Mandatory testing introduced last year to verify the sex of track and field athletes has been branded a “backwards step” and a “harmful anachronism” by a group of academics.
World Athletics implemented testing for the SRY gene last September, a measure designed to ensure that only biologically female athletes can compete in the female category at the elite level.
The governing body’s president, Sebastian Coe, stated at the time that the decision was taken to “protect and promote the integrity of women’s sport”.
However, 34 academics have now sharply criticised the testing in a report submitted to the British Journal of Sports Medicine and shared with the Press Association.
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Sebastian Coe spoke out on the testing last year (Martin Rickett/PA) (PA Wire)
The group, which includes Professor Alun Williams from the Manchester Metropolitan University Institute for Performance Research, argues that the testing violates athletes’ human rights and risks creating significant stigma and psychological distress.
“These new regulations are an anachronism, and a harmful one,” the report authors wrote.
“They are a simplistic way of reducing a characteristic to a single gene, which does not reflect the complex nature of sex, and is couched in narratives of protecting the sanctity of fair competition in the women’s category that are not based in science and need to be challenged.”
The report further highlights an absence of robust data demonstrating that the presence of the SRY gene in individuals with a difference in sexual development (DSD) directly correlates with athletic performance advantages.
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Professor Williams added separately: “There are already stigma and shame to people both inside and outside of sport arising from these regulations, and these consequences cannot be considered proportionate to the objective pursued by World Athletics.
“The longevity of the new regulations will probably be determined in court, but not before subjecting women and girl athletes to foreseeable and unjustifiable harm.”
The report also challenges World Athletics’ implication that genetic tests are straightforward, easy to administer, preserve dignity and privacy, and maintain confidentiality.
“These ostensibly reassuring words ignore the practical challenges, legal constraints, and huge ethical problems of implementing such tests across 214 member federations,” the report concluded.
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In response, a spokesperson for World Athletics defended the policy, stating: “Biological men competing against biological women violates the human rights of thousands of female athletes who have the right to compete on a fair and level playing field. The expansive research on the performance advantage of biological men in sport is unequivocal.”
IOC president Kirsty Coventry is expected to explain how the female category at the Olympics can be best protected in the coming weeks (AP)
They added: “All athletes competing in the female category at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo last year successfully took a once-in-a-lifetime low-invasive SRY test – an excellent example of global co-operation among our 214 member federations and World Athletics to ensure the protection of the female category.
“Our thanks go to them for having the passion and determination to make this happen.
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“Clear and comprehensive communication, counselling if requested, complete confidentiality, and robust follow-up processes if test results are inconclusive are a critical and core part of World Athletics’ implementation of this test designed to protect and promote the integrity of women’s sport.”
The International Olympic Committee is expected to issue a consensus statement on how it believes the female category could be best protected in the first quarter of this year, according to its president Kirsty Coventry.
Conor Benn will make his Zuffa Boxing debut against two-time super-lightweight world champion, Regis Prograis, next month and former cruiserweight ruler, Tony Bellew, has offered his thoughts on the contest.
Benn avenged the solitary defeat on his record when he overcame middleweight foe Chris Eubank Jr at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium last time out, before announcing a return to the welterweight division.
‘The Destroyer’ was installed as the WBC’s mandatory challenger and inserted at the top of their rankings, with Eddie Hearn lining him up for a clash either against Ryan Garcia for the full world title, or against one of the other champions at 147lbs.
Now, in his first outing since the move, Benn is set to take on Prograis on the Fury-Makhmudov undercard, in a 150lb catchweight affair. Speaking with First Round TV, Bellew believes that the Prograis bout has simply been ‘thrown together on short notice.’
“It is a fight that has been thrown together on short-notice and it just gets him out, that is it.
“If you are Conor Benn, you are jumping at it aren’t you. Everyone is making this thing about the amount of money that he is getting and stuff like that, but he will be like ‘you want me to face him for that? Absolutely no problem at all.’
“It’s mad, but it is this cards we get dealt. He has just got to go in there and deal with it. He has got a great coach in Tony Sims and he will make sure that he is fully prepared.
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“He will not want to go in there with his fighter not at 100%, so you know that he will be on it. He will be sharp, he will be ready to go and I think that Regis Prograis has probably seen better days, if I am being totally honest.”
Fans attending the Texas Rangers’ home opening series against the Cincinnati Reds in early April will get their first look at the newly installed, permanent fixture in left field.
Billed as a tribute to the MLB franchise’s namesake, the Rangers unveiled the “One Riot, One Ranger” statue along the left-field concourse at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, Monday.
