South Carolina Horse Racing Betting – Find The Best South Carolina Horse Racing Betting Sites

Despite a rich history of horse racing in South Carolina dating back hundreds of years, gambling hasn’t been as rich. There is plenty of horse racing to be enjoyed in the Palmetto State, but punters must rely on fantastic offshore gambling sites to bet on the ponies.

Follow our guide to learn how to bet on South Carolina horse racing and find the best horse racing tracks for live races.

BetOnline Sports logo

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BetNow Sports logo

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MyBookie Sports logo

50% Welcome Deposit Bonus up to $1000

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BUSR Sports logo

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Bovada Sports logo

Get a Welcome Bonus of up to $750

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BetUS Sports logo

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XBet Sports logo

50% Welcome Deposit Bonus Up To $500 + $10 Casino Chip

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Jazz Sports logo

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In This Guide

Ranking The Top 10 Betting Sites For Horse Racing In South Carolina

  1. BetOnline – Best Online South Carolina Horse Racing Betting Site
  2. XBet – No-Fuss South Carolina Horse Racing Betting
  3. Bovada – Best Mobile App for Horse Racing in South Carolina
  4. MyBookie – Perfect Live Horse Racing Betting in South Carolina
  5. BetUS – Live Streaming Platform for South Carolina Horse Racing Betting
  6. BUSR – Nice Previews for US Race Meetings
  7. Sportsbetting.ag – Great Horse Racing Offers for Existing Punters
  8. BetNow – Good Coverage of Major US Meetings
  9. GTBets – Handy 10% Horse Racing Rebate in SC
  10. Betanysports – 10% More Winnings with the Racebook+ Feature

Reviewing The Best South Carolina Horse Racing Betting Sites

How did we pick our top 5? Read on for in-depth reviews of the very best South Carolina horse racing betting sites to learn about the exciting features, best racebooks, and unique offerings for wagering in SC.

1. BetOnline – Best Online South Carolina Horse Racing Betting Site

For more than 20 years, BetOnline has been the biggest name in horse racing betting in South Carolina. No other bookie today compares to BetOnline for sheer excellence in execution when it comes to betting on horse racing.

The BetOnline racebook allows you to track up to 5 races at any one time and for seasoned pros, there is a handicapping tool too. An interactive form guide makes looking for the perfect selection a breeze and punters really do have access to as much data as they’ll ever need. BetOnline provides conditional wagering as well which means you can cancel a wager before a race sets off.

We noted races from more than 600 global racetracks at BetOnline and comprehensive market coverage. Naturally, as our top pick for best South Carolina horse racing betting site BetOnline does all the basics perfectly – top-notch security, excellent payment methods including cryptocurrencies, lucrative bonuses, and a perfectly optimized website design.

Online Horse Racing West Virginia - BetOnline

BetOnline Review –
Best Online South Carolina Horse Racing Betting Site

Pros

Cons

✅ Huge international race coverage ❌ High credit card deposit fees
✅ Interactive form guides
✅ Helpful handicapping tool
✅ Enhanced Odds & a daily rebate offer
✅ Wide range of betting markets

Welcome Bonus Offer:

New users from South Carolina can obtain a sports welcome offer of a 50% matched deposit worth up to $1,000. Just use the promo code BOL1000. There is a rather low 10x rollover requirement to clear this bonus ahead of a withdrawal.

To register your new account and grab the sports welcome offer, just click the link below.

 

2. Xbet – No-Fuss South Carolina Horse Racing Betting

Without a doubt, Xbet comes close to giving BetOnline a run for its money in racing excellence. They’ve been around since the early 2000s and have developed into a highly trusted brand in South Carolina. International racing coverage is a big draw to this South Carolina horse racing betting platform, and you’ll find races from Asia, Africa, and Europe – as well as great North American coverage too.

The web design is incredibly simple at Xbet with very little flair. This isn’t a knock against the bookie – this simplicity is perfect for racing as the webpage is super responsive and wonderful to navigate. If you’re a casual punter or new to horse racing, this race card is absolutely ideal. The market range is top-notch, and you can place all the exotic bets like a trifecta or Daily Double for race meetings. You can also claim a wide variety of promo codes on our Xbet review page.

Xbet heavily promotes its focus on security including cryptocurrency support and 256-bit SSL encryption – above the usual 128-bit that many other sites boast. If you want to take home your winnings quickly, Xbet is there for you with the average withdrawal being processed in around 48 hours.

