Whatever your main passions and interests may be, there’s nothing quite like the atmosphere at a racecourse. At these types of events, the air is live with nervousness and anticipation as bettors, jockeys, and trainers alike watch to see if their favorite horse can pull through victorious.

Horse racing is currently one of the biggest sports in the world with events held in many different countries annually. In addition, it is also one of the biggest gambling vehicles in the world and, as a result, has a specific home among society’s richest individuals.

Whether you’re a novice or a consummate pro, you can make your picks for the breeders cup classic and turn your attention to placing your bets at different horse races, provided you understand who and what you are betting on.

For your convenience, here are the top five most prolific horse races in the world.

Cheltenham

Located and held in England at the iconic Cheltenham Racecourse, Gloucestershire, the races at Cheltenham are some of the biggest in the world. Its signature event occurs in the second week of March at the Cheltenham Festival.

The quality of racing is immense with the Cheltenham Champion Hurdle and Gold Cup ranked among some of the most prestigious events in the National Hunt calendar. Not only this, but it’s a big social occasion with an electric atmosphere and attracts many different celebrities each year.

Betting is also a huge event at this racecourse. With almost thirty races, it generates an impressive revenue that isn’t so easily matched by other events. Several of these races are some of the largest overall betting races.

 

Royal Ascot

This is one of the top horse racing events that is attended by the Queen each year during the first two weeks of June. Due to this, the PR and general buzz surrounding this event, it’s pretty special.

The Royal Ascot is held midway through the year and lasts for five days. It is held at the Ascot racecourse in Berkshire, a location that is owned by the Queen. Prior to the races each day, a Royal procession takes place on the track.

Though Royal Ascot is a great horse racing event to attend, it is also one of great significance. It fuses pageantry, fashion, and flat racing to create an experience that is not replicated at any other race.

It also features some of the greatest British and European horses, along with many other countries.

 

Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe – Paris, France

This racing event isn’t only one of the most highly anticipated in the racing world but is also one of the richest. It’s also one of the longest-standing races, with its origins in 1920, and attracts spectators from many different countries. 

Typically referred to by its shortened name of ‘The Arc,’ this event is a ferocious battle over the turf for Europe’s best – Ireland, the UK, Germany, and France – alongside the remainder of the world. Yet it’s equally just as glamorous with elegant fashion, champagne, jazz music, and many other luxuries.

All of the action unfolds at the iconic Longchamp Racecourse in Paris, France, over a distance of 2,400 meters and on the first Sunday of October. With an amazing prize pot of €3 million sitting there, The Arc is the race that every owner, jockey, and trainer fantasizes about winning.

 

Kentucky Derby

The most common view on this specific horse racing event is that it is not the most valuable, especially compared to others on this list. 

Despite this, the Kentucky Derby remains one of the most revered and highly anticipated annual events in the horse racing industry by fans, jockeys, and trainers alike! It occurs on the first Saturday in May in Louiseville and has a huge impact on the horse racing industry. It’s also an excellent way to celebrate the start of summer.

Many thousands of people attend the event each year as spectators – to the point where attendance numbers often surpass all other types of horse racing events in North America!


Grand National

This event traditionally takes place at Aintree Racecourse, located just outside of Liverpool, and has done so since 1839. Throughout this time, this national institution has continued to capture the hearts and minds of racing fans everywhere.
 

It consists of a four-and-a-half mile handicap steeplechase with horses jumping 30 fences over two separate laps. It’s one of the most valuable European jump races and is so beloved that even people who don’t typically observe horse racing are willing to watch or place their bets!

The Grand National typically occurs in April time and is a National Hunt horse race. It’s one of the real highlights of the sporting calendar each year and is observed by around 150,000 punters at the racecourse and an estimated global television audience of around 600 million people.

 

Summary

There are so many horse racing events to learn about, but these are the top 5 most prolific in the world. They each have a rich history that is deeply embedded in the horse racing industry as we know and love it today.


 

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