What Does Best Odds Guaranteed (BOG) Mean in Horse Racing? A Bookmaker Explains
If you've spent any time following horse racing, you've probably come across the term Best Odds Guaranteed, often shortened to BOG.
But what does Best Odds Guaranteed actually mean? How does it work? And why can it make a difference when backing a horse?
As independent bookmakers established in 1989, Kevin Myles has been taking bets at racecourses across Britain for more than three decades. Here we'll explain BOG in straightforward terms.
What does BOG mean in horse racing?
BOG stands for Best Odds Guaranteed.
In simple terms, when Best Odds Guaranteed applies, you can take a price on a horse and potentially receive the Starting Price (SP) instead if the SP is bigger.
That means you effectively get the better of the two qualifying prices.
A simple BOG example
Imagine you back a horse at 5/1.
The horse wins and its official Starting Price is 7/1.
If your bet qualifies for Best Odds Guaranteed, it is settled at 7/1 rather than 5/1.
So a £10 win bet would return:
At 5/1: £60 including your stake.
At 7/1 BOG: £80 including your stake.
That's an additional £20 because the horse drifted in price before the race.
What if the Starting Price is shorter?
This is where the "best" part of Best Odds Guaranteed matters.
Suppose you take 5/1 and the horse eventually starts at 3/1.
You don't get moved down to 3/1. Subject to the bookmaker's BOG terms, your bet remains at the 5/1 price you originally took.
So:
Take 5/1 → SP 7/1 → qualifying bet settled at 7/1
Take 5/1 → SP 3/1 → qualifying bet settled at 5/1
That's the basic principle behind BOG.
Why is Best Odds Guaranteed useful?
Horse-racing prices can change considerably between the time betting opens and the start of a race.
A horse available at 4/1 earlier in the day could eventually start at 6/1. Equally, a horse could shorten from 4/1 to 2/1.
With BOG on an eligible bet, the punter doesn't necessarily have to choose between taking an earlier price and waiting for the SP.
It provides some protection if the horse's price drifts after the bet has been placed.
Does BOG apply to every horse-racing bet?
No.
Best Odds Guaranteed is an offer and its rules vary between bookmakers.
It may depend on factors including:
The race or meeting
When the bet was placed
The type of bet
Whether a price was taken
Maximum stakes or payouts
Other promotional terms
That's why it's important to check the bookmaker's specific BOG terms rather than assuming every bet qualifies.
Best Odds Guaranteed with Kevin Myles
Kevin Myles offers Best Odds Guaranteed on qualifying UK & Irish horse-racing singles, with a maximum of £1,000 per selection, subject to the applicable terms.
This sits alongside a service built around racing.
Kevin Myles has been an independent bookmaker since 1989, with a long history of standing at racecourses across Britain and attending around 120 race days a year.
From everyday meetings to some of the biggest fixtures in British racing, including Royal Ascot, Cheltenham, Aintree and Glorious Goodwood, Kevin Myles remains very much a racecourse bookmaker.
Is BOG the same as Starting Price?
No, although the two are closely connected.
The Starting Price (SP) is the official price attributed to a horse at the start of a race.
Best Odds Guaranteed is an offer under which an eligible bet can be settled using the better qualifying price when comparing the price you took with the eventual SP.
We've explained this in more detail in our guide:
What Is Starting Price (SP) in Horse Racing? A Bookmaker Explains
That article is worth linking internally from this section.
Can BOG apply to an each-way bet?
It can, depending on the bookmaker's terms and whether the bet qualifies for the BOG offer.
Remember that an each-way bet is effectively two bets: one on the horse to win and another on it to place.
If you're unfamiliar with each-way betting, read our guide:
What Does Each-Way Mean in Horse Racing? A Bookmaker Explains
That's our second natural internal link.
Should I take a price or take SP?
There isn't one answer that's right for every race.
If you believe a horse's price is likely to shorten, taking the available price can be attractive. If it drifts, however, the eventual SP could be bigger.
That's one reason BOG is popular: on qualifying bets it can reduce the importance of getting that particular decision right.
However, betting markets are unpredictable. A horse shortening in price doesn't mean it will win, and a drifting horse isn't necessarily a bad bet.
Understanding the price before you bet
Whether you're taking an early price, betting at SP or using a BOG offer, understanding exactly what the odds mean is important.
If you're new to racing betting, start with our guide:
How Do Horse Racing Odds Work? A Bookmaker Explains
Together, these guides explain some of the fundamentals:
Horse Racing Odds → Each-Way Betting → Starting Price → Best Odds Guaranteed
That's exactly the sort of interconnected content structure I want us building around Kevin Myles.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does BOG stand for?
BOG stands for Best Odds Guaranteed.
How does Best Odds Guaranteed work?
Generally, if you take a qualifying price and the horse wins at a bigger Starting Price, a BOG offer allows the bet to be settled at the better qualifying price, subject to the bookmaker's terms.
What happens if I take 4/1 and the horse starts at 6/1?
If the bet qualifies for BOG, it would normally be settled at the higher 6/1 SP.
What happens if I take 6/1 and the horse starts at 4/1?
You would normally retain the 6/1 price you took, subject to the applicable terms.
Does Kevin Myles offer Best Odds Guaranteed?
Kevin Myles offers Best Odds Guaranteed on qualifying UK & Irish horse-racing singles, maximum £1,000 per selection, subject to terms.
Is BOG available on every bet?
No. Always check the bookmaker's terms to understand which races, bets and prices qualify.
Bet with a bookmaker who knows racing
Kevin Myles has been taking bets since 1989.
More than three decades later, we're still doing what we know best — horse racing.
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