Picture yourself amidst the roaring crowds, clutching your betting slip, heart pounding as your chosen steed thunders down the final stretch. The blend of strategy, luck, and the sheer beauty of these animals makes betting on Irish horse racing an experience like no other.
Horse racing holds a special place in the hearts of Irish punters, deeply rooted in the nation’s sporting traditions. With legendary racecourses like Leopardstown and the Curragh, and a culture of betting that stretches back centuries, Ireland is home to some of the best bookmakers in the world. Irish betting sites bring you closer to the action, whether it’s through free bet offers, live streaming options, or better odds on your accumulators.
In this guide, we’ve reviewed and compared the top horse racing betting sites in Ireland for 2025. From well-known Irish bookmakers like BoyleSports to popular international options, we’ll help you find the perfect site to enhance your racing experience. Read more about Irish betting apps.
Where to Bet on Horse Racing in Ireland
While not all bookmakers offer odds on horse racing, some of the biggest names do. These include:
- QuinnBet
- BoyleSports
- Bet365
- BetWay
- Novibet
- BetVictor
Among these, QuinnBet is noted for its excellent offerings on horse racing, providing daily odds on races from around the world. You can bet on the winner of various races, and they also frequently offer head-to-head bets where you can bet on which horse will finish highest among two or three selected horses. As a new player at QuinnBet, you can claim a generous betting bonus, giving you a great start with plenty of initial capital to place your bets on horse racing.
The Best Horse Racing Bonuses in Ireland
| IE Bookmaker | Bonus | Details |
|---|---|---|
| QuinnBet | Bet €10, Get €50 Plus 10 Free Spins | Available to new customers. T&Cs apply. |
| bet365 IE | Bet €10, Get €30 in Free Bets | Available to new IE customers. T&Cs apply. |
| BoyleSports | Bet €10, Get €50 | New customers only. Min deposit €/£10. Min stake €/£10. Free Bets expire in 7 days. T&Cs apply. |
| Novibet Sports | €20 Free Bet Instantly + Bet €10, Get €50 | New customers only. No deposit required. Max €70 free bet. No rollover requirements. |
| BetVictor Sports | Get up to €60 Matched in Free Bets | New customers only. Opt in, place your first bet of €10 or more. Free bets expire after 7 days. Debit Card/Apple Pay payments only. T&Cs apply. |
| Kwiff Sports | Bet €10 & Get €50 | Available to new customers. T&Cs apply. |
Best Horse Racing Site for Live Streaming: bet365
Established: 2001
Bonus: Bet €10, Get €30 in Free Bets
bet365 Ireland is known for its live betting service, including high-definition live streams of races from around the world. Punters can watch races from Ireland, the UK, France, USA, Australia, and more with a funded account or any bet placed in the previous 24 hours.
Pros:
- My Horses feature to track favourite runners
- Extensive list of international races available to stream
- Numerous racing-related promotions
Cons:
- No loyalty club for regular customers
bet365 is ideal for punters who value a large live-streaming library of sports and a wide range of promotions.
Best Site for Free Racing Bets: Betway
Established: 2006
Bonus: Get up to €50 in Free Bets if Your First Bet Loses + 50 Bonus Spins
Betway has distinguished itself as a leading horse racing betting site with numerous promotions. Their €5 Free Bet Special allows daily users to bet at least €10 on selected races and receive a free bet in return, regardless of the result. Betway also offers a free bet club, best odds guaranteed, extra places on selected races, and racing price boosts.
Pros:
- Extra places on selected UK and Irish races daily
- Ideal for racing accumulators fans
- Best odds guaranteed available daily
Cons:
- No free bets for accuracy in the 4-To-Win racing prediction game
Betway is an excellent choice for punters looking for regular free racing bets and a robust selection of promotions.
Best Horse Racing Site for Money-Back Specials: QuinnBet
Established: 2017
Bonus: Bet €10 Get €50 Plus 10 Free Spins
Overview: QuinnBet offers several money-back specials, such as refunds on your stake if your runner finishes second or third behind the favourite. They also provide best odds guaranteed, extra places, and a variety of accumulator bonuses and free bets.
Pros:
- Quick and easy navigation to racing markets
- Best odds guaranteed
- Regular extra place offers
Cons:
- Variable customer service response times
QuinnBet is perfect for those looking for generous money-back specials and a mobile first interface.
Best Horse Racing Betting Site for Spread Bets: SpreadEx
Established: 1999
Bonus: Bet €10 Get €30
Payment Methods: VISA, MasterCard, Bank Transfer
Spreadex is the expert of spread betting, where profits and losses vary depending on the accuracy of your bet. They also offer fixed odds betting and promotions like ‘First Past The Post,’ which pays out even if your horse is later demoted.
Pros:
- Strong customer service via live chat, email, and phone
- Option to use fixed odds or spread betting
- Attractive welcome offer
Cons:
- Ongoing promos mostly apply to fixed odds
Spreadex is ideal for punters interested in spread betting and those who want to mix up their betting strategies.
How to Bet on Horse Racing
Much like other sports, there are many different types of bets you can place on horse racing. The most popular form is betting on the winner of a race. When betting on the winner, you can choose to bet each way. This essentially means placing an additional bet on your horse to finish in the top three at lower odds, providing extra security, especially if you’re betting on outsiders or dark horses. This allows you to win money even if your horse doesn’t win outright. However, it’s more expensive to bet each way as you’re technically placing two bets instead of one.
Tips for Betting on Horse Racing
Betting on horse racing requires a serious approach and a good understanding of the sport. Here are some tips:
- Analyse the Races and Participants: Instead of always betting on the horse with the lowest odds, try to find value bets by understanding the horses’ forms and performances.
- Consider the Track Length and Surface: Horses perform differently depending on the track length and surface. Some horses fare better on muddy tracks, while others prefer artificial turf.
- Know Your Horse: Look at how the horse has prepared for the race, how long since it last raced, and its form in previous races.
Choosing a Winning Horse
One way to choose a winning horse is to consistently bet on the horse with the lowest odds, but this can lead to long-term losses. Instead, analyse the races and participants to find the best bets. Here are some factors to consider:
- Track Length: Tracks vary in length, and it’s important to see how your horse handles the distance.
- Track Surface: The surface can affect the horse’s performance. Some horses do better on certain types of surfaces.
- Horse Preparation: Look at the horse’s training history, travel distance to the race, and how long since it last raced. A horse performs best if there’s 30-60 days between races.
Irish Horse Racing Tracks
It is much preferred to watch the horse races in real life, here are some of the most notable tracks in Ireland:
- Curragh Racecourse
- Leopardstown Racecourse
- Fairyhouse Racecourse
- Galway Racecourse
- Punchestown Racecourse
- Navan Racecourse
- Limerick Racecourse