Sports
Horse Racing Betting Sites UK | 5 Best Racing Betting Sites
The seeds of sports betting in the UK were planted centuries ago by wagering on the outcome of horse races, often between their owners and, in turn, by others who had an opinion on which was the better and were prepared to gamble on that opinion. In gambling’s digital age, that pastime continues on horse racing betting sites.
Many betting sites provide an excellent service for bettors, with as much or as little information as those wagering care to use to inform their choice of bet. UK horse racing betting sites are among the best on offer worldwide.
Bettors can compare licensed and regulated betting sites for wagering on horse racing below before getting to our recommendations.
UK horse racing betting sites – March 2026
Best horse racing betting sites – Top 5
With so many horse racing betting sites to choose from in the UK, it can be hard to decide who to use.
I’ve put together my five favourite online bookmakers, considering a number of key evaluation points such as the odds on offer, those that offer best odds guaranteed on horse racing, promotions that can add value for bettors, any free bets available, the benefits of each horse racing betting site’s mobile app and also its streaming service.
From there, I’ve compiled a list of the five best horse racing betting sites.
|
Best Horse Racing Betting Sites |
Best Odds Guaranteed (BOG) |
Money Back Offers |
Extra Place Races |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Tote |
✓ |
✗ |
✗ |
|
Coral |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
|
Bet365 |
✓ |
✗ |
✗ |
|
Betfred |
✓ |
✗ |
✓ |
|
Betway |
✓ |
✗ |
✗ |
1.
Tote
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Launch year: 1928
What we like about Tote
Tote are one of the most famous and best horse racing betting sites in the UK, where they are established as the home of pool betting.
Racing punters can not only enjoy the uniqueness of pools betting with Tote, but also some of the perks you’d find at traditional racing bookmakers.
Tote now run the Stayers’ Club, a weekly free bets programme, while they’ll regularly offer money back on losing bets at the big meetings, such as Royal Ascot and Cheltenham.
Tote also offer cash back on some losing exactas and trifectas, with refunds credited as free bets, and have recently changed their welcome offer, which is a bet £10, get £30 in free bets promotion.
The Tote also say they will never be beaten by SP, so if the starting price of a horse works out better than the Tote dividend payment, the Tote will match the SP when paying out.
|
Tote Pros |
Tote Cons |
|---|---|
|
Consistent and worthwhile free bet offers |
Odds format can be confusing |
|
Guarantee never to be beaten by SP |
Limited payment methods |
|
Huge range of racing bet types |
2.
Coral
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Launch year: 1926
What we like about Coral
Coral are one of the UK’s oldest bookmakers and their relationship with betting on horses goes back a century. It’s a relationship they’ve preserved to the present day, with Coral still a top option for punters.
Bettors can expect to find the more standard promotions, such as best odds guaranteed, extra place races and odds boosts on selected races.
But Coral also go beyond other racing betting sites, such as being one of the first bookmakers to offer racing bet builders, or running the free-to-play Racing Super Series game. They also run the Coral Racing Club, giving bettors the chance to experience what it’s like being a racehorse owner.
The Coral rewards shake is also good for the occasional racing free bet, while the free bets that come with the welcome offer can be wagered entirely on racing.
|
Coral Pros |
Coral Cons |
|---|---|
|
Good selection of racing offers and promotions |
Reduction in size of welcome offer |
|
Unique features for a racing bookmaker |
3.
Bet365
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Launch year: 2000
What we like about bet365
Bet365 are more youthful than many others but have quickly become among the best horse racing betting sites in the UK.
The excellent Bet Builder facility allows you to create your own bets such as win, place, match-ups and winning distances.
There’s also a really attractive ‘Position Payout’ bet, so the better your horse’s finishing position is, the more you win. Therefore, you can select it to finish, say fourth, and if it does finish fourth or better, you’ll already know before the race the odds on which you’re wagering.
There’s plenty to like about bet365, and it’s all available on desktop and mobile, with bet365 boasting when of the best betting apps available in the UK.
|
bet365 Pros |
bet365 Cons |
|---|---|
|
Excellent Bet Builder option |
Bet365 were unable to display races several times in one day when reviewing |
|
Numerous ‘specials’ on offer, including ‘Place boosts’ |
|
|
Regular ‘Winnings Boost’ offers |
4.
Betfred
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Launch year: 1967
What we like about Betfred
Betfred began as Done Bookmakers in a single shop in Salford in 1967 and, in the last 20 years in particular, have become one of the best horse racing betting sites in the UK, where they are established as the ‘Bonus King’.
Unlike all the other bookmakers on this list, Fred Done (aka ‘Betfred’) has been quite visible as the frontman for the company and often appeared on TV or radio making offers of bets himself. It’s this personal touch that makes bettors feel they really are taking on the man himself, rather than the name of an organisation and it has really worked.
Betfred offers plenty of boosts on both prices and enhanced place races. It also offered attractions such as free raceday tickets, best odds guaranteed, as well as a wealth of information and tips for those who might either want a nudge in the right direction.
Racing punters won’t find a bigger welcome bonus that can be spent entirely on fixed odds racing bets than the Betfred sign up offer.
Sign up and bet a minimum of £10 on racing and in return Betfred will give new customers £50 in free bets.
|
Betfred Pros |
Betfred Cons |
|---|---|
|
Enhanced place races |
Not enough Cheltenham and Ascot free bet offers |
|
Up to five times the odds if your combination bet has just one winner |
|
|
Plenty of permanent racing offers |
5.
Betway
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Launch year: 2006
What we like about Betway
Betway are the youngest of our top five list and have quickly built a reputation for good service and some very attractive offers. They’ve fast become one of the top horse race betting sites.
Betway will often offer up place boost races, where each-way bettors can benefit from an extra place, at slightly reduced odds, which can offer a very useful extra insurance when wagering.
