The Group 1 George Main Stakes (1600m) will be held at Royal Randwick on Saturday, September 18 and Bettingpro.com.au provides you with a comprehensive guide to the race.
The Group 1 JJ Atkins (1400m) will be run at Eagle Farm on Saturday, June 6 and Bettingpro.com.au provides you with a comprehensive guide to the race.
The Stradbroke Handicap 2026 is the showpiece of the Brisbane Winter Carnival , a $3 million Group 1 over 1400m at Eagle Farm on Saturday 13 June 2026.
Spicy Martini won the 2026 Stradbroke Handicap , the $3 million Group 1 over 1400m that closed the Brisbane Winter Carnival at Eagle Farm on Saturday 13 June 2026.
The Quokka is Western Australia's richest race , a $5 million slot sprint over 1,200m at Ascot Racecourse in Perth, run each April and decided like Sydney's Everest: 18 slot-holders buy a spot and pair with a horse.
The 2026 Queen Elizabeth Stakes produced the autumn’s biggest upset: Sir Delius ($6) powered clear by 2¼ lengths under Craig Williams , for trainers Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott , to win Australia’s richest weight-for-age race.
The 2026 TJ Smith Stakes was won by the brilliant Chris Waller mare Joliestar ($3.90 favourite), who under James McDonald hit the front 400m out and held off a fast-finishing Giga Kick ($4.60) by half a length, with Skybird ($41).
The 2026 Doncaster Mile was won in breathtaking fashion by the brilliant filly Sheza Alibi ($1.90 favourite), who under Jamie Melham , for trainers Peter Moody & Katherine Coleman , streaked clear to win Australia’s great mile.
Changingoftheguard won the 2026 Sydney Cup. Here is the full result and finishing order from the 2026 Sydney Cup (Group 1, 3200m) at Royal Randwick, Sydney on Saturday 11 April 2026.
Streisand won the 2026 Blue Diamond Stakes. Here is the full result and finishing order from the 2026 Blue Diamond Stakes (Group 1, 1200m, two-year-olds) at Caulfield, Melbourne on Saturday 21 February 2026.
Light Infantry Man won the 2026 Australian Cup. Here is the full result and finishing order from the 2026 Australian Cup (Group 1, 2000m) at Flemington, Melbourne on Saturday 28 March 2026.
From the Melbourne Cup to your local Saturday meeting, horse racing is the beating heart of Australian sports betting. Choosing the right bookmaker means better odds, more markets and features like live streaming. Here are our top-rated racing bookmakers. See the full Melbourne Cup winners list.
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18+ T&C's Apply. What are you really gambling with? Chances are you're about to lose. Set a Deposit Limit For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au
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| Bookmaker | Best For | Key Feature |
|---|---|---|
| OnlyBets | Newest AU Bookie | Fresh AU-licensed launch with PayID withdrawals and mobile-first design |
| Picklebet | Quick Bets | Fast sign-up, clean interface for race day |
| Dabble | Social Betting | Follow other punters and share your racing picks |
| Neds | Racing Markets | Extensive exotic bet types and racing specials |
| Ladbrokes | Best Odds | Consistently competitive fixed-odds pricing |
| BetNow | Modern Sportsbook | Clean app, PayID withdrawals and competitive odds across all major sports |
| bet365 | Live Streaming | Watch every Australian & international race live |
Australian bookmakers offer a wide range of bet types for horse racing, from simple win bets through to complex exotics. Understanding your options is the first step to smarter punting.
| Bet Type | How It Works | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|
| Win | Your horse must finish first. | Easy |
| Place | Your horse must finish in the top 2, 3 or 4 (depending on field size). Lower odds but higher chance. | Easy |
| Each Way | Two bets in one — a win bet and a place bet on the same horse. Costs double your unit stake. | Easy |
| Quinella | Pick the first two finishers in any order. | Medium |
| Exacta | Pick the first two finishers in the correct order. | Medium |
| Trifecta | Pick the first three finishers in the correct order. | Hard |
| First 4 | Pick the first four finishers in the correct order. Huge payouts but extremely difficult. | Very Hard |
| Quaddie | Pick the winner of four nominated races (usually the last four on a card). | Hard |
| Multi / Accumulator | Combine win bets across multiple races. All selections must win for the bet to pay out. | Hard |
| Mystery Bet | The bookmaker randomly selects your horses for you. Fun option for casual punters on big race days. | Easy |
| Same Race Multi | Combine multiple selections within a single race (e.g. Horse A to win + Horse B to place). More flexible than exotics. | Medium |
Need help calculating your exotic bets? Use our First 4 calculator guide and Quaddie calculator guide to work out your percentage plays and potential payouts.
Looking to combine selections within a single race? Our Same Race Multi guide explains how SRM bets work and which bookmakers offer them.
