Virtual Horse Racing

Horse racing has existed in one form or another since people began riding horses. The tradition can be traced back to the ancient times, in Greece, Babylon, Egypt and Syria. It is a sport that has relatively remained unchanged through the centuries. The premise is still the same, in that the first horse that crosses the finish line first, wins. And for as long as there have been horse racing events, there have always been audiences wanting to bet on it.

Horse race betting has existed for millennia, and is still a huge thing today. Thousands of people go to horse racing venues and watch live, while a million others tune in through television broadcast or live streaming. However, punters and bookies always wish that there were more races to choose from, and get frustrated when races are affected by bad weather. In recent years, a solution for this has been found – and it is called virtual horse racing.

What is Virtual Horse Racing?

Real life horse racing is regarded as a performance sport that involves two or more jockeys riding horses over a specific distance. Virtual horse racing is basically the same thing, with animated versions of horses and jockeys who compete on a computer-generated racetrack. Punters are then able to bet on virtual horses as well, for real money.

Many online sportsbooks offer different odds on the same virtual races. There are even high-stakes events that take virtual horse racing to the next level. You can place your bet and if your horse wins, you will collect a cash prize – just like in physical horse races.

Virtual Horse Race Tracks

Some of the racetracks in virtual horse racing are replicas of famous racecourses around the world, such as Ascot, Aintree and Cheltenham. But, virtual horse racing also features its own special courses, such as Steepledowns, Sprintvalley and Portman Park.

There are also racetracks that are exclusive to sportsbooks. For example, Lucksin’ Downs is exclusive to Ladbrokes, while Hope Park, Canterbury Hills, Sandy Lanes and Home Straights are exclusive to William Hill.

What are the Advantages of Virtual Horse Racing?

There are several reasons why virtual horse racing is popular, and it does boast some advantages over its real-world counterpart.

  1. Virtual horse races are held every couple of minutes, and start from early morning to late evening. This means you get plenty of races to choose from. You don’t have to wait for a year to bet on a single race, which you might do at real-world horse races.
  2. A virtual horse race can never be called off for bad weather, so all your wagers will be played all year round.
  3. In virtual horse racing, horses are not susceptible to illness or injury. This means no animals are actually harmed, unlike in real-world racing where major injuries and deaths are a reality for the racehorses.
  4. Just like any online betting offer, your wins are instant, and that means any credit you may have earned will go directly into your account.

Types of Virtual Horse Racing

There are generally two kinds of virtual horse racing. The first is the classic virtual horse race. The results of classic virtual horse racing are generated randomly, so each horse in the race has a different likelihood of winning, and this will be appropriately reflected in the odds. We will talk more about betting and odds later on.

The most common kind of bets in these virtual races are straight bets. With straight bets, you only wager on one virtual horse. You can bet on a horse to finish first or place in the race.

The second kind of virtual horse race is multiplayer virtual horse racing. In this version, players can buy, breed and train a horse virtually to perform better. If you want to try it out, then you start by owning a virtual horse racing stable. You can purchase just one virtual horse, or you could own hundreds of horses. How much you own pretty much depends on how much time you can play the game, and money to spend.

After selecting your horses, you will design that racing skills of each one. You also get to select a jockey whenever there is a virtual race. These jockeys also have specifically designed attributes, so you need to choose carefully in order to give your horses the best shot at winning.

Each of your virtual horses has its own unique pedigree. It’s up to you to train your horses and fine-tune its abilities. You can have horses that race over longer distances, or horses that sprint on dirt tracks.

There are also a number of products that you can purchase in the game to enhance your horses’ performance. For example, you can get racing shoes, blinkers and vitamins to make your horses run faster.

The racing may be virtual, but the prize money is for real in these races. Multiplayer virtual horse racing mimics real life racing in that it has a race purse as well. Virtual race clubs can have purses that amount to thousands of pounds, so competing and winning can be very rewarding.

Virtual Horse Betting

Virtual horse betting is pretty easy to understand. In just a few clicks, you can start wagering and winning of virtual horse races.

  • Step #1 – First, choose a bookmaker that you trust. If you don’t have a bookmaker yet, you can check out our bookmaker reviews here on hityah.com and choose one from there. We talk about the current promotions, payment methods, wagering requirements, and pros & cons of each site, so that you get a good idea if a site is perfect for you.
  • Step #2 – Once you have a chosen site, go to the virtual horse racing page, choose your race course, then your race, and then your horse. After that, you decide how much you want to wager.
  • Step #3 – Once you have decided how much you want to wager, your choices will be inputted on an online betting slip. You can check and edit your wagering details before the race begins.
  • Step #4 – All that’s left to do is watch the race and cheer for your lucky horse! If your horse finishes first (or places), you will see your winnings being transferred into your account.

How Virtual Horse Racing Betting Odds Work

If you are new to virtual horse racing and betting, then you might be wondering how virtual horse racing betting odds work. It may seem a little confusing or daunting at first, but in reality, it’s pretty easy to grasp.

For example, if the win odds for virtual Horse A is 4/1 and you bet £1 on Horse A, then your winnings (should Horse A win) would be £5. This is a ratio of four for every one you bet, plus the original pound you wagered is refunded. So if you bet £5 with the same odds, you would win £25 if Horse A finishes first.

Virtual Horse Race Betting Tips

Just like in any online betting, it’s key to know that shorter odds – odds where the ratio is smaller – are given to the race results that the bookmaker feels are most likely to happen. There are, of course, longer odds like 10/1 or 9/1 that are less likely, but can still happen. If you go for these longer odds, it could potentially give you some huge payouts.

Remember that wagering is all about weighing the odds, and deciding how much you want to risk. In truth, there is no secret formula that will make you win all of your horse racing bet, but if you want to make the best out of your wager, you have to examine the odds closely.

When it comes to betting online, a great tip is to use your bookmaker’s betting bonuses. There are many different kinds of bonuses and promotions in online sites, and these are often tantamount to free money. With bonuses like these, you can place wagers on multiple horses. That way you have much more chances of receiving winnings. So remember to keep checking our reviews and articles here on hityah.com so that you know exactly what kind of hot horse racing betting promos are up for grabs.

Bet on Those Virtual Ponies!

Now that you know all about virtual horse racing, you can start wagering on any online race and make some real money. You can even try a hand in training your own virtual ponies and win as a racehorse owner.

Note that several top online bookmakers feature the same virtual horse races. These sites will therefore have to offer you an incentive to choose their site over any other. So expect to see great odds, betting offers and new member bonuses that you can take advantage of.

The excitement and thrill of virtual races can be just as good as the real life races if you are really into the game. As you watch the virtual horses speed down the racetrack, you won’t be able to stop yourself from cheering out loud as your favourite horse turns the corner and takes the lead!