Top 4 Horse Races Around The World Other Than The Triple Crown

The sport of competitive horse racing has been around longer than the vast majority of other sporting events in the world. There have been proofs of horse racing going on in some of the earliest civilizations known to mankind, so of course, it’s only fitting that to this day, the noble sport of horse racing continues to be one of the favorites for betting picks fans all over the world. 

Now, in actuality, when one thinks of important horse races around the world, the mind will usually transport itself towards the three biggest horse races in the United States. The Kentucky Derby, The Preakness Stakes, and the Belmont Stakes, otherwise known as the “Triple Crown” of horse racing, are considered by many horse racing aficionados as the three most important, competitive races in the racing calendar each year. But that doesn’t mean that in other parts of the world there aren’t other races just as thrilling and important. With that said, here are our picks for the top 5 most important horse races around the world other than the Triple Crown races.

The Breeders’ Cup

Ever since 1984 the Breeders’ Cup World Championships have been considered one of the most important dates in the international horse racing calendar around the world. Ever since its first edition in 1984, this two-day event is seen by its organizers as the true World Championships of thoroughbred horse racing. Each year, the race takes place in a different track around the United States with attendance records usually in the tens of thousands, only trailing the traditional Triple Crown race and the Kentucky Oaks event as the most popular horse racing events in regards to fan attendance.

With a racing system where all horses must receive a nomination to compete in any of the fourteen races, where it’s a “win and you’re in” method of advancing in the competition, the winning breeders usually end up taking a combined prize purse of over 30 million dollars divided amongst all of the races.

The Royal Ascot

It’s not a secret to anybody that horse racing has long been considered a sport of Royalty. Many of the most important Royal houses in the world have been known for their love of thoroughbred horse breeding and racing. Well, when it comes to the British Royal Family, no horse racing event is as important and magnanimous as the Royal Ascot Festival at the Ascot Racecourse in England. Ever since its first edition in 1711, this event that goes on for five days has become a tradition for some of the most important horse breeders and horse racing pundits in the world to experience.

The races which usually take place on a traditional turf track have also become one of the most luxurious and socially acclaimed events with lavish parties and dinners upon many of the leisure options offered to spectators who are there to witness the top-caliber horse races. Given its status and popularity, its prize purse usually floats around the 10-million-dollar mark, making it one of the most sought-after for breeders and betting fans alike.

The Dubai World Cup

If there is one thing that the United Arab Emirates is known for, it’s for their love of everything lavish, luxurious, and over the top, which makes the annual Dubai Horse Racing World Cup a perfect mix of all of those adjectives with some of the best horse racing in the world. Usually happening on the last Saturday of March each year in Dubai’s Meydan Racecourse, the race, which happens on a dirt track is considered one of the best when it comes to prize money, given that the prize purse for the winner of the race will usually rake in around 12 million dollars in earnings.

The Dubai World Cup traditionally occurs on the last Saturday in March. The race takes place at Meydan Racecourse in Dubai, with its founder, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum being the owner of the Godolphin racing stable, one of the most important and victorious horses stables in the world.

The Prix de L’Arc de Triomphe

Finishing off our list is the most prestigious horse race in all of France, the Prix de L’Arc de Triomphe, which happens every first Sunday of October in the Longchamp Racecourse in Paris. Ever since the first event took place in 1920, the Arc has become one of Europe’s and the world’s premier horse racing events around, with it having the perfect mix of top-tier horse races as well as an over the top glamorous feel and look to it that makes it a must-experience event for fans from all over the world.

The event, which usually consists of about 17 races has a total purse of about 6,75 million dollars in prize money, making it the highest paid race in all of Europe.

You may also like to read

Suzanne Ashton

Suzanne Ashton, Founder of Everything Horse (Est, 2012), has a BA Hons in Marketing Management and a Diploma in Equine Science. Suzanne has ridden and owned horses all her life and has twelve years of experience in marketing, writing, design, SEO, and website creation.