Australia’s racing calendar features some of the biggest and richest events in world thoroughbred racing. These carnivals generate the most betting interest and are where you’ll find the deepest markets and most competitive odds.
| Race / Carnival | Date | Venue | Distance | Prize Money |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Golden Slipper | 22 Mar 2026 | Rosehill | 1200m | $5m |
| Stradbroke Handicap | 13 Jun 2026 | Eagle Farm | 1400m | $1.5m |
| The Everest | 17 Oct 2026 | Royal Randwick | 1200m | $20m |
| Caulfield Cup | 17 Oct 2026 | Caulfield | 2400m | $5m |
| Cox Plate | 24 Oct 2026 | Flemington* | 2040m | $6m |
| Victoria Derby | 31 Oct 2026 | Flemington | 2500m | $2m |
| Melbourne Cup | 3 Nov 2026 | Flemington | 3200m | $8.75m |
For detailed race-by-race guides, visit our dedicated carnival hubs:
*The 2026 Cox Plate will be held at Flemington for the first time in the race’s history, while The Valley undergoes redevelopment.
The Melbourne Cup is Australia’s most famous horse race and the single biggest betting event on the racing calendar. Held on the first Tuesday in November — 3 November 2026 — at Flemington Racecourse, the 3200m Group 1 handicap draws international stayers and captures the attention of the entire nation.
Betting on the Melbourne Cup opens months in advance, with futures markets available at all major Australian bookmakers. As the field takes shape, you’ll find markets for win, place, each way, exacta, trifecta, first 4, quinella and a range of novelty bets (first past the post, last to finish, etc.).
The 2026 Melbourne Cup Carnival runs from Saturday 31 October (Victoria Derby Day) through to Saturday 7 November (Champions Stakes Day), with four major race days across the week. The Cup itself goes off as Race 7 at 3:00 PM AEDT.
Melbourne Cup betting tips:
For a lighter read between meetings, see our countdown of the top 10 harness racing horses of all time.
Horse racing betting is deeply embedded in Australian culture, and getting started is simple. Here’s how to place your first racing bet.
1. Choose a licensed bookmaker — Sign up with one of our recommended horse racing betting sites. All bookmakers listed on BettingPro hold valid Australian licences.
2. Deposit funds — Most bookmakers accept bank transfer, debit card, PayID, POLi and Apple Pay. Minimum deposits start from $10.
3. Find your race — Navigate to the Racing section. Races are organised by meeting (venue) and race number. You can browse today’s card or look ahead to feature races.
4. Choose your bet type — Start with simple win or each-way bets. Once you’re comfortable, explore exotics like quinellas, trifectas, first 4s and quaddies.
5. Fixed odds vs tote — Fixed odds lock in your price at the time of betting. Tote odds are determined by the parimutuel pool and finalised at race jump. Most punters prefer fixed odds for certainty.
For a deeper look at exotic betting, read our guides on how to calculate a First 4 percentage and how to calculate a Quaddie percentage. For more on mystery bets, check our mystery bet explainer.
bet365 offers live streaming of Australian and international horse racing directly through their app and website. You can watch every race from every major Australian meeting — all you need is a funded account or to have placed a bet in the last 24 hours.
Under Australian law, we are required to inform you that Live Streaming on bet365 is exempt from Parts 3 and 4 of the Broadcasting Services (Online Content Service Provider Rules) 2018.
Ladbrokes also provides live vision of selected Australian and international race meetings through their app. Sky Racing (Sky 1 and Sky 2) remains the primary broadcast channel for Australian thoroughbred, harness and greyhound racing, available through Foxtel and Kayo Sports.
For greyhound racing tips, visit our greyhound racing hub.
Ladbrokes and Neds offer the widest range of racing markets and consistently competitive fixed-odds pricing. bet365 is the standout for live streaming, while Picklebet and Dabble are great options for punters who prefer a modern, mobile-first experience.
A Quaddie (or Quadrella) requires you to pick the winner of four nominated races, usually the last four on a race card. All four selections must win for the bet to pay out, but payouts can be substantial. You can take multiple selections per leg to increase your chances — use our Quaddie calculator to work out the cost.
The 2026 Melbourne Cup will be held on Tuesday 3 November at Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne. The race goes off at 3:00 PM AEDT as Race 7. The full Melbourne Cup Carnival runs from 31 October to 7 November.
Fixed odds are set by the bookmaker and locked in when you place your bet — you know exactly what you’ll be paid if you win. Tote odds are determined by the total betting pool and aren’t finalised until the race jumps. Fixed odds give you certainty, while tote dividends can occasionally be higher on outsiders.
Yes, horse racing betting is fully legal in Australia through licensed bookmakers. All operators listed on BettingPro hold valid licences issued by Australian state or territory racing authorities. You must be 18 or older to place a bet.
For same game multi tips across all sports, check our SGM tips page. Looking for the best horse racing betting sites? Read our horse racing betting sites guide.
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