Online Horse Racing West Virginia - XBet

Xbet Review –
No-Fuss South Carolina Horse Racing Betting

Pros

Cons

✅ Massive range of banking options ❌ High Credit card deposit fees
✅ Perfect race card for new punters ❌Slightly high rollover for the bonus size
✅ Excellent International Racing Coverage
✅ 7% Horse Racing Rebate Promotion
✅ 256-Bit SSL Encryption

Welcome Bonus Offer:

This South Carolina horse racing betting site has opted for a smaller welcome offer of $500 matched deposit bonus. You’ll find a 10x rollover requirement also.

To bet on horse racing with one of the simplest bookies in town, simply follow the link below.

 

3. Bovada – Best Mobile App for Horse Racing in South Carolina

Bovada is arguably the most famous online sports betting name in the US and very few bookies are as trusted as this South Carolina horse racing betting site. Uniquely, this bookie has many benefits for casual punters and seasoned pros looking for an edge when they really know the field. The betting lines are not that great for backing the favorites, which means casual punters can find some bets of value easily and top punters can really make some money betting correctly on the underdog.

The range of international races isn’t quite up there with our top 2 bookies, but the US coverage is outstanding. There are also plenty of racing bonuses to take advantage of including enhanced odds and some money-back guarantees. However, Bovada does have a tendency to keep these just for major race meetings.

We loved the separate mobile apps for all the different arms of Bovada. This includes a sports betting app that removes all the casino and poker features – meaning punters get nothing but sports and horse racing. Bovada provides some of the lowest deposit minimums – just $10 – meaning new punters can ease into wagering for the first time.

Online Horse Racing West Virginia - Bovada

Bovada Review –
Best Mobile App for South Carolina Horse Racing Betting

Pros

Cons

✅ Excellent US coverage ❌ High deposit fees
✅ Top betting lines for casual punters
✅ Beautiful platform design
✅ Dedicated sports app with no unnecessary features
✅ Better odds on underdogs

Welcome Bonus Offer:

Head to Bovada for the very first time and you can grab a $1,000 welcome bonus. Just use the promo code CAWELCOME100. The rollover requirement is a low 10x.

To take advantage of this lucrative starting bonus, just sign up by clicking the link below.

 

4. MyBookie – Serious International Racing Coverage in South Carolina

Now some may have heard of MyBookie because of the very unique markets being offered in their sportsbook, but this South Carolina horse racing betting site features an incredible racebook too. MyBookie offers some of the most consistent horse racing odds of any betting site. They may not always be the best, but you’ll never see any awful surprises.

North American coverage is excellent, but the international offerings are where this bookie really shines. So many international regions are covered, and you can even bet on races in the Middle East.

You’ll see regular enhanced odds at MyBookie and the 8% horse racing rebate offer is one of the higher cashback offers you’ll find for horse racing in South Carolina. The web design is near-identical to Xbet, so you’ll get the same simplicity and responsiveness for live betting.

Online Horse Racing West Virginia - MyBookie

MyBookie Review –
Serious International Racing Coverage in South Carolina

Pros

Cons

✅ Incredible international racing coverage ❌ Minimum deposits are $45
✅ Sleek design and responsive live betting
✅ Low margins on major race meetings
✅ A handy 8% horse racing rebate offer
✅ Minimum withdrawal is only $50

Welcome Bonus Offer:

New punters from South Carolina who sign up for MyBookie today can enjoy a 100% double deposit bonus of up to $1,000. You’ll need to deposit a minimum of $50 and use the promo code MYB100. The rollover requirement is 10x.

For immense international racing coverage in South Carolina, just use the link below.

5. BetUS – Live Streaming Platform for South Carolina Horse Racing Betting

BetUS offers so much information, data, and insights before you even select a race. This South Carolina horse racing betting site clearly has a focus on the sport. The first thing you’ll see in the racebook is highlights and previews of the day’s races from across the globe.

Dig deeper and you’ll see great morning line odds to give punters an idea of the price and you’ll find all the usual exotic bets like Daily Doubles and Superfectas. Although, some smaller races will only allow you to back the win, show, or place and provide no exotics. There are plenty of bonuses at BetUS including daily cash-back offers. All of the promotions that BetUS has are open for everyone to see on our review page.

The other giant draw of this South Carolina horse racing betting site is the BetUS TV platform. Within you’ll be able to live stream selected races and find plenty of videos for race previews, predictions, and track insights from popular experts.

BetUS racebook

BetUS Review –
Live Streaming Platform for South Carolina Horse Racing Betting

Pros

Cons

✅ Fixed-odds betting ❌ Hefty rollover for the combined welcome bonus
✅ Huge welcome bonus
✅ Live streaming via BetUS TV
✅ Daily cash-back offers
✅ 24/7 US customer support

Welcome Bonus Offer:

The welcome bonus at BetUS is a massive one – clocking in at a possible total of $3,125. Firstly, there is the 100% sports component worth up to $2,500. Then you get a 25% casino bonus worth up to $625. The sports rollover is 10x, but the casino is 30x.

