Horse Racing Betting Offers - January 2026

When it comes to Horse Racing, and particularly at big meetings like the Cheltenham Festival and Grand National, the bookies will come up with a range of offers such as Money back if 2nd, Back a winner at 4/1+ and get a free bet, faller insurance etc. To take full advantage it pays to bet with multiple bookies and choose which offer is best for you on the day. Here's a list of current offers:

What Are Free Bets?

Free bet offers are a promotional tool used by bookmakers. The mechanics of Free Bets are simple – they let you place a bet without risking your own hard-earned cash. When placing your bet, rather than taking your stake from your account balance, you can select the Free Bet option from the betting slip menu. If you win, great. If you lose, it has cost you nothing more than a Free Bet token issued by the betting site.

Free Bets often feature as part of a Welcome Offer to attract new players. However, many leading betting sites also offer Free Bet promotions as a reward for existing players. Free Bets offer the chance to win with zero risk, making them one of the most popular horse racing betting offers. While available all year round, horse racing Free Bet offers often increase ahead of headline events such as the Grand National or Epsom Derby.

How to use Horse Racing Free Bets

Using a horse racing Free Bet is often as simple as making your selection, choosing to use the Free Bet rather than funds from your account balance, and clicking “Place Bet”.

Some Free Bets may only be used for straight win bets, not each way bets, and may also be restricted to single bets rather than multiples or combo bets such as Lucky 15s. Others may have a minimum odds requirement, e.g., Free Bet may only be used on a selection with odds of Evs (2.0) or greater.

Possibly the most important term to be aware of is that almost all Free Bets come with an expiry date. This may be anything from a few days to a few months. Always check the terms and conditions of the Free Bet to avoid disappointment.

If a Free Bet wins, the winnings are usually added to your account balance soon after the event concludes. Many sites allow you to immediately withdraw these winnings if you wish. Others come with a turnover stipulation, e.g., the value of a Free Bet and any associated winnings must be staked three times before withdrawal.

Betting Sign-Up Offers and Welcome Offers

Sign-Up and Welcome Offers are the most visible racing betting offers - the headline deals you see online, on TV, and in the press. With so many betting sites competing for your business, operators go out of their way to create offers that stand out. That competition is great news for punters - creating a sea of Welcome Offers which tend to offer excellent value.

In common with horse racing free bets, Sign-Up deals and Welcome Offers come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Examples include Matched Free Bets, Money Back Free Bets, and Deposit Bonuses.

To claim a Welcome Offer, you usually register for a new account, opt in to the promotion or enter a Promo Code, make a deposit, and place a qualifying bet if required. Qualifying bets come with stake and odds conditions, e.g., Stake £10 at odds of 4/5 (1.80) or greater to receive a £10 Free Bet.

Keep an eye on the qualifying bet terms and conditions for excluded bet types. Cashed-out or void bets usually do not count as qualifying bets.

Most Common Types of Free Bets

• Matched Free Bets - Here the betting site will match the value of your qualifying stake with a Free Bet, e.g., Bet £10 to Get a £10 Free Bet. Deals are often significantly better than a straight match, e.g., bet £5 to get £20 in Free Bets
• Money Back Free Bets - With these offers, you will usually receive your stake back as a Free Bet if your first selection finishes in a specified position, most commonly second.
• Risk-Free Bets - Risk-free bets return your stake – either as cash or a Free Bet – if your bet loses.
• Deposit Bonuses - With a deposit bonus, the betting site will match the value of your first deposit up to a specified amount, e.g., a 100% deposit bonus up to £50. With this deal, if you deposit £50, the bookmaker will also add £50 to your account, giving you £100 to bet with.
• Odds Boosts - These deals often allow you to take hugely favourable odds for a selection, e.g., 60/1 for a goal to be scored in the Liverpool vs Manchester United game. Such deals will always have a low permitted stake, most often £1, but can still offer outstanding value.

Most Popular Horse Racing Free Bet Promotions

• Money Back if 2nd - Finishing second can be frustrating. Offers such as “money back if second to the favourite” or “money back if second by under ½ a length” help soften the blow. Some promotions also refund your stake if your horse finishes 2nd, 3rd, or even 4th. The refund usually comes as a Free Bet. Coral’s Pipped at the Post promotion is a similar deal – it pays you out as a winner if your horse finishes second by less than half a length.
• Back a Winner at 4/1 or Bigger and Get a Free Bet for The Next Race - This deal from bet365 helps keep the good times rolling. Whenever you back a winner at odds of 4/1 or bigger on a feature race you qualify. Place a bet up to the same stake on the next feature race, and if your bet loses, you will get your stake back. If your second bet also wins at odds of 4/1 or greater, you can repeat the process on the next feature race and so on.
• Faller Insurance - This deal gives you your stake back, often as cash, if your horse falls during the race. Note that horses that Slip Up, Refuse, Run Out, or are Carried Out do not usually qualify for this deal.
• Loyalty Free Bets - Examples included place 5 x £5 Free Bets to get a £5 Free Bet or stake a total of £50 to get a £10 Free Bet. Betway, Lottoland, and Midnite are among the betting sites which offer loyalty Free Bet deals
• Bet-Through-the-Card Offers - These deals frequently run alongside major horse racing events such as the Cheltenham Festival or Royal Ascot. Placing a bet on the first race of the meeting will typically earn a Free Bet or bet bundle to use on later races.

Horse Racing Offers

• Best Odds Guaranteed - With Best Odds Guaranteed (BOG), you will be paid out at whichever is higher - the price you took when placing the bet or the Starting Price (SP)
• Non-Runner No Bet - If your horse doesn’t run in the race, you get your money back. This applies to all bets placed on the day of the race, but usually not to Ante Post Bets. However, many firms offer Non-Runner No Bet on ante-post markets ahead of the biggest meetings – most notably the Cheltenham Festival.
• Horse Racing Odds Boosts - One of the most widespread and popular horse racing betting offers. Odds Boosts allow you to place a bet at enhanced odds. Horse racing Odds Boosts may be offered for specific races or runners. Alternatively, you may receive a Boost Token to use on a race of your choice. Odds Boosts are now so widespread that many bookies are happy to offer them as loss leaders to avoid falling behind the competition.
• First Past the Post - Bookmakers who offer First Past the Post will pay you out as a winner even if your horse is subsequently demoted following a stewards' enquiry.

These offers can add real value, but the quality of the odds you take matters most. Sticking with bookmakers that consistently offer the best horse racing odds will make a bigger difference to your bankroll than chasing every Free Bet offer.

Free Bet Payment Methods

Before taking advantage of any Free Bet offer, it is vital to check which payment methods are accepted under the terms and conditions of the promotion. Common payment methods supported by online betting sites include:

• Debit Cards
• E-wallets, e.g., PayPal, Skrill, Neteller
• Bank Transfer
• Prepaid cards, e.g., paysafecard

However, not all deposit methods qualify for promotions. The most common exclusions are deposits made via E-wallets but always check the terms and conditions.

Horse Racing Free Bet Terms and Conditions

Always read the small print. Key things to look for are minimum qualifying odds, market exclusions (multiple bets, in-play bets, etc), Free Bet expiry dates, and acceptable payment methods. The terms and conditions will also state if your Free Bet stake is included in any winnings, whether bonus funds are subject to wagering requirements, and if Money-Back refunds take the form of cash or a Free Bet.