Horse racing betting bonuses give site credit, free bets, or cash to new and existing customers in return for their business. Most online racebooks and horse betting apps offer new users bonuses and ongoing loyalty rewards.
Horse Racing Betting Offers
$200 Welcome BonusTwinSpires Offer Code: TWIN200
Void where prohibited. Terms and conditions apply. Offer for TwinSpires Racing only. See TwinSpires.com for details. Must be 18+ (21+ where applicable). For help with a gambling problem, call 1-800-GAMBLER.
$150 Deposit BonusAmWager Promo Code: BUSA150
Promotional offer valid and continues until further notice.
Open to new AmWager account holders who have not previously opened an AmWager account. Individuals may only have one (1) AmWager account and may only qualify for a signup promotion one (1) time.
The First Deposit Match Bonus promotion applies to the first deposit made; any subsequent deposits will not apply.
The amount of the first deposit will determine the amount of the bonus and bets that must be placed to earn the bonus. For example, to qualify for the maximum bonus of $150 an initial deposit of $150 is required and total bets must equal $150 or more within 30 days of sign up. Cancelled wagers and refunded wagers are not eligible and will not be counted towards the promotion.
The total promotional wagering credits will be credited to the AmWager account in a single deposit within seven (7) business days of meeting the betting requirements for this promotion. Any promotional wagering credits deposited to a player’s account must be wagered and cannot be withdrawn from the account. Any winnings from those wagers are cash and can be withdrawn.
Any portion of the promotional credits unused expires after 30 days.
Account must remain in good standing to be eligible for all promotions. Returned deposits during the promotional period will cancel eligibility to receive promotional wagering credit.
Limit one promotional offer per household.
21+ to Play, T&Cs Apply. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER
Types Of Horse Racing Bonuses
Horse racing bonuses and promotions can take numerous forms:
- Deposit match bonuses: New customers receive horse racing bonuses based on the size of their first deposit. For example, a customer who deposits $100 with a 100% match bonus gets an additional $100 in cash or site credit.
- First bet refunds: Some horse racing betting apps offer new users a chance to place their first bet with a refund guarantee. For example, an online racebook may refund new customers if their first win, place, or show bet loses.
- Cash back and wagering rebates: Cash back rebates at horse racing betting sites are popular among bettors for two reasons: they provide ongoing rewards for loyal users, and they issue rebates on all wagers, win or lose.
- Close call refunds and betting insurance: The close call refund is one of the most common horse betting promos. For example, a racebook may offer to refund all WIN bets on horses that finish in second or third place in select races.
- Free past performances: Most racebooks offer free past performances by issuing refunds to users who buy a past performance and bet on that race.
- Fee-free deposits: Fee-free deposit promotions waive the customary fee most horse racing betting sites charge when users load their accounts via credit card, debit card, and PayPal.
Event Specific Promotions
Racing fans will also find promotions tailored around major events. We have created guides for Triple Crown promotions and the Breeders Classic with annually updated promotions for that year’s edition.
- Kentucky Derby Promotions
- Preakness Stakes Promotions
- Belmont Stakes Promotions
- Breeders Cup Promotions
Best Horse Racing Welcome Bonuses
We list the best horse racing betting promotions and signup offers currently available:
AmWager Bonus
$150 Deposit BonusAmWager Promo Code: BUSA150
Promotional offer valid and continues until further notice.
Open to new AmWager account holders who have not previously opened an AmWager account. Individuals may only have one (1) AmWager account and may only qualify for a signup promotion one (1) time.
The First Deposit Match Bonus promotion applies to the first deposit made; any subsequent deposits will not apply.
The amount of the first deposit will determine the amount of the bonus and bets that must be placed to earn the bonus. For example, to qualify for the maximum bonus of $150 an initial deposit of $150 is required and total bets must equal $150 or more within 30 days of sign up. Cancelled wagers and refunded wagers are not eligible and will not be counted towards the promotion.
The total promotional wagering credits will be credited to the AmWager account in a single deposit within seven (7) business days of meeting the betting requirements for this promotion. Any promotional wagering credits deposited to a player’s account must be wagered and cannot be withdrawn from the account. Any winnings from those wagers are cash and can be withdrawn.
Any portion of the promotional credits unused expires after 30 days.
Account must remain in good standing to be eligible for all promotions. Returned deposits during the promotional period will cancel eligibility to receive promotional wagering credit.
Limit one promotional offer per household.
AmWager offers a straightforward welcome bonus to new customers alongside ongoing cash back rewards that put money back into the accounts of existing bettors.
- $150 Welcome Bonus: New AmWager customers who register with the promo code BUSA150, deposit $150, and place $150 worth of bets within 30 days of signing up receive a $150 wagering credit. The wagering credit is non-withdrawable, but customers can withdraw any winnings they obtain with the credit as cash.
- Cash Back Rewards: Loyal customers are rewarded with 2% to 5% cashback every day on all betting volume, win or lose
AmWager Promo Code = BUSA150
TwinSpires Bonus
$200 Welcome BonusTwinSpires Offer Code: TWIN200
Void where prohibited. Terms and conditions apply. Offer for TwinSpires Racing only. See TwinSpires.com for details. Must be 18+ (21+ where applicable). For help with a gambling problem, call 1-800-GAMBLER.
