California Best Horse Racing Betting Offers & Sites

California’s modern era of horse racing began in 1933 with the legalization of pari-mutuel wagering in the state. Today, the Golden State is among the major players in the USA horse racing industry. Along with thoroughbred racing at Santa Anita, Del Mar, and Golden Gate Fields, there’s also quarter-horse racing at Los Alamitos. As well, Cal-Expo is the only harness track west of the Mississippi River.

Let’s explore the best CA horse betting apps and offers available in California in 2025!

California Best Horse Betting Offers

California Horse Betting Sites And Mobile Apps

There are more than 30 fairs and off-track betting sites across the state of California that offer wagering on racing within the state and from around the world. 

As well, the following prominent online and mobile horse racing sites are all available to California horse bettors:

• BetMGM Racing
• TVG
• DRF Bets
• TwinSpires
• 1/ST BET
• NYRA Bets.

Current Promotions by California Horse Betting Sites

BetMGM Racing California

BetMGM Racing combines the power of a global sportsbook with a specialized racebook for California bettors. New users can enjoy up to $200 in bonus cash with a qualifying deposit and first bet. The platform offers competitive odds, live race streaming, and an integrated experience for those already familiar with BetMGM’s sportsbook. With access to top tracks worldwide, BetMGM Racing is perfect for bettors seeking a robust and reliable horse racing betting experience.

DRF Bets California

New players at DRF Bets get a 100 percent matching first deposit bonus worth up to $200.

Betting Features: stakes preview, unlimited DRF Classic and Formulator Past Performances, Free Beyer Speed Figures.

TVG California

Get up to $200 Back If your first single-horse win bet doesn’t win. TVG also fees on your first deposit of $50 or more.

Betting Features: TVG Expert Picks for everyday, Free Past Performances Program, Money Back Special on select races.

TwinSpires CA

TwinSpires offers a $200 signup bonus to new customers. The $200 bonus cash is credited instantly after $500 in completed wagers are played.

Betting Features: Live races and highlights of previous races both on the website and the app, 15% boost on a winning Trifecta bet every Tuesday.

NYRA Bets California

Newcomers to NYRA Bets receive a $25 free bet, as well as a 50 percent matching first deposit bonus up to a maximum of $200. After customer wagers $400 in first 30 days. Then $200 wagering credit deposited to the account.

Betting Features: Free live video streaming (HD live and replay) on Thoroughbred, Harness and Quarter horse racing and race replays nationwide, free handicapping tips, swap positions quickly for Exacta, Tri & Supers.

Popular Online Horse Bet Types & Races 

California horse players can place straight bets such as win, place, show and across the board (win-place-show). There are also daily doubles and Pick 3, 4, 5, and 6 wagering.

There are also a number of exotic wagering options available. These would include exactas, which are the top two finishers in a race, trifecta, taking into account the top three finishers in a race, superfecta accounting for the top four finishers in a race and hexafecta, which covers the top six finishers in a race. Players can box – allowing the horses to finish in any order, or wheel – keying at least one horse into a specific spot while wheeling other horses around it – these wagers.

Major US Horse Betting Events That You Can Bet On In California

There are no fewer than 16 Grade I stakes events in California. The most prominent is the $750,000 Santa Anita Derby for three year olds. Del Mar offers the $750,000 TVG Pacific Classic for three-year-olds and up. For two-year-olds, there’s the Del Mar Futurity and Del Mar Debutante, each with $300,000 purses. For fillies and mares there’s the Del Mar Oaks and at Santa Anita the Gamely, the Beholder, the La Brea and American Oaks, all offering $300,000 purses.

The Del Mar Oaks, Clement L. Hirsch Stakes and Bing Crosby Stakes are also at Del Mar, each with $300,000 purses. Santa Anita offers the Santa Anita Handicap and Frank E. Kilroe Mile at $400,000 and the Shoemaker Mile, The Hollywood Gold Cup and Runhappy Malibu at $300,000.

California Horse Racing Betting Legal Overview

Historic Santa Anita Park was home to legendary racehorse Seabiscuit. The iconic track opened its doors in 1934 and served as home to the equestrian events during the 1984 Los Angeles Summer Olympics.

Opened in 1941, Golden Gate Fields was home base for 1948 Triple Crown winner Citation and Russell Baze, the winningest jockey in thoroughbred racing. 

Often referred to as the most beautiful track in the world, scenic seaside Del Mar opened for business in 1937, funded by a group of investors that included actor/crooner Bing Crosby and actor Pat O’Brien. 

Situated in Orange County, Los Alamitos is known as the top track for quarter horse racing in America. It opened in 1947.

