Top 5 Horse Racing Events

Horse racing is different from many sports that you can watch and even bet on. Rather than a specific season, horse racing is conducted all year long. There isn’t a single day when you can’t find racing being held somewhere throughout the world. Even though these standard race cards are exciting to play at your favorite online racebook, there are still a few events that even the casual bettor does not like to miss. Here is a look at the Top 5 horse racing events.

1—The Kentucky Derby

The Run for the Roses is still the number one event in horse racing. Held each year on the first Saturday in May, the Kentucky Derby is the first jewel in the Triple Crown. The race is contested at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky and is a spectacle that attracts the rich and famous as well as regular people that like EZ Horse Betting.

The 2018 running was the 144th; that date and sponsor information belongs to the historical version of this list. The event has featured champions including Secretariat and Seattle Slew. Up to 20 horses may start each year to participate in the race. Horses must qualify for the event by competing in a series of prep races. The horses earn points that are then tallied. The horses with the most points are allowed to enter the race.

Each year a highlight of the Kentucky Derby is a performance of “My Old Kentucky Home” by the University of Louisville marching band. As the horses take the track for the post parade, the crowd sings along in a moment that gives many people goosebumps. The winner of the race is covered with a blanket of roses as a reward for completing the most exciting two minutes in sports. Owners do far better. The purse has changed over time; check the current race conditions for the announced amount.

Churchill Downs Incorporated operates Churchill Downs; TwinSpires is its wagering brand. Those who like to bet horses online can create an account with TwinSpires.com and enjoy legal horse betting in the United States.

2—The Dubai World Cup

Conducted at Meydan Racecourse each March as a part of the Dubai Racing Carnival, this event was for many years the richest horse race in the world with a purse of $6 million. Purse rankings have changed repeatedly since this article was first published; compare the announced purse for the edition you are researching.

This race includes older horses, with age conditions differing for Northern and Southern Hemisphere runners and regularly features champions from the United States. Horses like Curlin, California Chrome, and Silver Charm have made their way to Dubai to compete against other champions from France and Japan. It is also noteworthy to mention that horses are not permitted to race on Lasix medication in Dubai, but a medication rule alone does not make all runners equally capable.

U.S. availability depends on the authorized operator’s coverage and the customer’s location. Confirm that the specific Dubai race is offered. The races are held at night in Dubai so this means you will need to wake up early in the U.S. if you want to make a bet on the race.

3—The Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe

The Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe is a premier French turf race for three-year-olds and older horses, rather than an event limited to three-year-olds. It is usually held on the first Sunday in October. This race is comparable to the Kentucky Derby in the United States and features the best thoroughbred horses in France.

The race was first conducted in 1920 and is held at the Longchamp Racecourse in Paris, France. The race is conducted at a distance of 2,400 meters (1 ½ miles) on the grass or turf course. Turf is prominent in European flat racing, alongside all-weather and other racing programmes. The article’s historical purse figure is €5,000,000, making it one of the richest horse races in the world.

While all racing at Longchamp throughout the year may not be available on all racebooks, this is an event that many operators cover, subject to location and race availability. It is one of those events which gets attention all over the world and not just in France. If you are going to bet the race at your racebook, be sure to become familiar with the Timeform speed rating which are used in Europe. They are somewhat different from the Beyer Speed Figures you may be used to.

4—The Pegasus World Cup

This is one of the newer events on the yearly racing calendar. It was held for the first time in January of 2017 and became the richest horse race run at that time with a purse of $12 million. The promoters of this event are serious about their endeavor. The 2018 edition carried a $16 million purse; that is a historical figure.

The Pegasus World Cup was held on January 27, 2018 at Gulfstream Park in Florida. Only 12 horses will be invited to compete in this invitational event. The race is the dream of horse racing mogul Frank Stronach who first proposed the event in 2016. He wished to conduct a race at 1 ¼ miles for champion horses that would fall between the Breeders’ Cup and Dubai World Cup. The timing of the race is significant because most retiring horses enter stud service in February. This race gives them a chance for a proper retirement send off.

The inaugural race was contested over 1 1/8 miles. The race is restricted to horses that are four years of age or older. The original funding format used paid starting positions. In that historical arrangement, 12 shareholders were required to put up a stake of $1 million each in order to receive a position in the starting gate. In 2017, Arrogate further staked a claim as the greatest thoroughbred of the modern era by winning and claiming the lion’s share of the purse.

Beyond the Top 5: Other Events Worth Adding to Your Calendar

The five major horse racing events that dominate most coverage represent only a fraction of the world-class racing available to bettors who are willing to look beyond the obvious. Several additional events deserve places on the serious bettor’s annual calendar. Royal Ascot in June — five days of Group racing at Britain’s most prestigious venue, drawing the best horses from across Europe and beyond — is as important to the European racing year as the Breeders’ Cup is to the American calendar, and the quality and diversity of its fields create exceptional betting opportunities for bettors who study the form.

The Japan Cup in November, the Cox Plate in Australia, the Hong Kong International Races in December, and the Cheltenham Festival for National Hunt racing in March each represent pinnacles of their respective disciplines and produce some of the most competitive and analytically interesting fields of the year. Adding these events to your regular betting calendar — which requires developing familiarity with the specific form lines and racing conditions relevant to each — gradually builds the international racing knowledge that can help evaluate prices in markets where casual bettors are less well-informed. For comprehensive coverage of each event, our articles on the Grand National, the Dubai World Cup, and the Melbourne Cup cover some of the other major events worth following.

5—The Breeders’ Cup World Championships

Held each year in late October or early November, the Breeders’ Cup World Championships is designed to be the Super Bowl of horse racing. It includes a full schedule of events for horses in many different categories. There are sprints, routes, and races for juveniles. There are also races held on the turf.

The highlight of the event is the Breeders’ Cup Classic. This race draws the most talented horses on the planet and is a big factor in which horse will ultimately be named Horse of the Year at the Eclipse Awards. While some may feel that the importance of this race has waned, it is still a major factor in crowning a true champion.

A live broadcast of the Breeders’ Cup is held each year and usually delivered by NBC. One can also find video feeds of the Breeders’ Cup at their preferred racebook. This event is by far one of the most exciting events to bet on. The payoffs for the various races can be extreme.

To get in on all the exciting action of these racing events, create an account now with a racebook recommended by EZ Horse Betting. Check the terms and availability of any sign-up bonus and you will also be able to wager on your computer, tablet, or phone. Check our Bovada racebook review, Twinspires review or even our Betamerica review. Availability depends on your location and the operator’s current eligibility rules. online racebook comparison to compare current coverage and terms.

Compare the five events before planning a visit

Consult the Pegasus history when comparing editions, and France Galop’s official conditions for current French race eligibility. Post times use local time zones; coverage at a betting site must be checked separately.