In 2020, the statue was removed from Dallas Love Field amid heightened racial tensions and the group’s complicated history tied to race relations.
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The book “Cult of Glory: The Bold and Brutal History of the Texas Rangers” examined parts of the law enforcement unit’s past. Its publication coincided with nationwide scrutiny of some police practices after the killing of George Floyd in Minnesota.
Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, May 30, 2025, during a game between the Texas Rangers and the St. Louis Cardinals. (Tim Heitman/Imagn Images)
In an Associated Press account about six years ago, around the time the statue was pulled from the airport, “Cult of Glory” identified the figure as Capt. Jay Banks. The book states that, in 1957, Banks led a group of Rangers believed to have blocked Black students from enrolling at a local high school and community college.
In the article, “Cult of Glory” author Doug Swanson said, “There’s a famous picture of him leaning against a tree in front of Mansfield High School while a black figure hangs in effigy above the school, with Banks making no effort to take it down.
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“And Banks sided with the mobs who were there to keep the black kids out. So, he was the face of that.”
The Texas Rangers take batting practice before facing the San Francisco Giants at Globe Life Field June 8, 2021, in Arlington, Texas. (Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
Russell Molina, a board member of the Texas Ranger Association Foundation, acknowledged the Rangers’ controversial past but said those who lived “up to the ideal” deserve recognition and argued the statue was not solely meant to represent Banks.
“We recognize that the history of the Texas Rangers, like that of our state and nation, includes moments that must be confronted honestly,” Molina said. “While not everyone who has served across more than two centuries lived up to the ideal, most did, and they deserve to be remembered for their service, sacrifice and commitment to the people of Texas.”
Globe Life Field, the new home of the Texas Rangers March 26, 2020, in Arlington, Texas. (Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Swanson told The Dallas Morning News he hoped the statue’s latest placement would include more context about the organization’s complex past.
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Fox News Digital contacted the baseball franchise’s media relations department but did not immediately receive a response.
According to Globe Life Field’s official website, “While the ‘One Riot, One Ranger’ statue commemorates the legend surrounding the agency’s involvement in the stoppage of an unsanctioned Dallas prize fight in 1896, it also stands as a tribute to all who have served the organization over its storied history.”
Statues of former MLB stars Iván Rodríguez, Adrián Beltré and Nolan Ryan also stand at the Rangers’ retractable-roof stadium.
Arsenal and England forward Chloe Kelly has been transformed into a Barbie doll as part of a special series to mark International Women’s Day.
Two-time European Championship winner Kelly, 23-time Grand Slam tennis champion Serena Williams and India cricketer Smriti Mandhana are among the sporting figures included by Mattel in its first ever “Barbie Dream Team”, which it says “honours women who led the way in their industries”.
“To be a Barbie role model is so special,” said Kelly, 28. “To have my very own one-of-a-kind doll – I’m very proud of that.
“You don’t really believe these things could happen. You always look for the trophies and the wins on the pitch but, off the pitch, this is a massive win.”
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She added: “As a young girl, you dreamed of having these moments but they never seemed to be the case that they could come true.”
Kelly was a key member of the England squads that won the past two European Championships.
She scored the Lionesses’ extra-time winner at Wembley that secured victory over Germany in the 2022 final, then netted the winning penalty in a shootout against Spain that retained the trophy in Switzerland last summer.
Kelly was also involved as England reached the final of the 2023 Women’s World Cup.
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At club level, she was part of the Arsenal team that won last season’s Women’s Champions League.
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
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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
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Best Odds Guaranteed (BOG)
Money Back Offers
Extra Place Races
Tote
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✓
✗
✗
Coral
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✓
✓
✓
Bet365
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✓
✗
✗
Betfred
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✓
✗
✓
Betway
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✓
✗
✗
1.
Tote
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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.
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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)
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.
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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
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Odds format can be confusing
Guarantee never to be beaten by SP
Limited payment methods
Huge range of racing bet types
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2.
Coral
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Launch year: 1926
What we like about Coral
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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.
(The Independent)
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.
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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
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Reduction in size of welcome offer
Unique features for a racing bookmaker
3.
Bet365
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
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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.
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Bet365’s live player fits nicely onto the odds page for each race (Bet365)
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
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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’
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Regular ‘Winnings Boost’ offers
4.
Betfred
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Launch year: 1967
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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.
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The Betfred welcome bonus be wagered entirely on racing (Betfred)
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
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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
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Plenty of permanent racing offers
5.
Betway
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Launch year: 2006
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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.
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Bet365 Pros
Bet365 Cons
Many place boost races
Customer service is mainly automated
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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
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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.
