Three Horse Racing Betting Tips for the Latter Half of 2025
Photo by Mike Kotsch on Unsplash
The first half of 2025 was a blockbuster one in the world of sports. In February, we saw the Philadelphia Eagles ransack the Kansas City Chiefs and torpedo their hopes of completing a history-making threepeat.
Earlier this month, we saw Liverpool claim their second Premier League title in five years thanks to a blistering campaign under new manager Arne Slot, with his side’s exploits ending Manchester City’s four-year stranglehold on English football.
In the coming weeks, there is plenty to be excited about, too. Staying with the beautiful game, Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Milan will contest the Champions League final on May 31st, while the aforementioned Nerazzurri also have to find a way to hold off Antonio Conte’s rampant Napoli in the Serie A title race.
Summer traditionally becomes a quieter time in the sporting world, but one sport that continues to power on is the spectacle that is horse racing.
So far this year, we have witnessed plenty of thrills and spills over in the UK at the illustrious Cheltenham Festival, while America’s flagship race, the Kentucky Derby, also garnered plenty of headlines.
Now, attention turns toward the back end of the year, and there are plenty of blockbuster races scheduled between now and the dawn of 2026. But which prized steeds are contenders to win them? Let’s take a look.
Sovereignty to Win the Breeders’ Cup Classic
Sovereignty is a name that already resonates with horse racing fans after a spectacular victory at the Kentucky Derby a few weeks ago.
It was really quite something to see! Despite closing as a +700 outsider at the Churchill Downs showdown, the three-year-old colt managed to rally down the stretch, overturning a narrow margin to the short-priced pre-race favourite Journalism to ultimately reign supreme.
Did you cash in on Sovereignty winning the 151st Kentucky Derby? +600 🤑#KentuckyDerby
pic.twitter.com/KwIFwCjX8U— Bovada (@BovadaOfficial) May 3, 2025
That triumph certainly caught the eye of horse race betting providers and oddsmakers, and now the champion of Kentucky has been earmarked as a contender to crown a stunning breakout year with victory in America’s richest race, the Breeders’ Cup Classic.
The latest horse racing betting at Bovada odds makes Bill Mott’s charge a +1000 shot to reign supreme at Del Mar later this Fall – a price that certainly seems generous considering just how well-rested he will be.
Mott and the powers that be surrounding Sovereignty have opted to resist the lure of the Triple Crown, choosing to skip the upcoming Preakness Stakes in a bid to focus their efforts entirely on the latter part of the year.
He is expected to feature in the Belmont Stakes in June, but the news of his shelving will be welcome to those looking to back the thoroughbred in the Classic later this year.
Historically, horses rested during the Triple Crown circuit returned to dominate key races later in the year, and that could result in Sovereignty bringing the campaign down on a stellar year with another huge victory.
The Lion in Winter To Win the Epsom Derby
Over in the UK, The Lion in Winter is positioned as the favourite to win the upcoming Epsom Derby, arguably Britain’s most prestigious flat race.
Aidan O’Brien’s two-year-old remains unbeaten, and with both impressive recent performances and pedigree on his side, the bookies have positioned him as the short-priced +275 favourite to reign supreme in June.
The Ryan Moore-ridden colt has already demonstrated exceptional ability in his outings thus far, and he has been in scintillating form throughout his two-year-old season.
A standout victory in the Acomb Stakes at York showcased his class, breaking the track record and defeating the highly-rated 2000 Guineas winner Ruling Court.
He is expected to be his biggest rival once again at Epsom, with the bookies currently pricing him as the +400 second favourite, but it’s The Lion in Winter that remains the frontrunner.
But it isn’t just The Derby in which O’Brien’s charge could reign supreme. He is also being listed as a +1000 contender to win the St Leger in September.
The Doncaster showpiece is the third leg of the British Triple Crown, much like The Derby is the second, and if The Lion in Winter can end the season by winning 66% of the storied series, he will surely have positioned himself as the colt to beat on the flat racing stage.
Ka Ying Rising to Win The Everest
Australia’s The Everest is one of the most lucrative horse races on the planet and offers up a whopping prize to its victor. The short six-furlong showdown is, without question, riveting, but this year, it has an overwhelming favourite.
That, of course, is the sensational Ka Ying Rising, a horse positioned as the even-money betting favourite and for good reason. With 12 consecutive wins, including multiple Group 1 triumphs, this Hong Kong superstar has cemented itself as the world’s top-rated sprinter.
His blistering speed was on full display in the recent Centenary Sprint Cup victory, where he exploded past his rivals in Sha Tin to win in record-breaking time. Under David Hayes’ exceptional training and with Zac Purton on board, this sprinter looks poised to breeze toward Everest glory.
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