Looking to bet on the ponies in the Garden State? The popular pastime has been happening since the early 1830s, so it’s about time you joined the party.

Betting horse races legally from the comfort of your home has never been easier! Bet horse racing on our premier desktop site or on the go with our fast mobile app. Never miss betting a race at the Kentucky Derby, Preakness, Breeders’ Cup, Gulfstream Park, Santa Anita, Churchill Downs, Saratoga, Belmont, Del Mar and more! The horse betting odds will fluctuate ahead of the race and finally settle at post time. Unlike traditional sports betting, you don’t lock in the odds on a horse at the time you place a bet. Instead, you get paid on winning bets at post-time odds determined by the amount bet on each horse relative to how much is bet on the others in the race.

• Horse wagering conforms to the traditional gambling format where a bookmaker calculates the odds, takes wagers and then pays the winners. Bookmakers place the.
• Bet on horses on over 300 racetracks. Join today to get up to a $500 Cash Bonus instantly and qualify for another $150! Online horse betting with rebates up to 8% paid daily.

There are tons of options for you when you’re looking for a little action. Those looking to bet online will get access to all of the biggest races such as the Triple Crown and Dubai and everywhere in the world from online sites such as TVG.

If you’re looking to place your bets in person, there are off-track outlets as well as Atlantic City casinos that have racebooks.

With races going off around the clock, let’s dive into all of the details of how to bet on horses in NJ and where you can do it in the state.

Best horse betting app in New Jersey

Where to bet on horses in NJ

For horse betting, New Jersey features many options for the would-be bettor.

The most obvious is one of the state’s three active racetracks. But there are also legal off-track wagering locations and a racebook at an Atlantic City casino.

New Jersey racetracks

Meadowlands Racing

Located near New York City, this racing facility is home to harness racing. It is part of the Meadowlands complex that includes an NFL stadium that hosts the New York Giants and Jets home games. It also features FanDuel Sportsbook at the Meadowlands.

• Location: 1 Racetrack Drive, East Rutherford, NJ, 07073
• Phone: 201-843-2446

Monmouth Park Racetrack

One of the oldest racetracks in the US, Monmouth is home to the Haskell Invitational Stakes. It is the only site for thoroughbred racing in NJ. It is home to one of three William Hill retail sportsbooks in the state.

• Location: 175 Oceanport Ave., Oceanport, NJ 07757
• Phone: 732-222-5100

Freehold Raceway

Another harness racing facility, Freehold is open seven days a week and is well-known as a year-round simulcast location. It is located in Freehold, NJ.

• Location: 130 Park Ave., Freehold, NJ 07728
• Phone: 732-462-3800

Atlantic City casinos

Borgata Casino is the only option for horse betting in Atlantic City. The Borgata Race & Sports Book features personal TVs and a large video wall. It also includes NJ sports betting options.

Off-track wagering sites

The NJ Racing Commission lists the following off-track wagering facilities as legal and licensed in New Jersey:

FAVORITES AT EGG HARBOR

• Location: 6055 Black Horse Pike, Egg Harbor, NJ 08235
• Phone: 609-804-6240

FAVORITES AT HILLSBOROUGH

• Location: 150 Route 206, Hillsborough, NJ 08844
• Phone: 908-722-1415

FAVORITES AT GLOUCESTER

• Location: 1300 Blackwood-Clementon Rd., Clementon, NJ 08021
• Phone: 856-441-4253

FAVORITES AT TOMS RIVER

• Location: 1071 Highway 37 West, Toms River, NJ 08755
• Phone: 732-240-1210

FAVORITES AT WOODBRIDGE

• Location: 3 LaFayette Rd., Fords, NJ 08863
• Phone: 732-512-5000

WINNERS BAYONNE

• Location: 400 Route 440 North, Bayonne, NJ 07002
• Phone: 201-437-5780

How online horse betting works

You’re definitely able to bet on horses in person. But if you’re looking for convenience, online is the way to go. The legal online horse betting site in NJ is 4NJBets, powered by TVG.

It’s pretty simple as you open an account at TVG, make a quick deposit, and place bets right from your phone or computer. The alternative is you have to hop in your car to drive to a land-based outlet, stand in line, and place your bets.

While that might work for the odd time, it’s inconvenient if you want to bet regularly.

With online horse betting, you have access to all of the major race tracks in the world. You can place every type of bet you can think of from win, place, show, exacta, trifecta, boxes, quinella superfectas, and much more. The only requirement is that you’re at least 21 years of age and in the state of New Jersey.

What do horse betting odds mean?

When you first open your account, you’re going to see a lot of numbers like 8/1 or 7/2, which are the odds for each respective horse. Those are the odds to win so if you bet them to place (finish in the top two) or show (finish in the top three) your odds will change.