To enjoy this huge start in horse racing betting, sign up by following the link below.

More on gambling in South Carolina…

Learn about all types of online gambling in South Carolina in our expert guides below:

Comparing The Best Sites For Horse Racing South Carolina Has To Offer

Every South Carolina horse racing betting site excels in many different departments, and some are just truly outstanding. With so much quality, how can a punter choose the bookie that best suits them? Well, we have considered the factors you’ll need to think about the most and compared our bookies to see which stand above the rest.

Horse Racing Odds

Odds are one of the most important factors to consider when horse racing betting in South Carolina. That’s because the odds will determine how much money you can win betting on a horse. You’ll want to be sure the bookie of your choice offers odds of value. Bovada, BetOnline, and Xbet offer some of the most consistent odds online. If you like to go against the favorite, be sure to check out Bovada as this bookie offers excellent value on the long shot.

Live Horse Racing Betting

Horse racing is an interesting beast. The outright favorite that has had a stellar season can utterly fail within seconds of a big race. Suddenly odds can be turned on its head. This is where live betting becomes too important. You’ll want to play with a bookie that offers live betting odds that shift dynamically and respond quickly to the state of the race.  We recommend Xbet or MyBookie for a fast and responsive South Carolina horse racing betting site.

Horse Racing Betting Promotions

One of the biggest draws to a South Carolina horse racing betting site is the lucrative bonuses available to both new and existing punters. When it comes to a welcome bonus, you don’t necessarily want the biggest one out there – also consider factors like the rollover requirement.

Keep your eyes out for a horse racing-specific bonus as well – for example, Xbet and MyBookie has an ongoing offer of rebates on qualifying horse racing wagers.

Special Features for Horse Racing

Sometimes it’s that little special something that puts a bookie over the line for you. There are several different features a bookie can excel on and the best South Carolina horse betting platforms on our list certainly do just that. Like the interactive form guides at BetOnline or the live streaming available through BetUS TV at BetUS.

User-Friendly Design

Visual appeal is important when using a South Carolina horse racing betting site since you’re going to be spending a lot of time looking at their platform. There is nothing more annoying than being unable to navigate a bookie because the design is ugly, cumbersome, or just downright doesn’t work properly.  Besides, if a bookie looks like rubbish, what else have they potentially skimped on?

We like MyBookie and Xbet for sheer simplicity and both offer websites that just work – plain and simple! There are very few bells and whistles and that makes for a very streamlined service.

Now, for a great-looking South Carolina horse racing betting site, it would be difficult to look past Bovada. This bookie is beautifully designed and very easy to navigate. Best of all, Bovada has a sports betting app that removes all the unnecessary content like casino and poker gaming.

Live Streaming

A growing trend in Europe is live streaming of sports including horse racing at online betting sites. South Carolina horse racing betting sites have been slower to adapt to this trend and you’re only real option is BetUS. Using BetUS TV, you can access live streaming of horse racing in South Carolina and video race predictions too.

Check out some of the key features of the best South Carolina horse racing betting sites below:

Comparing Features At The Best Sites For Horse Racing Betting In South Carolina
Live Streaming   Racecard Enhanced Lines Welcome Offer Mobile App Handicapping Sports Betting Casino
BetOnline
XBet
Bovada
MyBookie
BetUS
BUSR
Sportsbetting.ag
BetNow
GTBets
BetanySports

 

How To Choose The Best South Carolina Horse Racing Betting Sites

Our top selections for the best South Carolina horse racing betting sites have a lot in common. They all do several things exceptionally well. That is part of the reason they beat out any other bookies that accept residents of the Palmetto State.

Below are a number of the important components that all of our top 10 bookies excel at. These are the factors new players need to consider when identifying a high-quality bookie over a dodgy one.

Brand Recognition

A great sign of a high-quality and reputable bookie is brand recognition. Just look at some of the South Carolina horse racing betting sites topping our list – Bovada and BetOnline have each been staples of US sports betting online for more than 2 decades. You can take this even further by checking out reviews and how much information about the bookie you can find online.

New punters should especially look for a well-recognized bookie as it typically means that the operation will meet all the creation for a quality horse racing betting platform.

Payment Methods

South Carolina horse racing betting sites support a multitude of varied payment methods ranging from traditional methods like bank cards to the upper end of technology like cryptocurrencies. These methods can be used for both deposits and withdrawals – each with varying benefits. A word of advice, however – always check for any fees at the bookies as you may wish to use a payment method that won’t incur added charges.

