New York horseplayers have it good: online horse race betting is legal and fully regulated, with Saratoga, Belmont and Finger Lakes and every major advance-deposit app a tap away.
The racebooks below are the ones our team rates highest for New York bettors, judged on track coverage, rebates, the quality of the app and the welcome offer.
You must be 18 or older to bet the horses in New York, with racing overseen by the New York State Gaming Commission. Gambling problem? Call 1-877-8-HOPENY.
Best New York Horse Racing Betting Sites
Our top-rated advance-deposit wagering (ADW) apps for New York bettors. Tap to open the operator’s official sign-up page. 18+. Terms apply.
- ★ EDITOR’S PICK
AmWagerEditor’s pick★ 4.8 / 5100% First Deposit Match up to $50 · Promo Code AMWAGERDeposit $50, bet $50, get $50 in bonus wagering credits
New York is the sport's biggest stage — Saratoga in summer, Belmont Park the rest of the year — and AmWager carries all of it alongside Finger Lakes, the state's harness tracks and hundreds of signals worldwide. Its pitch is value: true track odds, live video and replays, and a points-based rewards program on every wager, win or lose.
Key terms: New AmWager customers only; first deposit only; Bet the amount of your first deposit (up to $50) within 30 days of opening the account; Show bets, cancelled and refunded wagers don't count; Bonus credits land within seven business days and expire after 30 days; winnings from them are cash. Full terms apply — see our AmWager review. Please play responsibly. -
TwinSpiresBest for coverage★ 4.7 / 5$200 Sign-Up Bonus · Promo Code BET200$100 in bonus cash for every $400 you wager, up to $200
TwinSpires, the ADW of Churchill Downs, has some of the widest track coverage available to New York bettors, with live video and a reliable app on big race days.
Key terms: Wager $800 within 30 days of opening your account to earn the full $200; Bonus paid in $100 increments for every $400 wagered; Show wagers don't count; bets count once the race is official; Credited within 10 business days; one per household. Full terms apply — see our TwinSpires review. Please play responsibly. -
NYRA BetsBest for big meets★ 4.5 / 5$25 Free Bet + $200 Deposit Match · Promo Code CUP25A free bet on sign-up, then 100% of your first deposit matched up to $200
NYRA Bets is New York's home team, run by the New York Racing Association, which operates Saratoga and Belmont Park and is licensed in-state by the New York State Gaming Commission. No app covers the NYRA circuit more closely, from the Travers to the Belmont Stakes, and you can watch up to three live races at once.
Key terms: $25 free bet credit on sign-up; unused credit is removed after 14 days; 100% match on your first deposit up to $200, made within 30 days of opening the account; Wager twice your deposit within 30 days to unlock the match; Show bets, futures, phone wagers and cancelled bets don't count. Full terms apply — see our NYRA Bets review. Please play responsibly. -
FanDuel RacingBest app & streaming★ 4.6 / 5Bet $10, Get $50 in Racing Bonus · No Promo Code neededFanDuel Racing rotates its new-customer offer, so the amount can change
FanDuel Racing — the former TVG, owned by Flutter — pairs with the FanDuel Sportsbook that launched in New York on day one in 2022, sharing one account and wallet. It carries Saratoga, Belmont Park and Finger Lakes plus the national menu, with live streaming from more than 300 tracks and daily expert picks.
Key terms: First real-money racing wager of $10 or more; $50 in non-withdrawable Racing Bonus, credited within 72 hours; Racing Bonus expires seven days after it's issued; Not open to anyone who has wagered on FanDuel Sportsbook, Casino or DFS. Full terms apply — see our FanDuel Racing review. Please play responsibly. -
DK HorseDraftKings crossover★ 4.3 / 5100% Deposit Bonus up to $250 · No Promo Code neededFor DK Horse customers in states that haven't moved to DraftKings Racing
In New York, DraftKings horse betting still runs through the standalone DK Horse app, which uses your existing DraftKings login but keeps a separate racing wallet. It covers the NYRA tracks and the national circuit, and is due to give way to the DraftKings Racing tab inside the Sportsbook app once that launches here.
Key terms: Minimum $25 deposit; 100% deposit match up to $250 with a 2x play-through; All DK Horse promotions require opt-in; Only in states where the standalone DK Horse app still operates. 18+ (21+ in AZ, IN, IA, WA). Full terms apply — see our DK Horse review. Please play responsibly. -
OffTrackBetting.comDeposit match★ 4.2 / 5See the current welcome offer on the site
OffTrackBetting.com lists New York among the states it serves, with rebates on many tracks and a full simulcast menu covering Saratoga and Belmont Park. Note that its first-deposit match is not offered to New York residents.
18+. New customers only. Terms apply. Please play responsibly. -
HorseplayNew racebook★ 4.1 / 5100% Match on Your First Credit Purchase · Promo Code HORSEBETDeposit and buy gameplay credits for the first time to claim the match
Horseplay is available in New York to players aged 21 and over, but it is not a traditional racebook: each credit places a pari-mutuel bet on a real race and reveals the result through slot-style games. Serious handicappers will prefer the ADWs above.