It also provides an excellent Free Bet Club for those loyal to the site, has a helpful bet builder facility and a super streaming service for horse racing bettors.
|
Bet365 Pros |
Bet365 Cons |
|---|---|
|
Many place boost races |
Customer service is mainly automated |
|
Excellent live streaming service |
|
|
Free bets club for loyal customers |
Best horse racing betting sites by feature
It was tough to whittle down all the potential best horse racing betting sites to a definitive list of five. Let’s take a look at where UK punters should go for certain features when it comes to betting on racing online.
Best for Cheltenham 2026 – LiveScore Bet
The 2026 Cheltenham Festival is nearly upon us and LiveScore Bet look like being one of the top options for wagering on this year’s edition of the meeting, with punters able to grab multiple free bets on all four days.
By betting on the first race of the day at Cheltenham, punters can look forward to receiving a free bet within one hour of the qualifying wager being settled. The value of the bet varies from customer to customer, but will range from £1 up to £50.
LiveScore Bet are also running money back specials each day of Cheltenham, offering punters their money back as a free bet if their selection finishes second, third or fourth in a particular race.
There’s also a third free bet promotion available from LiveScore Bet, who will give bettors a £5 free acca bet at the end of the week if punters place four or more accumulators, wagering a minimum of £5 each time.
On top of the free bet offers, LiveScore Bet will be offering extra places on certain races at Cheltenham, Best Odds Guaranteed from 10am each day, live streaming of every race at Cheltenham and Cheltenham specials bettors may not find anywhere else.
|
LiveScore Bet Pros |
LiveScore Bet Cons |
|---|---|
|
Multiple Cheltenham free bet offers |
Best Odds Guaranteed not available until 10am |
|
Easy-to-navigate site and app |
|
|
Free bets are credited quickly |
Best for free bets – Paddy Power
Paddy Power’s Rewards Club means bettors can get a guaranteed free bet each and every week for racing. Place a minimum of five bets, staking at least £5 each time, to claim the reward.
Free bets can vary in value, ranging from £5 up to £50, depending on how much was wagered the week before. Free bets are credited on the Monday of the following week and have seven days to use their reward.
Free bets can also be won playing Paddy’s free-to-play Wonder Wheel. Bettors get one free spin each day with prizes such as scratchcards, odds boosts, free bets and cash available.
Finally, Paddy Power have a strong track record of running free bet offers for racing on a weekly basis, refunding punters if their selection doesn’t win but finishes in the places.
|
Paddy Power Pros |
Paddy Power Cons |
|---|---|
|
Regular free bet promotions |
Odds could be more competitive |
|
Good selection of free to play games |
|
|
Top class betting app |
Best for profit boosts – talkSPORT BET
talkSPORT BET is online horse racing betting UK’s best site for profit boosts or bet boosts. Bettors are able to weigh up their wagers with lots of information about each horse in a race and, if they have a stronger view about its chance, they can take advantage of better prices than SP.
A simple click takes you onto any race and from that point you can then click on ‘lengthen the odds’ by backing your selection to win by a specific distance or more. So, in a hypothetical example, a horse that is 5/2 favourite for a race may be offered at 3/1 to win the race by more than one length.
The site also lists numerous other Bet Boosts each day, showing bettors the prices that were available originally and the boosted prices now on offer.
|
talkSPORT BET Pros |
talkSPORT BET Cons |
|---|---|
|
Excellent profit boosts |
Withdrawal times could be improved |
|
Clearly shows bettors original odds and boosted odds |
|
|
Ability to lengthen the odds on your selection |
Best for money-back specials – BetGoodwin
BetGoodwin are the best UK horse race betting site for refunds. They are unique in this respect.
Where other firms occasionally run money-back specials on races, BetGoodwin offers permanent and ongoing free bet refunds.
Particular free bets refunds include losers by a nose, where the company will refund bettors on the win part of the bet at up to £100 when your horse finishes second by a nose. You’ll need to stake a minimum of £10 win or £10 each way to qualify.
BetGoodwin also offers, on the same terms of wager and refund, a return of your stake if your selection finishes second in a chase by an official distance of under half a length. You can also receive a free bet refund if the winner of the race is 50/1 or bigger, or if your horse falls at the last while leading in a chase or hurdle.
|
BetGoodwin Pros |
BetGoodwin Cons |
|---|---|
|
Refunds on a wide range of race outcomes |
Limits on maximum wins have upset some customers |
|
Bookmaker with a strong track record on racing |
Best racing bookmaker for accumulators – BOYLE Sports
Plenty of bettors love an accumulator, as a way of staking small but potentially winning big, and BOYLE Sports offers racing bettors an excellent option for an acca bet.
Boyles run an Acca Loyalty scheme, awarding customers a £5 free acca bet after they’ve placed five £5 accumulators, but there’s also Acca Rewards available on each multiple.
Acca Rewards allows bettors to either boost or insure their accumulator. Those offers have been around a while, but Boyles are constantly updating their offers so make sure to head to the promotions page to see what’s running on any given day.
Bettors can get their money back as a free bet if their selection finishes second to the SP favourite on all UK and Irish races, while they sporadically give out free racing bets for placing a racing multiple, including system wagers, such as a trixie bet or a yankee bet, or betting on the final race of the day at selected meetings.
Boyles also allow bettors to build up a bank of Cheltenham free bets by placing racing multiples, as well as other bet types, in the lead up to the festival.
|
BOYLE Sports Pros |
BOYLE Sports Cons |
|---|---|
|
Easy to build your accumulator |
Offers for major meetings can be complex |
|
Best odds guaranteed on all selections |
|
|
Selection accumulator and multi bet rewards |
Best for extra places – LiveScore Bet
It can be so frustrating as an each-way bettor when your horse runs a cracker and finishes just outside the places. LiveScore Bet is the best of the UK horse racing betting sites for giving bettors the benefit of an extra place.