Safety & Security

Considering you’ll be handing over both personal data and banking information, you really do need to take security seriously. The top South Carolina horse racing sites on our list hold reputable gambling licenses and leverage high-end security practices such as SSL encryption of data. A quick tip for new players is to make sure your username and password don’t match or is similar to any credentials you have used previously.

Speed & Design

Due to the fast nature of horse racing, a bookie needs to be both responsive and easy to navigate. The last thing you want is to be struggling to find a race or unsure how to place an exacta due to a rough website design. Remember, that South Carolina horse racing betting sites can be fully explored before you sign up, so you can get a good idea of the platform’s design.

Customer Service

You hope that no issues ever come up when betting on horse racing in South Carolina but unfortunately it can occur. If it does, you really need to be able to reach useful assistance at a moment’s notice. Thankfully, the top South Carolina horse racing betting sites offer 24/7 and often via multiple channels.

What To Look For In The Best Sites For Horse Racing Betting In South Carolina
Brand Recognition ✅ Trustworthy

✅ Reliable

Payment Process ✅ Safe Payment Options

✅ Fast, Secure Payouts

Safety & Security ✅ Safety & Security

✅ Protecting Privacy & Personal Information

Speed & Design ✅ Fast Software

✅ User-Friendly Design

Customer Service ✅ 24/7 Live Chat

✅ Friendly Customer Service

Overall Value ✅ Best Odds

✅ Live Streaming

✅ Promotions Offers

✅ Special Features

 

Is Horse Racing Betting Legal In South Carolina?

Despite a widely cherished and long-standing history of horse racing in South Carolina, betting on races is actually still prohibited. In fact, most forms of gambling are prohibited and that includes sports betting, casino games, and pari-mutuel horse racing betting.

For horse racing betting to become legal, it would require an amendment to the state constitution and outside a push in 2017/18 with HB 3102 – which promptly died in committee – no real attempts have been made to do so.

This has left casino gamers opting for cruise line casinos that sail out to international waters and horse racing punters choosing to use offshore gambling sites like the bookies on our top 10 list.

Horse Betting Guides State by State

South Carolina Horse Racing Betting Guide – How To Bet On Horse Races In South Carolina

With only one platform for betting on horse racing in South Carolina – online gambling sites – there aren’t too many betting methods to learn. Essentially, you’ll just need to select a South Carolina horse racing betting site and head to the racebook. Betting at one of these platforms is super easy and the learning curve is incredibly fast.

How Does Horse Racing Betting Work in South Carolina?

Horse racing betting in South Carolina is a touch tricky. There is no way to bet in-person at racetracks, you won’t find any off-track betting locations, nor any casinos. This means punters need to use online offshore betting sites, but they are not technically legal in South Carolina.

If you choose to use an online South Carolina horse racing site like Xbet, your first step will be to do some research. To be a successful punter when it comes to horse racing requires the studying of form guides. Luckily, the best South Carolina horse racing betting platforms feature tools such as form guides and expert predictions.

To make a bet, simply choose your selection on the events race card. You can also choose to make more exotic bets such as an Exacta or Trifecta.

South Carolina Horse Racing Betting Explained

To best understand horse racing betting in South Carolina, it is best to check out a race card. Head to your chosen South Carolina horse racing betting site and head to the racebook – click on any race to see the racebook.

BetOnline race card

Instantly you’ll note all the horses in an individual race, the jockeys, and options for the win, place, and show wager. You should also see morning line odds provided before the race starts. Players simply need to check the boxes of the wagers they would like to place, and they will then be added to the bet slip.

Remember that multiple selections in the same race won’t create an accumulator or parlay bet. Confirm the wager in the bet slip and your wager will be placed.

Horse Racing Betting Odds

Odds are a very important factor to consider when betting on horse racing in South Carolina. That’s because odds will determine the favorites and how much money you stand to win wagering on a particular horse. You’ll be looking for horse racing betting odds of value with low margins. The lowest margins can be found at BetOnline and Bovada, with Bovada offering great value on outside horses.

You’ll find three distinct types of betting odds at South Carolina horse racing betting sites, and we’ve got a quick explanation for new punters.

Fixed Odds for Horse Racing Betting in South Carolina

Fixed odds are how all other sports are wagered on, but it is also a growing trend for betting on horse racing in South Carolina. Casual punters will certainly favor starting out with fixed odds as it is very simple to understand, and you’ll know your potential payout before the race even starts.

Fixed odds are set by the bookie and will be displayed in either fractional, decimal, and sometimes Moneyline.

