The rich history of horse racing in Maryland goes back for centuries. In 1743, the Maryland Jockey Club was formed and the state has been building its racing industry ever since. Pimlico Race Course is the pinnacle of Maryland horse racing betting, and the course is the second oldest horse racing track in the nation. Pimlico is also home to the Preakness Stakes, the second jewel of the legendary Triple Crown. With Maryland playing such a prominent role in the history and future of horse racing, it is no surprise that residents of the state are always looking for the best horse betting action. Whether it be placing a bet on the Preakness Stakes, or just taking in a day at the races, Free State natives are all about horses.
There are so many different ways to bet on horses in MD that you may not even know all of your options. Horse racing betting in M.D. can be done at a live race track or a horse racing betting site. Our guide to horse betting in Maryland will not only give you the best locations to wager, but also cover the how-tos of horse betting. By the time you are finished reading, you should be able to confidently bet the horses at any of our featured online racebooks!
It is 100% legal to bet on horses in Maryland. The state has some of most horse betting-friendly laws that you can find. Pari-mutuel wagering has been regulated in MD since 1920, and residents have been legally betting on horses ever since. Maryland Code BR § 11-801 specifically authorizes pari-mutuel wagering and the rest of the title goes on to further outline the governance of the wagering system. There is also mention of simulcasting, which permits MD race tracks to have their races broadcast at tracks in other states, and vice versa. Horse enthusiasts in Maryland can lawfully bet the horses at live racetracks, OTB betting facilities, and horse racing betting sites for legal Maryland gambling=.
Before you go to the track or join an online racebook, you will want to have an understanding of betting types for horse racing. Horse bets are put into two categories, straight bets and exotic bets. Straight bets are the simplest to execute and easiest to understand. Their payoffs will not be quite as high as more complex exotic wagers, but they can still be quite profitable.
Win – You bet on your horse to win the race.
Place – If your horse comes in first or second, you have a winning ticket.
Show – Your horse can finish first, second, or third and you receive the third place payoff.
While straight bets only involve one horse, multiple horses can be put on exotic tickets. There are also instances where you can bet on different races. Being that it is much more difficult to choose the exact finishing order of the race, exotic bets have extremely profitable payoffs. The most common wagers are exactas, trifectas, superfectas, and Pick 3’s.
Exacta – Betting on the first and second finishers in exact order.
Trifecta – A bet on who will win first, second, and third place.
Superfecta – Wagering on the top four finishers of the race.
Pick 6 – Selecting the winners of 6 consecutive races before the first event begins.
Being that the state is home to the Preakness Stakes, Triple Crown betting what MD bettors wait all year for. Every May, thousands of spectators head to Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore to watch the highly anticipated 1 and 3/16th-mile race to the finish line. Betting on the Preakness Stakes is just one betting option when it comes to putting money on the Triple Crown. Two weeks prior to the Preakness, you can bet on the Kentucky Derby that takes place at Churchill Downs. Derby Day betting is extremely popular because it kicks off the three-part journey. On the other end of the spectrum, three weeks after the Preakness wraps up, you can bet on the Belmont Stakes. The longest and final race of the Triple Crown, Belmont betting odds will be posted at every racebook around the country. If one horse has already won the Derby and Preakness, who wouldn’t want the chance to bet on history being made for the 13th time since 1919?
You have a few options when it comes to betting on horse racing in MD. There are a handful of race tracks where you can enjoy live Thoroughbred and harness racing throughout the year. The most famous track is Pimlico in Baltimore where the second jewel of the Triple Crown is run. The venue also hosts the Allaire DuPont Stakes and the Black-Eyed Susan stakes. In addition to betting on live races, you can enjoy the races that are simulcast year-round.
If you head to Laurel, you can visit another prominent race track at Laurel Park. Secretariat and Seabiscuit both tread the tracks throughout their record-breaking careers. There are live Thoroughbred races taking place Friday through Sunday, and there is also a simulcasting area for even more action. If you want a bite to eat, there are also several dining options on-site.
