Horse race betting is very popular in California. The state has some of the best tracks in the United States and is home to several prestigious races throughout the year. California has hosted the Breeders’ Cup more times than any other state, with Del Mar staging the World Championships in both 2024 and 2025. The 2026 Breeders’ Cup heads to Keeneland in Kentucky on October 30-31, but California remains one of the country’s top destinations for quality horse racing.
On this page we explain how horse race betting works in California, the state’s major racetracks, the most popular horse racing bets, and a step by step guide to betting on horse races from California.
Is Horse Race Betting Legal in California?
Yes. Unlike sports betting, which is not legal in California, betting on horse racing is fully legal. You can bet in person at California racetracks and satellite wagering facilities, or online through advance deposit wagering (ADW) sites licensed by the California Horse Racing Board. Licensed ADW sites include TwinSpires, FanDuel Racing, Xpressbet and the online betting platforms run by some California tracks.
Bets placed through licensed ADW sites go into the same pari-mutuel pools as bets made at the track. See our California sports betting section for more on the state’s betting laws.
California Racetracks
Live racing in California is now concentrated in the southern half of the state, at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Del Mar near San Diego, and Los Alamitos Race Course in Cypress. Golden Gate Fields, Northern California’s last thoroughbred track, closed in June 2024, and harness racing at Cal Expo in Sacramento ended in 2025.
California tracks and satellite wagering facilities also offer simulcast betting, so you can bet on races from across the country, including the Triple Crown races, in person.
Horse Racing Betting Options
Bets on horse races use the pari-mutuel betting system. This means the odds are not fixed. They change, even after you place your bet, depending on how much money is wagered on each horse (and bet type) in the pool.
Straight (Win/Place/Show)
- Win – A bet on the horse to win the race.
- Place – A bet on the horse to finish 1st or 2nd.
- Show – A bet on the horse to finish 1st, 2nd or 3rd.
Exotic (Exacta, Trifecta, Pick 6, etc.)
- Exacta – A bet on the horses to finish 1st and 2nd, in the correct order.
- Trifecta – A bet on the horses to finish 1st, 2nd and 3rd, in the correct order.
- Superfecta – A bet on the horses to finish 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th, in the correct order.
- Pick 4 – A bet on the winner of four consecutive races.
- Pick 6 – A bet on the winner of six consecutive races.
See our horse racing betting section for more on each bet type.
How To Bet On Horse Racing Online From California – Step By Step
- Choose a licensed ADW site. Make sure the site is licensed by the California Horse Racing Board, which means your bets go into the official track pools.
- Create and verify your account with your legal name, date of birth and address. You must meet California’s minimum age for horse race wagering.
- Fund your account using one of the site’s payment methods, and check how withdrawals work before you deposit.
- Pick your track, race and bet type, such as win/place/show or an exacta, then select your horse(s) and enter your bet amount.
- Review and submit your bet, keeping in mind that pari-mutuel odds can change right up until post time.
- Set limits. Most licensed ADW sites let you set deposit limits in your account. If betting stops being fun, help is available 24/7 by calling 1-800-GAMBLER.
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