Horse Betting in Canada | Top Horse Betting Sites 2023

Is Horse Racing Legal in Canada?

Yes, horse racing is legal in Canada and was one of the only legal gambling options for decades.

Unlike other sports, horse racing is not regulated by the Criminal Code.

Instead, it is regulated by the Canadian Pari-Mutuel Agency and will continue to be so since it was excluded from the recent single-event betting legislation that will bring changes to all other forms of sports betting.

How to Bet on Horse Racing in Canada

So, how do you bet on horse racing in Canada?

Apart from on-track horse betting, and horse racing apps like Ontario’s HPIBET and Dark Horse, you can also bet at international sportsbooks like the ones we recommended above.

Betting at international sportsbooks allows you to bet on a wider range of horse racing events. International sportsbooks also have the added perk of competitive odds.

Using these sites is an easy process:

1. Find a sportsbook you like.
2. Sign up and create an account by following all required steps.
3. Deposit money using your preferred payment method.
4. Find a horse racing event you want to bet on and place a bet.
5. Sit back and enjoy!

Different Horse Racing Bets

If you’re new to horse betting, you’re likely to find the number of bets and terms overwhelming. But no worries, we’re here to break it down in simpler terms!

Firstly, there is a distinction between straight and exotic bets. Let’s look at the straight bets first.

Win / Place / Show Bets

Win: You bet on a single horse to take 1^st place.

Place: You bet on a single horse to take either 1^st or 2^nd place.

Show: You bet on a single horse to take 1^st, 2^nd, or 3^rd place.

Here’s an example of a Win or Place bet at Sports Interaction:

Out of all horse racing bets, the straight bets are the easiest and most popular, so we recommend these for beginners.

Exotic Bets

If you want to add to the excitement, you can try some exotic bets:

Exacta: You bet on two horses to take 1^st and 2^nd place. Your horses must finish in that order to win.

Quinella: You bet on two horses to take 1^st and 2^nd without taking into consideration the order.

Trifecta: You bet on three horses to take 1^st, 2^nd, and 3^rd in that exact order.

Superfecta: You bet on four horses to take 1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd, and 4^th place in that exact order.

Popular Horse Racing Events to Bet On

We’ve covered different types of horse racing bets, but what can you bet on with those bets?

Let’s take a look at some renowned horse racing events in Canada.

Canadian Triple Crown

This is an anticipated series of horse races for Canadian bettors. It is a yearly event and features a series of three races for three-year-old horses born in Canada.

The first race is the Queen’s Plate, which takes place in Toronto in June. The July Prince of Wales Stakes is set in Ontario, while the final race is the Breeders’ Stakes which takes place in Woodbine in August.

Canadian International Stakes

Canadian International Stakes is the second biggest event on the Canadian horse racing calendar.

This is a race for thoroughbred racehorses of three years of age and is held every October at Woodbine Racetrack in Ontario.

Our suggested sportsbook for both the Canadian International Stakes and the Canadian Triple Crown is Betway.

Sports Interaction is focused solely on Canadian bettors and is more likely to cover these events extensively.

Kentucky Derby

The Kentucky Derby is an annual horse race held in Louisville, Kentucky. It’s usually on the first Saturday of May.

It’s a Grade 1 stakes race for three-year-old Thoroughbred horses at a distance of 2 km.

Breeders’ Cup World Championships

The Breeders’ Cup started as a one-day, seven-race event, which is now a two-day, 14-race celebration that occurs in November.

It attracts competition from around the globe, including Canada, Australia and the UK.

Royal Ascot

Canadians might adore the Triple Crown races, but the Brits focus on the Royal Ascot.

The Royal Ascot is Britain’s most valuable race meeting and it usually occurs in June.

It is spread over 5 days and attracts more than 500 horses. If you want to bet on the Royal Ascot, we suggest BetVictor.

Melbourne Cup

Another event Canadians like to bet on is the Australian Melbourne Cup. This is Australia’s most popular annual thoroughbred horse race and is a 3200-metre race for three-year-olds and over.

This event occurs on the first Tuesday of November and is covered by most horse betting sites due to its popularity.

Bet on Horse Racing Today

In this guide, we’ve covered the top picks for horse betting sites, as well as information on different horse bets, horse racing events, and how to bet on horses online in Canada.