Horse racing is a separate world with its own rules and schedule. If you like watching graceful horses competing in speed and endurance, then you should definitely visit one of the iconic annual events. In this article, we will tell you what you definitely should not miss.
Kentucky Derby (USA)
This world-famous race lasts only 2 minutes. The horses must cover 2 km. Every year, on the first Saturday of May, 150,000 people come to the Churchill Downs racetrack to watch this spectacle.
On May 17, 1875, in front of 10,000 spectators, the first horse races in Kentucky took place, in which 15 horses participated. The winner was the colt Aristides, together with the jockey Oliver Lewis. The first race was successful, but despite this, the track faced financial difficulties. Over time, the owners began to send their thoroughbred horses to participate in two other races. The most famous tradition of this event is the fashionable ladies’ hat show. American women adopted this custom from British fashionistas.
Royal Ascot (UK)
Every horse racing fan who bets on 1xBet knows about Royal Askot. The English adored this elite entertainment, and its main fan was Queen Elizabeth II herself. The opportunity to see the royals, indulge in excitement, and demonstrate their taste attracts many people to the town of Ascot.
The tradition of organizing elite competitions in Ascot is more than 300 years old. According to the official version, in 1711, Queen Anne Stuart, during a horse ride through Windsor Forest, about 40 kilometers from London, noticed an excellent place suitable for holding equestrian competitions. The small village of Ascot, located nearby, gave the name to the new hippodrome. By August 11, horse racing had already been organized on the former wasteland, and the first race took place, in which seven riders participated. Traditionally, the main summer races at Ascot lasted four days. A few years ago, Elizabeth, in honor of the 50th anniversary of her reign, extended the celebration for another day, which everyone was incredibly happy about.
The Preakness Stakes (USA)
The history of this race began in 1973, two years before the Kentucky Horse Races began. That year, Governor Auden Bowie held a race near Baltimore, Maryland. It featured 3-year-olds racing over a distance of 1 ½ miles. The event was named after a horse named Preakness. This race is part of the Triple Crown. The event is also called the Black-eyed Susan because the winner is presented with a horseshoe-shaped wreath made from flowers of that name that grow in Maryland.
Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (France)
It is the oldest horse race held in Paris. The first race took place on October 3, 1920, at the Longchamp racecourse (capacity – 50 thousand spectators), in the Bois de Boulogne. The tournament in the suburbs of Paris is rated no lower than such prestigious races as Royal Ascot (Great Britain) and the Melbourne Cup (Australia). Every year, the best riders come to the capital of France, including champions of other elite stars, as well as professional and wealthy horse owners and stud farms. The explanation is simple: the Arc de Triomphe races are part of the International Series, completing the season of flat racing, and the prize fund is the largest in Europe. Events accompanying the competition include a thoroughbred horse auction, betting, and a walk around the racetrack.
Melbourne Cup (Australia)
Only in Australia can you hear the start sound that stops the whole nation for 4 minutes. If you ask an Australian: what is the difference between praying in church and on the Melbourne Cup track? They will tell you: “On the track, they pray for real”. This is not just a catchphrase. For Australians, it is enough to hear two words, “Melbourne Cup,” to get excited.
Two hundred seconds of this two-mile horse race are considered the most watched on television, and the day of the races is the most famous Tuesday on the Red Continent.
At the beginning of the last century, Mark Twain described these races as follows: “I have never seen in any part of the world such a festival of men as has had such a powerful effect on a whole nation.”
On this first Tuesday in November, it does not matter what Australians are doing. At exactly 3.20 in the afternoon, everyone stops what they are doing to listen to the signal for the start of the final race. At this point, even those at home or at work gather in front of their television screens and crack open champagne to celebrate another race that stops a nation in its tracks. The Cup began life in 1861 as a cross-country race in front of a crowd of 4,000 spectators, with a modest prize of around £200 and a gold watch as a prize for connections. Today, it is the most prestigious and expensive two-mile handicap in the world.
Dubai World Cup (UAE)
Any equestrian competition is expensive, prestigious and fashionable, and the oriental races Dubai World Cup, of course, are the most prestigious on the planet. The competitions are held in March – all the famous representatives of the world elite of equestrian sports fly to the United Arab Emirates. In other countries of the world, the competition season begins in early May.
This event is held at the most luxurious hippodrome, Meydan. This sports complex can boast decent equipment: modern racetracks for races and huge stands that can accommodate 60 thousand spectators.
Bets are accepted at the hippodrome from all over the world; their total amount often exceeds 100 billion dollars. The Dubai World Cup always opens with the Dubai Kahayla Classic competition, in which only purebred Arabian racehorses compete.
At the opening ceremony, spectators see a flawless picture, in terms of scale and special effects, that is not much inferior to the opening of the Olympic Games. This event resembles a social event — European fashion is evident in everything, and guests of the competition are required to adhere to an elegant dress code: formal suits, extravagant dresses, and stylish hats. Moreover, the Dubai World Cup even chooses the owner of the best hat and the most stylish couple of the day.