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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
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Best Odds Guaranteed not available until 10am
Easy-to-navigate site and app
Free bets are credited quickly
Best for free bets – Paddy Power
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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.
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Paddy Power Pros
Paddy Power Cons
Regular free bet promotions
Odds could be more competitive
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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.
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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
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Excellent profit boosts
Withdrawal times could be improved
Clearly shows bettors original odds and boosted odds
Ability to lengthen the odds on your selection
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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.
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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
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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.
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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.
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BOYLE Sports Pros
BOYLE Sports Cons
Easy to build your accumulator
Offers for major meetings can be complex
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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.
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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
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Extra places offered with no reduction in odds
Customer service could be improved
Numerous extra place races offered daily
Verification process can be slow
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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.
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Unibet Pros
Unibet Cons
Best odds guaranteed on all UK and Irish races from 8am daily
Customer service could be improved
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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.
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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.
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QuinnBet Pros
QuinnBet Cons
Cashback on racing singles and multiples
Cashback sum limited for racing bettors
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
Team Australia headed into this year’s World Baseball Classic on the back of a breakthrough campaign in 2023, where they qualified for the quarterfinals for the first time.
Australia’s squad for the 2026 World Baseball Classic is headlined by MLB stars Curtis Mead, Jack O’Loughlin and Cleveland Guardians prospect Travis Bazzana. The 2026 WBC kicked off with Australia facing off against Chinese Taipei opener at the Tokyo Dome.
Travis Bazzana featured at second base in the WBC opener with Curtis Mead at third base, Aaron Whitefield in center field, Alex Hall as the designated hitter, Jarryd Dale at shortstop, Rixon Wingrove at first base, Robbie Perkins behind the plate, Chris Burke in left field and Tim Kennelly in right field.
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Former Baltimore Orioles ace Alex Wells started the game for Australia in their WBC opener. Australia claimed a 3-0 win after Perkins hit a two-run home run in the fifth inning and Bazzana added a solo home run in the seventh inning.
Former MLB top picks realising World Baseball Classic dream with Australia
Travis Bazzana, who is yet to make his MLB debut after being selected with the No. 1 pick in the 2024 MLB draft, admitted that he always dreamt of representing his country. He made his feelings know ahead of his WBC debut this week.
Growing up, I always looked ahead and kind of had a vision of things I wanted to do in this game, and this was a big part of it,” Bazzana saud. “Young me would be dreaming of (this) and now it’s here. Just got to make the most of it.”
Australia will play Czechia on March 6. They will be up against the defending champions, Japan, on March 8, followed by a clash against South Korea on March 9 to conclude their pool games.
Marseille’s disastrous year continues. After being eliminated from the Champions League on the last day of the league stage, suffering a 5-0 loss to rivals PSG, and firing their coach a few days later, Marseille hit a new low by losing to Toulouse on penalties in the French Cup quarter-finals. This ends the club’s dream of winning a title for the first time since 2012.
Arsenal boosted their title bid by beating Brighton 1-0, while Manchester City faltered at home, drawing 2-2 against Nottingham Forest. The Gunners are now seven points clear at the top of the Premier League. Meanwhile, Chelsea claimed an impressive 4-1 win at Aston Villa, just one week before traveling to Paris for their Champions League round of 16 clash.
The Indian Wells tournament is underway, and Daniil Medvedev will be taking part, having been one of 40 ATP players stranded in Dubai following the outbreak of war in the Middle East.
Former Chennai Super Kings (CSK) batter Subramaniam Badrinath backed struggling Indian opener Abhishek Sharma to come good in the T20 World Cup 2026 semifinal against England in Mumbai. The southpaw has been in surprisingly bad form, with under 100 runs after six innings at an average of under 14.
However, he should enter the England game with an excellent mindset, considering his heroics the last time the two teams met in Mumbai. Abhishek smashed the English bowlers for a breathtaking 135 off 54 deliveries at the venue in February last year.
Badrinath also backed the out-of-form Varun Chakaravarthy to be retained in the 11.
“My suggestion to the Indian team would be not to make any changes to the 11. Abhishek will definitely do well at the Wankhede as it’s a great six-hitting ground. They should also continue trusting Varun Chakaravarthy, as he has been a huge reason for India advancing this far in the tournament. So I expect no changes to the 11.”
Badrinath added:
“I’ve been hearing things like drop Abhishek and bring in Rinku Singh. Make Ishan Kishan and Sanju Samson open. Likewise, drop Varun Chakaravarthy and bring in Kuldeep Yadav, as good wrist spinners have done well at the Wankhede stadium, which is another move I’ve been hearing.”
