NY.bet picks:
    FanDuel: Bet $5 Get $300Fanatics: Get up to $2,000AmWager: $150 Deposit Match
    NY.bet
    ✅ Legal & Live in New York

    NY Horse Racing Betting Apps

    Compare all 6 legal horse racing apps in New York. Get the best bonuses for the 2026 Triple Crown, Saratoga Meet, and Breeders' Cup.

    Saratoga & Belmont
    6 Legal Apps
    Updated January 2026

    Editor's Pick

    AmWager

    $150 Deposit Match • Use code AMWAGER150

    ✅ Horse Racing Betting is Legal in New York

    Since 1940

    Pari-mutuel wagering on horse racing has been legal in New York since 1940—decades before mobile sports betting arrived in 2022. It's regulated separately under ADW (Advance Deposit Wagering) laws. All apps listed below are licensed by the New York State Gaming Commission and operate legally for NY residents aged 18+.

    Saratoga Race Course

    America's Oldest Track (1863)

    Belmont Park

    Home of the Belmont Stakes

    Aqueduct Racetrack

    NYC's Winter Track

    Best Legal Horse Racing Betting Sites in New York

    All 7 licensed platforms available to NY bettors in 2026

    Horse Betting PlatformAvg App RatingBest ForWelcome BonusAction
    A
    AmWager
    Recommended
    4.4
    		Advanced Tools (Dutching, ABC Wagering)$150 Deposit Match
    NYRA BetsNYRA Bets
    Official
    4.5
    		Track Integration (Saratoga/Belmont)$200 Deposit Match
    TwinSpiresTwinSpires
    4.7
    		Free Brisnet Data (Ultimate PPs)$200
    FanDuel RacingFanDuel Racing
    4.8
    		Shared Wallet (Sportsbook)$500 No Sweat First Bet
    DK HorseDK Horse
    4.5
    		DK Interface100% Deposit Bonus up to $250
    Caesars RacebookCaesars Racebook
    4.2
    		Rewards Points (Hotels)100% Deposit Match up to $200
    BetMGM Horse RacingBetMGM Horse Racing
    4.2
    		Expert Picks (TrackMaster)No Standalone Bonus

    Promo Codes: 2026 Horse Racing Bonuses

    Compare welcome offers, promo codes, and playthrough requirements

    AppWelcome BonusPromo CodePlaythrough
    A
    AmWager    		$150 Deposit MatchWager the bonus amount 1x within 30 days
    NYRA BetsNYRA Bets$200 Deposit Match2x initial deposit within 30 days
    TwinSpiresTwinSpires$200Wager $800 total to unlock full $200
    FanDuel RacingFanDuel Racing$500 No Sweat First BetNo codeNo playthrough on initial bet; bonus credits may have terms
    DK HorseDK Horse100% Deposit Bonus up to $2502x playthrough on bonus amount
    Caesars RacebookCaesars Racebook100% Deposit Match up to $2001x deposit amount (wager once to unlock)
    BetMGM Horse RacingBetMGM Horse RacingNo Standalone BonusNo codeN/A

    Getting Started: Your First Horse Bet

    New to horse racing? Follow these 5 steps to place your first legal bet in New York

    1

    Download a Licensed App

    Choose one of the 6 legal ADW (Advance Deposit Wagering) apps available in NY. For beginners, we recommend:

    NYRA Bets

    Best for NY tracks

    FanDuel Racing

    Easy if you have FD

    TwinSpires

    Best data tools

    2

    Create an Account & Verify

    You must be 18+ to bet on horses in NY (21+ for sportsbooks). You'll need:

    • Valid government ID (driver's license or passport)
    • Last 4 digits of your SSN
    • NY address for verification (geolocation enabled)
    3

    Make Your First Deposit

    Most apps have a $10-$25 minimum deposit. Common funding methods include:

    Debit Card
    PayPal
    Venmo
    Bank Transfer (ACH)
    PayNearMe (Cash)

    💡 Tip: Use a promo code at signup! Most apps offer $100-$500 in bonus bets.

    4

    Pick a Race & Study the Form

    Start with a simple race. Here's what to look for:

    Morning Line FavoriteThe horse oddsmakers think will win
    Trainer & JockeyLook for top names: Pletcher, Brown, Saez
    Recent Form"1-2-1" beats "6-8-5" in last 3 races
    Track ConditionSome horses prefer dirt vs turf, fast vs muddy
    5

    Place Your First Bet!

    For your first bet, we recommend a simple $2 Win bet on the favorite. Here's why:

    • Low risk: $2 minimum lets you learn without big losses
    • Easy to understand: Your horse just needs to win
    • Good win rate: Favorites win ~33% of races

    Once you're comfortable, try a $2 Exacta Box on the top 2 favorites—higher payout with reasonable odds!

