Horse Racing in New Jersey

Horse races have been taking place in New Jersey since the early 1800s when tracks were first established at Freehold Raceway (1830), Monmouth Park (1839), and Belmont Park (1843). Today, there are three major racetracks in New Jersey where you can watch races and bet. Located in the state of New Jersey, the city of Monmouth hosts one of America’s most famous horse races – the Kentucky Derby.

You can also place bets on horse racing events at Atlantic City casinos, and there are off-track betting centers throughout the Garden State.

This Bestbestnj guide covers everything you want to learn about horse race betting in New Jersey, from the state’s tracks the most popular races, and how to place bets online and offline.

Is It Legal to Bet on Horse Racing in NJ?

New Jersey legalized online and off-track betting on horse races by approving the Off-Track and Account Wagering Act in 2001.

The law gave New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority (NJSEA) an online gambling license to offer horse race betting in partnership with Pennwood Racetrack.

The online gambling site is operated by Darby Development, which operates Monmouth Park and relies on the TVG platform.

New Jersey law requires an individual to be at least 18 years old to wager on horseraces online and sets forth residency requirements for individuals who wish to place bets from outside the state.

The NJ Racing Commission oversees horse racing betting, and some of its responsibilities include enforcing state laws, auditing ADWs, suspending licenses when necessary, etc.

Where to bet on horse racing in NJ?

You can bet on horses legally in New Jersey at four different kinds of locations:

• Online at TVG
• NJ racetracks
• Casinos with racebooks
• Off-track wagering facilities

You can also bet on horse racing online using different sportsbooks that are legal in the state. Some of them have great bonuses and promotions like the popular one is a Caesars sportsbook promo that offers $1,250 back in free bet.

TVG Online Horse Betting

To bet on horse races in NJ, you need to sign up for TVG and have your account set up, having it connected to an online sportsbook.

• Use the 4NJBets/TVG racing app online
• At a kiosk at a New Jersey race track
• By phone call

You can open an account at TVG by providing them with only a minimal amount of personal info, including:

• Your name
• Email address
• Phone number
• Date of birth
• Current address

To fund your TVG horse betting account, you can use several ways such as ACH/eCheck, Credit Card, TVG prepaid card, PayPal, gift cards, wire transfers, deposits at the tracks, and checks.

Types of Bets for Horse Racing

Whether you’re placing bets on a horse racing event at one of the three tracks in New Jersey, a simulcast race at a different location, or an Atlantic City casino you should remember that it’s way different from soccer betting in New Jersey – the below basic and more advanced bets may be available:

Straight bets

Straight bets are about predicting which horse will win a particular event. They include:

• Win: If you bet on a horse to win, place your bet and then wait for the race results. If the horse wins, you get paid at the odds that were offered when you placed your bet.
• Place: You bet on a horse’s position to finish; you should guess whether the horse will finish first or second.
• Show: Here, you must bet to guess the first, second, and third positions to win the bet.
• Across the board: three different bets on the same horse, one for each outcome.

Exotic bets

• Exactas: Place two different wagers on two horses to win, one after another, and get a payout at big odds. You can also place both bets separately, which means placing two separate bets on two horses to win in that order.
• A quinella bet is when you bet on two different outcomes for an event to occur. You win if both events happen; otherwise, you lose.
• A trifecta bet is when you wager on three different horse races and win them together. You can also box a trifecta, where you place multiple trifectas on each race but change the order of the winners.
• A superfecta bet is when you place a wager on four horses to win, with each horse finishing either first, second, third, or fourth.
• Wheeling. You can place any of these exotic bets at any time and any order. It’s similar to placing multiple bets with different horses, so they finish in different spots. You pick the horses you think will win at the top and add more options to get less expensive than boxing while increasing your chances of winning.

The Triple Crown

The most important race in American horseracing is actually three separate races. The Triple Crown of Horseracing, or just the Triple crown, is a series of races for three-year-old horses.

The horses compete for the title of Triple Crown champion by winning each of the races: Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, and Belmont Stakes.

The first leg of the Kentucky Derby takes place on the first Saturday in May. It is also called “The First Leg,” “The First Saturday in May,” or simply “the Derby.” The race is usually run on a one-mile track.

Preakness Stake: The second race is held two weeks after Kentucky Derby at the Pinnacle Bank Arena in North Carolina. It is usually run on a one-mile track.

The jewel of the triple crown is held at Belmont park, New York, in the first weeks of June. if a horse has won the second two legs of the Triple Crown, news coverage usually explodes for this long 1.5-mile horse race.

All You Need to Know About the Kentucky Derby

The Kentucky Derby is a highly anticipated annual horse race that takes place on the first Saturday in May at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. It is one of the most prestigious horse races in the world and is the first leg of the Triple Crown, which includes the Preakness Stakes and the Belmont Stakes.

It has a long and storied history, dating back to its first running in 1875. It is widely regarded as the oldest continuously held sporting event in the United States. The race is a Grade I stakes race for three-year-old Thoroughbreds and covers a distance of 1 1/4 miles (2.0 km).