For example, in my review of LiveScore Bet, there were several races on one day where a field of 12 runners, which would normally qualify for just three places for each-way bettors, paid out on a fourth-placed finisher on precisely the same terms, i.e. 1/5 odds for placed horses.
Some sites will do extra place offers where there will be reduced terms for that extra place but LiveScore Bet consistently offers the same terms and, therefore, a genuine extra place. This is a great benefit to have on your side when striking a bet.
|
LiveScore Bet Pros |
LiveScore Bet Cons |
|---|---|
|
Extra places offered with no reduction in odds |
Customer service could be improved |
|
Numerous extra place races offered daily |
Verification process can be slow |
|
User friendly payment options |
Best for Best Odds Guaranteed – Unibet
As a bettor you always want to get the best possible value on the horse you’ve worked hard to select and, therefore, having best odds guaranteed on your side is a big positive. After all, you wouldn’t want your 5/1 bet to win at 6/1 and miss out on profit!
This is where Unibet is the best UK horse racing betting site for best odds guaranteed. Place your wager with confidence on numerous races each day, with early value prices offered with the insurance that you know that if your horse finishes in a position to earn you a payout, it will be paid out at the odds you took when placing your bet or the starting price of the horse, whichever is greater.
|
Unibet Pros |
Unibet Cons |
|---|---|
|
Best odds guaranteed on all UK and Irish races from 8am daily |
Customer service could be improved |
|
Daily Uniboost tokens for racing |
|
|
Money back special races |
Best for cashback – QuinnBet
QuinnBet are one of the best horse racing bookmakers for daily offers with the Northern Ireland-based operator giving punters Best Odds Guaranteed, a free bet if second to the SP favourite on every UK and Irish race, and multiple extra place races.
There’s also a daily accumulator free bet boost for winning racing multiples, making QuinnBet a great destination for punters planning to bet regularly.
The cherry on top of all the racing offers is QuinnBet’s cashback scheme. Each week, bettors can receive 25% of their weekly losses back in free bets.
To qualify, bettors must place at least six bets over the course of a week with at least five of those wagers being 50% of the value of the largest bet that week.
The drawback to this offer is that the amount of free bets racing bettors can receive as cashback is capped at £20, instead of the £50 maximum punters get if they place non-racing bets. Horse racing has to make up more than 50% of your bets that week, so bettors who like to mix and match may be able to balance it out.
|
QuinnBet Pros |
QuinnBet Cons |
|---|---|
|
Cashback on racing singles and multiples |
Cashback sum limited for racing bettors |
|
BOG, extra places and 2nd to fav offers run daily |
How we rank racing betting sites
I have stringent criteria I use when reviewing any horse racing bookmaker. Here are a few examples of what I am looking for during the review process:
Licensening & trustworthiness
We ensure that all our recommended UK horse racing betting websites are licensed by the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC), which shows they have met industry standards in order to bet.
Value of odds and BOG availability
All the UK online horse racing betting sites that we recommend provide value odds for bettors and offer races that carry offers of best odds guaranteed on your bets.
Promotions and new customer welcome offers
Free horse racing bets or a racing-related welcome bonus are a nice incentive, and we look fondly on the bookmakers that have regular promotions related to racing.
Live streaming and in-play options
Most licensed UK horse racing betting sites offer live streaming services but we ensure that all of those that we recommend have top quality streaming as well as options to bet while the action is in-play.
Mobile app and user interface
We want to point you in the right direction to get the best experience as a bettor, no matter which platform you use. With mobiles now predominantly used to place bets online, our recommended bookies have to have top-of-the-line horse racing betting apps.
Customer experience
The quality of the experience the site provides for its customers was also taken into account when choosing the best horse racing betting sites, across desktop, mobile, and betting apps.
Payment methods & withdrawal speed
We understand that you would like a versatile experience with payments on UK horse racing betting sites and we vet all those sites we recommend to ensure that you have the best options for payment. While we recognise that not everyone is always satisfied with their withdrawal experience, the sites we recommend have historically scored very well when compared against other betting sites.
Responsible gambling
All the horse racing betting sites that we recommend carry responsible gambling markers, text and tools and offer services for bettors that aim to maintain a positive gambling experience so that bettors are able to gamble safely.
Why trust us
As the horse racing correspondent for the Independent, I take my responsibility of making recommendations very seriously. I have been a lover of horse racing for as long as I can remember.
I have also worked for a number of bookmakers, broadcasting and written services, such as websites and also other racing newspapers and magazines.
I have always looked for value betting options; good offers that provide me with benefits as a bettor such as cashback or best odds guaranteed; I value good streaming and TV/radio services as part of a good customer experience; and I always want to bet with UK horse racing betting sites who provide me with good customer service, whether I win or lose.
Best odds for this week’s horse racing
Find the best odds from horse racing betting sites for this week’s racing below. The odds are updated in real time, meaning punters get the best prices at any time of day or night.
It’s the week before the Cheltenham Festival and already attention has turned to that meeting at Prestbury Park. However, before we can fully indulge in everything Cheltenham, there are some interesting cards to look forward to, including the traditional Festival warm-up at Sandown on Saturday.
The Esher track stages its Imperial Cup meeting, a race that has produced a few Cheltenham winners, despite the short turnaround.
Responsible gambling
Horse racing is a wonderful sport, a great spectacle to watch and can provide a huge amount of pleasure, pitting your wits against the bookmakers and backing your fancies up with money.
However, while winning is a great feeling, you should never bet with money you don’t have or cannot afford to lose. Always bet responsibly and keep things in proportion. The bigger the stake you wager, the greater your losses could be, so always keep your activity on gambling sites as a fun pastime.
Be selective and never get to the stage where you are betting on every race. There are free tools to help punters stay in control and they are available on various gambling apps, including online bookmakers, casino sites, slot sites and poker sites.
