Category: Big Races

Perennial Irish Champion Flat Trainer Aidan O’Brien has exerted a stranglehold on British Classics in recent years. Since 1998, the ‘Master of Ballydoyle’ has won the 1,000 Guineas and the St. Leger six times apiece, the Derby and the Oaks eight times apiece and the 2,000 Guineas ten times. Unsurprisingly, O’Brien is, in fact, the leading trainer in the history of the 2,000 Guineas and the Derby.

As far as the Derby is concerned, O’Brien saddled his first winner, Galileo – nowadays billed, justifiably, as ‘The Best Sire in the World’ – in 2001. He wasted little time in saddling his second, High Chaparral, the following year, but would have to wait another decade before winning the Derby again. In fact, in 2012, Camelot won the 2,000 Guineas and the Derby and came within three-quarters of length of becoming the first horse since Nijinsky, in 1970, to win the Triple Crown, when turned over, at odds-on, in the St. Leger.

Camelot has since been followed by five more Derby winners, namely Ruler Of The World in 2013, Australia in 2014, Wings Of Eagles in 2017, Anthony Van Dyck in 2019 and Serpentine in 2020. Indeed, O’Brien is also responsible for High Definition who, at the time of writing, is hot favourite for the 2021 Derby, so may soon be adding to his winning tally.

Horse racing has been a thrilling spectator activity for centuries, and its appeal has only risen over time as more and more people connect with the excitement and entertainment that it brings. If you are a horse racing enthusiast, it’s fair to assume that you want to know which races are the most well-known throughout the globe. Stick right here, but first, a few words about why these events are so popular.

Many people go to see these famous horse races every year because of their long traditions. Not only do they include the world’s finest racehorses, but they are also prestigious and glamorous social events. Because of the prestige of these events and the staggering sums of money up for grabs, bets are placed on them from all corners of the world.

Betting online is a favorite pastime for millions of people. Casino gaming is huge right now, and Slot Source has added more online slot sites for players to enjoy if they fancy a few spins of the reels, but horse racing is the one betting market that remains the most active. Online and offline, you can bet on all the top races, and we have a roundup of the top 10 races for you:

10 – The Cheltenham Festival

Irish and British national pride collide at the annual Cheltenham Festival event. When it comes to National Hunt racing, nothing compares to the prestige of the Cheltenham Festival. Thousands of spectators and millions of viewers across the world put their money on these hotly contested races.

9 – The Melbourne Cup

Since its inception in 1861, the Melbourne Cup has caused a nationwide halt in Australia. Billed as the event that brings the nation to a stop and considered the most respected 2-mile handicap race worldwide, people flock to this race from all around the globe hoping to gain a few more notes and coins in their back pockets.

8 – The Dubai World Cup

One of the most recent races to arrive on our list, the Dubai World Cup didn’t begin until 1996. Each year, the United Arab Emirates plays host to the Dubai World Cup. A dedicated fan base has been quickly amassing for this horse race. The Dubai World Cup, a major horse racing event, is all about the style as well as the magnificent horses.

7 – The Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe

The first Saturday in October is when this legendary horse race takes place in Paris, France. It is consistently ranked as one of the top races in Europe. The French troops of World War I inspired the race’s name. Participants come from all around the world to take part in the Prix. The prize money for the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe is among the largest in sports at $10 million plus.

6 – The Breeders’ Cup

The Breeders’ Cup is an annual purebred horse race that moves across the country. Not including the famous dirt mile, all of the Breeders’ Cup’s 14 events allow for up to 14 starters. Over the course of two days, the Breeders’ Cup typically awards over $30 million in prize money—a staggering amount!

5 – The Belmont Stakes

In June each year, Belmont Park, New York, hosts the massive Belmont Stakes races. The last in the Triple Crown events is known worldwide for its competitive edge. The park has been packed with spectators for the horse race for the past 140+ years. Belmont Park is unique among American racetracks because admission charges have not been artificially increased. The third and final stage of the Triple Crown has the potential to be a lucrative financial windfall, but the entry fee stays the same, keeping this race accessible to everybody.

4 – The Grand National

Aintree, an English town close to Liverpool, is the site of the Grand National. As hard as you may try, you can’t compare the Grand National to any other race. The National Hunt horse race is two miles long, and it features thirty obstacles that the horses must clear before reaching the finish line. Fans are left in awe by the extraordinary athleticism displayed by these exceptional racehorses as they endure a challenging test of their determination. This race is open to amateur jockeys and trainers.

3 – The Preakness

Pimlico, a racecourse in Baltimore, Maryland, is the annual site of the Preakness. On the third weekend of May, the popular horse race is held. The Preakness is a community celebration. If you’re a fan of American horse racing, you’re probably counting down the days until this year’s second stage of the Triple Crown. Every fan instantly roots for the horse that wins the Kentucky Derby in the hopes that he or she can repeat that success and get nearer to the Triple Crown glory.

2 – The Royal Ascot

Royal Ascot is known as the English equivalent of the Kentucky Derby, and it’s the second most important event in the UK. The Royal Ascot is an opportunity for the affluent to show off their best horses. Attendees are expected to adhere to a strict dress code, and there are 24 individual competitions spread out across the race’s four days. The Royal Ascot is around 6-7 miles from Windsor Castle; hence it has strong ties to the British royal family.

1 – Kentucky Derby

Our ranking of the best horse races worldwide concludes with the Kentucky Derby at number one. Every year in May, Louisville, Kentucky, hosts the world-famous Kentucky Derby. When the Derby rolls around, horse racing fans everywhere know that it’s time to kick off the Triple Crown. This race attracts famous and influential people since it has the ability to make a lot of money for the owners and gives them the opportunity to parade their horses shortly after training season. The Kentucky Derby is the most prestigious horse race in the world, and its fame has spread throughout the globe from its humble beginnings at Churchill Downs.

In recent years, ‘Duel on the Downs’ has become a catchphrase associated with the Sussex Stakes, a Group 1 contest run over a mile at Goodwood in late July or early August. Worth £1 million in prize money, the Sussex Stakes is the feature race in day two of the five-day Qatar Goodwood Festival, colloquially known as ‘Glorious Goodwood’.

The slogan ‘Duel on the Downs’ is derived, in part, from the location of Goodwood, which is situated on the top of the South Downs, five miles north of Chichester, in West Sussex. The Sussex Stakes provides the first opportunity of the season for three-year-olds of the ‘Classic’ generation to race against older horses over a mile. As such, the race repeatedly attracts the crème de la crème of European miling talent and, in its long, illustrious history, has seen many epic clashes of the generations.

Perhaps the most eagerly anticipated ‘Duel on the Downs’ came in 2011, when the 2010 winner, Canford Cliffs, trained by Richard Hannon, lined up against the unbeaten Frankel, who had won the 2,000 Guineas and St. James’s Palace Stakes on his two most recent starts. On that occasion, the ‘Duel’ failed to materialise, with Frankel quickening clear in the closing stages for an impressive, 5-length win. However, Hannon had better luck in 2013, when his 3-year-old Toronado avenged previous defeats by Dawn Approach in the 2,000 Guineas and the St. James’s Palace Stakes with a half-length victory in the Sussex Stakes.