Key terms: New Horseplay customers; applies to your first credit purchase; Must be 21+ to play; Available in AL, CA, CO, DE, FL, KS, MT, ND, NE, NH, NM, NY, OK, OR, RI, SD, VT, WI, WY. Full terms apply. Please play responsibly.
Churchill Downs Inc.'s TwinSpires brings deep Triple Crown and stakes coverage to New York, from the Derby trail through Saratoga's summer Grade 1s. The official wagering partner of the Kentucky Derby, it carries the full NYRA calendar plus Finger Lakes.
Horse Racing & Betting in New York
Saratoga Race Course (summer), Belmont Park (reopened in September 2026 after a $550M rebuild) and Finger Lakes; Aqueduct ran its final card in June 2026.
The Belmont Stakes was run at Saratoga from 2024 to 2026 and returns to the rebuilt Belmont Park in 2027, the same year Belmont hosts the Breeders’ Cup.
Online wagering is legal and regulated; NYRA Bets, FanDuel Racing (TVG), TwinSpires, AmWager, Xpressbet and DK Horse all serve the state. Bettors must be 18 (21 at Nassau OTB) and, where required, physically within the state.
The signature races to know are the Belmont Stakes — run at Saratoga in 2024–2026 while Belmont Park was rebuilt, returning to Belmont in 2027 — and the Travers Stakes at Saratoga.
| Track | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saratoga Race CourseSaratoga Springs · Thoroughbred · Usually July – Labor Day; also hosted the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival each June 2024–2026 | ||||||||||||
| Belmont ParkElmont · Thoroughbred · Reopened Sep 18, 2026 after a $550M rebuild; NYRA's downstate racing now runs here outside the Saratoga summer meet. Belmont Stakes returns in 2027 | ||||||||||||
| Finger LakesFarmington · Thoroughbred · Usually mid-April – late November | ||||||||||||
| Yonkers RacewayYonkers · Harness · Usually year-round (short winter break) | ||||||||||||
| Saratoga Casino Hotel (harness)Saratoga Springs · Harness · Usually March – December | ||||||||||||
| Monticello RacewayMonticello · Harness · Usually year-round, weekday cards | ||||||||||||
| Buffalo RacewayHamburg · Harness · Usually January – July | ||||||||||||
| Batavia DownsBatavia · Harness · Usually late July – early December | ||||||||||||
| Vernon DownsVernon · Harness · Usually April – November | ||||||||||||
| Tioga DownsNichols · Harness · Usually May – September |
Months with live racing. Dates come from the tracks and the state racing regulator; meets can change, so check the track’s own calendar before you go. Simulcast wagering runs year-round.
More on Racing in New York
New York is a true dual-market state: pari-mutuel horse racing has run here for generations — anchored by world-famous Saratoga — and mobile sports betting went live on January 8, 2022. Eight licensed sportsbooks now operate statewide under the highest tax rate in the country (51% of gross gaming revenue), regulated alongside racing by a single body, the New York State Gaming Commission.
Bettors must be 21+ for sports wagering and 18+ for pari-mutuel horse racing. Belmont Park reopened in September 2026 after a $550 million rebuild, with the Belmont Stakes returning there in 2027.
- Funny Cide — the first New York-bred to win the Kentucky Derby (2003), also taking the Preakness — a gelding who became a statewide folk hero and just missed the Triple Crown.
- Tiz the Law — New York-bred star of 2020 who won the Belmont Stakes and the Travers at Saratoga before finishing second in the Kentucky Derby.
- Fourstardave — the "Sultan of Saratoga" — won at least one race at the Saratoga meet for eight consecutive years (1987–1994). Saratoga's Grade 1 turf mile is named in his honor.
- Commentator — New York-bred gelding and two-time winner of Saratoga's Whitney Handicap (2005, 2008), a beloved fixture of the meet.
Choosing a Racing Site in New York
All major US Advance Deposit Wagering (ADW) apps operate in New York. Each lets you bet every New York track plus US, UK and international racing from one account. Minimum age 18.
New York's five racetracks — addresses & live cards
Saratoga Race Course · 267 Union Ave, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866
Opened 1863 — one of the oldest sporting venues in the US and the summer heart of American racing. Host of the Travers and, 2024–2026, the Belmont Stakes.
Belmont Park · 2150 Hempstead Tpke, Elmont, NY 11003
Reopened September 18, 2026 after a $550 million rebuild. Home of the Belmont Stakes (returning 2027) and host of the 2027 Breeders' Cup; runs downstate racing year-round.
Finger Lakes · 5857 NY-96, Farmington, NY 14425
Upstate thoroughbred track near Rochester, running spring through fall.