Pari-Mutuel Betting in South Carolina

This is the most popular way to bet on horse racing – especially using US-based horse racing apps – and probably the most common way to bet on horse racing in South Carolina.

Basically, Pari-Mutuel betting is a form of horse racing wagering in which punter’s bets are placed into a pool and a dividend is calculated after the completion of the race. That calculation is determined by the number of punters in the pool and the number of people who have entered bets into that pool.

Pool Betting on South Carolina Horse Races

Essentially the same as Pari-Mutuel wagering except that Pool Betting is more common for exotic bet types like an Exacta, Trifecta, or Superfecta.

What Are The Different Types of Horse Racing Bets?

Casual punters might just think the only way to bet is by picking the winner of a race. However, there are actually many different ways to bet on horse racing in South Carolina. Some are rather advanced and certainly require a deeper knowledge of horse racing but others a rather simple enough to pick.

Below are the most common bet types you’ll be able to leverage at a South Carolina horse racing betting site.

Win

You can’t get an easier bet than this one. This is just a bet on which horse will win a single race. That means the horse you select must place 1st.

Place

A place is defined as finishing either 1st or 2nd in a race. The order doesn’t matter, and the bet will be a winner regardless of whether your selection places 1st or 2nd. The payout will not differ if the horse places 1st in this bet.

Show

An extension of a place bet, the show wager is betting that a horse will finish somewhere in the top three. Again, the order doesn’t matter, and the payout will be the same regardless of whether the horse places 1st or finishes 3rd.

Exacta

The Exacta wager is a bet on two-horse placing 1st and 2nd in a specific order. This means you’ll need to get the winner and the 2nd place horse correct.

Trifecta

This bet is much like the Exacta but instead, the order is important. A Trifecta is a wager on the correct order of the top 3 finishers in a single race. You must get 1st, 2nd, and 3rd in the correct order.

Superfecta

You’ll really need to know your form guide to get this one right consistently. A superfecta is a bet on the exact order of the top 4 finishers in a single race. That means getting 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th in the exact order.

Daily Double

The daily double is a wager unique to whole race meetings. That means multiple races are in play. For a correct daily double, you’ll need to successfully pick the winners of the first two races of a meeting.

Pick 3/4/5/6

This is an extension of the Daily Double. The numbers represent the number of races in a meeting you are betting on. So, a Pick 3 is betting on the winners of the first three races of a meeting, a Pick 4 would be the winners of the first four races, and so on.

Bet Type Description Bet Cost Minimum Bet
Win Overall winner of the race $2 $2
Place To finish inside the top 2 places $2 $2
Show To finish inside the top 3 places $2 $2
Exacta First two horses are in the correct order $1 $1
Trifecta First three horses in the correct order $1 $1
Superfecta First four horses in the correct order $0.10 $0.10
Daily Double Winner of two consecutive races from the same meeting $2 $2
Pick 3 Winner of three consecutive races from the same meeting $2 $2
Pick 4 Winner of four consecutive races from the same meeting $1 $1
Pick 5 Winner of five consecutive races from the same meeting $0.50 $0.50
Pick 6 Winner of six consecutive races from the same meeting $0.10 $0.10

South Carolina Horse Racing Betting Terms

Like many other sports, there are plenty of terms and phrases that are unique to horse racing. These are the words experts will use when making race predictions and performing analysis for punters – so it certainly pays to learn the most common ones.

You’ll definitely want to learn a few of these phrases to ensure you understand a form guide provided by leading online South Carolina horse racing betting sites. We’ve chosen a few of the most common terms that you’ll encounter while betting on horse racing in South Carolina.

  • Across the board– This is a wager on a single horse to win, place, and show in a single bet.
  • At the post – This is the beginning of the race.
  • Dead Heat – Two or more horses finishing a race at the exact same time.
  • DQ– this means a horse has been disqualified from the race.
  • Exotic bet – Any bet that is not a win, place, or show. Such as a Trifecta bet.
  • Form Guide – all the details and history of the horses in a race. Think of it as pre-match statistics.
  • Furlong– 1/8th of a mile
  • Length– Distance that horses are measured in as they pass the finish line.
  • Morning Line – Professional handicappers provide an odds estimate before the race begins.
  • Odds– The price that you get when betting on a horse or market. These odds could be either fixed or calculated at the end of a race in a pool.
  • PariMutuel– A bet that forms a pool of money and is distributed evenly amongst all participants in the pool based on how much they bet.
  • Purse– This is the amount of money that the horse owners or trainers can win in a single race.