TwinSpires greets new customers with a welcome bonus worth up to $200, and frequent ongoing promotions on top of the first deposit offer.
- $200 Sign-Up Offer: New users who sign up with the TwinSpires offer code BET200 receive up to $200 in bonus funds. The offer is issued in increments of $100 for every $400 wagered within 30 days of signing up.
- Weekly Insurance Offers: TwinSpires insurance promotions run frequently, giving customers a refund on certain wagers if they lose.
- Bet Boosts: TwinSpires bet boosts offer enhanced payouts on select winning wagers.
TwinSpires Offer Code = BET200
Horse Racing Free Bets
Most horse racing betting sites offer deposit match bonuses to new customers, but some operators occasionally offer risk-free first bets.
Tip: Whenever a bettor has a choice between the two, horse racing deposit match offers are usually the best bet.
Deposit match offers provide more value because they issue bonus funds to players in the form of cash or site credit. In both cases, bettors can use the funds however they want. In some cases, bettors can even withdraw the bonus funds after meeting the wagering requirements.
Risk-free first bet horse racing promotions usually provide less value because online racebooks typically issue refunds as free bets that bettors must use on certain types of wagers.
Note: free bets are never withdrawable.
All horse racing betting offers are unique, and occasionally, a risk-free bet may be the better deal. However, horse racing deposit bonuses are usually the best option due to their flexibility.
Horse Racing Betting Promotions
| Racebook Bonus | Offer Details | Promo Code |
|---|---|---|
| AmWager Promo Code | 100% up to $150 on First Deposit | BUSA150 |
| TwinSpires Offer Code | Up to $200 | BET200 |
| DRF Bets Promo Code | $200 Deposit Bonus | STAKES |
| DK Horse Offer Code | 100% up to $250 | HORSE |
| Caesars Racebook Promo Code | 100% up to $200-$300 (max bonus varies by state) | BUSA1000 |
| NYRA Bets Promo Code | 100% up to $250 | SPA250 |
| BetMGM Racing Bonus Code | No Welcome Bonus | N/A |
| FanDuel Racing Promo Code | No Welcome Bonus | N/A |
How Horse Racing Rebates Work
Horse racing rebates and cashback rewards programs offer ongoing incentives for loyal customers to place wagers. Generally, horse racing rebate programs provide significant value to bettors.
For example, AmWager offers 2% to 5% cashback on all wager types to all customers.
The AmWager rebates program pays cashback every morning, applies to most wagers whether they win or lose, and the percentage varies based on the customer’s activity level each month:
- No minimum: 2% cash back
- Wager $500+ per month: 3% cash back
- Wager $2,000+ per month: 4% cash back
- Wager $5,000+ per month: 5% cash back
- Wager $80,000+ annually: Custom deal
One of the nice things about horse racing betting rebate programs is they tend to be simple.
The AmWager rebate program mentioned above is representative of how horse racing betting cashback rewards work. There are no loyalty points to track, excessive rules to consider, or complicated redemption processes.
All bettors have to do to earn cashback rebates is place wagers.
Horse Racing Insurance Offers
Horse racing insurance promotions offer refunds to bettors whose selections come up short on race day.
The typical horse racing betting insurance offer is the close call refund, which refunds WIN bets on horses that finish the race in second or third place.
Advance-deposit wagering operators (ADWs) may also issue close-call refunds on exotic bets such as the Pick 6 or Pick 4. In many cases, ADWs only offer close-call refunds for select tracks.
For example, a racebook may offer up to $25 back to bettors who place a Pick 4 wager at Remington Park that loses by a leg. In this case, bettors who get three selections correct but lose just one leg get their bet refunded.
Free Past Performances
Free past performances are a stable promotion at online horse racing betting sites.
Free past performance offers are not particularly valuable, but it’s nice to avoid paying for PPs on every race, and the savings add up over time.
Advance deposit wagering sites typically offer free past performances by having bettors pay for them upfront and then issuing refunds if bettors place at least one wager on qualifying races.
For example, TwinSpires customers receive free past performances if they place at least one wager on the track that card covers.
Fee-Free Deposit Promotions
Advance-deposit wagering is the only form of legal online betting in which deposit fees are still standard.
While other types of online betting sites offer free deposits by default, most horse racing betting sites still charge a deposit fee of around $5 to customers who fund their accounts with credit cards, debit cards, and PayPal.
However, fee-free deposit promotions are common promotions offered at horse betting sites. For example, no fees every Monday is a typical offer.
Numerous online racebooks also frequently offer no-fee deposit promotions the week before major horse racing events like the Kentucky Derby, other Triple Crown races, and the Breeders’ Cup.
Horse Racing Promos FAQ
Wes Burns has more than a decade’s worth of experience as a writer, researcher and analyst in the legal gambling industry and is co-founder of ycgts.shop. As a former professional online poker player, Wes approaches his work from the viewpoint of players.