Horse Racing Betting Markets in Europe - Bet on Horse Racing with the Best Tips & Odds Online

Horse racing is a sport that never sleeps. Throughout the year, the racing calendar is packed with the biggest horse races worldwide. Whether it is a feature race, such as Grade I Stakes races or a general run-of-the-mill race meeting, it is so easy to keep abreast of what’s coming up.

The UK and Ireland are considered powerhouses, but horse racing is big business all across Europe. There’s really no shortage of action on the continent.

At Stake, we’ll take a look at European horse racing, from Down Royal in Northern Ireland to the Cheltenham Gold Cup. We'll outline all the races, jockeys, trainers, and horse racing picks and tips that you can use when placing a bet on horse racing here at Stake Sportsbook.

What is Horse Racing Betting

Betting on horse racing is one of the oldest pastimes still taking place around the world every day. It began all the way back in the 17th century in the United Kingdom. As is still the case, it began as attendees to race courses placing bets on the finishing places of specific horses.

The way people bet on horses is slightly different around the world, however. In areas like the US - at Gulfstream Park or events like the Belmont Stakes, for example - pari-mutuel wagering is the standard. This is where the money wagered is pooled together to determine the amount to be won, meaning the more bets placed, the bigger the win payoffs, with this information displayed on a tote board at the race track.

In the UK, however, the pari-mutuel system makes up a much smaller segment of the overall market, with 95% of the country’s horse racing bets being fixed odds through bookmakers, in much the same way you would place a bet at an online sportsbook like Stake. There’s no need for morning lines or course-side kiosks for many Brits.

What’s more, it’s not just the betting that is different in the UK from elsewhere around the world. In Europe, National Hunt racing is most popular in Great Britain and Ireland, while Flat racing is more prominent in countries like France and Germany. This is in contrast with the Americas and Asia, where harness racing is also popular, which is not the case in Europe.

Most Popular 2026 Horse Racing Events in Europe

The 2026 horse racing calendar is already looking like one of the biggest and best yet, with all of the most prestigious events returning to courses across the continent, and great stories unfolding on the grass.

These are some of the most sought-after horse races in the UK, Ireland, and France:

• Cheltenham Festival: 10-13 March 2026

• Royal Ascot: 16-20 June 2026

• The Grand National: 11 April 2026

• Irish Derby: 26-28 June 2026

• Galway Summer Festival: 27 July-2 August 2026

• Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe: 3-4 October, 2026

Leading Jockeys & Race Horses in European Racing

We’ve taken a look at the TRC Global Rankings to find the best Europe-based jockeys based on points accrued as of December 2025. Note, their base is where the majority of their runs have been.

Here are the LONGINES World’s Best Racehorse Rankings for January - November 2025.

2025 Recap

Ireland was once again the de facto home of thoroughbred racing in 2025. Not because of any particularly prestigious races, but because of the dominance of its horses and trainers in European competition.

Willie Mullins continued his streak as one of the most decorated trainers in the sport at the moment. His horses clinched the top three in the Grand National, with his son, Patrick, taking Nick Rockett across the line in first place.

Gavin Cromwell’s Inothewayurthinkin won the 2025 Cheltenham Gold Cup, ridden by another Irishman in Mark Walsh, while fellow Irishman Aiden O’Brien remains the best trainer of all time, despite not picking up any real major wins in Europe in 2025. A win in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf for Gstaad in the US was a significant boost, however.

How to Bet on European Horse Racing & Popular European Betting Options

It’s easy to bet on horse racing at Stake.com. All you have to do is create an account, add funds, and select from the wide range of betting markets on offer. If you’re new to placing bets, you can check out our sports betting guide before learning how to bet on horse racing.

Horse racing is replete with many betting terms that may be alien to some players. Let’s assess some of the most popular types of bets:

• Win Bets - These are exactly as they sound and eminently simple. You just have to predict who will win the race. Think of this as moneyline betting.

• Each-Way - You will be betting on a specific horse finishing first, and there will be an equal-sized bet on its placing. Learn more about each way bets, and how they compare to place bets over on our blog.

• Trifecta - This type of exotic bet will be on the specific order of a race, with a bet on a horse to finish first, second, or third.

• Superfecta - Imitating the trifecta, the fourth-placed horse must be chosen correctly to return a winning wager. Read our detailed exotic betting guide for more information.

• Flexi Betting: With a flexi bet, you can place a combination of selections within an exotic bet for a smaller outlay, reducing the risk.

Horse Racing Betting Strategies & Tips

Horse racing is an unpredictable sport and, as we’ve seen so many times, anyone can win. Because of that, there’s no way to guarantee that you will win, but there are some good tips and tricks to keep in mind:

• Study the form: There are races almost every day, so there’s plenty of time to get to know horses’ and jockeys’ form before placing bets on big events. The jockey standings are a good resource.

• Select your odds type: You can view your choices in a number of formats, including decimal, American, and fractional odds. Pick the option easiest for reading odds for you.

• Understand variables: Is a race being run on an all-weather track? Has a jockey recently returned from a lay-off? Has a horse had a busy race program that might leave them fatigued?

• Consider box wagers: Box wagers allow you to broaden the scope of your choices. Rather than selecting just one winner, you are selecting a number of horses to finish within a range of positions.

Deposit & Withdrawal Methods for Horse Racing Betting on Stake.com

When you’re ready to burst out of the traps with your horse racing betting, all you need to do is log in to your account with a secure method, such as a passkey , and follow these steps:

1. Step 1 - Find your deposit address: go to Wallet > Deposit.

2. Step 2 - Choose a deposit method.There are a number of options that you can use to make deposits at Stake, including local currencies like Canadian Dollars, Vietnamese Dong, Argentine Pesos, Mexican Pesos, Chilean Pesos, Indian Rupees, Turkish Lira, and USD in Ecuador.Additionally, you can use a number of crypto, including options like BTC, USDT, EOS, DOGE, ETH, SOL, TRX, and LTC. You can check out our guide for buying coins before using a crypto exchange like Mesh, Moonpay , or Swapped.com . Now, you can use Swap Crypto to make direct coin exchanges within your wallet.

3. Step 3 - Put your deposit address in as the “Send to” location in your wallet or exchange.

4. Step 4 - To make a withdrawal, navigate to Account > Wallet > Withdraw and enter your destination address and cash-out amount.

Speak to our customer support staff for help with deposits and withdrawals, including guidance on the Stake Vault and other crypto security methods.

Stake Sportsbook Promotions, VIP Club & Responsible Betting

In addition to offering odds on the hottest markets on races from Europe to Australasia, we also provide some of the best sportsbook promotions. That includes regular rakebacks and reloads, as well as some exclusive rewards for our regular players.

Our VIP Club is available to dedicated players. They can get access to a number of different rewards based on their staking history, including access to a VIP host. For more information on this program, check out our VIP FAQs.

It’s important to always gamble responsibly. Learn about staying in control by reading through our Stake Smart guidelines, before using tools like our monthly budget calculator and betting limit guide to support healthier gambling habits.