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The world’s largest international horse racing event

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What are the biggest horse racing events in the world?

From the Melbourne Cup to the Hong Kong Cup, there are exciting horse racing events taking place around the world. And these races also present great betting opportunities.

Horse racing is a much-loved sport with a long history in many countries. Every horse race offers a wide range of betting markets, providing an exciting betting experience for punters.

Below you will find an introduction to the biggest horse races and carnivals each year, as well as an overview of some of the horse racing powerhouses!

What are the big horse races and carnivals?

While many countries host fantastic individual horse racing events, the best horse racing festivals can feature multiple Grade 1 races over several days. These events attract visitors from all over the world and offer great value betting opportunities. The most popular horse racing festivals include:

Cheltenham Festival, England

Sometimes referred to as the National Hunt World Cup, the Cheltenham Festival features 14 Group 1 races each March. Held on St Patrick’s Day, the festival is particularly popular with Irish racing fans.

Dubai World Cup

The Dubai World Cup is a world-renowned race held at Meydan Racecourse in Dubai with 8 races. The prize money for the World Cup alone exceeds US$12,000,000.

Royal Ascot

The Royal Ascot race dates back to 1768 and has hosted events such as the Gold Cup and the Platinum Jubilee Stakes. Royal families attend and the race is considered one of the most prestigious flat horse racing festivals in the world.

Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival, Australia

Many Australians travel to Melbourne for the Spring Racing Carnival to watch the biggest Group 1 races in Australian horse racing, including the famous Melbourne Cup and Caulfield Cup.

Australian Horse Racing Overview

Australian horse racing revolves around the Melbourne Spring Carnival, during which the Melbourne Cup, Caulfield Cup and Cox’s Shield are held. These races are the three major Group 1 races in Australia and are also the most watched.

Here is a list of the biggest horse races held in Australia each year:

Melbourne Cup

  • Raceway – Flemington

  • Distance – 3200 meters

  • Prize- $8,000,000

  • Type – Open HCP

Caulfield Cup

  • Race Track – Caulfield

  • Distance – 2400 meters

  • Prize- $5,000,000

  • Type – Open Handicap

Juesh Shield

  • Race Track – Moonee Valley

  • Distance – 2040 meters

  • Prize- $5,000,000

  • Type – Weight For Age (WFA)

Golden Slipper Trophy

  • Track – Rose Hill

  • Distance – 1200 meters

  • Prize- $3,500,000

  • Type – 2yo SW

Queen Elizabeth Trophy

  • Race Track – Randwick

  • Distance – 2000 meters

  • Prize- $4,000,000

  • Type – Weight For Age (WFA)

Victoria Derby

  • Raceway – Flemington

  • Distance – 2500 meters

  • Prize- $2,000,000

  • Type – 3yo SW

Doncaster Handicap

  • Race Track – Randwick

  • Distance – 1600 meters

  • Prize- $3,000,000

  • Type – Open HCP

Hong Kong Horse Racing Overview

The famous Hong Kong Jockey Club hosts many of the most prestigious horse racing events, with huge prize money and the possibility of top-placed horses winning big prizes.

In fact, the Jockey Club has an annual turnover of over HK$75 billion. Racing is mainly held at the legendary Sha Tin and Happy Valley racecourses. There are 14 Group 1 races held in Hong Kong each year, and the following five races attract the most bets:

Hong Kong Cup

  • Race Track – Shatin

  • Distance – 2000 meters

  • Prize- $3,000,000

  • Type – 3 years and over (3yo+)

Hong Kong Mile

  • Race Track – Shatin

  • Distance – 1600 meters

  • Prize money – $2,760,000

  • Type – 3 years and over (3yo+)

Audemars Piguet Queen Elizabeth II Cup

  • Race Track – Shatin

  • Distance – 2000 meters

  • Prize- $2,400,000

  • Type – 3 years and over (3yo+)

Hong Kong Sprint Trophy

  • Race Track – Shatin

  • Distance – 1200 meters

  • Prize- $2,220,000

  • Type – 3 years and over (3yo+)

Mercedes Benz Hong Kong Derby

  • Race Track – Shatin

  • Distance – 2000 meters

  • Prize money – $2,160,000

  • Type – 4 years old (4yo)

Overview of Horse Racing in Japan

Professional horse racing has been held in Japan since 1862, and the sport has become one of the most watched sports in Japan, on par with baseball.