These tools include deposit limits, time outs, self-assessment questionnaires and self-exclusion options.
Gambling should be a pleasurable experience and if it becomes the opposite, the following charities can help:
Horse racing betting sites – FAQs
Which is the best horse racing betting site in the UK?
Coral offers bettors the best customer experience and is therefore my pick as the best betting site for UK horse racing. It offers competitive odds, many good offers such as best odds guaranteed and extra place races.
Which bookmakers offer Best Odds Guaranteed?
William Hill, Betfred, bet365, Unibet, Ladbrokes, BetVictor, BOYLE Sports, Betway and talkSPORT BET all offer best odds guaranteed (BOG). Always check each site for any timeframes for a best odds guaranteed promotion. Some international races can be excluded from BOG offers and some bookmakers do not provide BOG on multiple bets, so always check before betting.
What does each way mean in racing betting?
Each way means that you are placing two bets on one horse, the WIN part of the bet and the PLACE part of the bet. Therefore, if your horse doesn’t win but finishes placed, you will still receive some return on your stake. Bear in mind that your stake is doubled, for example, if you place a £1 each-way bet, your total stake will be £2.
What are extra place offers?
Extra place offers are where UK horse racing betting websites extend the number of places on which they will pay out. For example, for a 12-runner horse race, a place bet normally has to finish in the first three for you to receive a payout. An extra place offer would mean that your horse could finish fourth and still receive a payout.
What types of horse racing bets can I place online?
Online racing betting sites offer numerous bet types beyond simple win bets. Popular options include each-way bets (covering win and place), forecast bets (predicting first and second) and specials multiples to racing, such as a Lucky 15, Lucky 31 or a Yankee. Many bookies also feature novelty bets and enhanced odds specials during major festivals like Cheltenham or Royal Ascot.
Where can I get free bets for horse racing?
A lot of horse racing betting sites have free bet offers of one type or another. Free bets can be unlocked via money-back specials or free bets clubs, with BetGoodwin and Tote two standout betting sites when it comes to free bet offers.
Which betting sites offer live streams of racing?
Most betting sites now carry coverage of UK and Irish racing, while others will live stream selected cards from across the world. Bettors will either need a funded account or have placed a bet in the last 24 hours to live stream a race.
We may earn commission from some of the links in this article, but we never allow this to influence our content. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent.
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Australia opens World Baseball Classic with victory over Chinese Taipei
TOKYO — Australia opened the World Baseball Classic on Thursday by beating Chinese Taipei 3-0 on Robbie Perkins’ two-run homer in the fifth inning and Travis Bazzana’s homer in the seventh at the Tokyo Dome.
The two big swings were enough in a tight game dominated by pitching on both sides. Chinese Taipei managed only three hits, and Australia had seven.
It was a critical victory for Australia, which also won its first game in 2023, defeating South Korea enroute to reaching the quarterfinals and a narrow 4-3 loss to Cuba.
Australian starter Alex Wells pitched three no-hit innings, with Jack O’Loughlin negotiating the next three and allowing only two hits and setting the stage for the bullpen.
O’Laughlin got the victory with a save for Jon Kennedy. Po-Yu Chen was the losing pitcher.
Following Perkins’ homer, Chinese Taipei put two runners on in the sixth with two out but failed to score. The second to reach base was Chieh-hsien Chen, who was hit by a pitch on his right hand and left the game.
Australia loaded the bases in the bottom of the sixth and failed to score when Chris Burke popped out on the second pitch from reliever Yi Chang.
Bazzana, who is expected to start in Triple A this season in the Cleveland Guardians farm system, added the insurance run on a towering shot to right field. Bazzana was the first pick in the 2024 MLB amateur draft.
Chinese Taipei put two runners on the top of the ninth and almost tied the game on a deep flyout by Lyle Lin.
South Korea-Czechia later
In the second Group C game later in Tokyo, South Korea faced Czechia. Defending champion Japan opens play in Group C on Friday against Chinese Taipei.
The top two teams in the group advance to the quarterfinals in the United States, joining the top two in the other three groups.
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NFL news: Myles Garrett slapped with 9th traffic citation
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He may be one of the best players in the NFL, but Cleveland Browns star defensive end Myles Garrett isn’t great at following traffic laws.
The 2025 Defensive Player of the Year was cited for driving 94 mph in a 70-mph zone on Interstate 71 in Congress Township, Ohio, which is between Cleveland and Columbus, back on Feb. 21, according to court records.
This speeding ticket marks the ninth since Garrett has entered the NFL since his rookie season in 2017, which includes a scary moment where he flipped his Porsche in 2022 after an incident where speeding was a factor.
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Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett (95) reacts during the second half of an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers, Sunday, Nov. 30, 2025, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/David Richard)
Garrett was cited then for going 65 mph in a 45-mph zone at the time.
Garrett was also driving a Porsche during this traffic stop, as the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office pulled over the Browns star as he was going 24 mph over the speed limit in the early hours last month. Before being pulled over, Garrett was spotted at a college basketball game between Bowling Green and Miami of Ohio in Oxford, which is near Cincinnati.
Prior to this ticket, Garrett was pulled over during Browns training camp on Aug. 9, when he was driving 100 mph in a 60-mph zone in Strongsville, Ohio, which is near the team’s Berea training facility.
The Browns had just returned home from their preseason matchup against the Carolina Panthers, which led to a $250 fine for Garrett as well.
He was peppered with questions from the media about his speeding past following his then-eighth citation, but he declined to respond.

Myles Garrett of the Cleveland Browns looks on during the second quarter in the game against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium on October 26, 2025, in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
“I’d honestly prefer to talk about football and this team than anything I’m doing off the field other than the back-to-school event that I did the other day,” Garrett said to media on Aug. 20.
Garrett added that he tried to “keep my personal life personal. And I’d rather focus on this team when I can.”