    Pro Tips for Beginners

    • 1.Set a budget and stick to it—never chase losses
    • 2.Watch 3-4 races before betting to learn the rhythm
    • 3.Use the free livestreams—watching makes it exciting
    • 4.Start with $20/day max until you know the basics

    Next Major Event

    Kentucky Derby

    Churchill Downs • May 2, 2026

    102
    Days
    23
    Hours
    3
    Min
    3
    Sec

    2026 Horse Racing Calendar

    Major events with betting tips, best racebooks, and promo codes

    May2

    Kentucky Derby

    Up Next
    Churchill Downs, Louisville, KY•1¼ miles (Dirt)•$5,000,000 Purse

    Betting Tip

    Look for horses with strong Oaklawn/Santa Anita Derby preps. Historically, 70% of Derby winners ran in the top 3 of a major prep race.

    Favorites win ~35% of the time. Consider boxing the top 3 morning-line horses in an exacta.

    Best Racebook

    TwinSpires

    $200 Sign-Up Bonus (BET200)

    May16

    Preakness Stakes

    Pimlico Race Course, Baltimore, MD•1 3/16 miles (Dirt)•$2,000,000 Purse

    Betting Tip

    Derby winners have won 10 of the last 15 Preakness races. If a Derby winner enters, they're a strong single in Pick 3s.

    Post position 1 has the worst record. Middle posts (3-6) perform best historically.

    Best Racebook

    FanDuel Racing

    $500 No Sweat First Bet

    Jun6

    Belmont Stakes

    Belmont Park, Elmont, NY•1½ miles (Dirt)•$2,000,000 Purse

    Betting Tip

    The 'Test of the Champion' – stamina is key. Horses that closed strongly in the Derby often improve here. Use NYRA Bets for track-specific insights.

    Only 13 Triple Crown winners in history. Betting against tired Derby/Preakness horses can be profitable.

    Best Racebook

    NYRA Bets

    $200 Deposit Match (BONUS200)

    Jul16

    Saratoga Meet Opens

    Saratoga Race Course, Saratoga Springs, NY•Various (Dirt/Turf)•Varies Purse

    Betting Tip

    Saratoga is the 'Graveyard of Favorites' – upsets are common. 2-year-old maiden races are especially unpredictable. Small fields favor favorites.

    NYRA Bets offers 4 points per dollar wagered at Saratoga vs 2 elsewhere. Maximize rewards here.

    Best Racebook

    NYRA Bets

    $20 Saratoga Wednesday Bonus

    Aug29

    Travers Stakes

    Saratoga Race Course, Saratoga Springs, NY•1¼ miles (Dirt)•$1,500,000 Purse

    Betting Tip

    The 'Mid-Summer Derby' – often determines the 3-year-old champion. Horses that skipped the Triple Crown for this race are dangerous.

    Chad Brown and Todd Pletcher dominate NY racing. Trainer patterns matter at Saratoga.

    Best Racebook

    NYRA Bets

    Bankroll Builder ($20 per race)

    Nov7

    Breeders' Cup Classic

    Del Mar, Del Mar, CA•1¼ miles (Dirt)•$7,000,000 Purse

    Betting Tip

    The 'Super Bowl' of horse racing. European shippers rarely win on dirt but dominate the Turf and Mile. Study the Brisnet PPs on TwinSpires.

    Post-time favorites win about 40% of BC Classic races. Exactas with the favorite often offer value.

    Best Racebook

    TwinSpires

    Free Brisnet Ultimate PPs

    Odds Calculator

    See potential payouts across all formats

    $
    Potential Profit$15.00
    Total Payout$25.00

    Example: +150 odds means a $100 bet wins $150.00.

    Common Horse Racing Odds

    AmericanDecimalFractionalMeaning
    -1101.9110/11Standard point spread/total
    +1502.503/2Slight underdog
    +3004.003/1Longshot horse
    -2001.501/2Heavy favorite
    +5006.005/1Big longshot

    Horse Betting Glossary

    Learn every bet type with real examples and payout calculations

    Straight Bets (Easiest)

    • WinHorse finishes 1st
    • PlaceHorse finishes 1st or 2nd
    • ShowHorse finishes 1st, 2nd, or 3rd

    Exotic Bets (Higher Payouts)

    • Exacta1st + 2nd in order
    • Trifecta1st + 2nd + 3rd in order
    • Superfecta1st through 4th in order

    Horse Racing FAQs

    Everything you need to know about legal horse betting in New York

    Horse racing illustration