Best Odds Guaranteed, usually shortened to BOG, is one of the genuinely good-value concessions in horse-racing betting. It quietly gives you the better of two prices with no extra effort. It is not a magic profit machine, but understanding it helps you get more from every early-price bet you place.

What BOG actually does

When you take an early price on a horse — the odds displayed when you bet — you normally lock that price in. BOG adds a twist: if the horse’s Starting Price (SP) turns out bigger than the price you took, the bookmaker pays you at the larger SP instead. If the SP is smaller, you keep your early price.

In other words, BOG gives you the better of the two prices automatically. You get the upside of taking an early price (locking in a good number if it shortens) and the upside of SP (benefiting if the price drifts out). Our starting price vs early price guide explains that underlying choice in detail.

A quick example

Say you back a horse at 5/1 with BOG. Two things can happen:

  • The horse drifts and starts at 7/1. BOG pays you at 7/1 — the bigger price.
  • The horse is backed in and starts at 7/2. BOG lets you keep your 5/1 early price.

Either way, you were never worse off than the price you took. That is the whole appeal.

Why it adds real value

BOG matters because horses often drift in the market before the off, especially outsiders and horses in competitive handicaps. Every time one of your early-price selections drifts, BOG hands you the bigger payout for free. Over many bets, that is a small but real improvement to your returns — which is exactly why serious punters value bookmakers that offer generous BOG.

It also removes the awkward decision of whether to take a price or wait for SP on covered races: with BOG, taking the early price is usually the sensible default because you cannot lose out relative to SP.

The limits to watch

BOG is a concession, not a blank cheque, and it comes with terms. Common ones include:

  • Maximum stake or maximum payout — BOG may only apply up to a certain amount.
  • Time and race restrictions — it often applies only to certain markets, from a set time on the day, or to UK and Irish racing specifically.
  • Bonus and free-bet exclusions — stakes from free bets or certain promotions may not qualify.
  • SP-only or price-taken rules — you generally must take an early price, not SP, to benefit.

Always read the specific terms, because they vary between bookmakers. Our best odds guaranteed sites coverage helps you compare who offers the strongest BOG.

How BOG interacts with other rules

If a rival is withdrawn and a Rule 4 deduction applies, it is taken from your winnings in the normal way — BOG does not cancel Rule 4. And on each-way bets, BOG typically applies to the win part; check whether it extends to the place part. Our each-way calculator helps you work out returns once you know your price and terms.

The honest bottom line

BOG is one of the few features that reliably works in the punter’s favour, and it costs you nothing to use. But it does not turn losing bets into winners, and it does not overcome the bookmaker’s overall margin — we never pretend any feature does, and we do not sell tips or predictions. Treat BOG as a sensible way to squeeze a little extra from bets you were going to place anyway.

To compare bookmakers on BOG, place terms and racing coverage, see our best betting sites page and the full horse racing betting guide.

Bet within your means and keep it fun. If it ever stops being enjoyable, our responsible gambling guidance is there to help.

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