Horse Racing Odds Explained
How UK racing odds work — fractional and decimal formats, Starting Price, Best Odds Guaranteed and what moves a horse's price. The fixtures below show today's UK racecards.
UK horse racing odds
Today's UK Racecards
Updated 22 Aug 2026| Racecourse | Off Time | Runners | Class & Going |
|---|---|---|---|
| Curragh | Sat 22 Aug 13:05 GMT 3 Runners Monogram — D. B. McMonagle Iveagh House(IRE) — W. M. Lordan | 3 runners Monogram — D. B. McMonagle Iveagh House(IRE) — W. M. Lordan | Good-good to firm in places on round course |
| Killarney | Sat 22 Aug 13:25 GMT 3 Runners Reaching High(IRE) — D. E. Mullins Airds Moss(IRE) — M. P. Walsh | 3 runners Reaching High(IRE) — D. E. Mullins Airds Moss(IRE) — M. P. Walsh | Good-good to yielding in places |
| Newmarket | Sat 22 Aug 13:34 GMT 3 Runners Great Balls Ofire — George Wood One For Bruce — Robert Havlin | 3 runners Great Balls Ofire — George Wood One For Bruce — Robert Havlin | Good To Firm Class 4 |
| Curragh | Sat 22 Aug 13:40 GMT 3 Runners Acula(IRE) — D. B. McMonagle Handani(IRE) — C. D. Hayes | 3 runners Acula(IRE) — D. B. McMonagle Handani(IRE) — C. D. Hayes | Good-good to firm in places on round course |
| York | Sat 22 Aug 13:50 GMT 3 Runners Damysus — James Doyle Geryon(IRE) — G. F. Carroll | 3 runners Damysus — James Doyle Geryon(IRE) — G. F. Carroll | Good To Soft Class 1 |
| Newton Abbot | Sat 22 Aug 13:55 GMT 3 Runners Whermyrosemarygoes(IRE) — Harry Cobden Playful Fox(FR) — Harry Skelton | 3 runners Whermyrosemarygoes(IRE) — Harry Cobden Playful Fox(FR) — Harry Skelton | Good Class 4 |
| Killarney | Sat 22 Aug 14:00 GMT 3 Runners Golden Handshake — P. Byrnes Sea Eagle — T. E. OConnor | 3 runners Golden Handshake — P. Byrnes Sea Eagle — T. E. OConnor | Good-good to yielding in places |
| Chester | Sat 22 Aug 14:05 GMT 3 Runners Asuka — Billy Loughnane Rhoscolyn — Ben Robinson | 3 runners Asuka — Billy Loughnane Rhoscolyn — Ben Robinson | Good To Soft Class 2 |
How to Read Racing Odds
Fractional vs Decimal Odds
Racing odds in the UK are quoted in fractional format — the traditional standard. Fractional odds show your profit relative to your stake:
| Fractional | Decimal | What It Means |
|---|---|---|
| 1/1 (Evens) | 2.0 | Return £2 for every £1 staked (£1 profit) |
| 2/1 | 3.0 | Return £3 for every £1 staked (£2 profit) |
| 5/1 | 6.0 | Return £6 for every £1 staked (£5 profit) |
| 5/2 | 3.5 | Return £3.50 for every £1 staked (£2.50 profit) |
| 1/2 | 1.5 | Return £1.50 for every £1 staked (50p profit) |
What Drives Odds Movements
Odds are not fixed — they move in response to money coming in and new information:
- Heavy support for a horse shortens its odds (it drifts in)
- Lack of support causes a horse to drift out to longer odds
- Significant market moves — a horse shortening from 10/1 to 5/1 — often indicate stable confidence
- Drifters — horses lengthening in the market — sometimes indicate unfavourable reports from morning exercise
Best Odds Guaranteed
Many UK bookmakers offer Best Odds Guaranteed (BOG): if you take an early price and the Starting Price (SP) is higher when the race runs, you receive the better SP automatically. This is one of the most valuable promotions available and makes taking early prices on value horses less risky.
Data Attribution
Racecard data is compiled from a third-party racing data feed and is for informational purposes only. Odds quoted in the guide above are illustrative examples; always confirm current prices with your chosen bookmaker before placing a bet. This site does not facilitate betting transactions.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Starting Price (SP) and how is it different from early prices?
Starting Price is the official odds declared at the moment a race starts. Early prices are offered by bookmakers hours before the race. SP is calculated from the on-course betting market. If you request SP when placing your bet, you receive these final odds rather than the early price. Early prices are sometimes better (if the horse shortens), sometimes worse (if it drifts).
Why do odds change between when I see them and when I place my bet?
Odds change in real time based on money flowing in from all sources — public, professional syndicates, and exchange markets. A horse attracting significant support will shorten (become a shorter price); one receiving no support will drift. Bookmakers also adjust their margin position depending on how much liability they carry on each horse.
Where can I see the actual current odds for a race?
The racecards above list the runners, going and race class for each meeting. For live prices on any given race, check directly with a licensed UK bookmaker or an odds-comparison service — prices can differ significantly between bookmakers, especially for less prominent races, so it pays to shop around before placing a bet.
What is the best odds format to use — fractional or decimal?
Fractional odds (e.g. 5/1) are traditional in UK racing and show profit relative to stake. Decimal odds (e.g. 6.0) show total return including your stake. Both convey the same information. Decimal odds are easier for calculating returns mathematically, which is why they are favoured by professional bettors for value calculations. The choice is personal preference.
How often are these racecards updated?
The racecards refresh every morning with that day’s declared fields. They show the runners, going and race class rather than live prices. For races within 30 minutes of starting, market prices change very rapidly — always confirm the actual price with your bookmaker before placing any bet.