The Kentucky Derby is often referred to as the “Run for the Roses” because of the blanket of roses draped over the winner. It is a highly anticipated event, drawing thousands of spectators from all over the world, many of whom dress up in fancy attire for the occasion. The race is steeped in tradition and is known for its iconic Mint Julep, a bourbon-based cocktail.

This is not just a horse race, but also a cultural event that draws in celebrities, high society, and horse racing enthusiasts from all over the world. It is one of the most-watched sporting events on television, with millions of people tuning in to watch the race live or on television.

Kentucky Derby 2023 Odds and Post Positions

As the much-awaited Kentucky Derby approaches, the horse racing world is currently buzzing with excitement as the “Road to the Kentucky Derby” is in full swing. The thoroughbreds are currently earning their qualifying points by competing in a series of prep races, with certain events carrying more weight than others. While there are still some races left to be completed, the current top ten on the leaderboard is slowly taking shape, and fans can’t wait to see which horse comes out on top. Take a closer look at the current standings and points earned by each contender so far.

Other New Jersey Horse Racing Events

New Jersey hosts some of the most lucrative horse races in the country. By searching below, you can find a listing of the state s biggest purses and the venues where they take place.

• The Hambletonian: $1 million prize, open to 3-year-old Standardbred trotters, is held every August at Meadowlands Racetrack.
• Hambletonian Stakes: $500,000 prize, open to 3yo colts, held each May at Saratoga.
• Haskell Invitational: A $1 million purse, open to three-year-old thoroughbred horses, is hosted each summer at Monmouth Racetrack.
• UN Stakes: $300K purse, open to 3-year-old thoroughbred horses, located at Monmouth park each summer.
• The Monmouth Cup: a $30,000 purse open for three-year-old thoroughbred horses, is held at Monmouth Park in New Jersey every summer.
• Molly Pitcher Stake: $250,000 prize, open to three-year-old thoroughbreds, held every July at the location of Monmouth Park.
• Far Hills Horse Races: One of the biggest horse races in the country, which takes place every year in Far Hills, New Jersey.
• Breeders Crown: An annual harness racing championship series with over $6 million in prize money, which is hosted annually at Meadowlands Racetrack.
• Meadowlands Pace: A $700,000 prize, available for 3-year-old pacers; held every year at Meadowlands Racetrack
• WR Haughton Stakes: $450,000 purses held yearly at Meadowlands Racetrack.

Top New Jersey Racetracks

All New Jersey racetracks provide live horse races, simulcast wagering, and sportsbook services.

Freehold Raceway

130 Park Ave

Freehold, New Jersey

Freehold Raceway offers harness racing throughout the winter and summer months. It also has a retail sportsbook powered BetParx.

Meadowlands Racetrack

1 Racetrack Drive

Rutherford, New Jersey

Meadowlands Racetracks offer live thoroughbred horse races and harness horse races every Friday and Saturday. They also provide parimutuel wagering by simulcasting for the whole week throughout the entire season, and they host FanDuel Sportsbook, which is one of New Jersey’s most popular betting sites.

Monmouth Park

175 Oceanport Ave.

Oceanport, New Jersey

Monmouth Park hosts horse races throughout the year, but they’re most popular during the spring and summer months. During these times, Monmouth Park features simulcast racing the whole week, from around noon until midnight. Monmouth Park Racetrack offers both pari-mutuel and straight-betting options for guests.

Options to Watch Horse Races Online in NJ

If you’re interested in watching chosen horses race, you can watch them on both TVG and TVG 2. They carry all of the biggest events. If you want to watch horse races in online mode, go to tvg.com and sign up for an account. Or you can use casino apps for real money in NJ as they often have live streams.

Other options include Roku, Amazon Firestick, and Apple TV for those who want to watch races on TV but consider that they offer limited choices.

Horse Online Betting Tips

Here are some important things to remember when placing bets on horse races.

Conduct Research

Some people bet on horse races for the thrill of winning big payoffs. But if you want to win consistently, you must put in serious effort. Read up on horse races and collect some information about participants and predictions from experts before placing any bets.

Choose Horses That Show Momentum

When wagering on a race, one key is to look at the horses’ recent track records. If you’re placing your bets on the Kentucky Derby and the racehorse you’re considering has already won all three of its previous contests, that’s a good sign. You want to find good horses who are already doing well and have some kind of advantage.

Learn about Jockeys

Having an experienced jock on the saddle is important when riding a horse. They know how to handle the horses if they successfully win previous races. Keep an eye out for any changes in the horses’ behavior, especially if they’re new to each other. If the pairings seem familiar, there might not be anything to worry about.

Handicap The Track

Another one of the most important aspects of horse racing betting in New Jersey is paying attention to what kind of track they’re running on. If it is a short race, horses who excel at running with the pack may fare better than if it is longer. Take note of whether it is grass, soil, or other, and what kind of climate there is. All these things will affect how the horses perform.

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