Varun started the tournament in fine form but has picked up only a wicket each in his last three matches, while conceding runs at an economy of over 10.
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Abhishek Sharma boasts an excellent T20I record against England
Abhishek Sharma has been spectacular against England in T20Is throughout his brief career. The 25-year-old has scored 279 runs in five games against them at an average of 55.80 and a strike rate of almost 220.
Furthermore, Abhishek has even thrived with the ball in T20Is against the English, picking up half of his six wickets against them. His best figures of 2/3 came against them in Mumbai last year, making him a massive threat for the 2022 T20 World champions.
The winner of the India-England semifinal will play New Zealand in the grand finale in Ahmedabad on Sunday, March 8.
Former ESPN broadcaster Keith Olbermann once again incited backlash on social media Wednesday after he called late legendary college football coach Lou Holtz a “legendary scumbag” in an X post on the day Holtz was announced dead.
“Legendary scumbag, yes,” Olbermann wrote in response to a clip of Holtz criticizing former President Joe Biden in 2020 for supporting abortion rights.
Olbermann received scathing criticism in response to his post on X.
“You’re a scumbag that needs mental help,” one X user wrote to Olbermann.
One user echoed that sentiment, writing to Olbermann, “You’re the real scumbag here. Lou Holtz had more class, integrity, and genuine decency in his pinky finger than you’ll ever show in your lifetime.”
Another user wrote, “You’re a grumpy, lonely, Godless man. All the things Lou Holtz was not.”
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Keith Olbermann speaks onstage during the Olbermann panel at the ESPN portion of the 2013 Summer Television Critics Association tour at the Beverly Hilton Hotel July 24, 2013, in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)
Olbermann has made it a pattern of sharing politically charged far-left statements that are often combative and ridiculed on social media, typically resulting in immense backlash.
After the U.S. men’s hockey team’s gold medal win, Olbermann heavily criticized the team for accepting an invitation from President Trump to the State of the Union address. Olbermann wrote on X that any members of the men’s team who attended the event were “declaring their indelible stupidity and misogyny,” while praising the women’s team for declining the invitation.
In January, Olbermann attacked former University of Kentucky women’s swimmer Kaitlynn Wheeler for celebrating a women’s rights rally outside the U.S. Supreme Court during oral arguments for two cases focused on the legality of biological male trans athletes in women’s sports.
Former Notre Dame football coach Lou Holtz listens before being presented with the Presidential Medal of Freedom at the White House in Washington, D.C., Dec, 3, 2020. (Doug Mills/The New York Times/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
“It’s still about you trying to find an excuse for a lifetime wasted trying to succeed in sports without talent,” Olbermann wrote in response to Wheeler’s post.
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In 2025, Olbermann faced significant backlash after posting (and later deleting) a message on X aimed at CNN contributor Scott Jennings, that said, “You’re next motherf—–,” shortly after the assassination of conservative influencer Charlie Kirk.
Holtz was 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.
After Holtz’s death was announced Wednesday, several top GOP figures paid tribute to the coach on social media.
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Those GOP lawmakers 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.
Lou Holtz, former Notre Dame football coach, addresses the America First Policy Institute’s America First Agenda Summit at the Marriott Marquis July 26, 2022.(Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc)
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.
Jackson Thompson is a sports reporter for Fox News Digital covering critical political and cultural issues in sports, with an investigative lens. Jackson’s reporting has been cited in federal government actions related to the enforcement of Title IX, and in legacy media outlets including The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, The Philadelphia Inquirer, The Associated Press and ESPN.com.
The depth of the SEC led to many intriguing upsets through the regular season and the excitement should only intensify in the conference tournament, which tipped off Wednesday. The SEC Women’s Basketball Tournament runs through Sunday at Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, South Carolina. Dawn Staley’s South Carolina Gamecocks, the No. 1 overall seed, the No. 3 team in the country and have been the team to beat in the past decade as they have won nine of the last 11 SEC Tournaments since 2015. Their competition might be stiffer than ever this year, however.
One of the biggest questions ahead of the 2026 NCAA Tournament will be answered in Greenville as Texas and Vanderbilt are still in competition for the final No. 1 seed in March Madness. South Carolina (29-1, 15-1 in SEC) has essentially already locked one of them in after winning the SEC’s regular-season title. Unbeaten UConn and Big Ten champ UCLA have firm grips on No. 1 seeds as well. As of Sunday, the Longhorns have a slight edge over the Commodores. Texas was No. 4 and Vanderbilt was No. 5 in the NCAA’s latest top 16 reveal. That being said, the Commodores could steal it if they can make a deeper run than Texas this week.