Japan has 26 Group 1 races each year with a total purse of over $50 million. The most prestigious race is the iconic Japan Cup held at Tokyo Racecourse. The race typically attracts more than 200,000 spectators. Here are the most popular Group 1 races in Japan each year:

Japan Cup

  • Track – Tokyo

  • Distance – 2400 meters

  • Prize- $5,400,000

  • Type – 4yo+

Tokyo U-Shun (Japanese Derby)

  • Track – Tokyo

  • Distance – 2400 meters

  • Prize- $3,600,000

  • Type – 3 years and over (3yo+)

Emperor’s Award

  • Circuit – Kyoto

  • Distance – 3200 meters

  • Prize money – $2,708,000

  • Type – 4yo+

Takarazuka Memorial

  • Track – Hanshin

  • Distance – 2200 meters

  • Prize money – $2,708,000

  • Type – 4 years and over (3yo+)

Chrysanthemum Appreciation

  • Circuit – Kyoto

  • Distance – 3000 meters

  • Prize money – $2,070,000

  • Type – 3 years and over (3yo+)

Overview of British Horse Racing

British horse racing includes 30 Group 1 races with lucrative prize money that can generate huge betting profits. From March to September, you can bet on the UK’s biggest horse races, from the Cheltenham Festival to the Epsom Derby. Here’s an overview of the best UK races to bet on at Stake.com:

Cheltenham Gold Cup

  • Racetrack – Cheltenham Racecourse

  • Distance – 5294 meters

  • Prize money – £625,000

  • Type – 5 years and over (5yo+)

British Grand National Steeplechase

  • Circuit – Aintree

  • Distance – 6907 meters

  • Prize- £1,000,000

  • Type – 7 years and above (7yo+)

Epsom Derby

  • Race Track – Epsom Downs

  • Distance – 2419 meters

  • Prize money – £1,604,000

  • Type – 3 years old (3yo)

Ascot Gold Cup

  • Race Track – Ascot Racecourse

  • Distance – 4014 meters

  • Prize money – £600,000

  • Type – 4yo+

King George VI Chase

  • Race Track – Kemptown Park

  • Distance – 4828 meters

  • Prize- £250,000

  • Type – 4yo+

Live Horse Racing at Stake Sportsbook

You can watch numerous live horse racing events through your account at Stake Sportsbook .

Simply log in to your account and view the free live horse racing streams. Then place your pre-match and live bets .

This is the best way to watch horse racing live. You don’t have to pay for expensive subscriptions and you can enjoy betting on horse racing in real time wherever you are, whether at home or on the go.

What are the different types of bets for different types of horse racing?

There are a variety of horse racing bets you can place, including:

  • Win Bet: A single bet on the horse you think will win.

  • Regular bets: You can bet on a horse’s “place”, meaning you can bet on them to come first, second or third in a particular race.

  • Win and Place Betting: This dual bet is very popular in horse racing. You bet not only on the winning horse, but also on the winning horse’s place.

  • Trifecta: This is a riskier bet where you predict the horses that will finish first, second and third in the race.

  • Double Bet: Similar to a Tricast, you only bet on the horses you think will finish first and second.

Check out our full guide to betting on horse racing and read our sports betting guide for more practical tips to help you choose your bets.

Please remember to bet on horse racing responsibly and read our Responsible Gambling Guide. You can refer to our Stake Safety Guide to help you control your gambling behavior and use our Budget Calculator to determine how much you can afford to spend.

For more information on horse racing betting at Stake.com , please refer to our resources: