Which is the best racecourse in the world?
Horse racing is popular in many jurisdictions, including Europe, North America, Australia and Asia, so any discussion of the ‘best’ racecourse in the world is bound to be highly subjective. However, what makes a premier racecourse essentially boils down to the configuration, construction and location of the course, available facilities and the type, frequency and quality of the racing staged.
For example, Ascot Racecourse, in Berkshire, South East England, has enjoyed a prestigious association with the British Royal Family for over 300 years. Ascot is best known for the five-day Royal Ascot meeting, staged annually in June, but hosts numerous premier events throughout the year. Between September, 2004 and June, 2006, Ascot underwent a £200 million redevelopment, including a new, 45,000-capacity grandstand building and a new parade ring, with the express intention of becoming the ‘finest racecourse in the world’.
Just a short hop across the English Channel, in the Bois de Boulogne, west of Paris, Longchamp Racecourse is best known as the home of the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, run annually on the first Sunday in October. Nowadays the most valuable race in Europe, with €5,000,000 in total prize money, the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe celebrated its centenary in 2021. The roll of honour includes Ribot, Sea Bird, Mill Reef, Dancing Brave and Sea The Stars, to name but a handful. Redeveloped, at a cost of €140 million, in 2016 and 2017 and rebranded ‘ParisLongchamp’, the most iconic racecourse in France nows features a striking 160-metre long grandstand, offering uninterrupted, 180º views across the racecourse. This is big money across the board, which of course in the world of gambling can be associated with anything from a win at the races or on slots at www.jokaroom.io etc.
On the other side of the Atlantic Ocean, Churchill Downs in Kentucky, in the Southeastern United States, is best known as the perennial home of the so-called ‘Run for the Roses’, the Kentucky Derby, which it has hosted annually, on the first Saturday in May, since 1875. Universally recognisable by its trademark twin spires, Churchill Downs is a National Historic Landmark but, in 2005, unveiled a 3½-year, $121 million facelift, which included a new, spacious clubhouse and luxury suites.
Elsewhere in the world, other candidates for the ‘best’ racecourse include Meydan Racecourse in Dubai, home of the Dubai World Cup, and Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne, Australia, home of the Melbourne Cup. Of course, there are many more, but ultimately the choice is a matter of personal preference.
The world of online gambling has evolved dramatically over the past decade, and the rise of cryptocurrency has added a new dimension to the industry. As digital currencies like Bitcoin, Ethereum, and other altcoins gain mainstream acceptance, they are beginning to play an increasingly important role in online casinos. Crypto casinos—online gambling platforms that allow players to deposit, wager, and withdraw using cryptocurrencies—are emerging as the future of the iGaming industry.
Nowadays, the Japan Cup is one of the most prestigious and valuable races not just in Japan, but anywhere in the world; in terms of international appeal, is often mentioned in the same breath as the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe and the Melbourne Cup. At the last count, the total prize money was in excess of ¥1 trillion, or just over £6 million, with ¥500,000,000, or £2.78 million, going to the winner.
Inaugurated on September 26, 1987, the Festival of British Racing was a forerunner of British Champions’ Day at Ascot. However, the Festival of British Racing was a far cry from the star-studded meeting that, since 2011, has marked the finale of the British Flat racing season. It featured just one solitary ‘championship’ race, the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes, which was upgraded to Group One status for the first time in 1987. The supporting card did include the Group Two Diadem Stakes, which would become the British Champions Sprint in 2011 and upgraded to Group One status in 2015, but the only other Pattern race, the Group Three Cumberland Lodge Stakes, was not included in the British Champions Day programme.