Horse Racing in Iowa 2023 – Find the Best Iowa Horse Racing Betting Sites

One of the gambling-friendly states in the US, Iowa has been offering pari-mutuel wagering options at off-track betting facilities for decades. And since legalizing sports betting in 2019, Iowa horse racing enthusiasts can take to online betting sites to back their favorite horses at the Kentucky Derby, the Breeders’ Cup, and other major tournaments and potentially win massive cash prizes.

If you cannot travel down to Prairie Meadows to wager on live thoroughbred racing, several Iowa horse racing betting sites are available for your betting needs. Looking for the best online racebooks in the Hawkeye State? We’ve compared and ranked the top options — their bonuses, special features, betting markets, odds, etc. Read on to learn everything about horse racing in Iowa.

The Best Iowa Betting Sites

Thanks to Gov. Kim Reynolds signing bill SF617 into law in 2019, Iowa horse racing fans now have several online racebooks to choose from. Of the numerous options available, we’ve ranked the best Iowa horse racing betting sites based on their reliability, safety, bonuses, range of betting markets, banking methods, and more.

Top Iowa Betting Sites: Reviewed

Let’s discuss each of the top Iowa betting sites in detail, highlighting the special features that make these platforms stand out for horse racing. Find out the racebook that best suits your needs. Note that all our recommended sites are offshore-based and safe to play at.

1. BetOnline – No.1 Racebook With Extensive Racing Betting Markets

When it comes to sports betting in the US, BetOnline is the cream of the crop. And a significant contributor to the site’s dominance in the gambling industry is its unrivaled racebook that offers unique, amazing features. The sportsbook provides a ‘Racebook 101’ section, where beginners can learn more about horse racing betting, including how to bet on the Kentucky Derby in Iowa.

BetOnline’s racing event coverage is extensive, supporting over 600 racetracks, including Gulfstream Park, Aqueduct, and the legendary Churchill Downs. Also, bettors can make straight wagers and exotic bets on major tournaments like the Breeders Cup, Dubai World Cup, Grand National, and more. Additionally, this sportsbook offers horse racing betting tools like a handicapping tool and the Conditional Wagering feature, which helps you make the best wager at the most suitable time.

Comparing BetOnline’s fixed odds with other Iowa betting sites, we found that the racebook has more competitive odds, inferring Iowans can earn larger profits from their wagers. If you prefer pool betting to fixed-odds wagering, you’ll find a variety of US and international races under this betting form daily. Furthermore, Thoroughbred and Harness racecards from across the world can be found here.

On signing up on BetOnline’s racebook, you’ll be offered a $25 risk-free bet and subsequently given up to 9% in daily rebates. And in addition to the aforementioned specials, basic features like quick payouts, an interactive mobile site, crypto banking options, instant deposits, and responsive customer support are provided to users.

 

2. BetNow – An Amazing Weekly 10% Rebate on Racebook Losses

Founded in 2016, BetNow is a newcomer to the Iowa horse racing betting scene. The site’s racebook has a simple, excellent interface for easy user navigation. Also, the betting markets are impressive — Iowa bettors can make standard wagers like backing a horse to finish first, second, or third. And they can explore more exotic bet types such as exacta, trifecta, superfecta, and multi-race bets.

Like most racebooks, BetNow allows users to switch between decimal, American, and fractional odds, depending on their preference. They also offer live betting on various betting markets. With a focus on North American horse racing, the coverage of European races is limited, so you should check if the betting site provides odds on your favorite tournament before creating an account.

Furthermore, BetNow displays its odds earlier than many of the best horse racing betting sites in the US. Their impressive 150% matched welcome bonus can be activated with a BetNow promo code for new users. For returning customers, there’s an enticing 10% rebate bonus to enhance your winning chances. Finally, Bitcoin is a supported payment method, and withdrawal is free of charge. Other accepted banking options are Visa, American Express, and MasterCard.

 

3. Everygame – Competitive Betting Lines Released On The Morning of Races

Having been launched as far back as 1996, Everygame is one of the oldest betting sites for horse racing in Iowa. The platform’s horse racing section is among the best in the Hawkeye State. Its competitive betting lines are released on the morning of the races so bettors can access the odds as early as possible.