Yonkers Raceway · 810 Yonkers Ave, Yonkers, NY 10704
Premier downstate harness track at Empire City Casino — host of the Yonkers Trot, a leg of the Trotting Triple Crown.
Aqueduct Racetrack · 110-00 Rockaway Blvd, Queens, NY 11420
Ran its final card on June 28, 2026 after roughly 130 years; downstate racing has consolidated at the rebuilt Belmont Park and the site is slated for redevelopment.
Signature stakes races at New York's tracks
Beyond the everyday cards, each New York track hosts at least one feature stakes race that draws statewide attention — most are bettable through every ADW listed above.
Belmont Stakes (G1)
The final leg of the Triple Crown. Purse $2 million. Run at Saratoga 2024–2026 while Belmont Park was rebuilt; returns to Belmont in 2027.
Travers Stakes (G1)
Saratoga's signature 1¼-mile test for 3-year-olds, run since 1864. Purse $1.25 million.
Whitney Stakes (G1)
The premier older-horse race of the Saratoga meet — a "Win and You're In" for the Breeders' Cup Classic.
Fourstardave Handicap (G1)
Top turf-mile championship of the summer, named for the "Sultan of Saratoga".
Wood Memorial (G2)
New York's premier Kentucky Derby prep, awarding qualifying points toward a Derby start.
New York's state-bred incentives
New York Thoroughbred Breeding & Development Fund
Established in 1973, the Fund distributes over $17 million annually in breeder, owner and stallion awards plus restricted New York-bred stakes — one of the richest state-bred programs in the country.
New York Sire Stakes (Standardbred)
A long-running harness program for New York-bred trotters and pacers, with legs and finals run at Yonkers and tracks across the state.
Notable horses bred in New York
Active New York runners are searchable on our racing data section.
Who regulates horse racing & sports betting in New York
New York uses a single combined regulator — the New York State Gaming Commission (NYSGC) licenses and oversees both pari-mutuel horse racing and mobile sports wagering.
New York State Gaming Commission (NYSGC)
Formed in 2013 by merging the NY State Racing and Wagering Board with the Division of the Lottery. A single agency that licenses and oversees BOTH pari-mutuel horse racing (every track, ADW and the NYRA circuit) and the state's licensed mobile sports wagering operators. Headquartered in Schenectady.
How to Bet on Horse Racing
New to the windows? Start with the straight bets. A win bet needs your horse to finish first; place pays if it runs first or second; show pays for first, second or third. They are the cheapest way to learn the game.
From there come the exotics, where the real payouts live. The exacta asks for the first two home in order, the trifecta the first three, and the superfecta the first four. Multi-race bets — the daily double, Pick 3, Pick 4 and Pick 6 — string winners together across races, and the Pick 6 jackpot can roll into life-changing money. Our guide to exotic bets walks through each one, and the beginner’s guide to betting on racing covers the basics end to end.
How to Start Betting on Racing in New York
- Pick a racebook and sign up.
Tap a “Visit” button above to open an ADW account. You must be 18+ and within state lines where required.
- Claim the welcome offer and deposit.
Fund the account by debit card, bank transfer or PayPal and activate any new-customer bonus before your first wager.
- Find a race and place your bet.
Browse the day’s cards, read the form, pick your horse and bet type, and confirm. Watch the live stream and collect if you win.
New York Horse Racing Betting Sites and Apps (November 2026)
Our editors rate AmWager the top choice for New York bettors — it covers Saratoga, Belmont and Finger Lakes plus hundreds of tracks worldwide, pays rewards points on every wager, and runs a 100% deposit match up to $50 for new accounts with Promo Code AMWAGER. NYRA Bets, FanDuel Racing and TwinSpires are also strong choices for New York racing.
New York Horse Racing Betting FAQs
Is online horse racing betting legal in New York?
Yes. Pari-mutuel betting has been legal in New York since 1940, and online ADW betting is fully permitted. You must be 18 or older.
What's the minimum age to bet in New York?
18 for pari-mutuel horse racing and 21 for sports betting. Geolocation software in every licensed app verifies you're inside New York before accepting a bet.
What happened to Aqueduct Racetrack?
Aqueduct ran its final card on June 28, 2026 after roughly 130 years. Downstate racing has consolidated at the rebuilt Belmont Park, and the Aqueduct site is slated for redevelopment.
Which apps can I use in New York?
Our top-rated picks are AmWager, TwinSpires and the other ADW apps listed above. Online wagering is legal and regulated; NYRA Bets, FanDuel Racing (TVG), TwinSpires, AmWager, Xpressbet and DK Horse all serve the state.
What is the biggest horse race in New York?
The Belmont Stakes — run at Saratoga in 2024–2026 while Belmont Park was rebuilt, returning to Belmont in 2027 — and the Travers Stakes at Saratoga.
Has Belmont Park reopened?
Belmont Park reopened on September 18, 2026 after a $550 million reconstruction. It runs downstate racing year-round, host the 2027 Breeders' Cup, and welcome the Belmont Stakes back in 2027.