It was hard not to ask Garrett about what happened in 2022, when he suffered a shoulder and biceps strains, among other less serious injuries, after his car flipped over. He had to miss the team’s Week 4 contest against the Atlanta Falcons, though he returned to his normal self that year. He had 16 sacks and two forced fumbles in 16 games for Cleveland.
This past year, Garrett broke the single-season sack record (23) with a league-high 33 tackles for loss in an insane campaign that made him a lock for the Defensive Player of the Year Award in his ninth season for the Browns. He had now made it three straight first-team All-Pro honors and five overall.

Myles Garrett of the Cleveland Browns looks on during warmups prior to the game at Gillette Stadium on Oct. 26, 2025 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Billie Weiss/Getty Images)
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But Garrett will now have to either appear in court on March 10, or pay a fine of more than $100 for his latest speeding ticket, per WKYC in Cleveland. After signing a then-record four-year, $160 million extension with Cleveland last year, the latter is likely the option he’ll choose.
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“He’s a bad guy”: Oleksandr Usyk names the only opponent he truly disliked
Personal vendettas rarely get in the way of sportsmanship and respect when Oleksandr Usyk steps through the ropes.
Usyk became the undisputed cruiserweight world champion with three victories on away soil, winning in Poland to get his hands on the WBO belt, before unifications in Latvia and Russia in the semi-final and final of the World Boxing Super Series.
After defending the undisputed throne against Tony Bellew, the Ukrainian then moved up to heavyweight and replicated the feat to become the first undisputed heavyweight champion of the four-belt era – trumping the likes of Anthony Joshua, Daniel Dubois and Tyson Fury.
Since overcoming ‘AJ’ to become a household name, Usyk has continued to stick to his values and show complete respect to opponents – that includes Fury, who did his best to drag the Ukrainian southpaw into a war of words.
However, when speaking to DAZN Boxing, Usyk explained why the only dance partner of his career that he did not ‘love’ was Germany’s Marco Huck, who he collided with back in 2017, in the quarter-final of the WBSS.
“My weakness, [is that] I love people. I love my opponent. Only one of my opponents, I didn’t love, it is Marco Huck.
“Yeah, he is a bad guy because this man said bad words for [about] my mama.”
Following a heated build-up, Usyk declared that he would ‘bury’ Huck when they fought and that he did, knocking the Berlin-based former world champion out in his own backyard in round 10 of their battle at Max Schmeling Hall.
Years prior to the bout, Huck had enjoyed the joint longest run as champion in the cruiserweight ranks, racking up 13 defences of the WBO belt. He still competes at 41-year-old, now at heavyweight, although at a much lower level than in his day.
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Canucks show ‘more fight’ in close loss to Hurricanes
Losing should never be acceptable. But if they can lose the way they did Wednesday, 6-4 against the elite Carolina Hurricanes, the Canucks will earn respect and patience from their fans during what is going to be a loyalty-testing rebuild. Which ones aren’t?
Uncompetitive and unredeemable in their last two losses, and challenged Wednesday morning by general manager Patrik Allvin to show “more fight,” the Canucks dug in and competed against the soaring Hurricanes, who needed an empty-net goal from Nikolaj Ehlers to complete a hat trick that secured his team’s 15th win in 20 games.
Even after Carolina reeled off four straight goals in 10 minutes in the second period to pull away 5-2, the Canucks didn’t disintegrate as they have in so many games since the New Year when they’ve surrendered goals in bunches.
Canuck Brock Boeser scored during a five-on-three power play late in the second period, and Nils Hoglander blistered a one-timer from Elias Pettersson’s nice pass to make it 5-4 at 6:45 of the third.
And even shorthanded, but skating five-against-five with their goalie pulled, the Canucks made it uncomfortable for the Hurricanes in the final minute before Ehlers scored with 14 seconds to go.
Disappointed, but not embarrassed.
“I mean, it’s tough when you’re in a spiral like this,” centre Teddy Blueger said. “We go down like we did last game against Dallas (6-1 loss on Monday) and you can just feel the energy kind of drain out. It’s tough to pick yourself back up; that’s maybe a bit of human nature. But we’ve got to fight that. I think the least we can do is compete and fight in every game, no matter the score.
“Obviously, we’d probably like to have a couple of those goals back (in the second period) with the breakdowns and stuff. But I think in terms of competing and fighting back and not getting deflated like we have been, I thought that was pretty good tonight.”
Defenceman Filip Hronek said: “The effort was there today. I’m pretty happy about that. But we have to be consistent with that, and we have to have that effort for 60 (minutes) and not 35 or whatever minutes.”
As a group, the Canucks top players were far more noticeable than they’ve been in most games since the team collapsed into 2026 on a freefall that is now 2-17-4 since Dec. 29.
Certainly not known for his physicality, Boeser recorded a career-high seven hits as Vancouver out-hit Carolina 30-13. Specifically challenged by Allvin during the GM’s morning press conference after the Tyler Myers trade, Pettersson played with a little more spark and had his second two-point game since Nov. 17. And Hronek, the last defenceman standing from the Canucks’ National Hockey League playoff run less than two years ago, may have been the best player on either team, finishing with a goal and two assists and a plus-two rating in the loss.
The last-overall Canucks just need a lot more of this, no matter what else happens before Friday’s trade deadline.
“It feels a whole lot better when the guys are trying like that,” rookie defenceman Tom Willander said. “You know, some of these teams are very good and they’re tough, and you’re not going to win all of them. But you always have to compete. I don’t feel like it’s just about playing well; I feel like if you compete, you’re just going to get a lot better. Even practices are better.”
The Canucks weren’t winning even before they started trading important players like Quinn Hughes, Kiefer Sherwood and Myers (which is why they traded them to start this rebuild). So nobody expects this hollowed-out team to be winning now, especially with star goalie Thatcher Demko out for the season after hip surgery.