South Carolina Horse Racing Betting Calculator

Thankfully, online sportsbooks will make these calculations for you. You shouldn’t ever need to calculate your own horse racing odds. But should you decide you’d like to work out the details ahead of time or perhaps you’re thinking about complex betting systems, you can use the internet to help you out.

Simply jump online and you’ll find a load of horse racing calculators that let punters input their wagers and receive a probability of betting odds and the likely payout. Failing that, some South Carolina horse racing betting sites provide morning line odds which can be used as a rough guide to what the final odds are likely to be. In our experience, these predictions at leading bookies are usually on the money.

How To Calculate Horse Racing Betting Odds

With pari-mutuel betting, the odds will be calculated at the end of the race. This calculation is made based on the amount of money in the betting pool and the number of entrants into that particular pool.

Let’s take $5,000 pool as an example. If there were 10 punters in the pool, the $5,000 would be divided by 10, leaving a dividend of $500 which will be paid out depending on the number of units wagered. If you wagered 2 units, you’d be looking at a $1,000 payout.

South Carolina Horse Racing Odds Chart:

To keep things nice and easy for South Carolina residents who are new to horse racing, we made sure to generate a handy table that outlines the common odds you’ll encounter online. Below is our betting odds table based on a $2 bet at South Carolina horse racing betting sites.

South Carolina Horse Racing Betting Odds Chart
Odds Payout on $2 Bet Implied Winning Percentage
-500 $2.40 83.33%
-400 $2.50 80%
-300 $2.60 75%
-200 $3.00 66.67%
-150 $3.33 60%
-100 $4.00 50%
+200 $6.00 33.33%
+300 $8.00 25%
+500 $12 16.67%
+1000 $22 9.0%
+5000 $102 1.96%

South Carolina Horse Racetracks

With a rich background in steeplechase racing, South Carolina doesn’t really need racetracks. Despite that, the state is home to 3 major racetracks that play host to several of the biggest racing meets in South Carolina and some of the biggest meetings in steeplechase racing.

The Springdale Racecourse is the most famous of the horse racing tracks in South Carolina and once hosted the most attended steeplechase race in history during the 2002 Carolina Cup.

Springdale Racecourse Aerial Photo

List of Horse Racetacks in South Carolina
South Carolina Horse Race Track Address Phone Number Notable Races
Springdale Racecourse 200 Knights Hill Rd, Camden, SC 29020 +1 800-780-8117 Carolina Cup
Stono Ferry Racetrack 5000 Old York Course, Hollywood, SC 29449 +1 843-766-6202 Steeplechase of Charleston
Aiken Training Track 538 Two Notch Road, Aiken, SC 29801 +1 803-648-4631 Aiken Steeplechase

 

The History of Horse Racing In South Carolina

There is a deep history of horse racing in South Carolina, in particular for steeplechase racing, and the state holds many racing traditions to this day. For a quick understanding of the sport in South Carolina, we’ve got an easy-to-digest timeline for you below.

A Timeline of the History of South Carolina Horse Racing
Date Description
1734 The South Carolina Jockey Club is formed after the Gazette publishes the first record of horse racing in the state.
1899 South Carolina Jockey Club disbands after the Civil War kills a great number of thoroughbreds in the state and horse racing all but dies.
1970s Horse racing in South Carolina sees a remarkable resurgence until the late 80s and early 90s when popularity again wanes.
2015 Popularity for the sport rises once more following the successes of local Triple Crown winners American Pharoah and Justify.

South Carolina Horse Racing Schedule 2023

There are a number of races held throughout the year in South Carolina and a great deal of Polo is played here too. Even quarter horse racing in South Carolina draws great public attention. These 6 major events held in SC are considered fantastic days out for the whole family and to this day draw great crowds to the most popular South Carolina horse racing tracks.

South Carolina Horse Racing Schedule 2023
South Carolina Horse Race  South Carolina Horse Race Track Date
Aiken Spring Steeplechase Aiken Training Track March 26, 2022
Carolina Cup Springdale Racecourse April 2, 2022
Aiken Fall Steeplechase Aiken Training Track TBA, October, 2022
The King’s Tree Trials McCutchen Training Center TBA, November, 2022
Steeplechase of Charleston Stono Ferry Plantation TBA, November, 2022
Colonial Cup Springdale Racecourse TBA

 

Carolina Cup Previous Winners

Almost without fail, the Carolina Cup is held every year in Spring. With 6 races including the Carolina Cup steeplechase in Race 5, this event attracts thousands of horse racing fans and even holds the National Steeplechase Association attendance records with 71,000 people in 2002.

Check out the previous 5 winners of the biggest horse racing event in South Carolina.