This betting site covers racing events in the United States but doesn’t provide betting markets for international races. Hence, bettors cannot place bets on the Grand National, Melbourne Cup, and more on Everygame. That said, on the domestic front, Iowa bettors have a decent range of wagering options, including outright, place, and futures.

Accepted payment methods include Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Litecoin, MasterCard, Visa, Bank transfer, EcoPayz, and Paysafe. Withdrawals are processed within 48 hours, but crypto banking usually takes a much shorter time. The support team is available 24/7 and can be reached via live chat and email. Furthermore, the sportsbook has a juicy welcome bonus and other promotions that can be claimed using Everygame bonus codes.

 

4. MyBookie – Comprehensive Blog For Preview Of Races

MyBookie, one of the best horse racing betting sites in Iowa, has a blog that provides previews of upcoming races. With information from this blog, bettors will be better placed to make bets on their preferred events and horses.

Apart from this unique feature, the racebook has an extensive selection of betting options available to Iowans, including straight, exacta, daily double, trifecta, superfecta, parlay, and Pick 3. Users can add multiple bets to the same slip, offering a seamless betting experience. Further, in-play betting is available at MyBookie, so players can take advantage of odds changes while a race is ongoing to maximize their winnings.

Comparing Bovada vs. MyBookie, you’ll find that the latter has a bigger welcome package for Iowa horse racing lovers, offering a 50% bonus up to $1,000 for newcomers. Also, MyBookie offers live streaming of major racing events — a feature Bovada has yet to adopt. But then, Bovada gets the nod regarding accepted payment options, as the Iowa horse racing betting site supports more banking methods than MyBookie.

 

5. BUSR – Massive Crypto Bonuses For Iowa Horse Racing

With BUSR, bettors have access to over 300 thoroughbred, harness, and greyhound racetracks worldwide, including horse racing in Iowa. Depending on certain factors, you’ll get an early Morning Line price, which could change in the build-up to a race. Moreover, the odds are competitive, offering better value than several other Iowa horse racing betting sites.

BUSR’s betting market comprises numerous options —  prop bets and exotics —  covering big global events. The sportsbook also has Del Mar betting, Graded stakes races, and horse racing schedules. Supported payment methods include Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Person 2 Person, Bitcoin, Litecoin, Bitcoin Cash, and Ethereum. Withdrawals incur a fee, except for crypto banking, which is free of charge.

What’s more, this racebook’s customer support is excellent, boasting a 24/7, responsive live chat function for resolving user complaints. Also, players can get in touch with the help center using a contact form on-site or a toll-free number. In addition, using BUSR promo codes, you can claim several bonuses, including the $150 racebook welcome bonus, which has a 1x rollover requirement.

 

6. Bovada – Superb Virtual Horse Racing Feature

As one of the best virtual horse racing betting sites in the US, Bovada allows Iowa bettors to bet on simulated races every few minutes, all day, every day. This means that even when there are no real horse races to bet on, players can take to Bovada’s virtual racing section to wager on computerized races.

Regarding betting markets, this racebook is an excellent platform, covering several major horse racing tournaments across the US, Australia, Ireland, Japan, France, etc. Also, there are many bet types, including straight, exacta, trifecta, superfecta, and many more. The website is well-designed so users can easily navigate and place bets. An attractive element of this site is its relatively high odds for underdogs — a feature experienced bettors can exploit to maximize their winnings.

As expected, Bovada provides basic features such as responsive customer support and a variety of payment methods. On comparing Bovada vs. BetOnline, you find that both racebooks are similar and well-matched in many aspects. Be that as it may, BetOnline’s payout time is shorter — within 24 hours — compared to Bovada’s 48 hours.

That said, Bovada has a fascinating 75% welcome bonus up to $750, with a 5x rollover requirement. Furthermore, there’s an impressive loyalty program to reward users.

 

7. BetUS – BetUS TV Showing Horse Racing Picks, Predictions, and Previews

BetUS has its racebook section separate from the casino and sportsbook. The biggest highlight of this Iowa horse racing betting site is the BetUS TV feature, which allows you to watch video analysis of upcoming races, previews of races, and live streaming of major races and events. This function is helpful to both new and experienced bettors.

