Horse racing is one of the most passionate and rewarding sports in the world. It is no wonder thousands of fans travel to different cities of the world, from the UK, to the US, and Dubai, in search of the perfect racing holiday.
This article covers some of the exciting horse races in the world, and where they can be found.
The Grand National, England
The Grand National is an annual National Hunt horse race held at Aintree Racecourse, near Liverpool. It was first run in 1839, and the biggest race on the UK’s sports calendar. It’s also the most valuable jump race in Europe, with a 2019 winners purse of £1 million. It is known as a big event in British Culture where £300 million is wagered, often by people who do not gamble any other time, mostly down to it’s BBC coverage and many companies offering free bets for the Grand National.
The race is a handicap steeplechase for 40 horses over an official distance of about 4 miles and 2½ furlongs, with 30 fences over two laps. The course features much larger fences than usual with Becher’s Brook, The Chair and the Canal Turn famous in their own right.
The next Grand National meeting will start on 2 April and will finish on 4 April 2020.
Kentucky Derby in Louisville, Kentucky
On the first Saturday of May, every year, the first leg of the US Triple Crown Thoroughbred Horse Racing holds at the Kentucky Derby. More than 150,000 horse racing enthusiasts gather at the Churchill Downs in Kentucky for this historical event that has been taking place since 1875.
In less than 2 minutes, the winning horse will cross the finish line and will be draped in hundreds of roses, earning the title “Greatest Two Minutes in Sports”.
This event is one of the biggest in the world, and unless you are well connected, you will have to watch the race from the crowded field in company with 80,000 other spectators.
But watching the race from the crowd is no reason why you shouldn’t get a part of the action, using Cheltenham bookmakers offers, you can stake and win in this and any other horse race on this post.
Belmont Stakes, Elmont, New York
Just a month after the Kentucky Derby, the Belmont Stakes takes place in Elmont, New York. Held on the first Saturday of June, the Belmont Stakes dates back to 1867, and so is the oldest of the Triple Crown Races in the US.
The Belmont Stakes is more accessible than the Kentucky Derby, has more reserved seats and cost between $10 to $20 per ticket.
Belmont Stakes is also the third and final leg of the US Triple Crown Races, where a lucky horse can earn the reputation of winning all three of the US Triple Crown Races. So far, there are only 13 Triple Crown Winners in the world, till date.
The Royal Ascot, England
The Royal Ascot held in Ascot, England, is a week-long race made up of 16 group races. The Royal Ascot Race is an integral part of the British Tradition and has been in existence since 1711. This is one event where you are sure to see the Queen and other members of the Royal family, as these esteemed personalities typically attend all Ascot Race events.
One unique feature of The Royal Ascot is the dress code. Depending on where your seat is, you may have to abide by a strict dress code, meaning no jeans, shorts, sneakers or bare midriffs.
Other unique features of this event include Military bands, the Royal Procession, and dozens of food stalls.
The Lexus Melbourne Cup, Australia
The Lexus Melbourne Cup is the king of sports in Australia. It boasts one of the biggest prices in all Australian sports, with a grand takeaway price of more than $7 million.
Lexus Melbourne Cup attracts more than 100,000 enthusiasts, eager to experience the thrilling atmosphere and passionate race of more than 3,200 meters.
Dublin Racing Festival, Ireland
Dublin Festival Race has produced racing icons like Samcro, Edwulf, Florida Pearl, Moscow Flyer, Supasundae, and so on. This is the race where horses come to fight for two great titles – BHP Insurance Irish Champion Hurdle and the Unibet Irish Gold Cup.
The Dublin Racing Festival, the last version which held on February 2 and 3, 2019 is one long fun-filled weekend of food, fashion, jump racing, and the best of Dublin culture.
