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.

In 2025, fans and bettors can legally wager online through trusted platforms like Fanduel Racing. Below, we break down the best California horse racing bonuses, apps, and betting sites available right now.

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:

• AmWager
• TVG
• DRF Bets
• TwinSpires
• Iron Bets Racing
• NYRA Bets.

Current Promotions by California Horse Betting Sites

AmWager California

New users at AmWager can claim up to $150 in bonus cash with code after qualifying deposit and bets.

Betting Features: Advanced wagering tools, real-time tote updates, customizable interface, and cash-back rewards for frequent players. Built for serious California bettors who want speed and control.

DRF Bets California

New users at DRF Bets receive a 100% first deposit match up to $200 with a qualifying deposit.

Betting Features: Access to DRF Classic and Formulator PPs, Free Beyer Speed Figures, expert stakes previews, and seamless integration with the trusted Daily Racing Form analysis. Ideal for data-driven California horseplayers.

TwinSpires California

New customers can unlock a $200 bonus after placing $500 in completed wagers within the first 30 days.

Betting Features: Live streaming and race replays via app and desktop, 15% boost on winning Trifecta bets every Tuesday, and trusted access to premier tracks like Churchill Downs and Santa Anita.

FanDuel Racing CA

New players can get a $500 No Sweat First Bet when placing their first horse racing wager. If it loses, you get a refund in site credit.

Betting Features: Clean, sportsbook-style app experience, live streaming from major U.S. tracks, racing odds boosts on big events like the Kentucky Derby, and integrated FanDuel wallet for multi-product betting.

TVG California

New bettors at TVG can get up to $200 back if their first single-horse win bet loses, plus free PPs with a first deposit of $50 or more.

Betting Features: Daily TVG Expert Picks, Free Past Performances, and frequent Money-Back Specials on select races. A top pick for California bettors who want insights and value.

Iron Bets Racing CA

New players can unlock $150 in bonus bets (50% up to $300) after placing a qualifying $50 wager.

Betting Features: Sleek, mobile-optimized interface, live streaming of U.S. and international races, full range of bet types, and loyalty rewards on every wager. A modern, easy-to-use racebook built for California bettors who want speed, simplicity, and value.

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.

California Horse Racing Bet Types & Wagering Options

California horseplayers can access a variety of online betting options through licensed racebooks. The most common are straight bets: win (1st place), place (1st or 2nd), show (1st–3rd), and across the board, which combines all three. Players can also wager on daily doubles (winners of two consecutive races) and multi-race bets like Pick 3, 4, 5, and 6, offering big payouts for picking multiple winners in a row.

Exotic bets add more complexity and excitement. These include exacta (top two finishers in order), trifecta (top three), superfecta (top four), and occasionally hexafecta (top six). Bettors can also use strategies like boxing, allowing horses to finish in any order, or wheeling, which locks in one or more horses in a key position while rotating others around them. These formats give players plenty of ways to customize their bets and chase bigger payouts.

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

There are over a dozen Grade I stakes races held annually in California, with some of the biggest purses and most prestigious events in American racing. The most prominent is the $500,000 Santa Anita Derby for three-year-olds, held each spring at Santa Anita Park as a key Kentucky Derby prep. Del Mar hosts the $1 million TVG Pacific Classic in late summer, open to three-year-olds and up.

For two-year-olds, there’s the Del Mar Futurity and Del Mar Debutante, both featuring $300,000 purses. For fillies and mares, major events include the Del Mar Oaks, Clement L. Hirsch Stakes, and Gamely Stakes, each offering $300,000.

Santa Anita also hosts several top-tier races, including the Santa Anita Handicap ($300,000), Frank E. Kilroe Mile ($300,000), Shoemaker Mile ($300,000), Hollywood Gold Cup ($300,000), and Runhappy Malibu Stakes ($300,000). Other notable Grade I races for fillies include the Beholder Mile, La Brea Stakes, and the American Oaks, all with $300,000 purses.

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. Runs a 43-day summer meet (July–Sept) and fall meet (Oct–Nov) and the maiden races now offer $100,000 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. Classic meet runs Dec–April; Hollywood meet runs April–June. Home to top-tier Grade I races.

Cal-Expo – 1600 Exposition Blvd, Sacramento, CA 95815. Offers live harness racing November through April on weekends.

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