What the odds above indicate is the payout. For example, let’s say the odds show 5/1 or 8/1. That means that you’ll win five or eight times your money if your horse comes through. So, a $5 bet would pay $25 or $40, respectively.

However, you can get into all sorts of exotic bets (such as parlays, exactas, trifectas) where if your series of predictions ring true, you can collect a huge payday.

The good news is that when you bet online, you’ll be able to see the exact payout before you confirm your bet. Simply make your picks and add them to your bet slip. Then you’ll be able to type in the amounts and see what your payout will be before confirming.

How to claim a horse racing betting bonus

One of the best parts of playing online is that online horse racing sites and sportsbooks offer all sorts of bonuses. Almost universally – all of them, across the board – will give you some kind of a welcome bonus and then a large majority of the betting sites will have a number of ongoing promotions where you can get little boosts here and there on top of that.

In New Jersey, the best horse betting site is 4NJBets.com, powered by TVG. Its welcome bonus is a $200 risk-free bet.

What that means is when you deposit funds into your new account, you can place a bet on any race. If you win your bet, then you’re in the money. If you lose that bet, they’ll credit you back $200 into your account.

Beyond that, 4NJBets runs a whole host of other promotions. Here’s a sampling of what they were offering at the time of our writing:

• Cash Back For 2nd Or 3rd — This is a promo where if you bet on a horse to win outright but they fall just short (placing second or third), you will get $10 back.
• Super 5 — This is a free-to-play contest. 4NJBets will post five specific races on the board, and if you bet on them each and win all five of your bets, you’ll split a pool of $5,000 with anyone else who did the same.
• Fee Free Deposits — If you incur a deposit fee, they’ll credit you back that amount.
• Exacta Insurance — If you play an exacta at Keeneland, you’ll get $10 back if your horse finishes in the top three.
• Pick 4 Insurance – Similar to the Exacta Insurance, this is if you play a Pick 4 at Canterbury. If your ticket wins three out of four, you’ll get $25 back.

How to set up your account and make a deposit

Making a deposit at an online racebook in the state of New Jersey is very easy. It takes less than a couple of minutes as all you need to do is provide some basic information. The registration forms will ask you for:

• Your name
• Your current address
• Your phone number
• Your date of birth
• An email address
• A password for your account

Once you’ve registered for your account, they will very likely ask to verify you in some way. That might mean asking you to provide documentation to prove your age and residency. This will include your SSN. That’s because you can only bet on horse racing in New Jersey if you are at least 21 years of age.

When you’re finished setting up and confirming your account, the next step is to deposit some funds. Given that companies such as TVG are fully legal and licensed to operate in the state of New Jersey, making a deposit is fairly easy to do.

They offer a number of common methods including:

• Debit/credit card
• BetCash (ACH/Echeck)
• TVG Prepaid Card
• Vanilla Mastercard Gift Card (NJ only)
• PayNearMe
• Deposit at an NJ racetrack (Monmouth, Meadowlands or Freehold Raceway)

Keep in mind that BetCash, PayNearMe, and on-track deposits are completely free. PayPal, credit and debit cards, gift cards, and the TVG Prepaid Card all have a small $5 fee. Meanwhile, a bank wire transfer comes with a $15 fee.

The good news is that when you go to withdraw your money, many of the methods are free. Your withdrawal options include:

• Visa debit
• PayPal
• BetCash
• TVG Prepaid Card
• Bank Wire Transfer
• Check withdrawal
• Expedited check
• Cash at the track

Almost all are free except for the prepaid card, which sometimes has fees, wire transfer, which is a $15 fee, and expedited check, which is a $40 fee. Typically, your best bet is to withdraw your winnings with either Visa Debit or PayPal, as both are free and are processed in less than 20 hours.

How to cash out a winning horse bet

The beauty of betting on horses online is that your winnings are simply added to your account.

If you’re at a track and you’re betting the old school way, that means that you go to the window, tell the cashier your bet, get a printed ticket, watch the race and if you win, get back in line at the window to cash your bet. When it’s crowded at the track, all of this takes even longer.

With online betting, you simply place your bet right from the app or from the desktop website. Once it is confirmed, you’ll be able to see your bet in your confirmed or pending bets. If it wins, your account is immediately credited as a winner. There’s no extra effort that’s needed on your part.

What types of horse races can I bet on?

There are a number of different types of horse races that you can bet on.

To start, there are a whole host of different tracks that are available. That means you can bet on everything from tracks in North America and also get access to races all over the world.

For a full list of tracks available at 4NJBets.com powered by TVG, you can mouse over “horse racing” at the top of the page and then click on “Track Information List.”

