How does the horseracing betting levy work and where does the money go?

The Horserace Betting Levy Board collects contributions from licensed bookmakers operating in Great Britain. Bookmakers pay 10% of their gross profit from British racing above a £500,000 threshold annually. This money funds prize money (£72.7 million directed to purses in 2025), racecourse improvements, horse welfare initiatives, breeding programmes, and veterinary research. When you bet on the King George, approximately 10% of the bookmaker's profit margin on your bet eventually returns to the sport through this mechanism. The system ensures betting activity directly sustains the racing ecosystem rather than simply enriching bookmakers.

What is Non-Runner No Bet and should I use it for ante-post King George betting?

Non-Runner No Bet (NRNB) is a bookmaker offer that refunds your stake if your selected horse does not participate in the race. Standard ante-post betting forfeits your stake if the horse is withdrawn for any reason — injury, unsuitable ground, or trainer decision. NRNB eliminates this risk but typically offers shorter odds than standard ante-post prices. The calculation depends on your assessment of non-runner probability. For horses with recent injury concerns or trainers known for late withdrawals, NRNB often represents good value. For established performers with reliable training records, the price reduction may exceed the actual non-runner risk, making standard ante-post terms preferable. Check which bookmakers offer NRNB on the King George specifically, as coverage varies.

Why do Kempton's track characteristics favour certain types of horses in the King George?

Kempton Park features a flat, right-handed triangular circuit that rewards specific attributes. The absence of significant undulations means horses cannot use uphill climbs to break rivals or downhill sections to recover — sustained galloping speed matters throughout. The tight bends demand balance and agility; ponderous gallopers lose momentum on turns. Most critically, the 175-yard run-in from the final fence to the winning post is exceptionally short. Horses who cannot quicken immediately after jumping have insufficient ground to close gaps. This rewards front-runners and prominent racers who control the pace and maintain position approaching the last fence. Hold-up horses can win, but they must possess extraordinary acceleration to compensate for the limited finishing straight. Proven Kempton form indicates a horse handles these specific demands, which explains why six of the last twelve winners had won previously at the track.

Cookie Policy

This Cookie Policy explains what cookies are, how we use them on our website, and your choices regarding their use. By continuing to use our website, you consent to the use of cookies as described in this policy.

What Are Cookies

Cookies are small text files that are placed on your computer or mobile device when you visit a website. They are widely used to make websites work more efficiently and to provide information to website owners.

Cookies can be “persistent” or “session” cookies. Persistent cookies remain on your device after you close your browser until they expire or you delete them. Session cookies are deleted when you close your browser.

How We Use Cookies

We use cookies for the following purposes:

Essential Cookies

These cookies are necessary for the website to function properly. They enable basic features such as page navigation and access to secure areas of the website. The website cannot function properly without these cookies.

Analytics Cookies

We use analytics cookies to understand how visitors interact with our website. These cookies help us collect information about the number of visitors, the pages they visit, and how they navigate through the site. This information helps us improve our website and the content we provide.

Analytics data is collected in aggregate form and does not identify individual users. We use this information to understand which content is most useful to our readers and to identify areas for improvement.

Functionality Cookies

These cookies allow the website to remember choices you make and provide enhanced, more personalised features. They may be set by us or by third-party providers whose services we have added to our pages.

Third-Party Cookies

Some cookies on our website are set by third parties. These may include:

Analytics Providers

We may use third-party analytics services to help us understand how our website is used. These services may set their own cookies to collect information about your visit. The information collected is used to compile reports and to help us improve our site.

Embedded Content

Our website may include embedded content from other sites, such as videos or social media sharing buttons. When you view pages containing embedded content, those third-party services may set their own cookies. We do not control the cookies set by these third parties.

Your Cookie Choices

You have several options for managing cookies:

Browser Settings

Most web browsers allow you to control cookies through their settings. You can set your browser to block cookies, delete existing cookies, or alert you when a cookie is being set. The specific steps vary depending on your browser:

In Google Chrome, go to Settings, then Privacy and Security, then Cookies and Other Site Data
In Mozilla Firefox, go to Options, then Privacy and Security, then Cookies and Site Data
In Safari, go to Preferences, then Privacy, then Manage Website Data
In Microsoft Edge, go to Settings, then Cookies and Site Permissions

Please note that blocking or deleting cookies may affect the functionality of our website. Some features may not work properly if cookies are disabled.

Opt-Out Tools

Some third-party services provide their own opt-out mechanisms:

Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on
Your Online Choices for managing advertising cookies in Europe

Do Not Track

Some browsers include a “Do Not Track” feature that signals to websites that you do not wish to have your online activity tracked. There is currently no universal standard for how websites should respond to Do Not Track signals. We do not currently respond to Do Not Track signals, but you can control cookies through your browser settings as described above.

More Information About Cookies

For more information about cookies and how to manage them, you can visit:

Changes to This Cookie Policy

We may update this Cookie Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or for other operational, legal, or regulatory reasons. We will post any changes on this page and update the “Last updated” date at the top of this policy.

We encourage you to review this Cookie Policy periodically to stay informed about our use of cookies.