Vanderbilt’s Mikayla Blakes could also use this tournament to make a stronger case for national Player of the Year. Her biggest competition at the moment is UConn’s Sarah Strong. The Huskies are the reigning national champions and still undefeated, but Blakes is leading the Commodores in one of the best seasons in program history. Meanwhile, Oklahoma’s Aaliyah Chavez is the strongest Freshman of the Year candidate thanks to an explosive performance in a 94-82 overtime victory over South Carolina on Jan. 22, which was the Gamecocks’ only conference loss this season.
LSU was also close to upsetting South Carolina in February but fell short. The Tigers have been a No. 3 seed in the NCAA Tournament every year under Kim Mulkey, but they are currently projected as a No. 2. They have not won the SEC Tournament since 2003, but they did win a national championship in 2023 with now-senior Flau’jae Johnson on the roster.
The most recent NCAA top 16 reveal showed five SEC teams, and it could have been six had Ole Miss not slipped up late in the regular season. Regardless, keep an eye on the Rebels as one of the teams that could make noise in March. A winter storm displaced them for a few weeks but they still managed to beat Vanderbilt in January. Will we see more upsets in the coming week? We’ll just have to wait and find out.
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Women’s basketball SEC Tournament bracket
Women’s basketball SEC Tournament schedule
All times Eastern. All SEC Tournament games are available streaming on fubo (Try for free).
Wednesday, March 4 — First Round
Game 1: No. 9 Kentucky 94, No. 16 Arkansas 64
Game 2: No. 12 Florida 86, No. 13 Mississippi State 68
Game 3: No. 15 Auburn 50, No. 10 Texas A&M 49
Game 4: No. 11 Alabama 65, No. 14 Missouri 48
Thursday, March 5 — Second Round
Game 5: Kentucky vs. No. 8 Georgia — 11 a.m. (SEC Network)
Game 6: Florida vs. No. 5 Oklahoma — 1:30 p.m. (SEC Network)
Game 7: Auburn vs. No. 7 Ole Miss — 6 p.m. (SEC Network)
Game 8: Alabama vs. No. 6 Tennessee — 8:30 p.m. (SEC Network)
Friday, March 6 — Quarterfinals
Game 9: Game 5 winner vs. No. 1 South Carolina — 12 p.m. (ESPN)
Game 10: Game 6 winner vs. No. 4 LSU — 2:30 p.m. (ESPN)
Game 11: Game 7 winner vs. No. 2 Vanderbilt– 6 p.m. (SEC Network)
Game 12: Game 8 vs. No. 3 Texas — 8:30 p.m. (SEC Network)
Saturday, March 7 – Semifinals
Game 13: Game 10 winner vs. Game 9 winner — 4:30 p.m. (ESPN2)
Game 14: Game 12 winner vs. Game 11 winner — 7 p.m. (ESPN2)
Sunday, March 8 — Championship
Title game: Game 14 winner vs. Game 13 winner — 3 p.m. (ESPN)
NEW DELHI: Batting great Sachin Tendulkar kept a close eye on the ongoing ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 even as wedding festivities for his son Arjun Tendulkar unfolded in Mumbai. Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Amid the celebrations ahead of Arjun’s marriage to Saaniya Chandhok, Tendulkar still found time to react to one of the most explosive knocks in World Cup history — Finn Allen’s breathtaking century that powered New Zealand into the final.
Stars shine at Arjun Tendulkar’s Sangeet | Mumbai witnesses grand celebration
Allen produced a sensational unbeaten 100 off just 33 balls in the semifinal against South Africa at Eden Gardens on Wednesday. His blitzkrieg came at a strike rate of over 300 and helped New Zealand chase down a target of 170 in only 12.5 overs. The innings left fans and experts stunned, and Tendulkar quickly took to social media to praise the opener’s extraordinary effort.“Semi-finals usually keep you on the edge of your seat. Today, Finn Allen finished it before we could settle in! What a game!” Tendulkar wrote on X, summing up the one-sided nature of the contest.Allen’s record-breaking ton is now the fastest century in the history of both T20 and ODI World Cups, surpassing the previous marks held by Chris Gayle, who scored a 47-ball hundred in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2016, and Glenn Maxwell, whose 40-ball century came during the ICC ODI World Cup 2023.The New Zealand opener smashed 10 fours and eight sixes during his breathtaking knock, registering the joint-highest boundary count in a T20 World Cup innings alongside Brendon McCullum’s famous 123 against Bangladesh in 2012.