But many people see the term without fully understanding its meaning. So what is an Ante Post bet, and how does it work?
Today I’ll explain everything you need to know in this complete guide to Ante Post betting.
What Does Ante Post mean?
Although this could literally be the day before the event, frequently ante-post is seen as more of a long term bet that is placed well in advance of race or match day.
Punters use ante-post markets as an opportunity to potentially get better odds than the would on the day of the race or sporting event. The markets can sometimes open days, weeks or even months in advance.
However, this type of bet is not without its risks, the main one being when a horse is withdrawn from the race.
Let’s look at a few examples of how this works in different sports.
Ante Post in Horse Racing
The original definition of ante-post relates to it being used in horse racing, and this is still the sport in which you will most frequently find ante post betting markets today.
You may see Ante Post markets listed as Future Racing at some online betting sites. It means the same thing.
It’s important to note that even the best horse racing bookmakers don’t offer antepost markets on every horse race.
They are mainly reserved for the bigger and more popular races or festivals, such as the Grand National, Cheltenham Festival, Royal Ascot, Kentucky Derby or Belmont Stakes.
This market is best suited to punters who look for insights about horses being specifically trained to target future races.
Ante Post in Golf
You will find ante-post betting on golf offered at most good online bookies.
This isn’t available for the regular weekly PGA or European tour events, but it will certainly cover the majors such as the US Open and The Masters, and also the Ryder Cup.
Ante Post betting on golf is less risky than on horse racing, as there is less likely that a golfer will withdraw from a major tournament than a horse being withdrawn from a race.
Ante Post in Football
Ante post betting on football is commonly available on most football betting apps.
It applies to outright winner and top goalscorer markets for major tournaments. These might include World Cup, European Championship, Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup.
When you place an ante-post bet on the winner of a football tournament, it has none of the risk associated with horse racing, because you know for a fact that the team will take part.
It’s more risky when betting on a player to be top scorer though, as there is a chance that the player may be injured or even not selected.
Pros and Cons of Ante Post Bets
The advantage of Ante Post betting, and the main reason punters like it, is that you almost always get better odds.
But this does come at a price.
- Your money is tied up for a much longer time – possibly weeks or even months before your bet will be settled.
- Secondly, particularly in horse racing, you run the risk that your horse could be withdrawn before race day, and may not actually run.
You can avoid this second pitfall by looking for bookies that offer non runner, no bet on certain ante-post markets.
With this offer, instead of losing your stake if your horse doesn’t run, your bet will be declared void and you’ll get your money back. This does give the best of both worlds so it’s well worth looking out for!
When Does Ante Post Betting Stop?
In horse racing, ante-post betting markets usually close the day before a race, or whenever the main Race Winner market opens.
By this time, the odds of an ante-post bet won’t be any different from those in the normal market, so there is no point in the bookies keeping both of them open.
As a very general rule, the further in advance you place your bet, the better the odds will be.
Last Updated on March 28, 2021
- 50+ Common Blackjack Terms Explained - February 6, 2023
- Can Live Blackjack Dealers Hear You? (Your Privacy Matters!) - January 29, 2023
- Why do Blackjack Dealers Swipe the Table? - January 27, 2023