But what the Canucks had lost along with 21 of 23 games before Wednesday was baseline competitiveness — the basic, professional combination of preparedness and execution that every team requires to be respectable.
Thirteen of the previous 18 regulation losses were by three or more goals, and in its last two losses, Saturday in Seattle and Monday at home against Dallas, Vancouver was outscored 11-2.
Despite what some unfamiliar with the last century may think, these aren’t the darkest days in franchise history. The Canucks were in peril of being sold and moved a couple of times, and when Brian Burke was hired as GM in 1998, ownership charged him with saving the franchise in a city where Rogers Arena was half-empty many nights.
But this rebuild will turn black if the Canucks not only lose but surrender. Nobody wants to watch that.
So Allvin challenged his players to dig in and compete.
“I want to see more fight in the group,” he told reporters. “It’s their job, the players’ job and our job, to prepare every night for the fans and playing for the crest. You can lose games, but you’ve got to play the right way and you’ve got to compete. And that’s what I want to see from my group here moving forward. I want to see us getting better. Losing games is not great for anyone, and we owe it to the fans here that have been great in Vancouver, and our players should play hard every night.”
“One-hundred-percent agree,” Willander said. “I think that’s something (fight) you need more of. You know, you can’t always be at your best, but you can always work hard. I feel like you need to compete and show up even on the days you’re not, you know, not everything is clicking. And I feel like that’s going to be so important later on when you want to win those big games.”
From now until the end of the season, all of the Canucks’ games are big for respect – their own and from the people they need to support the rebuild by buying tickets to watch them play.
Sports
How to run a 2026 UEFA Champions League bracket pool: Play for a dream trip, design your picks contest
Champions League is widely considered the top club tournament in soccer, and the 2025-26 UEFA Champions League Round of 16 begins on March 10 and March 11. The 2026 Champions League bracket is now live, and similar to the buzz that’s created around NCAA Tournament brackets, many will flock to create their 2026 UCL bracket and debate who to crown their winner in Champions League bracket pools.
Reigning champion PSG failed to secure one of the top eight spots, leaving their fate to be determined by the knockout round. No team since Real Madrid, which won three straight from 2016-18, has even won back-to-back UCL titles, so how should that affect forming a 2026 Champions League bracket strategy? You can create Champions League pools of your own to compete against friends and family, and enter your picks into the CBS Sports UCL Bracket Challenge for a chance to win a trip to London, including tickets to a UCL match and a tour of the UCL Today set. With the action so close, now is the time to set up your 2026 UEFA Champions League pool.
If you’re looking for a UCL bracket game home, CBS Sports is the perfect platform to use. You can play Bracket Games on the CBS Sports App for free and you could win big prizes.* Sign up right here.
How to create a 2026 UEFA Champions League pool with friends and family
There is a CBS Sports UEFA Champions League Bracket Challenge giving you the chance to win a trip to London to watch a UCL match and tour the UCL Today set. It’s easy to qualify for this epic trip. Simply click this link, click the “Join Now” button and enter.* Fill out your UEFA Champions League bracket before Round of 16 play begins.
Once you’ve entered CBS Sports UEFA Champions League Bracket Game, you can also set up your own 2026 UCL pools on CBSSports.com and the CBS Sports app. When you go to the website, hover your mouse over the Fantasy tab until you find the CBS Sports UCL Bracket Games logo.
Click on that logo to be redirected to the CBS Sports UCL Bracket Games page. Once you’re logged in, you’ll see a “Create Pool” button to click on and once you’ve finished choosing your UCL bracket pool settings, you’ll be able to copy the URL and send it to your friends and family.
2026 UEFA Champions League Knockout phase teams to watch
Now that you know where to play 2026 UCL Bracket Games, here are some teams to watch as the 2026 Champions League Knockout phase approaches:
Arsenal FC: The English Premier League leaders won all eight of their matches during the league phase, outscoring their opponents 23-4 in the process to produce the best goal differential in the competition. Arsenal have opened a six-point lead on Manchester City in the EPL, so they’ll still have a somewhat split focus, but this is their best chance yet at notching a UEFA Champions League title. Expect Mikel Arteta to dial in for these matchups and they should be well-rested thanks to the bye that comes with being a top-eight seed.
Manchester City: Manchester City were one of four teams that finished with exactly 16 points over eight UCL league phase contests. After being tied with the lowest goal differential and scoring the fewest goals of the four tied clubs, Manchester City are the No. 8 seed. Luckily for Manchester City, finishing last in the tiebreak didn’t result in a knockout round appearance, but they’ll have a challenging opening matchup in the Round of 16. Manchester City went 5-1-2 in the league phase, and defeated Galatasaray, 2-0, on Matchday 8 to secure a top-eight seed. Manchester City features the top goal-scorer in the Premier League in Erling Haaland, whose 22 goals are five more than any other player. He also scored in six of eight UCL contests, as he’ll be a daunting matchup for any club playing Man City. Join the 2026 UCL Bracket Game here.
How to enter 2026 UEFA Champions League Bracket Games
Sign up now before brackets are unlocked after the Round of 16 Draw. Visit CBSSports.com/UCLBracket or play on the CBS Sports App.
*No purchase necessary. See rules for details.
Sports
South Alabama-Coastal Carolina brawl leaves eight ejected, four suspended, ref injured
Eight players were ejected after a brawl between South Alabama and Coastal Carolina in the second round of the women’s Sun Belt Tournament on Wednesday. The fracas resulted in a referee getting injured and requiring medical attention.
The incident occurred with 5:38 remaining in the fourth quarter as South Alabama’s Cordasia Harris and Coastal Carolina’s Tracey Hueston started fighting under the basket.
Staff members from both schools, teammates and referees rushed to attempt to break up the fight. Among them was referee Marla Gearhart, who caught a flailing arm and was knocked to the floor. She remained on the ground for a moment while the medical staff went over to check on her.
