Horse racing betting
The short answer
Horse racing betting means backing a horse to win, to finish in the places, or to finish in a set order with other runners. An each-way bet is two bets in one: half your stake on the win and half on a place, so it can still pay if the horse comes second or third. On KhelKing you can bet on British, Irish, international and Indian racing.
By the KhelKing team · Updated · 7 min read
Example race card
Going: GoodRunners and prices are an example, at one-fifth place terms. If Runner 2 only places, the bet returns ₹260.
Win, place, each-way, forecast, tricast and ante-post.
Cheltenham, Royal Ascot, the Grand National, Dubai and the Melbourne Cup.
Meetings in Mumbai and Pune, along with the other Indian racecourses.
Form, going, draw, jockey and weight, all on the race card.
At a glance
01Bet types
Start with win, place or each-way. Forecasts and tricasts pay more because you need the finishing order right.
Will it finish first?
The simplest racing bet. Your horse has to win the race, and nothing else pays.
Favourites lose more races than they win, so a short price isn't a sure thing.
Will it finish in the places?
Pays if the horse finishes in the paid places, usually the top two, three or four depending on the race. It pays less than a win bet but lands more often.
Check how many places are paid before you bet. It's shown with the market.
Win and place together?
Two equal bets: one on the win and one on a place. A ₹200 each-way bet costs ₹400 in total. If the horse wins, both parts pay; if it only places, the place part pays.
Works best on horses at bigger prices, where the place part can cover the cost.
Who's first and second?
Name the first two finishers in the right order. A reverse forecast covers both orders and costs two stakes.
A reverse forecast is the safer way in if you like two horses but can't split them.
Who's first, second and third?
Name the first three finishers in exact order. It's hard to land, which is why it pays so well when it does.
Keep the stake small. One horse out of place and the bet loses.
Bet days or weeks ahead?
Back a horse before the final runners are confirmed, often at a bigger price than on the day.
If your horse doesn't run, the stake is usually lost. That's the trade-off for the price.
02Race card
Form figures show how a horse finished in its recent races. Read them from left to right: the figure on the far right is the latest run.
Fourth last season, then second, first and third this season, and a win last time out.
Each runner has a draw, which is its starting stall in a flat race, along with the jockey and the weight it carries. A low or high draw can help on tracks with tight bends, and extra weight slows a horse down over longer distances.
03Ground
The going is how firm or wet the ground is. Some horses run much better on one kind of ground, so check how they've done on similar going before.
04Each-way
Each-way is two bets, so ₹100 each-way costs ₹200: ₹100 on the win and ₹100 on a place. At one-fifth place terms, the place part pays a fifth of the win profit. At 9.00 the win profit is 8.00, a fifth of that is 1.60, and the place price is 2.60.
Horse places
₹260
The place part pays ₹260. The win part loses.
Horse wins
₹1,160
The win part returns ₹900 and the place part ₹260.
The number of places paid depends on the field size and the type of race. Small fields may pay only two places, and big handicaps four or more. The terms are shown with each market.
Bets placed on the day of the race are usually void, and the stake comes back to your balance. Ante-post bets normally lose if the horse is withdrawn. The betting rules cover each case.
05Calendar
| Meeting | Where | When | Headline race |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indian Derby | Mahalaxmi, Mumbai | Early in the year | Indian Derby |
| Cheltenham Festival | Cheltenham, England | March | Gold Cup |
| Dubai World Cup | Meydan, Dubai | Late March or early April | Dubai World Cup |
| Grand National | Aintree, England | April | Grand National |
| Epsom Derby | Epsom, England | Early June | The Derby |
| Royal Ascot | Ascot, England | June | Gold Cup |
| Melbourne Cup | Flemington, Australia | First Tuesday in November | Melbourne Cup |
Yes. KhelKing covers racing in India alongside British, Irish and international meetings. In Mumbai and Pune, races are run by the Royal Western India Turf Club, and the Indian Derby at Mahalaxmi is the biggest day of the season.
06Get started
Message KhelKing on WhatsApp and pick a username. Your account is ready in a few minutes.
Deposit by UPI. Support sends the payment details in the same chat.
Open horse racing, choose a race and check each runner's form, the going and the draw.
Pick win, place or each-way, set your stake and confirm before the race starts.
Races come every few minutes on a big day, so set a budget before the first one and stop when it's gone. Don't chase losses on the next race. Horse racing betting on KhelKing is for players aged 18 and over, and the law on online betting differs from state to state.
Support can add a deposit limit or pause your ID in one message. If gambling stops feeling like fun, free help is available:
Need a break? Support can pause or close your ID in one message, any time of day.
07FAQ
Can't find your answer? Our support team is online 24/7.
A win bet only pays if the horse finishes first. A place bet pays if it finishes in any of the paid places, so it lands more often but pays less.
It depends on the size of the field and the type of race. Small fields may pay only two places, while big handicaps can pay four or more. The place terms are shown with each market.
At one-fifth place terms, ₹100 each-way at 9.00 costs ₹200. If the horse places, the place part pays at 2.60 and returns ₹260. If it wins, the win part returns ₹900 and the place part ₹260, so ₹1,160 in total.
Bets placed on the day are usually void and the stake goes back to your balance. Ante-post bets normally lose if the horse doesn't run.
A bet on the first two finishers in the right order. A reverse forecast covers both orders and costs two stakes.
Read the figures from left to right. The one on the far right is the latest run. Numbers are finishing positions, 0 means outside the first nine, and P, F and U mean pulled up, fell and unseated rider.
The going describes how wet or firm the ground is, from firm through good to soft and heavy. Some horses run much better on one kind of ground, so check how they've done on similar going.
Yes. KhelKing covers Indian meetings, including racing in Mumbai and Pune run by the Royal Western India Turf Club, as well as British, Irish and international races.
External sites open in a new tab. KhelKing isn't affiliated with them.
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