In terms of the types of races, you’ll mostly encounter thoroughbred and harness racing. Here’s a brief explanation of both:

Thoroughbred racing

This is what is known as flat racing. This is just a competition of horses galloping either directly from point to point, or running around a track or oval.

Harness racing

This is similar to flat racing but instead of a jockey being directly on the horse’s back/saddle, there is a harness attached to the horse. The horse pulls the driver around the track.

Major horse racing events in 2021

The horse racing calendar is fully stocked with big races throughout the year. Let’s take a look at some of the most important ones on the schedule:

Triple Crown

Belmont Stakes

• Date: June 20, 2020
• Location: Belmont Park – Elmont, NY
• Last Winning Horse: Tiz the Law
• Last Winning Jockey: Manny Franco
• Purse: $1 million

The Belmont Stakes, normally the third and final race in the American Triple Crown, was the first one run in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Belmont Stakes is normally the longest of the three races, which is why it’s known as “The Test Of The Champion.”

Kentucky Derby

• Date: Sept. 5, 2020
• Location: Churchill Downs – Louisville, KY
• Last Winning Horse: Country House
• Last Winning Jockey: Flavien Prat
• Purse: $2 million

The Kentucky Derby is typically run on the first Saturday in May. Also known as the Run for the Roses, it’s usually the first of the three races in the Triple Crown. In 2020, it was moved to September due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Preakness Stakes

• Date: October 3, 2020
• Location: Pimlico Race Course – Baltimore, MD
• Last Winning Horse: War of Will
• Last Winning Jockey: Tyler Gaffalione
• Purse: $1.65 million

The Preakness Stakes is typically the middle race in the Triple Crown. It’s usually run two weeks after the Kentucky Derby and is the shortest race of the three. Known as the Run For the Black-Eyed Susans, the race will take place in October in 2020 due to the pandemic.

Other notable horse races

Tampa Bay Derby

• Date: March 7, 2020
• Location: Tampa Bay Downs – Tampa, FL
• Last Winning Horse: King Guillermo
• Last Winning Jockey: Samy Camacho
• Purse: $400,000

The Tampa Bay Derby is a race that is typically held in the middle of March. Run across one and one-sixteenth miles, this is one of the key races on the road to the Kentucky Derby.

Florida Derby

• Date: March 28, 2020
• Location: Gulfstream Park – Hallandale Beach, FL
• Last Winning Horse: Tiz the Law
• Last Winning Jockey: Manny Franco
• Purse: $1 million

The Florida Derby is one of the key thoroughbred races held for three-year-olds. It’s typically run exactly five weeks before the Kentucky Derby.

Rebel Stakes

• Date: March 14, 2020
• Location: Oaklawn Park – Hot Springs, AR
• Last Winning Horse: Nadal
• Last Winning Jockey: Joel Rosario
• Purse: $1 million

The Rebel Stakes is one of the important races on the calendar for three-year-old thoroughbreds. It’s part of the lead up to the Kentucky Derby and is known as one of the prep races.

Santa Anita Derby

• Date: April 4, 2020
• Location: Santa Anita Park – Arcadia, CA
• Last Winning Horse: Honor A.P.
• Last Winning Jockey: Mike E. Smith
• Purse: $400,000

The Santa Anita Derby is a big Grade I race that’s typically run each April. It features the best three-year-old thoroughbreds in a race that’s run over one and one-eighth miles. This is part of the official Road to the Kentucky Derby.

Wood Memorial

• Date: April 4, 2020
• Location: Aqueduct Racetrack – Queens, NY
• Last Winning Horse: Tacitus
• Last Winning Jockey: Jose L. Ortiz
• Purse: $1 million

This is another April race that features many of the top-tier three-year-olds. It used to be a Grade 1 race but is now a Grade 2 contest.

Haskell Invitational Stakes

• Date: July 18, 2020
• Location: Monmouth Park Racetrack – Oceanport, NJ
• Last Winning Horse: Maximum Security
• Last Winning Jockey: Luis Saez
• Purse: $1 million

The Haskell Invitational is one of the major races of the year for three-year-olds. It’s run after the Triple Crown and is by invitation only.

Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Stakes

• Date: Oct. 11, 2020
• Location: Keeneland Race Course – Lexington, KY
• Last Winning Horse: Cambier Parc
• Last Winning Jockey: John Velazquez
• Purse: $500,000

This is one of the biggest races of the year for three-year-old fillies. It’s a Grade 1 race, which is known as a prep race for the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf.