California Racetracks

Del Mar Thoroughbred Club – 2260 Jimmy Durante Boulevard, Del Mar, California 92014. The track offers a 43-day meet with nearly $7 million in stakes purses.

Golden Gate Fields – 1100 Eastshore Highway, Berkeley, CA 94710. Located 11 miles east of San Francisco. Offers live racing October-January.

Los Alamitos Race Course – 4961 Katella Ave., Los Alamitos, CA, 90720. Los Alamitos offers both thoroughbred and quarter horse racing 151 days a year.

Santa Anita Park – 285 W Huntington Drive, Arcadia, CA 91007. Santa Anita offers an October-November fall meet and Dec. 26-April winter meet.

Cal-Expo – 25 Cadillac Dr, Suite 201, Sacramento, CA 95825. Live harness racing is offered from November-April.

Top Sweepstakes and Social Betting Sites for Horse Racing in California (2025)

Sweepstakes Betting Sites California

Sweepstakes betting sites and social betting platforms offer unique and engaging ways to enjoy horse racing without financial risk. Sweepstakes sites typically allow free participation, requiring only a simple sign-up to start playing. Winners are determined either through random draws or skill-based contests, depending on the format. These platforms often reward players with exciting prizes, ranging from race tickets and memorabilia to cash rewards, making them ideal for casual fans looking for low-pressure fun. See the below examples.

HorseRush

HorseRush makes horse racing fun and accessible for casual fans by offering free-to-enter contests. Players simply sign up, participate in daily sweepstakes, and compete for prizes that can include event tickets to popular races, branded merchandise, or small cash payouts. The platform’s focus is on creating an engaging experience without financial risk.

• Bonus: Free daily entry into horse racing sweepstakes.
• How It Works: Players participate in free-to-enter contests and can win prizes like event tickets, branded merchandise, or small cash prizes.

Lucktastic Racing Games

Lucktastic combines the excitement of scratch card games with the opportunity to earn tokens. These tokens can be redeemed for entries into special sweepstakes, including horse racing-related prizes. The prizes often feature cash rewards or exclusive horse racing experiences, such as tickets to events or memorabilia. The platform’s user-friendly design and no-cost gameplay.

• Bonus: Free scratch cards with occasional horse racing-related sweepstakes.
• How It Works: Users earn tokens by playing free scratch card games and can enter sweepstakes for a chance to win cash or horse racing prizes.

Social Betting Platforms in California

Social betting platforms provide an interactive experience that brings a competitive edge to horse racing. Players can build virtual stables, pick winners, or join fantasy-style contests. Points systems and leaderboards enhance the excitement, fostering competition among participants. Rewards on these platforms often include cash, tokens for future games, and exclusive horse racing experiences, appealing to fans who enjoy a mix of strategy and community engagement. Find 2 examples below.

Betr California

Betr Picks offers a unique daily fantasy sports experience where players select “More” or “Less” on player performance projections across various sports, such as NFL, NBA, and MLB. Users can combine multiple picks into a single entry for bigger payouts, with the potential to win up to 1000 times their entry if all selections are correct. Betr Picks operates within the legal DFS framework, making it accessible to California residents.

Bonus: First entry match up to $250 in Betr Bucks.

Fantasy Horse Sports with DerbyWars

DerbyWars offers a social betting platform designed to bring the thrill of horse racing to life through fantasy-style contests. Players build their “stables” by selecting horses for upcoming races and earn points based on their chosen horses’ performance. The platform features competitive leaderboards where participants vie for top rankings, adding a fun and engaging layer of competition. Prizes often include cash payouts, tokens for future contests, or exclusive horse racing experiences.

• Bonus: Free tournament entries for new users.
• How It Works: Players use tokens or low buy-ins to enter horse racing prediction contests. Winners share prize pools based on leaderboard rankings.

StableDuel

StableDuel is a social betting platform that combines fantasy sports and horse racing. Players create their “stable” by selecting horses from upcoming races within a set budget. Each horse is assigned a value based on its odds, creating a strategic element to building your lineup. Points are awarded based on how well your horses perform during the races, and participants compete on leaderboards for top prizes.

StableDuel offers a variety of contests, ranging from free-to-enter beginner competitions to higher-stakes events for seasoned players. Prizes include cash payouts, tokens for future games, branded merchandise, and even race day VIP experiences.

• Bonus: Free entry to select daily games for new users.
• How It Works: Create a fantasy stable of horses using a budget. Earn points based on real-life race results, and compete for cash prizes or tokens.

California Horse Racing Betting FAQs