Ante Post Betting – What It Is, How It Works and How To Do It

Peter Addison

Senior Betting Writer

Updated: 15 March 2024

Ante post betting is a form of (usually) horse racing betting where bets are placed days, weeks or even months in advance. The idea is that prices long before the markets for an event open are much more generous than on the day of the event. For example, a mount priced at Evens on the day of the event may have been priced at 4/1 ante post.

Experts in ante-post betting will enjoy much greater returns than punters who leave it until the day of the race to place their bets, with the downside being that ante-post markets are not available on all events, and not all bookmakers offer ante-post betting. This page will act as your full guide to the ante post meaning, and how you can use it to maximise your betting returns.

How Does Ante-Post Betting Work?

If you head to any online bookmakers, you will be able to see the ante-post markets that they have available. Just for information, the term ‘ante-post’ comes from the French word ‘ante’ and means ‘before the start’ – just like the same term in poker and some other card games. ‘Post’ comes from the post that was erected at racecourses to signal that on-course bookmaking was now available, with punters queueing at the post to place their bets. Therefore, ‘ante-post’ simply means ‘before the opening of the fixed betting markets’.

Ante-post betting is usually only available on popular racecards such as the Grand National and the Derby, and racing events like Goodwood and Cheltenham. You can, however, explore your favourite horse racing betting sites to see which ante-post betting markets are available.

In the UK, the runners for any race are usually set 48 hours before the time of the race’s start. The specific market for the same race will usually open at a declared time on the day of the race. Any bets placed before that time are counted as ante-post bets, and have their own rules which will be discussed in the next section.

Note that betting in running horse racing (i.e. live betting) does not apply to betting ante post.

Ante Post Betting Rules

Ante-post bets differ little from bets placed on the day, but because ante-post prices are usually more generous than ‘day of the race’ prices, there are some specific rules that you need to be aware of, and in particular the three below.

Ante Post Horse Racing Markets

Ante post betting is primarily related to horse racing. While the majority of horse racing meetings are available for an ante post bet, it is the biggest races and meetings that have the most ante post bets placed upon them. Here we take a look at four of the biggest races and horse racing ante post betting markets.

Ante Post Racing Calendar

Here, for your convenience, we have created a table outlining all the prominent races in the UK where ante post betting is available.

The National Hunt season runs from November until April. The Flat season runs from May until October.

Ante Post Greyhound Racing

You can bet on greyhound racing on an ante post basis too, although the greyhound racing calendar is not as exclusive or extensive as the horse racing calendar. We have picked out a few leading greyhound races where ante post betting on greyhounds is usually available.

Where to Find Ante Post Betting Markets

All leading bookmakers in the UK will have ante post betting markets. All you need to do is head to the horse racing (or greyhound racing) section of the site. Most of the races mentioned will be that day’s racecards, but if you hunt around a little, you’ll find the ante post racing options easily enough.

Before you place any ante post bets make sure you check the site’s rules about betting in advance of declarations. Most follow the same ante post script, but it is better to be safe than sorry. Also check any site’s special offers, as some will offer beneficial deals for ante post bets that you can take advantage of.

Pros and Cons of Ante Post Betting

Like all forms of betting, ante post wagering has its positives and negatives. Below we’ve outlined a few pros and cons of this way of betting on horse racing or greyhounds.

Conclusion

If the phrase ‘ante post’ held any mystery for you, we hope that any mystery has now been blown away. Remember, ante post usually only applies to horse racing and greyhound racing, and means betting on a race before runners are declared, which usually happens 48 hours before the race’s start. It means you could enjoy better prices, but with the risk of your stake being lost if your chosen mount is not declared. If you know your horses or dogs, you could make considerable profits!

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Peter Addison

Senior Betting Writer

Peter is one of the most well-known and well-respected names working in the field of online sports betting today. Having a Bachelor of Arts degree, Peter has worked for many high-profile publications in the industry, both online and in the real world. He joined the SafestBettingSites team in 2021 and has provided millions of words ever since. When not writing, Peter enjoys performing and writing music, gaming, reading and he is a massive movie buff, with a particular love of Japanese cinema and anime.

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