Wondering what the most popular horse races in the world are? Then, take a look at our article below.
Table of contents
Horse racing is one of the oldest sports in the world. For centuries, horse racing has thrilled millions of fans from different parts of the globe. While there are many types of horse races, there are also many different racing events that spark interest among the community. With the prevalence of online sports and eSports, horse racing is breaking even more barriers and being welcomed in parts of the world where it was not a traditional sport.
Horse racing is famously connected with royalty, particularly in the United Kingdom. Indeed, the UK royals started horse racing many centuries ago as a competitive and fun sport. Still, today, it has grown to be one of the most exciting and highly yielding sports in terms of revenue.
Horse racing has not witnessed a lot of changes in terms of gameplay. Still, its competition has grown significantly with many more adaptations to allow lovers of the sport to enjoy various games and place free bets on their favourite horses.
Horse racing and the internet
Millions of fans take to stands to enjoy horse racing games. Apart from enjoying the games, they also take the opportunity to stake reasonable amounts on their favourite horses. Horse race betting is one of the significant contributors to the global/online popularity of horse racing.
With the internet, there is no restriction. Anyone can experience and enjoy horse racing events without necessarily being at the venue. They wouldn’t even miss anything, and they may get better views than someone present at the event in some cases. TV and online streaming are doing the world of horse racing a lot of good.
Betting on horse races is a global practice that is on the rise. In the United States, the horseracing sector is worth 3.52 billion USD as of 2021. Horse racing is a prominent and prestigious sport that is receptive to every audience type.
The United Kingdom, United States of America, United Arab Emirates, Australia, and France are the most popular destinations for horse racing. Horse racing draws spectators from all parts of the world. It is interesting to see several new horse racing hotspots beginning to open up in Africa and Asia as well.
Popular horse racing events in the world
There are hundreds of horse racing events happening globally on an annual basis. These horse races deliver fantastic entertainment to fans across the globe. Many fans of horse racing have rated the following as the most famous horse racing events in the world.
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The Kentucky Derby
The Kentucky Derby is unarguably the biggest horse racing event in the United States of America. The 1.25-mile race occurs at the Churchill Downs track in Louisville, Kentucky. Every first of May, 3-year old trained horses compete in several events to win prizes worth over $3 million. The Kentucky derby commenced in 1875 and has continued to attract fans centuries down the line. Its most popular race is the US Triple Crown race, which is popularly regarded as the “greatest 2 minutes in sport.” The Kentucky Derby may not be the most valuable horse race regarding possible winnings. Still, it is regarded as a prestigious race among horse racing lovers. The Kentucky Derby draws in a crowd of over 150,000 annually.
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The Grand National
At the Aintree racecourse in Liverpool, England, one of the most popular horse races attracts an estimated global audience of nearly 500 million annually. The Grand National is one of the most celebrated horse racing events in the UK. On a worldwide scale, the Grand National has inspired the production of several movies, artwork, TV shows, and games. It contributes in a significant way to cultural events. The Grand National race goes over a 4-mile and 514-yard jump course. It features about 40 horses and their jockeys in competition for prices in hundreds of thousands of pounds.
Royal Ascot
Since 1711, the 5-day long horse racing event has hosted several exciting horse races for its highly-revered royal audience. Queen Elizabeth II, alongside other royal family and court members, is always believed to have attended these events, which featured horses from different parts of the world. There is a lot of pomp and pageantry on display across the five days, and spectators also have to follow a strict dress code. The Royal Ascot is a significant event for the National British Institution. It is a key social event for the English monarchy. Prizes go as high as $10 million over the five days.
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The Prix de L’arc de Triomphe
This is one of Europe’s biggest horse racing events. It’s been running at the Longchamp Racetrack in Paris, France, for over a century now. It has been the delight of equestrian lovers around the world. The Arc has a fast turf, and horses compete for their places over a distance of about 2.4km. The Prix de L’arc de Triomphe is hosted annually in the fall, with prizes as high as $3 million up for grabs.
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The Melbourne Cup
At the heart of the Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne, Australia, the 2-mile handicap race is considered a very tough horse racing ground. Since 1861, the events have been held yearly in November. The best horses worldwide come to compete for prizes in the range of $4.4 million.
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The Dubai World Cup
This is one of the most recent popular horse racing events. It commenced in 1996 at the Meydan Racecourse in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The Dubai World Cup has a prize of about $10 million up for grabs, and this is why it is regarded as one of the richest horse races in the world. The competition is open to 3-year-old horses. There is always an abundance of horse racing talents on the ground every time.
Conclusion
Horse racing seems poised to get bigger and better. In most places, the online participation of the audience is significantly preparing the ground for the commencement of live horse racing. Will you be willing to help identify horse racing opportunities in your locality? You never know – it may just turn out to be one of these popular horse races.