The Grand National (UK)
The races, which are more than 150 years old, were founded in 1839. They were not held only in 1916-1918 and 1941-1945 due to obvious reasons. In 1993, the races were also not held due to an unsuccessful start.
Grand National is a world-famous race that is held annually in England at the Aintree racecourse. This is a steeplechase over a distance of 7,242 m. Horses jump over thirty fences covered with fir branches, running two laps in a row. Steeplechase also refers to barrier racing, being the most difficult test for horses. In this type of race, the racehorse must cover a distance of up to 7 km with obstacles up to 1.5 m high and more than 5 m wide. Grand National is a unique spectacle competition. There is no free space in the stands; one of them is occupied by the English Queen; the parking lots are full of cars, horse ambulances, a huge number of fans, and women in white headdresses.
Here, you can hear the following from the spectators: “If I knew that tomorrow I would die, and today I had the opportunity to attend only one race, I would choose the Grand National without hesitation. At least then, there would be a guarantee that I would be able to pay for my own funeral.”
Breeders’ Cup (USA)
The Breeders Cup horse race is one of the most prestigious and anticipated events in the world of equestrian sports. It is held annually in November in the United States and attracts the best racehorses in the world. The Breeders Cup is organized by Breeders’ Cup Limited.
The first Breeders Cup race was held in 1984 at Hollywood Park Racetrack in Inglewood, California, USA.
John Gaines is considered the “Father of the Breeders’ Cup.” Gaines (1928-2005), owner of Gainesway Farm in Lexington, is credited with the idea of creating a world championship series for Thoroughbred horses. Gaines saw this as a way to popularize racing with a significant fall event to accompany the Triple Crown in the spring/summer and to strengthen the ties between the everyday racing industry and the breeders who produce the horses that race.
Gaines pitched his idea at a pre-1982 Kentucky Derby dinner, and less than three years later (after much persuasion from industry executives), the first Breeder’s Cup was held at Hollywood Park in California on November 10, 1984, drawing 64,254 fans and a national audience broadcast on NBC.
Honorable Mentions
Of course, it is impossible to cover all the events that deserve attention in one article. However, we cannot help but mention three more races that were not included in the main list.
Irish Derby (Ireland)
The Irish Derby is a Group 1 flat race for three-year-old Thoroughbred horses. The race runs over a distance of 1 mile and 4 furlongs (2.414 meters). The Irish Derby is held annually in late June or early July. This prestigious horse race is considered the Irish equivalent of the Epsom Derby, not only in size and level but also because it is held just three weeks after the race in England.
An early version of the Irish Derby was the O’Darby’s Race, founded in 1817 and run until 1824. The next attempt was the Curragh Derby, which was launched in 1848. However, this race was also short-lived. The modern Irish Derby was founded by the Earl of Howth, Marquess of Drogheda, and the Earl of Charlemont and was first run in 1866. The distance was longer than 1 mile, 6 furlongs, and 3 yards. In 1869, the distance was increased by 9 yards, and in 1872, it was shortened again.
Belmont Stakes (USA)
This event was the first major traditional prize in the United States and was established in 1867 and named after Auguste Belmont, the greatest horse breeder of his time. Since 1905, this race has been held annually at the Belmont Park racetrack in New York at a distance of 2400 m. This race is part of the American “Triple Crown”, a horse that wins the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes receives the title of “Triple Crowned”.
The Belmont Stakes on sand is the only serious horse race in the United States at a distance of 2400 m — it is often won by outsiders, since in America, milers predominate. There is another peculiarity: the classic distance requires careful tactics.
Cheltenham Festival (UK)
The event, founded in 1902, takes place annually over four days in mid-March. The main event of the festival is the Cheltenham Gold Cup, which this year fell on March 17. The second day is traditionally “Ladies Day”. Girls and women come to it not only from Cheltenham, but also from other British cities. Festival visitors try to choose the brightest and most unusual outfits, paying special attention to headwear.
How to Attend or Watch These Events
Visiting all the events described above in one year is not an easy task. They take place in different countries, and such a schedule requires serious financial investments and time. Therefore, it is best to determine where you will go and focus on the most desirable events. Of course, you definitely need to plan and organize your trip. These races are extremely popular, so it is worth buying tickets in advance. They are available online, so there are usually no problems.
However, thanks to modern technology, you don’t have to travel to another country to enjoy horse racing. You can watch live streams on different platforms. This is often even better. You can watch each race in detail. Either way, you will enjoy top-notch horse racing.
Conclusion
Every year, a whole series of first-class horse races are held around the world. All the events described here are definitely worth seeing. They attract thousands of spectators, and the best stables strive to take part in them. And if you have the opportunity, be sure to visit these races. But even if you watch their broadcasts, you will still be able to feel this indescribable atmosphere.
