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If you want to see the excitement of the world´s fastest horses competing for huge prizes, there are some amazing races you should look out for.
The following are some of the biggest and best horse races on the planet.
The Kentucky Derby
As the first leg of the American Triple Crown, this prestigious race is something that racing fans look forward to every year. It is held at Churchill Downs in Louisville and features three-year-old horses running one and a quarter miles.
The Kentucky Derby is scheduled for early May each year, with the 2021 event taking place on May 1. This was the 147th running of the Kentucky Derby and it was won by Bob Baffert-trained Medina Spirit, being ridden by John Velazquez.
Since the event already happened you can appreciate the ‘sequel’, the Belmont Stakes that happens in early June. Check out more details here: https://www.twinspires.com/belmont-stakes
The Dubai World Cup
This glamorous event celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2021, with the 2020 event having been canceled due to the pandemic. It is held at the stylish Meydan Racecourse in front of a star-studded audience each March.
The 2021 version of the Dubai World Cup was won by Mystic Guide, who won his owners $7.2 million out of the total $12 million prize pot. The winner is trained by Michael Stidham in the US and was ridden to victory by Luis Saez.
The Pegasus World Cup
The title of the world’s richest horse race has changed in recent years, with the Pegasus World Cup and the Dubai World Cup both holding this title at different times. The Pegasus event is held at Gulfstream Park in Florida and was only run for the first time in 2017, with $12 million as the purse.
The 2021 race was held in January, with Knicks Go storming to victory, ridden by Joel Rosario. The purse for the Pegasus World Cup had dropped to $3 million for this year, but the winner also claimed a berth in the $20 million Saudi Cup for his efforts, where he came home in fourth place.
The Melbourne Cup
Australian horse racing fans look forward to the 3,200 meter Melbourne Cup each year. Held in early November, it is for horses age three or over, at the Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne.
This is one of the oldest horses race still in existence, as it can be traced back to 1861. The 2020 running of it was called the Lexus Melbourne Cup and it was won by the Joseph O’Brien-trained Twilight Payment, who was ridden by Jye McNeil.
Prix de I’Arc de Triomphe
France holds some big horse races, with none bigger or more keenly awaited than the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. This group 1 race is for horse aged three of over, and they run over 2,4000 meters. It is currently one of the richest turf races in the sport.
The 2020 race was held in October at the Longchamp course in Paris. The winner was Sottsass, who finished his successful career in this event, picking up his fifth win in 9 races as Cristian Demuro rode him to victory.
The Grand National
There are plenty of huge horse races in the UK too, with none of them capturing the public imagination as much as the thrilling Grand National. Held at Aintree in April, it might not have the elegance of Royal Ascot, but it makes up for this in terms of sheer excitement,
The horses have to jump 30 large fences as they complete two laps of the course, including the infamous Beecher’s Brook. It was first run in 1839 and has become a massive fixture in the British sporting calendar. The 2021 Grand National was won by Minella Times
If you want to see the excitement of the world´s fastest horses competing for huge prizes, there are some amazing races you should look out for.
The following are some of the biggest and best horse races on the planet.
The Kentucky Derby
As the first leg of the American Triple Crown, this prestigious race is something that racing fans look forward to every year. It is held at Churchill Downs in Louisville and features three-year-old horses running one and a quarter miles.
The Kentucky Derby is scheduled for early May each year, with the 2021 event taking place on May 1. This was the 147th running of the Kentucky Derby and it was won by Bob Baffert-trained Medina Spirit, being ridden by John Velazquez.
Since the event already happened you can appreciate the ‘sequel’, the Belmont Stakes that happens in early June. Check out more details here: https://www.twinspires.com/belmont-stakes
The Dubai World Cup
This glamorous event celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2021, with the 2020 event having been cancelled due to the pandemic. It is held at the stylish Meydan Racecourse in front of a star-studded audience each March.
The 2021 version of the Dubai World Cup was won by Mystic Guide, who won his owners $7.2 million out of the total $12 million prize pot. The winner is trained by Michael Stidham in the US and was ridden to victory by Luis Saez.
The Pegasus World Cup
The title of the world’s richest horse race has changed in recent years, with the Pegasus World Cup and the Dubai World Cup both holding this title at different times. The Pegasus event is held at Gulfstream Park in Florida and was only run for the first time in 2017, with $12 million as the purse.
The 2021 race was held in January, with Knicks Go storming to victory, ridden by Joel Rosario. The purse for the Pegasus World Cup had dropped to $3 million for this year, but the winner also claimed a berth in the $20 million Saudi Cup for his efforts, where he came home in fourth place.
The Melbourne Cup
Australian horse racing fans look forward to the 3,200 meter Melbourne Cup each year. Held in early November, it is for horses age three or over, at the Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne.
This is one of the oldest horses race still in existence, as it can be traced back to 1861. The 2020 running of it was called the Lexus Melbourne Cup and it was won by the Joseph O’Brien-trained Twilight Payment, who was ridden by Jye McNeil.
Prix de I’Arc de Triomphe
France holds some big horse races, with none bigger or more keenly awaited than the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. This group 1 race is for horse aged three of over, and they run over 2,4000 meters. It is currently one of the richest turf races in the sport.
The 2020 race was held in October at the Longchamp course in Paris. The winner was Sottsass, who finished his successful career in this event, picking up his fifth win in 9 races as Cristian Demuro rode him to victory.
The Grand National
There are plenty of huge horse races in the UK too, with none of them capturing the public imagination as much as the thrilling Grand National. Held at Aintree in April, it might not have the elegance of Royal Ascot, but it makes up for this in terms of sheer excitement,
The horses have to jump 30 large fences as they complete two laps of the course, including the infamous Beecher’s Brook. It was first run in 1839 and has become a massive fixture in the British sporting calendar. The 2021 Grand National was won by Minella Times.