In terms of coverage, BetUS is right up there with the best Iowa horse racing platforms. You can bet on the Kentucky Derby, Grand Nationals, the Dubai World Cup, and other major tournaments here. Also, several betting options are available, including win/place/show bets, quinellas, exactas, trifectas, superfectas, daily doubles, and pick 3/4/5/6. And you’ll find racecards that display the runner’s name, number, jockey, and the morning line.

The minimum deposit is $10, which is great for bettors working with a smaller bankroll. Payment options include cryptos, credit/debit cards, cash transfers, and bank wire. Crypto banking is the quickest and isn’t subject to withdrawal fees. When you consider BetUS vs. BetOnline, they are similar in most aspects, although BetOnline just about edges BetUS in odds, live betting, and available payment methods. Also, while BetUS offers live streaming, BetOnline doesn’t.

 

8. XBet – Impressive International Horse Racing Coverage

Since its establishment in 2014, XBet has developed to become a top Iowa horse racing betting site, thanks to its unique features. First, this racebook provides dedicated blogs for horse racing tips and previews to arm bettors with the information needed to boost their winning chances. Also, their 7% rebate on horse racing losses and 50% sign-up bonus up to $500 are great offers. The welcome package has a 7x rollover requirement and can be claimed using the XBet Promo Code, XBET50.

XBet’s coverage of horse racing events is excellent, with betting markets on races across the US, UK, South Africa, Ireland, and the Middle East available on the platform. You can find thoroughbred, harness, and greyhound racing on this site. Additionally, bet types like straight, quinella, exacta, trifecta, superfecta, daily double, and Pick 4 can be placed by XBet users.

With its 256-bit SSL encryption protocol, XBet is one of the most secure Iowa horse racing platforms. To use this site’s live chat, you must create an account. However, without signing up on XBet, you can still reach customer support via the help center or the online contact form.

 

9. Jazz Sports – Live Streaming Of Major Horse Racing Tournaments

Another top Iowa racebook is JazzSports, boasting some impressive features for horse racing enthusiasts in the Hawkeye State. You can find betting options on major events like the Kentucky Derby, Preakness, Belmont Stakes, and the Breeder Cup.

Available betting markets include exactas, quinellas, and daily doubles. Meanwhile, Jazz Sports doesn’t offer odds on house quinellas, pick 3’s, pick 6’s, and trifectas – an aspect the Iowa racebook will look to improve on. Be that as it may, the website interface is sleek and simple, facilitating easy user navigation.

Regarding bonuses, Iowa horse racing lovers will be delighted with the 10% rebates on racebook losses offered, while the JazzSports promo codes are always worth looking out for.

Banking options include credit/debit cards, Person 2 Person, Bitcoin, Dash, Litecoin, Bitcoin Cash, and Ethereum. All deposits made carry a 1x rollover requirement. Finally, customer support can be reached via phone, live chat, and email.

 

10. SportsBetting.ag – Wide Variety Of Supported Payment Options

A “sister site” to BetOnline, SportsBetting.ag is another well-known Iowa horse racing betting site, forging a name for itself in the gambling industry since its launch in 1999. The site’s racebook has an attractive, sleek, and user-friendly interface that’ll be particularly helpful for beginners.

Bettors can place a wide range of bet types — from standard wagers such as win, place, and show to exotic bets like exacta, trifecta, superfecta, and Pick 3. For each race, you’ll find information on the type, surface, distance, purse, and location. Impressively, the racebook has coverage of races from tracks across the world.

Payment methods include Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Avalanche, Dogecoin, Apecoin, credit/debit cards, Money Orders, Person 2 Person, and Wire Transfers. Furthermore, customer support can be reached via email, phone, and live chat. Finally, the enticing welcome package of 50% worth up to $1,000 can be claimed using the SportsBetting promo code SB1000. And then, there’s a 9% daily rebate on internet wagers for racebook losses.

 

More on gambling in Iowa…

Learn about all types of online gambling in Iowa in our expert guides below:

• Iowa Sports Betting
• Iowa Real Money Online Casinos
• Iowa Online Poker
• Iowa Online Gambling
• Iowa Sports Betting Apps
• Iowa Sportsbook Promos

 

Iowa Horse Racing Betting Explained

Both in-person and online horse racing betting is legal in Iowa for persons 21 or older. The Hawkeye State legalized horse racing and pari-mutuel wagering in 1983. And since the state regulated sports betting in 2019, Iowa’s monthly gambling revenue has been on an upward trend, peaking at $25.42 million in September 2022.