The conference released an update later Wednesday saying Gearhart was evaluated at the Pensacola Bay Center and was released.
Eight players were ejected immediately after the incident:
- South Alabama: Cordasia Harris, Daniela Gonzalez, Terren Coffil, Saneea Bevley, Princess Okafor Nweze, Jeriyah Baines, Amyah Sutton
- Coastal Carolina: Tracey Hueston
South Alabama eventually won the game, 80-70, but will be shorthanded for the third-round game against Texas State on Thursday due to further punishment announced by the Sun Belt. Harris, Sutton and Gonzalez were all hit with one-game NCAA suspensions “because they were deemed to have engaged in a fight,” the conference said.
In a statement, South Alabama athletic director Dr. Joel Erdmann said the university “does not condone fighting under any circumstance.” However, he said he does not agree that the actions of “all three” of Harris, Sutton and Gonzalez “rose to the level of being classified as fighting as defined by the NCAA rule book.”
“This judgment has negatively impacted the tournament experience of our suspended student-athletes and stripped them of limited opportunities to compete in the postseason,” Erdmann said. “Though I strongly disagree with the judgment of the officials, we will accept the decision from the Sun Belt Conference.”
On the Coastal Carolina side, Hueston was given a one-game NCAA suspension and suspended by the Sun Belt for the remainder of the season should the Chanticleers be invited to a postseason tournament.
Coastal Carolina athletic director Chance Miller issued an apology and said “we are extremely disappointed in the actions of one of our women’s basketball student-athletes and program,” per local CBS station WBTW News 13.
Chanticleers coach Kevin Pederson said the incident will be addressed swiftly.
“We regret the actions that took place during today’s Sun Belt Conference Tournament game,” Pederson told the local station. “In no way does what occurred reflect the core values or day-to-day mission of the women’s basketball program, as we hold our student-athletes to the highest standards both on and off the court. The actions today don’t reflect those standards, and we plan to address that quickly.”
Sports
Arjun Tendulkar and Saaniya Chandhok officially married after grand Mumbai celebrations | Off the field News
Arjun Tendulkar, the son of legendary India batter Sachin Tendulkar, has officially tied the knot with entrepreneur Saaniya Chandhok. The wedding ceremony took place on Thursday, March 5, bringing an end to a week of celebrations attended by several well known personalities from the cricketing world.The couple had earlier announced their engagement in August 2025 in a private ceremony attended by close family members and friends. Since then, preparations for the wedding had been underway, with celebrations beginning earlier this week in Mumbai.
The festivities included traditional functions such as mehendi and sangeet, where a number of former and current cricketers joined the Tendulkar family for the celebrations. The events created a festive atmosphere as friends and family gathered to mark the special occasion.Arjun’s wife Saaniya comes from a prominent business background. She is the granddaughter of industrialist Ravi Ghai, chairman of the Graviss Group. Based in Mumbai, Saaniya has built her own career in the pet care and animal welfare space. She is known for her work as a veterinary technician and entrepreneur and has been actively involved in initiatives related to animal care.While the wedding celebrations have now concluded, Arjun will soon turn his focus back to cricket. The 26 year old left arm pacer has so far made five appearances in the Indian Premier League for Mumbai Indians. In those matches he picked up three wickets while conceding 114 runs and also scored 13 runs with the bat.At the domestic level, Arjun currently represents the Goa cricket team after making his debut for the Mumbai cricket team in 2021.Ahead of the IPL 2026 mini auction, Arjun was traded from Mumbai Indians to Lucknow Super Giants. He is expected to feature for the franchise in the upcoming season as he continues to build his career in professional cricket.
Sports
Lou Holtz’s death draws tributes from GOP lawmakers
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Prominent Republican congressional lawmakers and other high-ranking officials across the country shared their condolences after the death of legendary college football coach Lou Holtz Wednesday.
The GOP figures to speak out included senators Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala.; Todd Young, R-Ind.; Tom Cotton, R-Ark.; and Lindsey Graham, R-S.C.; representatives Greg Murphy, R-N.C.; David Rouzer, R-N.C.; Erin Houchin, R-Ind.; and Steve Womack, R-Ark.; and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis; Indiana Gov. Mike Braun; U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon; and Rudy Giuliani.
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At the time of publication, prominent Democrat leaders have appeared silent on Holtz’s passing, including prominent Democrats with a football background.
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, who worked as an assistant high school football coach; Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., who was a recruiting target for Holtz in 1986 as a college prospect; Rep. Colin Allred, D-Texas, who played in the NFL; and Rep. Kam Buckner, D-Ill., who played football for the University of Illinois, have not posted acknowledging Holtz’s death.
Fox News Digital has reached out to Waltz, Booker, Allred and Buckner’s offices for comment.
Lou Holtz, who spent 33 years leading teams, including the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, died Wednesday. He was 89.
The team released a statement from Holtz’s family, saying he died surrounded by family at his home in Orlando, Florida.
“Louis Leo ‘Lou’ Holtz, legendary college football coach, Hall of Famer, bestselling author, and one of America’s most influential motivational voices, has passed away at the age of 89 in Orlando, Florida, surrounded by family,” the statement said.
“Born January 6, 1937, in Follansbee, West Virginia, Holtz rose from humble beginnings to become one of the most respected figures in college athletics.
“Over a remarkable five-decade career, he led college programs at William & Mary, N.C. State, Arkansas, Minnesota, Notre Dame, and South Carolina. He transformed every team he inherited and captured the 1988 National Championship with the Fighting Irish. Holtz was preceded in death by his beloved wife of more than 50 years, Beth, with whom he shared a life grounded in faith, devotion, and service.”

Head coach Lou Holtz of the Arkansas Razorbacks walks on the sideline as his team takes on the Oklahoma Sooner in the 1978 Orange Bowl Jan. 2, 1978, at the Orange Bowl in Miami, Fla. (Rich Clarkson/NCAA Photos via Getty Images)
Holtz had reportedly entered hospice care in late January.
