x Rollover of Bonus
BetUS 150% Up To $3,000 – INSIDERS 15x Rollover of Bonus
MyBookie 50% Up to $1,000 – INSIDERS 15x Rollover of Bonus
SportsBettting.ag 100% Welcome Bonus Up To $1000 – INSIDERS 10x Rollover of Bonus
Jazz 100% Up to $2,500 – INSIDERS 10x Rollover of Bonus
Lucky Block 200% Up to 10,000 Euros 35x Rollover of Bonus
XBet 50% Up To $500 – INSIDEX 7x Rollover of Bonus

Florida Horse Racing Betting Bonuses

Florida Horse Racing Betting – Comparing the Best Horse Racing Betting Sites in Florida

When it comes to bonuses, it’s not always just a welcome bonus that you can claim with horse racing. Below, we’ve included a range of bonuses that you can claim and, in the table, highlighted which betting sites offer what sort of promotions and bonuses.

Welcome Bonus

The welcome bonus is usually eh biggest bonus you can claim in terms of monetary value. Most of them are worth at least $1,000 in terms of bonus cash, and the biggest can be as high as $10,000. The majority lie somewhere in the middle of this.

A welcome bonus will be based on your first deposit and then a match of that amount. Most are 100% matched, but again, these can range anywhere between 50% and 200%.

Loyalty Bonus

Loyalty bonuses are sometimes rolled into VIP sections. These are promos that reward people for betting with that betting site.

The bonuses can often be labeled as a “reload bonus,” which means that if you make another deposit following your first, you get another bonus.

Racebook-Specific Bonuses

A racebook-specific bonus is one that is targeted at horse racing. These can be along the lines of betting on X race and getting X amount of bonus money. They can also work the same as a welcome bonus, but the clearing terms will usually be linked to horse racing bets.

Moneyback Offers

One of the more common offers you can claim with some Florida horse racing betting sites, is a moneyback offer. This is where you bet on the result of the race, and if your pick fails to win or potentially place depending on the bet types, you get your stake back (ideally as cash, sometimes as a bonus).

Enhanced Odds

Enhanced odds are some of the most popular horse racing betting offers you can access. These are simply where the betting site increases the odds for one or more of the horses in a race. For example, they might jump from +500 to +800 on the win market.

Use the table below to see what bonuses each of our top Florida betting sites accommodate. Please note that these bonuses are rarely all running at the same time, but the table reflects that, at some point, they have been live.

Comparing The Best Florida Horse Racing Betting Bonuses
Welcome Bonus   Loyalty Racebook Moneyback Enhanced Odds
BetOnline
Bovada
Everygame
BetNow
BetUS
MyBookie
Sportsbetting.ag
Jazz
Lucky Block
Xbet
BUSR

Virtual Horse Racing Betting

Virtual horse racing is starting to gain popularity in the US. As the name would suggest, these races are virtual, and you’re basically betting on a computer-generated outcome for the race.

Florida Horse Racing Betting Apps

TVG Betting App for Florida Horse Racing

The switch to mobile betting is in full flow and most punters are betting on their phone instead of betting online. The ability to access betting sites on the go and take advantage of brilliant user interfaces within the app, making Florida horse racing apps an obvious choice.

Florida Horse Racing Betting Apps for iPhone

Both BetUS and MyBookie offer iPhone apps. You can download both from the App Store. All you need to do is search for them once you get into the App Store and then click on the “Get” button.

FL Horse Racing Betting Apps for Android

Android horse racing apps are much more accessible. You can open any of these betting sites within the Android browser and save them to your phone as an app. If you want to download directly from the Google Play Store, then Bovada and MyBookie are your best options.

How To Start Betting on Horse Racing Sites in Florida

We’re going to walk you through the process of placing your first bet on a Florida horse racing site. The guide below will use XBet, but you’re able to copy this process into just about any horse racing betting site.

Step 1 – Open a New Account

The first thing you need to do is open an account. To do this, click this link and then select the join button at the top of the page.

Florida Horse Racing Betting – Comparing the Best Horse Racing Betting Sites in Florida

Step 2 – Find the Horse Racing Section

Once logged in, it’s time to find the horse racing section. With XBet, you will need to click on “racebook” at the top of the page.

Step 3 – Choose Your Race

When you enter the racebook, you now use the menu to choose the meeting you want to find a race at. Then you just click on the race to open the racecard.

Florida Horse Racing Betting – Comparing the Best Horse Racing Betting Sites in Florida

Step 4 – Choose and Place Your Bet

The race card will highlight all the runners for that race. enter your stake next to the horse you want to bet on and then click on “Add to Bet slip”. Once the bet is there, confirm your stake and then confirm the bet.

A bet slip from a Florida horse racing site

Other Types of Gambling in Florida

There are several other forms of gambling you can access in Florida, and our useful guides are here as a resource for you every step of the way:

What Is the Best Site for Horse Racing Betting in Florida?

We’ve listed ten excellent horse racing betting sites in Florida on this page. Picking one is not easy and, to be honest, comes down to personal preference.

However, we fully stand by our earlier claims that BetOnline is the best betting site for horse racing in Florida. Not only do they cover hundreds of racetracks from around the world, but it’s packed with features, betting tools, and live streaming and comes with a nice $200 risk-free bet.

What horse race is in Florida?

Is betting on horse racing legal in Florida?

How many horse racetracks are in Florida?

Joe Yarnold joined the Basketball Insiders team in October 2021, as a content editor and writer. He obtained his Master’s degree from Framingham State University and has experience writing educational and explanatory articles on all forms of gambling. Although he specializes in casino gaming, NFL, soccer and NBA betting, he has well-rounded knowledge and insight of most sports. His expertise also include researching and analyzing the latest federal and state gambling laws and regulations in the US.

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