Whether wagering on online sportsbooks with high payouts, racetracks, or off-track betting facilities, there are several platforms for Iowa horse racing lovers to place bets. Here, we discuss the 3 ways to wager on horse races in Iowa:

Legal Online Sportsbooks

With online sportsbooks, Iowa bettors can wager on their favorite horses and horse racing events in the comfort of their homes and on the go. Gambling is made so much easier, as Iowans only need a mobile device or computer and an internet connection to bet and stand a chance of earning massive winnings.

There are several Iowa horse racing betting sites, and you should carefully and meticulously select the best options for your gambling needs. All our recommended websites are top, reliable racebooks with a proven track record of providing quality service to customers. Iowa residents can browse each and pick the one that suits their needs perfectly. It’s worth noting that these sportsbooks are offshore-based, regulated, and safe to play.

Iowa Racetracks

Unfortunately for big Iowa horse racing lovers, Prairie Meadows is the state’s only racetrack for live thoroughbred racing. The horse racing track began operations in 1989 and has since expanded to a full-fledged racino.

At this track, you’ll find Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse races from May through October each year. The annual Cornhusker Handicap — a Grade II stakes race held in June — is a major highlight at the Meadows. Other events include the Iowa Derby and the Iowa Classic. Offering off-track betting (OTB) and advance-deposit wagering (ADW), Iowans interested in horse racing betting can head to the Prairie Meadows to wager on horses while enjoying the action live and in-person.

The Iowa Greyhound Park, a former hotspot for dog races, shut down in 2022 as the park’s general manager announced a shortage of dogs contributing significantly to the decision to close it down.

Off-Track Betting Facilities

There may only be a single option for live thoroughbred racing in Iowa, but the state is laden with a good number of off-track betting facilities. They include the Horseshoe Council Bluffs Casino, Wild Rose Clinton, Harrah’s Council Bluffs, and the Prairie Meadows Casino & Hotel.

You can place bets at each venue while enjoying live horse and greyhound races on a TV via simulcasting. In the company of friends, Iowans can watch their backed horses make it all the way to the finish line and celebrate the win together.

Can Iowa Residents Bet Legally On Horse Racing?

Pari-mutuel wagering on horse racing has been legal since 1983, allowing Iowans to bet among themselves rather than against a bookmaker at racetracks and other off-track betting facilities. With the legalization of advance-deposit wagering in 2011, bets can also be accepted online and through mobile devices. Note that the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission (IRGC) is the body that oversees horse racing and pari-mutuel betting in the state.

If you prefer to wager online, our recommended racebooks provide a wide range of betting markets, covering major racing tournaments worldwide. Whether betting on the Breeders’ Cup, Kentucky Derby, Melbourne Cup, or other events, our offshore sites are safe to play at. They provide live betting, generous bonuses, and more unique features to enhance Iowans’ betting experience.

Free Bets and Bonuses for Iowa Racing

Top Iowa racebooks offers customers the best free horse racing bets with no deposit and other exciting bonuses to maximize their winning chances and potential payouts. Here are some of the popular promotions found at Iowa horse racing betting sites:

Welcome Bonus

These are bonuses that Iowa horse racing betting sites offers customers to encourage or entice them to sign up on their platform. Usually, they are the biggest bonuses you’ll receive on any sportsbook in the Hawkeye State. BetUS, ‘America’s Favorite Sportsbook,’ offers over $3,000 in bonus funds, while BetNow gives weekly 10% rebates to Iowans using their racebook. Most times, the only requirements to claim a welcome package is to sign up, use a promo code, and make a deposit.

Free Bets

One of the best sportsbook promos in Iowa, free bets are a way of making wagers without any real cash involved. Note that when you use a free bet and win, your winnings will not include the free bet amount. Instead, you’ll only receive the profits. This bonus type, sometimes called a ‘risk-free bet’ by some Iowa horse racing betting sites, is usually a small amount, around $5.

Cashback/Money-Back

Called Rebates on most Iowa horse racing betting sites, Cashback offers a percentage return on selected gambling losses. They’re usually in the 5-10% range. With this bonus package, when an Iowan bettor loses a wager, they’ll be given the money back in terms of a free bet (not real money), subject to the site’s terms and conditions.

