Horse Racing Betting in Maryland

Of all the 50 states, the state of Maryland has one of the oldest horse racing histories. You will find some of the nation’s oldest racetracks and many championship horses when exploring MD’s horse racing roots. The Free State was developing racetracks at a faster rate than most states during the 20th century, and a good number of the tracks still exist today. Efforts have been made to further improve Maryland horse racing betting by introducing simulcasting and online horse betting options. MD sports betting is popular, but betting on horses is even more ingrained in the state’s rich culture.

You can bet on the Triple Crown and so much more at any of MD’s premier racetrack locations. These include live racing venues, MD OTB locations, and the best online horse racing betting sites. Our guide to MD horse betting will take you through the A to Z of pari-mutuel wagering in Maryland, from the best places to bet on horses to how to place your first exacta bet! And as the home of the Preakness Stakes, which is the second leg of the famed Triple Crown of American Thoroughbred horse racing, the state is always in the thick of things during pony season.

Online Horse Racing Betting Sites

Maryland may have several live racing tracks, but nothing beats the convenience and perks of using online horse racing betting sites for betting on sports in Maryland. When you join an online racebook, you are taking your horse bets wherever you go. You are not restrained to spending hours at the track or having to wait in long lines. You also get free cash just for joining online racebooks, which puts you in a better position from the start. Horse bettors also receive daily rebates whether wagers win or lose. There is no shortage of Preakness Stakes betting or Triple Crown betting at online racebooks- you will find these betting odds plus hundreds more from racetracks around the world. Both straight and exotic wagers are accepted, and you can even take advantage of free bet promotions throughout the year. While there are many online horse betting sites for MD residents to choose from, the best online racebooks are SportsBetting and MyBookie.

Best Maryland Racebooks - 100% Trusted + Safe

Is it Legal To Bet On Horse Racing in Maryland?

Maryland has always been a horse betting friendly state. It is home to one of the three famed Triple Crown Races, and has been permitting residents to legally place pari-mutuel wagers for decades. Maryland Code Section 27-240; BR 11-101 et seq., BR §10-502 highlights gambling laws in the state and specifically authorizes pari-mutuel wagering in accordance with the federal Interstate Horse Racing Act (IHRA). The IHRA makes it legal for participating racetracks and betting facilities to place and accept sports wagers from one state to another. There should be no legal concerns when betting on the Triple Crown or Preakness Stakes, as MD is one of the best states for legal horse racing betting.

Betting On The Preakness Stakes

The second jewel of the Triple Crown, the Preakness Stakes, is the most prestigious horse racing event in Maryland. The event has been hosted at Baltimore’s Pimlico Race Course since 1873, two years before the first Kentucky Derby race. The record for fastest Preakness Stakes win goes to Secretariat, who won with only 1:53 on the clock. The race is held on the third Saturday of May, just two weeks after Derby Day. Every horse bettor wants to put money on who will win the Run for the Black-Eyed Susans, and there are plenty of options when it comes to Preakness Stakes betting. You can bet on the Preakness at the track, an OTB location, or at an online racebook. At the track, you can tell the clerk what track, what race, how much you want to bet, what kind of bet, and the number of the horse. These days, horse bettors are opting to use the mobile and online wagering options. The advantage is that you can place all of your bets with ease from one central location, without any lines. You can also get valuable handicapping information and updates well before post time.

How To Bet On The Horses

When you want to wager on Preakness betting odds and bet on the other legs of the Triple Crown, it is important to know the basics of the different horse bet types. There are two classifications of bets, straight and exotic. We will start with straight wagers, which include win, place, and show bets. A win bet is placed on the horse that you believe will win the race. A place bet is betting on a horse to finish first or second. A show bet is when you bet that your horse will come in first, second, or third. These bets are very straightforward, with Win bets offering the best payoff of the three. You can also choose to bet across the board, which is when you place all three bets and receive a payoff based on where your horse finishes. If your horse comes in first, you get all three bets. Second, you get the place and show bets. Third, you receive the show money.

Exotic bets are more complex and include exactas, trifectas, and superfectas. An exacta is when you bet on two horses to come in first and second, in an exact order. A trifecta is a bet on the horses that will finish first, second and third, while a superfecta entails betting on the first four finishers. It can be difficult to gauge the exact order that the horses will finish in, which is why you can choose to “box” any of these wagers so that the order does not come into play. For example, if you bet an exacta your two horses can finish in any order and you win. Boxing your bets does come with an additional charge.

Where Can I Bet On Horse Racing In MD?

While Maryland used to have a booming horse racing culture, there are only a handful of tracks still in existence today. Of those tracks, some have limited race dates but there are always simulcasts during off seasons. The most famous MD racetrack is Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, MD, a historic 1 and 3/16th-mile track that is home to the Preakness Stakes. This is the only Grade 1 Stakes race hosted at the venue, but the Dixie Stakes, Black-Eyed Susan Stakes, and Allaire DuPont Stakes also call the racetrack home. You can enjoy these live racing days, along with year-round simulcasting from tracks around the U.S. Pimlico Race Course is only 15 miles from BWI Airport, just go toward 695N and take exit 18A for MD-26 E/Liberty Rd. toward Lochearn. Once you have made a right and are following MD-26 E, turn left onto N Rogers Ave and then right onto Park Heights Ave.

Laurel Park in Laurel, MD has had many champions such as Secretariat, Spectacular Bid, and Barbaro grace its raceway. When you visit the Thoroughbred racetrack, you can watch live racing Friday through Sunday, enjoy simulcast wagering starting at 11:00 am, or dine at any of their fine restaurants. Laurel Park is only 14 miles from BWI Airport, just make a left on Whiskey Bottom Rd. and a right on Laurel Race Track Rd.

Rosecroft Raceway in Fort Washington, MD is known as the “Raceway by the Beltway” and is the oldest Harness-racing facility in Maryland. There are live racing dates throughout late spring and fall, along with simulcasts from tracks like Gulfstream, Santa Anita, and Golden Gate. The Terrace Dining room is open on all live racing dates, giving bettors an opportunity to dine at the raceway. From BWI Airport, you will take the exit onto I-495 S/I-95 S toward Andrews AFB. Take exit 4A to merge onto MD-414 W/St Barnabas Rd. toward Oxon Hill. You will keep left to continue on Oxon Hill Rd. and then turn left at the 1st cross street onto St. Barnabas Rd. Make a left onto Brinkley Rd., then a right onto Rosecroft Dr.

Off-Track Betting Locations In Maryland

A day at the races is always a great experience, but there are still other ways to bet the ponies in MD. Off-track betting locations allow you to wager on simulcast racing instead of visiting a live racing track. You can get in on the action from popular raceways, all from the comfort of a facility that also offers plenty of food and beverages. Most Maryland OTB locations have live simulcast racing 7 days a week so that horse enthusiasts never miss out on a big race. There is even a racino OTB location where horseplayers can enjoy horse betting and casino games. Below is a list of the current off-track betting locations in Maryland.

• Horseshoe Casino (Baltimore, MD)
• G Boones (Boonsboro, MD)
• Riverboat Restaurant (Colonial Beach, VA)
• Timonium OTB (Timonium, MD)
• Perryville OTB (Perryville, MD)