Holtz was the first coach in NCAA history to take six different football programs to bowl games, including William & Mary (1969-71), N.C. State (1972-75), Arkansas (1977-83) and South Carolina (1999-2004). The only team he wasn’t able to accomplish the feat with was Minnesota, which he led from 1984-85.
In recent years, Holtz has been a stern supporter of President Donald Trump, even saying in February 2024 that Trump needed to “coach America back to greatness!”
Near the end of Trump’s first term, shortly after former President Joe Biden defeated him in the 2020 election, Trump awarded Holtz with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian award of the United States.
“I will say this about Lou: Everybody loves him,” Trump said during the ceremony in December 2020. “Everybody respects him. He’s tough as hell, and yet they all respect Lou. They just — it’s amazing. They love him, and they respect him. Sometimes, it’s a combination that doesn’t come together, you know? They respect, but you are — you are something. ‘I never coached football; I coached life,’ he said. And it’s true. His players really always loved him.”

Head coach Lou Holtz of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish watches from the sideline during a game against the Stanford Cardinal Oct. 7, 1989, at Stanford Stadium in Palo Alto, Calif. (David Madison/Getty Images)
Holtz, who also spoke at the 2020 Republican National Convention, was humbled by the honor.
“It’s the highest honor or award you could possibly receive, and I receive it with mixed emotions. First of all, I’m humbled,” Holtz told “Fox & Friends” afterward. “There are many more people far worthy than me, I can assure you.
“Nobody is more appreciative than me. So, I’m excited to have this opportunity and, at the same time, I’m excited to receive it from President Trump. The president I admire and respect. I think he did a tremendous job.”
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At the time, Holtz also called Trump “one of the great presidents of my lifetime.”
Holtz finished his coaching career with a 249-132-7 record in 388 games. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2008.
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Sports
Top 25 roundup: No. 15 Purdue ekes out victory over Northwestern
Mar 4, 2026; Evanston, Illinois, USA; Purdue Boilermakers guard C.J. Cox (0) shoots the ball over Northwestern Wildcats guard Justin Mullins (20) during the first half at Welsh-Ryan Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images C.J. Cox scored 21 of his career-high 27 points after halftime and Trey Kaufman-Renn had 11 points and 10 rebounds to boost No. 15 Purdue to a 70-66 victory against Northwestern on Wednesday in Evanston, Ill.
Purdue (23-7, 13-6 Big Ten) stopped a two-game skid while snapping a three-game winning streak for Northwestern (13-17, 5-14).
After Jordan Clayton drilled a corner 3-pointer to put the Wildcats ahead 66-65 with 1:03 remaining, the Boilermakers took the lead for good with a Cox trey on the ensuing possession. Purdue sealed the game from the free-throw line while capitalizing on two critical Wildcats turnovers in the last 36 seconds.
Northwestern senior Nick Martinelli, the conference’s leading scorer, had 28 points in his final game at Welsh-Ryan Arena. Jayden Reid added 16 points for the Wildcats, who were without Jake West (ankle).
No. 7 Houston 77, Baylor 64
Sharpshooting Emanuel Sharp hit 5 of 10 3-point attempts in a 19-point outing as the Cougars closed their home schedule with a comeback win over the pesky Bears.
Maintaining their one-game conference margin over third-place Texas Tech, the second-place Cougars (25-5, 13-4 Big 12) took their first lead with 7:16 left in the game and then roared away from the Bears (15-15, 5-12) behind a 20-3 run.
Houston’s Kingston Flemings posted a game-high 21 points to go with seven assists, and Milos Uzan scored 12 points. Baylor’s Tounde Yessoufou totaled 20 points and 12 rebounds while Caden Powell had 12 points and six boards.
No. 20 Arkansas 105, Texas 85
Darius Acuff Jr. had 28 points and tied a season high with 13 assists, senior Trevon Brazile scored a career-high 28 points in his final home game and the Razorbacks clinched a double bye in the Southeastern Conference tournament with a win over the Longhorns in Fayetteville, Ark.
D.J. Wagner scored 15 points and Meleek Thomas added 13 points for Arkansas (22-8, 12-5 SEC), which bounced back strongly after a 111-77 loss at then-No. 7 Florida on Saturday.
Matas Vokietaitis scored 21 points, Tramon Mark added 18 points and Dailyn Swain had 16 points, nine rebounds and six assists for Texas (18-12, 9-8). No. 22 Miami 77, SMU 69
Tre Donaldson scored 17 points and Malik Reneau added 14 points and 11 rebounds to help the Hurricanes beat the short-handed Mustangs in Dallas.
The win guaranteed Miami (24-6, 13-4 Atlantic Coast Conference) a third-place finish in the conference standings and a double bye in the upcoming league tournament. The Hurricanes tied the school record for regular-season victories.
The loss keeps the Mustangs (19-11, 8-9) in a logjam at the middle of the league standings, with a move up to eighth still a possibility if SMU can beat Florida State in its final regular-season game. Jaron Pierre Jr. scored 27 points and Boopie Miller added 21 for SMU. No. 25 Saint Louis 79, Loyola Chicago 65
Amari McCottry scored 18 points as the Billikens closed the home portion of their schedule a perfect 19-0 with a win over the Ramblers.
Dion Brown tallied 15 points and Robbie Avila pitched in 12 points as Saint Louis (27-3, 15-2 Atlantic 10) clinched a share of the league’s regular-season title, the No. 1 seed and a double bye in next week’s conference tournament. Saint Louis also tied a school record with its 22nd straight home win.
Xavier Amos led Loyola Chicago (7-23, 3-14) with 25 points as he hit 6 of 7 3-point attempts. Kayde Dotson added 19 points for the Ramblers, who have lost five of their past six games. –Field Level Media
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