Carolina Cup Past Winners
Year Winner
2021 Noah and the Ark (IRE)
2018 Personal Start
2017 Show Court (IRE)
2016 Balance the Budget
2015 Diplomat

 

Comparing Betting At The Racetrack With Online Horse Racing Betting

With horse racing betting prohibited in South Carolina, it is not even possible to bet at the racetrack in South Carolina, and there lies the biggest difference between online and in-person track betting. But what if it was legal? While similar, wagering at a real racetrack is very different from heading online and betting at a leading bookie like Xbet.

Now, we’d never argue that one is better than the other, as it really is horses for courses, but betting online will provide the best opportunities to make more money than being at the track. Why,you ask? There are fewer betting opportunities at the track as the bookmakers will only be taking bets for that track and maybe some US races, and the simulcast machines usually only provide a single price and dividend.

Plus, online South Carolina horse racing betting sites feature so many international events too. You can also shop around as there are so many betting sites online – this means you can really shop around for odds of value.

Check out our table below for some quick guidance on the pros and cons of betting on horse racing in South Carolina at either the track or online.

Comparing Betting at the Racetrack With Online Horse Racing Betting
Betting at the Racetrack Online Horse Racing Betting
✅ Ability to see the horses before the race and get a proper feel for the start of the race ✅ Far easier to get the best possible price for your wagers
✅ No need to sign up to multiple accounts to see the prices from several bookmakers at once ✅ Better value bets owning to lower juice
❌ You’ll almost never get the best price ✅ Can use bonus funds from welcome bonuses and offers
❌ Limited betting options ✅ Far greater range of races to bet on
❌ No bonus promotions or cash rebates ✅ No cash. You can bet from the security of your own home using secure payment methods.

General Terms and Conditions at Horse Racing Betting Sites in South Carolina

When you open a new account at a South Carolina online horse racing betting site, you’ll usually be offered the welcome bonus immediately. These bonuses are wonderful to take advantage of, but punters need to remember that there are some important terms and conditions attached too.

The most notable of these terms is the rollover requirement.

Rollover Requirements

The rollover requirement tells us how many times the bonus money needs to be wagered before you can withdraw any of it as real money winnings. The terms and conditions will clearly state the rollover as a multiplier such as 10x, 20x, or even 30x. You’ll have a set time frame to complete the rollover too – usually, either 14 or 30 days depending on the size of the bonus.

For example, a $1,000 welcome bonus with a rollover of 5x means that to complete the bonus you would need to wager $5,000 in bonus funds before making a withdrawal. This is why it is important to consider the rollover requirement when claiming a South Carolina horse racing betting bonus.

Comparing Welcoming Bonuses At The Best Online Horse Racing Sites
Brand  Welcome Bonus Offer Rollover Requirement
BetOnline $1000 Welcome Bonus 10x Rollover of Bonus
XBet 100% Up To $500 – No Code Required 10x Rollover of Bonus
Bovada Up To $1,000 – BVD1000 10x Rollover of Bonus
MyBookie 100% Deposit Bonus Up To $1000 10x Rollover of Bonus
BetUS 150% Up To $3,000 10x Rollover of Bonus

South Carolina Horse Racing Betting Bonuses

Every South Carolina horse racing betting site has a promotions section – inside you’ll be able to take a look at what bonuses are on offer before you even sign up. Yes, there are the usual welcome bonuses on offer, but you’ll also find existing customer bonuses like horse racing free bets and racing rebates.

Welcome Bonus

The welcome bonus is the promotional offer given when a new player registers an account for the first time at a South Carolina horse racing betting site. More often than not, it is the largest bonus you’ll ever come across at that bookie and is typically a matched deposit bonus. For example, at Xbet, you might see a 100% matched deposit bonus of up to $500.

Free Bet

Called free bets for sports betting but often known as a Risk-Free bet when catering for horse racing punters, this type of bonus is a bet at no cost to the punter. What will happen is that the bookie will front the cost of the wager – which is usually small, like in the realm of $2-3 – and if that bet is a winner, you’ll receive the winnings, minus the stake. Not a bad trade-off!

Cashback/Rebate/Money-back

There are a number of bonuses that essentially return money back to the player in the event of a loss. You’ll find specific terms and conditions associated with these offers and the bonuses are never too hefty. However, they are certainly handy and some bookies like Xbet offer regular horse racing rebates.

Enhanced Odds

Often offered on large meets and major race days – but they’ll pop up on other races too – enhanced odds are a promotional offer of increased odds for a specific horse, market, or event. There may be some wager limits due to the increased odds but there is certainly some value to be taken advantage of.