Enhanced/Boosted Odds

These are promotions where the sportsbook boosts the odds of certain events and betting markets to make them more appealing to bettors. Knowing how betting odds work is essential to take advantage of Enhanced Odds promos, often offered on racebooks like BetNow and BetUS.

Compare the Best Horse Racing Betting Bonuses

All our recommended sportsbooks offer a wide range of horse racing bonuses to enhance Iowans’ betting experience. In this section, we’ll compare these sites side-by-side, showing the promotions each offers customers.

Live Horse Racing Betting And Streaming

While some Iowa horse racing betting sites are content with providing a platform for standard betting only, others go above and beyond to include special features like live betting and streaming. BetUS, Jazz Sports, and MyBookie offer these two functions to excite bettors and add a new dimension to their gambling experience.

Using these sportsbooks, you can watch live major sports games and tournaments, including horse races, with minimal delays.

Here, we will give a lowdown on Iowa betting sites offering live streaming, live betting, racecard, and mobile apps/sites.

Choosing the Best Iowa Horse Racing Betting Sites

Although numerous online betting sites are available to Iowa horse racing lovers, they are not all of different standards and quality. For a fantastic gambling experience, you should select a licensed sportsbook with unique features. But how do you figure out the best Iowa horse racing sites? Here are some features and functions to look for in top, reputed racebooks in the Hawkeye State.

Payment Methods

The best Iowa horse racing websites offer a wide range of secure payment methods. This is so that bettors can have a wealth of options and choose one that best suits their preferences.

For instance, our recommended racebooks support payment methods like Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Cryptocurrencies, Wire Transfer, and Person 2 Person. Unfortunately, they do not accept e-wallets like PayPal, Skrill, and Neteller. Everygame and Jazz Sports, in particular, offer various banking options.

Safety & Security

Good security is essential when searching for the best Iowa horse racing sites to prevent loss of money or personal information. Before choosing a sportsbook, you should ensure it’s licensed by a reputable regulator while keeping tabs on the encryption protocols. Safe betting means happy gambling.

Customer Support

It’s normal to run into problems when placing wagers on a betting site. When you encounter such issues, you’ll want to contact a responsive customer support to resolve your complaints quickly. The best racebooks offer an excellent 24/7 support center that can be reached via various options such as live chat, email, and phone.

Betting Markets

To get the most out of your betting experience, you’ll want to be provided with a wealth of betting markets. Top Iowa horse racing betting sites cover horse race events from tracks across the world, including the US, France, South Africa, Australia, Ireland, and the Middle East. Also, they offer various betting markets like Win, Place, Show, Exacta, Trifecta, Superfecta, Daily Double, and Pick 3/4/5/6.

Bonuses & Promotions

Who doesn’t like free money? The best betting sites offer several promotions to encourage customers to keep wagering and improve their winning chances. Common bonuses at Iowa racebooks include Welcome bonuses, Rebates, Odds Boosters, Loyalty Programs, and Free Bets.

Fixed Odds for Horse Racing Betting in Iowa

Most Iowa casual bettors think horse racing betting only involves backing a horse to finish 1st place in a race. However, this isn’t the case, as there are several other bet types for bettors to explore at Iowa horse racing tracks, off-track betting facilities, and online racebooks. Below are some popular wagers in the horse racing betting world.

Win

This is the most straightforward bet type in horse racing in Iowa. It involves betting on a horse to win a race or finish 1st place.

Place

To be safer, some bettors choose Place bets, which refers to backing a horse to finish in the top 2 in a single race. Your payout will be the same whether your horse secures a 1st or 2nd place finish.

Show

This implies betting on a horse to finish in the top 3. Again, regardless of its position in the top 3, the payout will be the same. The payout for Show bets is usually smaller than Win and Place wagers.

Exacta

This is an exotic bet in horse racing Iowa that involves predicting the horses that’ll finish in 1st and 2nd place in a single race.

Trifecta

Trifecta, another exotic bet, is a wager where the bettor is expected to correctly predict which horses will finish in the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place.

Superfecta

This is an exotic wager where the bettor must predict the order of the 1st four finishes.

Daily Double

For this bet type, bettors are required to correctly select the winners of the first two races of a race meeting.

