It’s 7.37pm on a blustery Friday evening in late October. Storm Benjamin has battered the UK all day, and waterlogged racecourses are deserted.
Yet thousands of punters are glued to their screens or clustered in betting shops, watching a thrilling race unfold. Marquess Maid, a 40/1 outsider, surges ahead of her rivals as the runners thunder down the home straight.
She’s on course for a famous win, but 9/1 shot Tumba Bumba steals in and clinches first place. Devious Smile, an 18/1 underdog ridden by Sean O’Leary, finishes third.
Some punters cheer wildly, while others are left shaking their heads. Welcome to the world of virtual horse racing, which has exploded in popularity in recent years.
Why Horse Racing and Betting Go Hand in Hand
The best online bookmakers now offer a wealth of virtual sports. For example, Bresbet takes bets on virtual horse racing, greyhound racing, football, basketball, golf and motor racing. They all have their merits, but virtual horse racing is by far the best virtual sport for punters.
It’s easy to see why virtual horse racing has proved so popular. After all, horse racing and gambling have been closely intertwined for centuries. Nobles were betting on races during the reign of King Charles II in the 17th century, and professional bookmakers have been operating for hundreds of years.
Horse racing’s very structure – multiple runners, clearly defined odds, short races, dynamic outcomes – makes it ideal for wagering. There’s nothing quite like the sight of thoroughbreds in full stride as they charge towards the line. It becomes even more thrilling when you have money riding on the outcome, so betting on horse races is a national pastime.
Non-Stop Action on a Daily Basis
However, physical horse racing has its limitations. There are long gaps between races at the top meetings, and bad weather often causes meetings to be abandoned.
Meanwhile, the flat season only runs from March to November each year, while jumps racing comes to the fore during the winter months. If you prefer flat racing, you may be twiddling your thumbs in December and January.
This is where virtual horse racing comes in. Online bookmakers show virtual races on a 24/7 basis, 365 days a year. A race gets underway every couple of minutes, and there’s no chance of bad weather ruining the fun. There are flat races and jumps races every day, so you can choose your favourite format and dive into the action.
Virtual Horse Racing vs. Other Virtual Sports
Virtual horse races are now extremely polished. The animations are smooth, the graphics are sharp and the action is fast-paced and thrilling. Software developers have worked hard to capture the magic of real horse racing, using authentic commentary and sound effects to ramp up the drama and tension.
You can even check each horse’s past performance data before placing your bets. There are lots of betting options too – win, each-way, forecast, tricast and so on. Everything perfectly mirrors the real life experience.
That’s not really the case when watching a virtual football match, basketball game or cricket match. Software developers know that punters don’t want to watch a 90-minute virtual football, so they condense the action into a few minutes (60-90 seconds per half).
As such, everything feels a bit rushed and unnatural. The action is cartoonish, similar to a video game, and it can lack authenticity.
It’s difficult to replicate an entire football, basketball or cricket match, as they have millions of variables. By contrast, horse racing delivers short bursts of action. Its beauty lies in its simplicity, so horse racing is ideal for virtual adaptation.
Virtual races last as long as real races, and the sense of suspense and anticipation carries over seamlessly into the digital realm. The results are powered by Random Number Generators, which have been independently certified for fairness, and that builds up trust among punters.
The Realism Keeps Fans Engaged
Modern virtual horse races are astonishingly lifelike. Developers use motion-capture animation, dynamic weather effects and realistic camera angles to capture the thrill of a real race. They capture the energy, unpredictability and competitive spirit that make live racing so special.
That’s why virtual horse racing betting feels authentic in a way other sports simulations rarely do. Other virtual sports can be fun, but they lack the focused intensity of a single horse race.
Whether there’s a gap between meetings or you simply want a quick flutter, virtual horse racing remains the best virtual sport to bet on. It’s fast, familiar and faithful to real racing, and it continues to go from strength to strength.