Virginia Horse Racing Bettingl

Virginia is for lovers, but it’s also for horse racing enthusiasts. The state’s ties to horses trace back to 1610 with colonists breeding the best horses from England with some of the local bloodlines. By the 1700’s Virginia had several racetracks located throughout the state and betting the ponies was the norm. Though the number of tracks has decreased, the enthusiasm for horse racing betting in Virginia has continued to live on. Many of the live horse races that were once held in the state now take place in neighboring Maryland and West Virginia. To bet on the horses locally, Virginia residents visit off-track betting locations that offer simulcast races. The most common way to bet the ponies in Virginia, however, is with reputable horse racing betting sites.

With in-state and online options paired with opportunities in nearby states, Virginia has a favorable horse racing betting climate. Online racebooks are the go-to for most horse fans, but it can still be useful to learn more about local options. You can get more details on the legality of horse betting in the state, before switching gears and reading a breakdown of all your online options for Virginia horse racing betting.

Online Horse Racing Betting Sites In VA

Online horse racing betting sites in VA have become the norm for local horse enthusiasts. With limited options on land and endless possibilities on the internet, it makes sense that online racebooks are so popular. All of the best Virginia horse racing betting sites are licensed for remote gaming, and provide the same horse betting odds that you would find at a local track. These sites also have horse racing futures and props that are only available at online racebooks. The top sports betting sites for Virginia residents are Bovada, BetOnline, MyBookie, and SportsBetting.

SportsBetting - $25 Risk-Free Horse Bet

SportsBetting RacebookSportsBetting is one of the most versatile online betting sites, fitting the needs of all types of bettors. The SportsBetting Racebook has the latest horse betting odds and features everything that you need to start winning wagers. With more than 50 Thoroughbred and Harness tracks to pick from, horse fans will never get bored. Whether it’s the Breeders’ Cup or the Triple Crown, SportsBetting has you covered. You can even make your first wager completely risk-free by claiming their $25 offer. Should your first bet lose, the online cashier will credit your account with a free play of equal value.

Rather than being limited to betting from your computer, you can bet on horse races from your mobile phone or tablet. The SportsBetting mobile racebook is easy to navigate and is compatible with the majority of iOS and Android devices. The same horse betting odds are available, as are all of your account functions such as deposits and withdrawals. Speaking of deposits and withdrawals, you can bet on horses with bitcoin, Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and more. SportsBetting Racebook should definitely be a site that you use for Virginia horse racing betting.

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Is Horse Racing Betting Legal In Virginia?

Horse racing betting has been legal in Virginia for decades. Even before a 1988 voter referendum approved pari-mutuel wagering in the state, horse enthusiasts were wagering on local racing events. The Virginia Racing Commission is the governing body over pari-mutuel wagering operations within the state. All of the horse racing and pari-mutuel wagering laws in the state can be found within Title 59.1 of the Code of Virginia, Chapter 29.

On a federal level, the Interstate Horse Racing Act of 1978 permits licensed operators and OTB facilities to simulcast races as long as both parties are in agreeance. Virginia horse betting is 100% legal, whether at a local location or online.

Betting on the Triple Crown In Virginia

Betting on the Triple Crown in Virginia is the highlight of the year for local horse fans. Secretariat, the legendary Thoroughbred that set several unbeaten records and went on to win the Triple Crown, was bred at Meadow Stable in Doswell. The Triple Crown encompasses three iconic races, the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, and the Belmont Stakes. Once the winner of the Kentucky Derby is determined on the first Saturday of May, bettors everywhere begin to speculate if the horse can become the next Triple Crown winner. Since 1919, there have only been 12 horses to earn the title.

You will be able to bet on each of the Triple Crown races at local OTB locations around the state. You can also bet on the Triple Crown at any Virginia horse racing betting site. Online racebooks allow you to start betting on the outright winner of the Triple Crown prior to the Kentucky Derby, giving you the best value before the horse starts winning more races and his odds shorten.

Betting On The 2023 Kentucky Derby In Virginia

The Kentucky Derby comes with tons of different betting options to choose from on Virginia online racebooks and the 2023 Derby is no different. Right away, the first odds you should come across are the odds for the outright winner where, in this years race, Epicenter sits with the shortest odds to win. You’ll also find prop bets such as over/unders for the placing of different horses, top-5 and 10 finishes and much more. Right here are the current odds for the 2023 Kentucky Derby.

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How to Bet on The Horses

Before learning where to bet the ponies, you will want to know how to bet on the horses. Horse wagers will fall into one of two basic categories – straight bets or exotic bets. Straight bets are the simplest and most common types of horse wagers. Exotics, on the other, require bettors to wager on at least two horses and can even involve multiple races. The wagers within both categories are described below:

Straight

  • Win – Bet on the winner of a race.
  • Place – Wager on your horse to finish first or second.
  • Show – Your horse can finish anywhere in the top three to have a winning wager.

Exotic

  • Exacta - Betting on the winner and runner-up of a race in exact order.
  • Trifecta – The same as an exacta, except you must wager on the first three horses in sequence.
  • Superfecta – A superfecta is the most complex, where you must bet on the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th place finishers of a race in specific order.

Box – You can box a bet to include more possible combinations instead of having to pick the exact order. For example, if you box horses 2-3 in an exacta, you could win with 2-3 or 3-2.

Where Can I Bet On Horse Racing In Virginia?

Colonial Downs, originally founded in 1997, closed its doors in 2014 after a regulatory dispute. It was announced in March 2018 that the New Kent race track would be brought back to life after being purchased by Revolutionary Racing and Peninsula Pacific. Thoroughbred racing has since returned to the state of Virginia and is once again a beloved event for fans of all ages to enjoy.

While live racing is still in the works, residents can bet the ponies at OTB locations in the state. These locations offer simulcast wagering on races happening all over the nation. Here are the places you can visit in Virginia for off-track betting:

  • Ponies & Pints (Richmond)
  • Breakers Sports Grille (Henrico)
  • Buckets Bar & Grill (Chesapeake)
  • The Windmill (Collinsville)