Biggest horse racing events still to come in 2022

Horse racing fans have plenty to look forward to during the rest of 2022, with the upcoming schedule packed with a host of top-class events.

Without further ado, let’s take a look at the biggest horse racing events still to come in 2022, starting with a thrilling day of action in the United Kingdom.

QIPCO British Champions Day

The meeting is the culmination of the flat racing season in Europe and has more than £3 million in prize money up for grabs.

British Champions Day has end-of-season championship races over several different distances including the Champions Stakes for ten-furlong horses.

The race saw the mighty Frankel end his stunning career with another fantastic victory to cement his status as one of the best racehorses in history.

Melbourne Cup

The Melbourne Cup in early November is Australia’s most iconic horse race and always attracts a high-class line-up from across the world.

European trainers have done well over the past five years, with Joseph O’Brien (2) and Charlie Appleby winning the race during that period.

This year’s favourite is the James Ferguson-trained Deauville Legend, who will be ridden by top Australian jockey Kerrin McEvoy.

The 41-year-old has won the race on three previous occasions and has an excellent chance of adding to his tally aboard the recent Great Voltigeur winner.

Breeders’ Cup

Attention quickly switches to North America on the first weekend in November as the Breeders’ Cup World Championships are staged in Kentucky.

Keeneland Racetrack will host this year’s event which features more than a dozen top-class races featuring the top equine talent on the planet. 

The two-day meeting is now widely viewed as the culmination of the international flat racing calendar and offers whopping amounts of prize money.

The Breeders’ Cup Classic is the standout race of the prestigious event and has a total prize purse on offer of around $6m.

Cheltenham November Meeting

The first big meeting of the winter National Hunt season in the United Kingdom has grown into a thrilling three-day event in recent years.

The Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase is one of the highlights of the opening day and often produces pointers for the Cheltenham Festival in March.

However, the biggest race of the weekend is the Grade 3 Paddy Power Gold Cup Handicap Chase which takes place the following day.

Imperial Commander and Al Ferof are amongst the previous winners of the race, highlighting the quality of horses it generally attracts.

Kempton Christmas Festival

The two-day Kempton Christmas Festival offers a plethora of top-class action, but for many people, the event is all about one race.

The King George VI Chase is one of the most iconic races in the calendar and has been won by some of the finest three-mile chasers to grace the sport.

They include the dashing grey Desert Orchid, who etched his name into racing folklore by jumping to victory on four separate occasions.

Kauto Star is the only horse to win the race in four consecutive years and now has a Grade 1 race on the card named after him.

Leopardstown Christmas Festival

It is fair to say that racing fans are spoilt for choice over the festive period, with the Leopardstown Christmas Festival adding to the quality on offer.

Starting on Boxing Day and staged over four days, the meeting features seven Grade 1 races including the historic Savills Chase.

Top Irish trainer Willie Mullins always sends a strong contingent of horses to the meeting, many of which go on to feature at the Cheltenham Festival.

With superb hospitality options available at the course, the Leopardstown Christmas Festival is a great way for friends and family to enjoy a few days at the races.

Welsh Grand National

The Welsh Grand National is another of the main attractions over the holiday period and always attracts a bumper crowd to Chepstow.

The 3m 5f handicap chase is an epic test of stamina, with the undulations of the course offering a different challenge to the Grand National at Aintree.

Famous winners of the race include Carvill’s Hill (1991), Earth Summit (1997), Silver Birch (2004) and Native River (2016).

The Grade 1 Finale Junior Hurdle and Grade 2 Championship Bumper are excellent supporting acts on a card that offers excellent betting opportunities.

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