Rosecroft Raceway, affectionately known as the “Raceway by the Beltway”, is a great track for watching live harness racing. There are races held throughout the spring and fall, along with various events during the year. When there are not live races, there is a full simulcasting calendar featuring races at Belmont Park, Santa Anita, and Churchill Downs.
Aside from live race tracks, there are numerous OTB locations in Maryland. You can eat, drink, and watch races from any of the dozens of screens at the facility. More often than not there will be self-service kiosks though there may be clerks as well. The majority of MD OTB venues offer simulcast racing seven days a week, but you will want to verify this before visiting the location. Below are some of the off-track betting facilities in M.D.
G Boones (Boonsboro, MD)
Horseshoe Casino (Baltimore, MD)
Perryville OTB (Perryville, MD)
Timonium OTB (Timonium, MD)
Maryland bettors have plenty of options when it comes to online horse racing betting sites. Thousands of MD bettors opt to bet on horses online because there are so many additional benefits to wagering. You can bet on any race happening that day, with no limitations to how many different tracks you can bet at. The full spectrum of straight and exotic horse bets are accepted by online racebooks, and you even get rewards for making certain wagers. One online racebook may give you a 9% rebate on exotic wagers, while another may give you 7% cash back for straight bets. There are always bonuses and promotions for online horse bettors. The best online horse racing sites also make it easy to make deposits and offer fast payout options. Some of your banking methods include Bitcoin, Visa, MasterCard, and American Express. The online racebooks that we recommend are SportsBetting and 5Dimes for legal gambling for Maryland residents.
When you want a fun and exciting horse betting experience, SportsBetting.ag is the racebook to join. With horse racing taking place all throughout the year, SportsBetting is there to let you bet on every single race. There are more than 80 tracks featured at the online racebook so that bettors can get their fill of horses and races. Straight wagers like win, place, and show are accepted by SportsBetting, but so are exotics like exactas, trifectas, and superfectas. The rebate program at the online racebook gives back up to 7% in daily rebates for your bet volume. The amount of the rebate will vary depending on the track and wager type. One other offer is the $25 Horse Free Play, where you can place a bet of up to $25 and the racebook will reimburse you should it lose. That means your first bet at the online racebook is completely risk-free.
SportsBetting also has the extra features that other online racebooks simply do not offer. For one, they offer live horse race streams at all of your favorite tracks. There are not many horse betting sites where you can both wager and watch. You also have the option of using the mobile racebook to place your bets and perform other account options. You can make deposits, read horse handicapping tips, and request payouts all from your smartphone. Just visit the SportsBetting.ag site from your iPhone, iPad, Android, or other handheld device and you can begin placing mobile horse bets. You can even create your free SportsBetting racebook account from your device or visit the website from your computer
When it comes to betting on the Preakness Stakes and other Triple Crown races, look no further than 5Dimes online racebook. Maryland residents use the horse betting site every day for all of their horse racing bets needs. The site features major and minor tracks from all over the country, meaning you will never miss out on any Thoroughbred or harness racing action. You can make a win, place, or show bet, or exotics like exactas, trifectas, and pick 3’s. There are even options to box your picks to include all possible winning combinations. 5Dimes has every horse wagering option imaginable.
5Dimes is the only horse betting site with two distinct racebook options. The first is the Rebate Racebook where bettors can get up to 9% cash back on all wagers placed. Both winning and losing tickets are good for the daily rebate, and there is no cap on how much you can earn. To get the biggest rebates, sign up for the Reduced Juice rewards program when creating your 5Dimes account. The second option is the Plus 10% Racebook which gives you cash back for winning tickets. Any winning “win” or exotic wager placed at a major track is eligible for the rebate. Some of the tracks included are Pimlico, Belmont Park, Churchill Downs, Del Mar, and Gulfstream Park. If betting at tracks not included on the featured list, you can still get a 10% rebate on winning “win” tickets. You can join 5Dimes now, choose your racebook option, and begin betting the horses!