20 Most Exciting Horse Races in the World

20 Most Exciting Horse Races in the World

In a world that is deep into technology, horse racing is a sport that stands out among all other famous games and sports in the world. Horse racing involves two horses or more and can happen in any place in the world. Despite its unpopularity in the past, horse racing grew fast to become an exciting sport in every continent. Today, there are several countries where horse races are held, accumulating hundreds of thousands of races in a year. However, some horse races stand out on top. From the United States of America to Europe, Asia, Africa, and around the world, horse racing has become one of the fans’ favorite sports.

The sport has won millions of people’s hearts who travel thousands of kilometers to witness their favorite racer on the track. If you are in the United States, there is the Kentucky Derby for you to pass the time, meet new people, and above all enjoy as the horses’ hooves hit the ground. People in the United Kingdom boast of the Epson Derby which is an equivalent of the Melbourne Cup horse racing in Australia. An outstanding feature of horse racing is the way cultural practices are celebrated. It is also the best way to experience different cultures around the world for those who travel for this thrilling sport. The Dubai World Cup attracts multitudes around the world because of the prizes won at the sport and the opportunity to experience the local culture. Looking at some of the best horse races in the world helps to understand the best ways to plan and attend the most exciting horse races at the best time of the year.

These are some of the most exciting horse races in the world:

1. The Kentucky Derby

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There is no better racehorse in the world more famous than the Kentucky Derby in the United States of America. The event is annual and attracts people from all walks of the world. The first Saturday of May is the date you need to mark on your calendars. The end of March is the busiest time in Louisville, Kentucky as fans, horse racers, and investors head to the exciting event in the state. Churchill Downs Racetrack comes to life on a Saturday morning and would go on to be the loudest venue for the rest of the day. The Kentucky Derby is named the Run for the Roses because the winners receive flowers on top of the money prize. Several gamblers and investors wait for this event to get rich as there has been an estimate of more than hundred and forty million dollars in gambling in 2015. This is the most famous horse race despite its prize purse of only three million dollars.

Also see: 15 Famous Horses in History

2. Epson Derby

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The Epson Derby was first contested in 1789 and went on to become one of the most famous horse races in the United Kingdom and globally. With prize money of two million, this is the biggest racehorse in the UK in terms of money. The event is majorly attended by the most influential, powerful, and rich people in the country and across the world. Despite having a capacity of just eleven million seats, the Epson derby is famous due to the classic arrangements including the Duchess’s stand. The event occurs on the first Saturday of June.

3. Saudi Cup

The Saudi Arabian horse race is the most mouthwatering event in all horse races in the world with a prize money of twenty million dollars. With the winner getting half the money prize, the Saudi Cup horse race is the place that every horse racer desires to be on every last weekend of February. The first Saudi Cup horse race was contested in 2020, attracting people from every corner of the world. What would you do with ten million dollars? If you want the money, head to King Abdul-Aziz Racecourse in Riyadh Saudi Arabia.

4. The Everest

The Everest horse race is based in Sydney, Australia, and had been the most lucrative horse race in the world until the Saudi Cup was launched. The Everest began in 2017 and proceeded to take place every second or third Saturday of every October. The prize money is fourteen million dollars and twelve contestants are invited to apply by paying six hundred thousand dollars to book their slot. The Everest horse race is open and all horses of all ages are allowed. The Randwick racecourse is where men have proved that age is just a number in the horse race sprinting.

5. Melbourne Cup

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Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne, Australia is a busy place to be on the first Tuesday of November because of the Melbourne Cup. The race takes place on turf with contestants running for two miles distance. The Melbourne Cup was first held in 1861 and became the most famous horse race in the country. There is an age limit in this horse race as only three-year-old horses are allowed to contest for the five million three hundred thousand prize money. Despite having been contested for more than a century, there has only been one three times winner when Makybe Diva won for three consecutive years from 2003 to 2005. This is a historic racehorse event that can stop the whole nation.

6. The Grand National

The Grand National horse race takes place in Merseyside in England where an unrestricted number of horses are allowed to compete for the seven hundred and fifty thousand dollars money prize. The event was first contested in the eighteenth century and also became one of the first to be televised. The Grand National horse race is the only horse race where more than sixty horses are contested on the same track. After being televised in 2013, there have been more than ten million people watching the event on television.

7. The Sheema Classic

There is a few racecourse in the world that have a huge capacity as the Sheema Classic with more than eighty thousand seats. The horse race was first held in 1998 and has gone on to become one of the most popular in the region and the world. Sheema Classic made the horse races popular in the Middle East and become a sport that is appreciated by the sheiks and princes. The prize of six million dollars was a mouthwatering amount in the early 2000s and remains one of the biggest prizes today. The types of horses allowed in the race depend on the region they are bred, with the age ranging between three and four years or above. Sheema Classic has made Dubai an admired destination every last Saturday of March.

8. Breeder’s Cup Classic

The Breeder’s Cup Classic is an exceptional horse race that is held on the first Saturday of November at different venues in the United States of America and Canada. The prize money is six million dollars and the winner would have to be one of the best horse racers in the world considering the number of races that one has to win. First, there are qualifier races across the world where the winners are selected to compete against each other making the event very exciting to watch. The open age limit allows horses above three years to compete in the two thousand meters distance sprint. A good thing about the Breeder’s Cup Classic is that it is held at different racetracks and would just be happening at your doorstep.