Is There Pool Betting in Iowa

Pool betting involves placing all bets of a particular type in a pool, with payout odds determined by sharing the pool among all winning wagers. And then, taxes and ‘house-take’ are deducted. This activity, also known as pari-mutuel betting, was legalized in Iowa in 1983. Iowan bettors can place pool bets at the Prairie Meadows and licensed casinos.

Iowans who prefer not to travel down to racetracks or casinos can still enjoy pari-mutuel wagering in the comfort of their homes using the best pool betting sites in the US. With these sites, the gambling experience is even better, thanks to incredible features like bonuses, odds boosters, in-play betting, and more.

Horse Racing Betting Terms in Iowa

In this section, we will discuss some popular terms usually tossed around in the horse racing betting scene. Familiarize yourself with these words and terminologies to improve your horse race gambling knowledge and increase your winning chances.

• Morning Line – This is an estimate of the odds on each horse before a race commences. The track’s handicapper places the odds once the race program is published.

• Each-way betting – An each-way bet is a wager consisting of two separate bets — a Win and a Place bet.

• Exotic bet – Refers to any bet that isn’t a Win, Place, or Show. They include Exacta, Trifecta, Superfecta, Daily Double, and Pick 3/4/5/6.

• Length – A measure of the distance between horses as they cross the finish line.

• Across the board – A wager on a horse to win, place, or show.

• Break Maiden – This is when a horse or rider records their first-ever win.

• Graded race – A stakes race given a grade (I, II, or III) by the American Graded Stakes Committee based on the relative strength of the race compared to other races.

• Marathon – A race longer than 1¼ miles.

• DQ – A disqualified horse.

• Off the place – This is a horse lagging at the start of a race.

• Scratch – Withdrawing a horse from a race.

Calculating Horse Racing Betting Odds

The best Iowa horse racing betting sites can help you calculate your potential payout. But if you don’t want to use an online sportsbook to make the calculations, several free tools are on the Internet for this function.

All you have to do is open a search engine and look up “horse racing betting calculator,” then you’ll see numerous options. Open any one of your choosing, input the details of your wager, and the betting calculator will give your potential return or profit.

For beginners and even experienced bettors, calculating potential odds and payouts can be challenging. The betting odds chart below will be helpful in determining your Iowa horse racing betting payout.

Finding A Horse Racing Strategy For Iowa

This section will highlight some Iowa horse racing betting strategies to help bettors improve their chances of winning.

Dutch or Dutching

Dutching involves choosing multiple horses in a race to give yourself a better winning chance. This strategy aims to spread your stake across several horses such that your return is the same regardless of which horse wins the race.

The Yankee Strategy

It is regarded as the grandfather of betting strategies. Here, the bettor selects four horses and wagers on all possible combinations — doubles, trebles, and an accumulator. The strategy succeeds if at least two of the four horses win or get placed in their respective races.

Do Your Research

Before betting on a horse race meeting, research the racetrack, jockeys, and more. You can check the most successful jockeys at a particular track or event. This information will help you make a more informed decision when wagering. For instance, Alex Birzer is the most successful jockey at Prairie Meadows in 2023.

Iowa Horse Racetracks

The United States horse racing track market reached $3.68 billion in 2022, a significant drop from its $5 billion valuation in 2019, indicating a decline in horse racing in the country. Like many other states, Iowa’s horse racing sector has also dwindled a bit — reflected in the single racetrack present in the Hawkeye State, the Prairie Meadows.

The Prairie Meadows

Beginning operations in 1989, the Prairie Meadows is Iowa’s single option for live thoroughbred racing. The racetrack features Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse races running from May through October each year.

In 1995, the Meadows added slot machines and developed to become a racino. At this location, Iowans will find a variety of slots, table games, and a poker room. Also, there’s a hotel featuring about 168 rooms for guests.

The Biggest Races And Meetings in Iowa

A couple of major events are hosted at the Prairie Meadows each year. And with horse racing accounting for 6% of the United States sports betting market, Iowa bettors should be looking to wager on these big local races to earn some winnings.

The following are the major Iowa horse racing events:

• Cornhusker Handicap – is a Grade III Thoroughbred stakes race held annually at the Prairie Meadows. It’s a 9-furlong race open to horses aged three-year-olds and older. Currently, it offers a purse of $300,000.