Breeders’ Cup

• Date: Nov. 7, 2020
• Location: Keeneland Race Course – Lexington, KY
• Last Winning Horse: Vino Rosso
• Last Winning Jockey: Accelerate
• Purse: $6 million

The Breeders’ Cup is one of the biggest weekends of horse racing each year. There are all sorts of major races including the Longines Turf, Juvenile Turf Sprint, and the granddaddy of them all, the Breeders’ Cup Classic.

The races are hosted at a different track each year and welcome all of the biggest horses in each respective category. Monmouth Park in Oceanport hosted the Breeders’ Cup in 2007.

Betting on the Haskell Invitational in NJ

The Haskell Invitational is one of the biggest races of the year in New Jersey.

A Grade 1 race, it’s run in the part of the year after the Triple Crown and before the Breeders’ Cup. The winner gets their hands on the Haskell Invitational trophy, which is one of the most prestigious trophies in all of horse racing.

How to watch horse racing live online

If you’re looking to tune into the daily horse racing action, you can watch it all on TVG and TVG2. Both channels carry all of the biggest races.

To watch online, simply head over to TVG.com and create an account. You can also watch on your TV if you have Amazon Firestick, Apple TV, or Roku.

Horse betting tips

Now that you know how and where to bet on horses, let’s help you out with a few tips. Here are five important things to keep in mind when you start betting on horses.

1. Do your research

Some people get excited about betting horses because the payouts can be quite large when you’re accurate with your picks. However, making accurate picks takes work. If you’re going to throw darts, you’re not likely to have a lot of consistent success.

Make sure you’re reading all of the latest news on horse racing on sites like HorseRacingNation.com, TodaysRacingDigest.com, and BloodHorse.com.

Then make sure to follow handicappers on YouTube and Twitter to get a feel for how others think the races will play out. Take all of that information in before making your final decisions.

2. Bet on horses that show momentum

When betting on a race, one key is to look at the recent track record for a horse.

If you’re betting the Kentucky Derby and the horse you’re looking at has won all three of their races before that, that’s a great sign. If they’ve stumbled with a second, a seventh and a fifth showing, that indicates that the horse is struggling in lesser races against lesser competition.

You want to find horses who are performing well and have momentum on their side.

3. Keep an eye on trainers

Trainers often have strong patterns of success.

For example, horses trained by Hall of Fame trainers like Bob Baffert, Todd Pletcher, and Steve Asmussen know what they are doing.

They know how to produce winners over and over again. These are the types of guys you want to trust with your bets because they have a good pedigree.

4. Jockeys are important, too

Having an experienced jockey on the saddle is critical for a race. Take note if the jockey has won the race before — especially for Triple Crown races — as that means they should know how to navigate the field.

Also, keep an eye on whether it’s the first time the horse and jockey are paired together. The more experience, the less of a wild card the pairing will be.

5. Handicap the track

One of the most important aspects of betting on horses in NJ is taking note of what type of track the race is being run on.

If it’s a short track, horses who are great at running with the lead might do well. If it’s a long track, that gives closers — horses who turn on the jets late — more time to make their run.

Also take note if it is dirt, turf or other, and what the weather is like. These will all have an impact on how the horses perform.

More on horse racing in NJ

Horse racing has been happening in the Garden State since the early 1700s.

Freehold Raceway is one of the oldest venues where races have been held as they’ve been in operation since the 1830s.

Some of the other important racetracks in New Jersey include Monmouth Park and Meadowlands Racing. They all host the biggest races in the state, including the Haskell Invitational, the Tony Gatto Dream Big Stakes and the United Nation Stakes.

If you’re looking to bet on the races, you can do so online at TVG, bet at the New Jersey racetracks, hit up the off-track wagering outlets, or bet at casinos that have racebooks.

Horse betting FAQ

Is horse betting legal in NJ?

It is completely legal to bet on horse racing in the state of New Jersey. You must be at least 21 years of age to place bets and within state lines.

Horse Gambling Movies

How much is bet on horse racing in NJ?

Horse Gambling Bet Chart

Roughly speaking, the total handle in the state of New Jersey for horse racing is about $400 million per year.

Horse Racing Gambling Sites

What is virtual horse Racing?

Virtual horse racing is offered at casinos. It’s a virtual race that kind of looks like a video game. You have to decide which horse will win and then you watch the race play out.

Can I bet on Kentucky Derby online in NJ?

Horse Gambling Game

You can bet on the Kentucky Derby and all other major horse races online at 4NJBets.com, powered by TVG.

How do I read a horse racing form?

Horse Gambling Terms

The first key is to notice the name of the track at the header with the number next to it. That indicates which track you’re betting on and which race. Underneath, you’ll see details on the race from the distance to the purse and what age of the horses are competing. Down below is when you find the details on the horses such as their number for the race, their pedigree, and their recent history. All of this information helps you handicap the race and make your pick.