 

Comparing The Best Horse Racing Betting Bonuses
Welcome Bonus   Loyalty Racebook Moneyback Enhanced Odds
BetOnline
XBet
Bovada
MyBookie
BetUS

Virtual Horse Racing Betting in South Carolina

A growing trend in sports betting, in general, is the increase of virtual sports. Virtual horse racing is a random number generated outcome set to a digital race for visualization purposes. Think of it as betting on a video game version of horse racing in South Carolina. The visuals are quite exceptional, and you can certainly enjoy the same thrill as a real race.

Regular virtual horse racing can be found at Bovada and it’s the perfect way for a cheeky flutter in-between race meets.

South Carolina Horse Racing Betting Apps

You don’t even need to leave the house anymore to bet on horse racing in South Carolina. This is the biggest advantage of mobile betting and all the bookies on our top 10 list feature mobile apps and excellent mobile optimization. This means you can bet on the Carolina Cup while waiting in a lift!

Horse racing betting apps let you access both US and international racing events on either your iPhone or Android device.

South Carolina Horse Racing Betting Apps for iPhone

Users of iPhone and other iOS devices only need to head to the App Store and search for their favorite South Carolina horse racing betting platform to locate the associated iPhone app. It’s just that simple. Those who are running out of memory or using an older iPhone can still open their favorite bookie in the safari browser – that’s because the best betting sites are optimized for mobile browsers.

South Carolina Horse Racing Betting Apps for Android

Android users can find many South Carolina betting sites within the Google Play store but it’s you may find some bookies offering their app via a QR code or APK file on their own website. This is because Google can be a bit touchy about gambling apps at times. We recommend the Bovada Sports app simply because it removes the clutter of additional casino games when you want to focus on the ponies.

How To Start Betting At Horse Racing Sites In South Carolina?

Taking those first steps into betting on horse racing in South Carolina is so easy and online horse racing betting sites have made the process so simple. With BetOnline as our example, we’ll guide you through registering an account and placing that first horse racing wager in SC.

Step 1: Open an account

To get started, you’ll need to sign up to BetOnline. You can begin by clicking Join Now from the homepage and you’ll just need to follow some simple prompts. Provide the necessary details, create your credentials, and verify your account. At this stage, you’ll be asked to make your first deposit and claim a welcome bonus too.

BetOnline Homepage top banner

Step 2: Find the Racebook

With your account all set up and ready to go, you’ll need to find a race. Choose racebook from the top menu at BetOnline to access all the available races to bet on.

Step 3: Select a Race

Choose a race and you’ll see all the participating horses, jockeys, and bet types available to you. BetOnline also lets you search by track, race, and meeting too.

BetOnline racebook races screen

Step 4: Place your first bet

The easiest wager to start with is to pick a horse to win. Make your selection and your choice will appear in the bet slip to the right of the screen. This slip provides all the necessary information to place your wager.

BetOnline racebook

Step 5: Submit and wait

If you are happy with your wager, click Submit and your bet will immediately be placed. Now simply wait for the result – Good luck!

Other Types of Gambling in South Carolina

There are no forms of gambling in South Carolina outside of a lottery, but offshore gambling sites offer a plethora of exciting gambling options. The leading South Carolina horse racing betting sites are more than just brilliant racebooks, they boast comprehensive international sportsbooks too – covering everything from NHL, NFL, and the NBA to European soccer, major tennis, and international cricket.

There isn’t a casino to be found in the Palmetto State, but online South Carolina horse racing bookies feature massive online casinos. The casino sections provide thrilling table games, thousands of slot variations, specialty games, and often a dedicated poker section. You can even play at live casinos with real-life dealers featuring games like blackjack and roulette.

What Is The Best Site For Horse Racing Betting In South Carolina?

With some of the most famous Steeplechase events in the world held in South Carolina, horse racing is a massive part of the state. However, with no legal horse racing within state lines, punters must rely on offshore gambling sites. The best offshore betting site for horse racing in South Carolina is BetOnline. With excellent odds and an interactive form guide, there is no reason to not sign up today.

Best BetOnline Promo Code in 2023
BetOnline Sports logo

50% up to $1000 Welcome Bonus

5 Stars Get Offer

South Carolina Horse Racing FAQ

How many races are at the Carolina Cup?

Does South Carolina have horse racing?

How do I bet on horse racing in SC?

Where is the Carolina Cup held?

How many horse racing events are there in Aiken South Carolina?

After more than a decade working in sports and casino journalism, Karina has the inside scoop on everything from sports betting laws, gambling strategy, where the value on the Puck Line is, and everything in-between. Her insights into the biggest sports and inner workings of offshore casinos have landed her on the coveted pages of Augusta Free Press and The Sports Daily.

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