• Iowa Derby – A Thoroughbred horse race, the Iowa Derby is run over a distance of 8.5 furlongs by three-year-olds. The event, which has a purse of $250,000, is held annually.

• Iowa Oaks – Run over a distance of 11⁄16 by three-year-old fillies, the Iowa Oaks is held annually in early June in Altoona. The event carries a purse of $225,000.

Comparing Betting At The Track With Online Betting

Iowans can wager online via horse racing betting sites and in person at racetracks or off-track betting facilities. While both options are great for wagering on horses, they have downsides.

This section compares the pros and cons of betting online and at Iowa horse racing tracks.

Horse Racing Betting Apps For Iowa

Iowans don’t have to be tethered (pun intended) or remain in the same place when wagering on their favorite race meetings. With the best horse racing betting apps, bettors can place bets while on the go. Top racebooks provide apps that can be downloaded on different operating systems, including Windows, Android, and iOS.

While none of our Iowa horse racing sites provide native mobile apps, they all have intuitive and mobile-responsive sites that can easily be operated on mobile devices. Using these sites, you can stream select race events and meetings. Iowa betting sites offering live streaming functions include BetUS, MyBookie, and Jazz Sports.

How to Start Betting on Horse Racing Sites in Iowa

Are you ready to place your first horse racing bet on an online sportsbook? We’ve compiled a basic step-by-step guide to help you begin your online betting journey at BetOnline seamlessly.

Step 1: Open an Account

On visiting the BetOnline homepage, click ‘JOIN’ at the top-right corner of your screen. Then, you’ll be prompted to complete your registration process by providing certain personal information, including Name, Email address, Phone number, Date of birth, etc.

After creating your account, you’ll be required to make your first deposit. You can claim a welcome bonus using the promo code BET1000.

Step 2: Select the Racebook section

After logging into your account, click ‘RACEBOOK’ at the top menu, and you’ll be shown a catalog of all races scheduled for the day. You can choose from national and international racetracks.

Step 3: Find a Race

Choose race(s) from the list of races shown on the race card. The race card contains information about the horses participating in a race and all available bet types.

Step 4: Choose your Bet

You can start with the most straightforward bet type, Win, and select the horse you think will win the race.

Step 5: Place your Bet

Review your bet slip; if you’re happy with your selections, you can place your bet. Then, sit back, relax, and wait for the outcome of your wager.

Other Types of Gambling in Iowa

Apart from horse racing, there are several other sports for Iowans to choose from when gambling on Iowa sportsbooks. You can place wagers on a wide range of events and tournaments, such as the NBA, NFL, NHL, NCAA, the Super Bowl, the FIFA World Cup, the UEFA Champions League, the US Open, and more.

If you’re not a sports fan, you can play casino games on Iowa betting sites. You’ll find Slots, Poker, Blackjack, Baccarat, Craps, Roulette, Big Six Wheel, Pool, Video Slots, etc. From the numerous options, choose your favorite game and start playing for real money.

Conclusion: Best Site For Horse Racing Betting in Iowa

BetOnline is the best platform for Iowa horse racing. The sportsbook features a user-friendly interface, live betting, competitive odds, a 50% welcome bonus worth up to $1,000, responsive customer support, and a wide range of betting markets. Also, the betting site offers an interactive form guide for beginners and experienced bettors alike. For these reasons, BetOnline is the cream of the crop of horse racing sportsbooks.

FAQs

Can I bet on horse racing in Iowa?

You can bet on horse racing using any of our recommended Iowa racebooks, including BetOnline, BetNow, and Everygame

How to bet on horse racing Iowa?

Use Iowa online betting sites, visit the Prairie Meadows, or wager at the several off-track betting facilities in Iowa

Is horse racing a big sport in Iowa?

Yes, horse racing is a big sport in Iowa, with the state hosting big racing events like the Cornhusker Handicap, Iowa Derby, and Iowa Oaks

Does Iowa have a horse racing track?

Yes, Iowa has a horse racing track — Prairie Meadows

Do I need to visit Iowa tracks to bet on horses?

No, apart from Iowa tracks, you can bet on horses online and at off-track betting facilities in the Hawkeye State

Can I bet on Flat or Jumps racing in Iowa

Yes, you can bet on Flat or Jumps racing in Iowa via our offshore sites