Horse Racing Tips
Horse Racing Bet Builder vs. Traditional Betting: What’s the Difference?
Horse racing has always been one of the most popular sports for bettors, thanks to its fast-paced action, wide range of race types and the thrill of picking a winner.
Traditionally, bettors have relied on simple, well-established markets like Win, Place, and Each-Way.
But as times change, features like William Hill’s new Horse Racing Bet Builder are giving punters more choice, flexibility and control.
In this blog, we’ll break down the difference between a traditional betting approach and using a Bet Builder in horse racing, helping you decide which method suits your style.
Bet on Horse Racing with William Hill
Traditional Horse Racing Betting
For decades, horse racing has been built around a handful of core bet types. These are simple, easy to understand and ideal for both beginners and experienced bettors.
Win Bet
A Win bet is the most straightforward form of betting. You pick a horse, and if it finishes first, you win. Simple. If it doesn’t win, no matter how close, it’s a losing bet.
Place Bet
With a Place bet, your horse needs to finish in the top positions to collect a return. Typically, this means finishing in the top two or three, but the number of places paid varies based on the number of runners and the bookmaker’s rules. Larger fields often offer more places.
Each-Way (EW) Bet
An Each-Way bet combines both the Win and Place markets. You’re effectively placing two bets:
- One for the horse to win
- One for the horse to place (usually 2nd, 3rd, or 4th, depending on the race)
If your horse wins, you profit from both parts. If it places without winning, you still receive a return on the place portion, typically a fraction of the win odds. This is a common choice for bettors backing horses at bigger prices.
Traditional betting is clean, familiar and low-complexity. But what if you want more flexibility and more specific predictions? That’s where William Hill’s Bet Builder come in.
What is a Horse Racing Bet Builder?
A Bet Builder allows you to combine several different selections from the same race into a single customised wager. Instead of placing separate bets, you merge them into one, creating a personalised prediction for how the race will unfold.
Bet Builders can include multiple markets such as:
- Winner
- To Finish in the Top X
- Head to Head (one horse to beat another)
- Finishing Position
- Winning Distance
- Betting Without (W/O) – excluding a favourite from your bet
This flexibility means you can tailor bets to your insight. For example, instead of simply backing a horse to win, you might combine:
- The horse to win
- A rival to finish outside the top three
- Winning margin to be more than one length
These combined selections can offer boosted odds and more exciting betting opportunities.
Which Is Better?
Both approaches have their place:
- Traditional betting is ideal if you prefer clarity and simplicity.
- Bet Builders suit bettors who enjoy deeper analysis and want to create unique, multi-layered bets within the same race.
If you’re new to Bet Builders or want to explore all the available options, be sure to visit our Horse racing Bet Builder guideline.
