Maryland online horse betting

On this page, you will learn everything you need to know about online horse betting in Maryland, including the different horse betting types of bets and its legal status in MD.

By: Dan Bradley

Fact checked by: Gary Garry

| Last Updated: February 29, 2024

Table of contents

Is horse race betting legal in Maryland?
Online horse race betting sites in Maryland
Different types of bets to place on horse races
Physical locations for horse betting in Maryland
FAQ

Maryland’s horse betting scene is one of the top markets in the country as the home site of the Preakness Stakes, the second jewel of the Triple Crown, and the history of horse racing in the state dates back to colonial America.

As a result, horse racing generates more than $1B in economic impact on the state each year. Here, we’ll cover the broad spectrum of Maryland horse racing, the names to know, and how to get started with horse betting.

Is horse race betting legal in Maryland?

Yes, horse race betting is legal in Maryland. Betting on horse racing has been legal in Maryland since the early 1900s, with online horse betting becoming available through TVG (now FanDuel Racing) in 2004.

You must be at least 18 years old to bet on horse racing, which differs from the age of 21 required for Maryland sports betting.

Online horse race betting sites in Maryland

Online horse race betting should only be done through licensed operators. This is the best way to ensure your money and your personal information are protected while placing your wagers. We recommend the following options:

TwinSpires

Partnering with Ocean Downs Casino, TwinSpires has specialized in horse racing offerings after shutting down its online sports betting and iGaming verticals in 2022. A subsidiary of Churchill Downs, TwinSpires is constantly working to improve horse racing technologies in the betting industry.

DK Horse

The horse racing arm of DraftKings Sportsbook, DK Horse launched just ahead of the 2023 Kentucky Derby. DK Horse allows the streaming of races within the betting app, but it also requires a separate signup and account from the MD sportsbook.

FanDuel Racing

FanDuel is the dominant sportsbook operator in Maryland, accounting for nearly half of the state’s lifetime online sports betting handle. As a result, FanDuel Racing is one of the most popular options as well.

Different types of bets to place on horse races

There are a number of different types of horse race bets available. In addition to the basic bets with straightforward payouts, there are exotic wagers, and we look at them below:

Win, place, and show

Win Bet: Much like a moneyline bet in other types of sports betting, a win bet involves picking what horse you think will win the race. Of the three straight wager types, this option has the highest potential payout for your wager.
Place Bet: If your horse finishes second and you have a win bet, you’re out of luck, but with a place bet, your wager still wins. Place bets are great for when you’re expecting a horse to finish first or second but are unsure of the order.
Show Bet: The show bet is similar to the place bet, but instead of covering the top two finishers, it instead covers your horse finishing anywhere in the top three. This has the smallest potential payout of the three straight wager types.

Exotic wagers

Exacta: An exacta is a bet on the top two finishers. You can play a straight exacta and pick them in the correct order, or a box where you will win if they finish 1-2 in either order.
Quinella: Quinella bets are a bit rarer and aren’t offered by as many racebooks. A quinella is like an exacta bet, although with quinellas, the order doesn’t matter, you simply need to pick the top two finishers in either order.
Trifecta: One of the hardest bets to hit but with one of the most rewarding payoffs, the trifecta involves picking the right horse to finish first, second, and third in a given race. An offshoot of this called the “box trifecta” is where you pick the top three finishers but their order does not matter.
Superfecta: Taking things even further than the trifecta, with a superfecta bet, you pick the correct horse for each of the top four finishes. Because it is expensive to construct a ticket that allows for multiple combinations, the minimum bet amount at most books for a superfecta is just $0.10. Since the payouts can be significant, a win at this small increment can still yield a considerable profit.

Physical locations for horse betting in Maryland

Horse betting can be done either at one of the Maryland horse racing tracks or at one of the off-track betting locations in Maryland. Here are a few of Maryland’s top options for each:

Horse racetrack locations in Maryland

Casino at Ocean Downs, Berlin: Located just five miles from the Ocean City boardwalk, the casino at Ocean Downs has been a horse racing hotspot since 1949. It was previously known as “Delmarva Downs” (Delmarva being a portmanteau for Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia), but the name was changed in 2000 under new ownership.
Laurel Park, Laurel: The Laurel Park Racetrack opened in 1911 and was once the training ground for Seabiscuit, ahead of the legendary race against War Admiral. Its 1 ⅛ mile track brings in nearly 700,000 visitors annually to watch the thoroughbred action.
Maryland State Fair, Timonium: One of the oldest tracks in the state, thoroughbred racing at Timonium dates back to 1887 as part of the State Fair, which still oversees the operation of the course. It is the only thoroughbred fair meet still running on the East Coast.
Pimlico Race Track, Baltimore: The home site of the Preakness Stakes since the inaugural race in 1873, Pimlico Race Course is among the most iconic race grounds worldwide. The Preakness distance is an odd 9 ½ furlongs (1 3/16 miles), the shortest of the Triple Crown distances.
Rosecroft Raceway, Fort Washington: Known for its harness racing track, Rosecroft Raceway opened in 1949. The course is nicknamed the “Raceway by the Beltway” because of its proximity to Interstate 495. It has previously acted as an official course for the Breeders Crown and the Messenger Stakes, the second leg of the Triple Crown of Harness Racing for Pacers.

Off-track betting locations in Maryland

Horseshoe Casino OTB, Baltimore: Partnering with Caesars Sportsbook, Horseshoe Casino offers 44 betting carrels and 30 screens to watch the races. Just a short walk from M&T Bank Stadium and Camden Yards, Horseshoe can be a great central location for all your racing and sports entertainment needs.
Long Shot’s OTB, Frederick: Long Shot’s is the OTB partner with Betfred Sportsbook, with 14 live and automated tellers and dozens of screens covering races around the world.
Timonium OTB, Timonium: Timonium has partnered with DraftKings Sportsbook to offer a sports betting retail location at the fairgrounds, but it hasn’t opened at the time of this writing. The self-service horse race betting kiosk opens at 11:30 AM every day with tellers usually opening at noon.

FAQ

When did online horse betting launch in Maryland?

Online horse betting launched in Maryland in 2004 with the TVG wagering platform that is now FanDuel Racing.

Is horse race betting popular in MD?

Yes, horse race betting is popular in Maryland. The Old Line State is home to the Preakness Stakes, one of the jewels of the Triple Crown, and can trace its horse racing roots back to the 1700s. Maryland was the first colony to establish horse racing tracks.

Where can I find the latest Maryland horse racing bonuses?

You can find the latest Maryland Horse Racing Bonuses at MDBetting.com. Here, we’ll have promotions listed from each of the Maryland racebooks so you can find the right place to make your bets.

Author Details

Dan Bradley

Dan Bradley is a researcher and betting expert at MD Betting. He has spent more than 10 seasons as a hockey broadcaster for junior teams in Illinois, Minnesota, and Ohio, and can often be found at the rink when not writing or cohosting his NHL podcast called Pod Snipe Celly.

Fact checked by: Gary Garry