Some bets are placed on the day. Ante post bets are placed on an inkling, weeks or months early, at odds that won't exist by the time the race takes place.
It's one of the oldest moves in the game, and it's worth understanding both how it works today and where the name came from.
What does 'ante post' really mean?
Here's a common mix-up worth clearing first: while ‘ante’ here does come from Latin (meaning ‘before’), ‘post’ does not. It instead refers to a literal wooden post.
On Victorian racecourses, a stake or signpost marked the point where official on-course betting began. Punters gathered at the post, bookmakers chalked up prices and any wager placed before reaching that post - before the official market opened - was an ante-post bet. The term shows up in racing literature from the mid-1800s, and the practice likely predates the name.
By the 1860s, as Cheltenham was establishing itself as a fixture and the National Hunt Chase had its first running, ante-post betting on the Derby, the St Leger and the Grand National was already a regular part of the calendar, with prices passed around by word of mouth and the racing press.
From street corners to smartphones
Off-course cash betting was illegal in Britain until 1961, but it happened anyway, through the "turf accountant" – a euphemism for the illegal street bookmaker working pubs, factories and street corners.
Ante-post betting suited this grey economy well: a punter could agree a price weeks out and settle later, no on-the-day transaction required. Those who couldn't get to a bookmaker in person posted their bets by letter, giving the term a second, more literal meaning for a while.
The Betting and Gaming Act 1961 changed everything, legalising betting shops and bringing ante-post markets onto boards behind a counter, with terms now standardised under Tattersalls' Committee.
For decades after, the ante-post board for the Grand National or the Gold Cup was a fixture in shop windows up and down the country, and backing a horse months out became part of the culture of the sport.
The next disruption came with Betfair in 2000, which introduced lay betting to ordinary punters for the first time. That meant an ante-post backer could, in theory, lock in a profit before the race even ran by laying off their position later at shorter odds. Mobile betting followed, and what once took a letter to a turf accountant now takes a few taps. The name on the market hasn't changed since the 1860s. Almost everything else has.
So, what is ante post betting today?
Ante post betting means placing a bet well before an event, often before the full field or lineup is even confirmed. It's mostly associated with horse racing, but it turns up across football, tennis and golf too – anywhere a big event draws interest months in advance.
The appeal is straightforward: bookmakers price a race or tournament early, and those prices tend to be longer than they'll be closer to the day. Back the right selection ante post, and you lock in odds that won't be available later.
How ante post betting works
A bookmaker opens the market early. Sometimes weeks, sometimes months before the event, based on early form and public expectation.
You place your bet. Say, backing a horse at 20/1 for the Grand National well before final declarations.
The market moves. As the event nears, odds shift with form, fitness and news. Your selection might shorten to 8/1 as confidence builds, or drift if the picture changes.
The odds are locked. Whatever happens to the market afterwards, your bet is settled at the price you took, not the price on the day.
The tension is right there in the mechanics: longer odds, but a longer wait and a firmer commitment.
Where you'll find ante post markets
Horse racing
The natural home of ante post betting, running on Cheltenham, the Grand National and the National Hunt, and available across the racing calendar. Bettors also use it to build accumulators across festival races.
Football
League winners, top scorers and relegation markets all open ante post, often before a ball's kicked. Prices are typically longest right at the start of a season.
Tennis
Grand Slam winners open ante post months out, with prices generally best before the draw is made.
Golf
Outright winners, top-10 and top-20 finishes for the Majors are commonly bet ante post, though your selection must tee off for the bet to stand.
The non-runner rule (read this before you bet)
This is the part that can catch people out. In most ante post markets, if your selection doesn't take part - injury, withdrawal, a scratched entry - your stake is gone. No refund. That's the trade-off for the bigger price: the bookmaker takes on the uncertainty, and so do you.
Some bookmakers offer Non-Runner No Bet (NRNB) terms on certain markets, which return your stake if your selection doesn't run. It's always worth checking whether a market carries NRNB before you commit, since the terms vary by bookmaker and by race.
Weighing it up: pros and cons
Pros | Cons |
Longer odds than day-of-event prices | Stake lost if your selection is a non-runner (without NRNB) |
Odds locked in the moment you bet | Your money is tied up, sometimes for months |
Early access before the crowd catches on | Form, fitness and line-ups can all shift against you |
A few things worth doing first
Check the form. A horse or team's recent history is the closest thing to a starting point here. If you're backing a title favourite, know where they finished last season, not just their reputation.
Watch for injury news. Ante post markets move on fitness updates more than almost anything else. A quick check before betting can save a wasted stake.
Know the market rules. NRNB terms, accumulator treatment for non-runners, and settlement rules all differ by bookmaker, so read the specific terms for the market you're betting, not just the general idea of ante post.
The trade-off, in short
Ante post betting is a genuinely old habit, running from a wooden stake on a Victorian racecourse to a market on your phone, and the logic hasn't moved much in 150-odd years: back it early, accept the risk, hope the price ages well. It rewards research and patience, and it punishes a withdrawn horse just as readily as it rewards a good tip.
Ante post betting FAQs
What does "ante post" actually mean?
It comes from the Betting Post, a physical marker on old racecourses where on-course betting officially opened. A bet placed before reaching it was ante-post.
What happens if my horse doesn't run?
Your stake is normally lost, unless the market carries Non-Runner No Bet terms.
Can I combine ante post bets in an accumulator?
Some bookmakers allow it, but how a non-runner leg is treated varies, so check the market rules first.
Are ante post odds fixed once I bet?
Yes. Whatever happens to the market afterwards, your bet settles at the price you took.
Is ante post betting worth it?
It depends on your approach. For casual bets, the non-runner risk may outweigh the bigger odds. For those who research form and fitness closely, it can offer value before the crowd catches up.
As we've explored in other articles, horse racing in the UK boasts a rich heritage, and ante post betting makes up a considerable portion of it. If you'd like to read more about the history of horse racing, make sure to make your way to the MONOPOLY Casino & Sports blog.
All offers mentioned correct at the time of writing but may be subject to change.
