No analysis of horse racing would be complete without providing a forensic examination of harness racing. While it might seem quite an antiquated sporting tradition, there are plenty of harness racing tracks covering Europe and North America.

Using a sulky or a two-mounted wheel cart, harness racing is a niche sport, but any online horse racing betting or online betting platform worth its salt will carry an array of odds for the biggest meets.

There will be international competitions advertised, and there will also be a few promotions available to keep bettors keen.

We will provide a detailed overview of harness races, including race odds, upcoming and tomorrows races , the history of the sport as well as typical types of wagers you can expect to make at Stake Sportsbook!

What is Harness Racing & History?

Harness racing, otherwise known as trotting, is the competition for purse money between horses bred and trained to “trot” or “pace” that will be driven by a driver in coloured silks who will be mounted on a two-wheel cart called a “sulky”. The trotting horses moves their legs diagonally, while the pace horse moves their legs laterally.

Trotting relies on an exhilarating mix of physical and mental stamina, and its initial origins date back to 19th-century France. Although there was believed to be horse cart racing in Italy as early as 1808, the introduction of French bloodstock saw its popularity surge.

Although less popular, in the UK, it began to take hold before it spread to other parts of the world. The Canadian Standardbred Horse Racing Society was formed in 1914, and by 1938, Canadian harness racing started to take off. There was a regular gamut of race days, and horses were owned, bred, and raced for the pursuit of pleasure and profit by individuals from all walks of life.

Fast forward the story, and by the 1980s, some major races carried huge purse prizes running into the millions of dollars. As you will see later on, harness racing and horse racing serve different purposes, notably the race track where meets are contested and the quality of track odds.

How to Bet on Harness Racing

If you’re new to harness racing, you may ought to know how to bet on the sport. At the leading race books, including Stake , you’ll be able to find a full racing schedule like you would with horse racing .

Like other sports, you will find a full slate of odds in the run-up to the race, and these will be presented in decimal, fractional, or American format.

Users will then be able to input the selections, and they can see what they stand to make from a successful wager. Of course, if you run into problems while wagering at Stake, you can get in touch via customer support , and they will cover everything from account issues, including deposit/withdrawal methods to responsible gambling .

Popular Harness Racing Bet Types

Let’s now take an opportunity to run through the type of bet or bets you can make with harness racing:

Outright win - The starting point, and the easiest type as you will need to predict the winning horse and cart of a trotting race. Essentially, this is moneyline betting .
Each-way - This will be split into bet types; the first will be the win part while the other will be on the horse and cart to place.
Trifecta - One of the more exotic wagers around. You will need to select the first three finishers of a race in the exact order.
Forecast - You will need to select the two horses, but the top two in the order they finish.

Popular Harness Racing Events & Tracks

There is no single race that holds a special place in the hearts of harness racing fans, although Woodbine Racetrack, for example, is well known. Anyway, below are some of the most popular events that are well-attended:

Prix d’Amerique - Founded to commemorate American troops in World War I.
V75
Hambetonian Stakes - Carries a $1 million prize purse.
Inter Dominion Trotting Championship

Harness Betting Odds & Payouts Explained

To know how to bet on horse racing or harness racing, you need to understand the odds and payouts. Odds will be taken in the run-up to a race or consecutive races, and they will be displayed in fractional, American, and decimal formats.

Several factors will be taken into consideration, such as form guide and track conditions, but largely between sportsbooks, there won’t be discrepancies.

Odds may shorten or lengthen the closer things get to the post time for a race. Check our ultimate guide to betting on harness racing to find out more.

If you're a beginner to betting on sports, read our sports betting guide to learn how to get started.

How Does Harness Racing Differ From Horse Racing?

There are a few things that distinguish harness racing from traditional horse racing, and we have discussed them below.

There are no jumps in trotting, while the gait for trotting is very different to galloping.
Unlike the impact of horse racing, trotting enables horses to race up to several times a month.
The breeds of horses often come from different lineages in harness racing compared to traditional horse racing.
Trotting often starts from a motorised gate, whereas for horse racing, the gating will be made from a metal contraption.

Betting Tips, Strategies

For all types of sports betting , there needs to be a concrete strategy. Here are some pointers that will bode well for you moving forward:

Watch trotting races - Before betting, watch as many races as possible, so you can get a feel for the sport. This should include race replays, so you can spot patterns.
Make use of promotions - There will be plenty of bonuses floating about that will enrich your betting experience, so don’t hesitate to pounce on them.
Don’t overstretch yourself - Bet conservatively to begin, so ideally sacrifice smaller amounts before going bigger. Our vault will have resources on how to strike the right balance, especially if you prefer crypto gambling . Alternately, we have resources for betting with local currencies , if that's more your speed.
Study up the form - It’s always worth examining the race cards and assess factors such as gait which could give an indicator as to how they might perform.

Interesting Facts About Harness Racing

It’s time to round this guide off with a few interesting facts about harness racing and some of these you will not know about:

In Europe, most harness races will be trot-based.
In the US, New Zealand and Australia, pacing is preferred.
Most trotters will be Standardbred as their temperament is considered more suited for this type of racing.
The whip is used purely to make a loud noise rather than hit the trotting horse.
In some parts of the world, harness racing is more popular than flat racing.