9. Dubai World Cup

The last Saturday of March is the day that you might become a winner in the twelve million dollar prize at the Meydan Racecourse in Dubai. The event takes place alongside the Sheema Classic but the prize money is the difference. Racers compete in the two thousand meters distance with horses of different backgrounds and aged above three years. The Dubai World Cup is the most famous horse race in the United Arab Emirates and one of the most famous in the world.

10. Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe

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Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe is the most famous horse race in Europe by prize money, attendance, and overall performance. The event takes place in Longchamp Racecourse in Paris, France, and has been taking place since 1920. All horses above three years except the geldings are legible to compete in the one and a half miles distance. The current prize money of more than five million dollars is lucrative to racers in Europe and America. There has also been an alternative racecourse to have the horse races whenever the Longchamp racecourse was closed. They include the Le Tremblay and Charity racecourses.

11. The Cheltenham Gold Cup

The Cheltenham Gold Cup horse race is one of the most famous race horse that operates like the Grand National in Aintree. This is a jump race where only two horses are on the track to determine the fastest in the country. The Cheltenham is arguably the most popular horse race in the country despite the small prize money of five hundred thousand dollars compared to other races in the world.

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12. Preakness Stakes

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The Preakness Stakes horse race was first held in 1873 at Pilmico Racecourse in Baltimore, Maryland where it became popular very fast. The event takes place on every third Saturday of the month of May where a prize money of one million dollars is won by horse racers. The Preakness is famous because it is the second most attended horse race in the United States of America behind the Kentucky Derby. Here, there are fewer restrictions on the age and race of the horse in the contention. The race is referred to as ‘The Run for the Black-Eyed Susans’ where horses from all backgrounds are allowed. The Preakness maintains the spot at the top as one of the most famous horse races in the world.

13. Belmont Stakes

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The Belmont has been one of the most famous horse races in America and across the world because of the unique features of the event. The horse race ranks among the top five most-attended racing events in the United States of America. The event is unique because of the Triple Crown title that is won at the end of the race. There have also been hundreds of million viewership for the event and a record twenty-one million television viewership in 2004.

14. Royal Ascot

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There is another famous horse race event in England that has a rich history. The Royal Ascot horse race was first contested in 1711 and went on to become popular in the country and the one that is attended by members of the royal families including the queen. This prestigious event takes place in June and is held for five days. The horse race happens at the Ascot racecourse, in Ascot, England where four different categories of races occur on the turf. The Royal Ascot features famous people in the country and there are classy events such as fashion displays, and expensive dining. The prize money is at ten million dollars making it the richest horse race event in the history of Britain’s horse race.

15. Nakayama Grand Jump

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Horse racing is not only popular in Europe, the Middle East, and America but also in Asian countries. Japan has one of the most famous horse races in Funabashi; the Nakayama Grand Jump. First contested in 1999, the Nakayama has gone on to become the most awaited horse race in Japan. The unique feature of the horse race in Japan is the steeplechases. Thousands of fans and horse race enthusiasts flood the venue to watch their favorite racers on the track. The family-friendly event allows people from all walks of the world.

16. The 2000 Guineas

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The United Kingdom has another beautiful event at the 2000 Guineas horse race. This horse race acts as a preliminary competition for the classic season in the country. The event takes place at the end of April every year at the Newmarket racecourse. The prize money is set at more than two thousand dollars, which was initially paid in 2000 Guineas, hence the name of the event. The English Triple Crown lovers never miss the 2000 Guineas horse race to have a full picture of the whole season.

17. Leger Stakes

The St Leger Stakes is the longest-serving horse race event in the history of horse racing in Britain. The first event was held in 1776 at the Doncaster racecourse and has continued to inspire horse racers around the world. Being the oldest horse race and with prize money of more than seven hundred thousand dollars, the Leger attracts people of every type. The winner gets more than half the prize alongside several other awards. If you want to participate, make sure you have a thoroughbred three-year-old.

18. The Japan Cup

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The japan cup is arguably the richest horse race in the country with a prize money of more than five million dollars. Since horse racing is not as popular in Japan as it is in other parts of the world, the Japan Cup’s prize plays a big role in attracting people in the country and globally. This could be the easiest five million dollars that people win in a horse race.

19. Pegasus World Cup

The people of Japan and horse race fans around the world were excited when the Pegasus was launched in 2017. The prize money made the Pegasus the most lucrative horse race in the Middle East and Asian countries. However, the launch of the Dubai world cup at the Meydan racecourse outshone the Pegasus with four times the prize money and crowds. However, the Pegasus is still the favorite horse race for those who benefited from the event when it was launched six years ago.

20. Hong Kong Cup

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The Hong Kong Cup horse race is one of the Hong Kong international races that is held at Sha Tin Racecourse in Hong Kong. The event attracts fans from every part of the world. The two thousand meter track has attracted contenders in every part of the world to compete for the five million dollar prize money. There is no better international horse race in Hong Kong than the Hong Kong Cup.

Horse races have become the new exciting sport that attracts people from all walks of the world. People visit the racecourses a few days before the event to avoid missing the spot to view the horse races at close range. The races have been in the culture for centuries with some of the first horse races being contested in the seventeenth century. The famous horse races in the United States of America, Canada, Africa, Asia, the United Arab Emirates, and Europe have become events that you don’t want to miss. From the traditional horse races to the modern Dubai world cup, the races have helped people learn about different cultures in the world. The Kentucky Derby, Epson Derby, and Melbourne Cup among other horse races have changed the way people view horse races. These events have hefty prize money that attracts the best horse racers from different parts of the world. Apart from the prize money and other prizes, the spirit of the horse races has made people meet from every corner of the world. Horse races are modern-day’s sports that have united people around the world.