The 5 Ultimate Horse Races in the World

U.S. Triple Crown Part Of Horse Racing’s Top Events

In ancient times, horse racing prospered as a king’s sport. It is currently one of the oldest sports, having its origins among Central Asia’s ancient nomadic tribesmen, who first bred horses around 4500 BC.

Horse racing is one of the few sports betting modes in the world today and they are a favorite form of entertainment for a lot of people. Races take place every day of the year throughout the world, including in the United States.

The horse racing enticement in America is twofold: people love watching the event as they pick horses to win and jockeys advance their pursuits by trying to become part of the history alongside the sport’s famous stars. All the same, many fans enjoy horse racing due to the massive range of sports betting opportunities it offers to them.

Kentucky Derby

Out of all the thoroughbred races, this is the most popular and well-known in America. The competition, established in 1875, runs at Churchill Downs racetrack in Louisville, Kentucky on the first Saturday of May. Being the most prestigious American horse race is also recognized as the “Fastest Two Minutes in Sports” or “The Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports.” The restricted sports is for three-year-olds and only 20 horses since 1975. More than 150,000 people witness the event from the stands and a few tens of millions more across from their TV screens. The “Run for the Roses” which it is commonly known as, the Kentucky Derby is the first leg of the Triple Crowns races.

Preakness Stakes

Held annually every mid-May at the Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland, the Preakness Stakes is a flat race for Thoroughbred horses aged three years. The competition first ran in 1873, it lasts about two minutes and is witnessed by many fans. The fastest finish came in 1973 and was 1 minute, 53 seconds. Traditions include the singing of the official state song “Maryland, My Maryland” and draping the winning horse with a blanket of “black-eyed Susans” which are the state’s flower. Thus, the Preakness is the second leg of the Triple Crown races and is also known as the “Run for the Black-Eyed Susans.”

War of Will seized the second leg of the Triple Crown races which was held the 19th of May, 2019.

Belmont Stakes

The oldest of the three events in the Triple Crown races, Belmont Stakes, is also known as the “Run for the Carnations.” The hanging of carnation flowers to the winning horse is a tradition yet the Belmont it has also become known as “Test of the Champion” by professional horse-racers since it is the last and final leg of the three races along with the Kentucky and Preakness. The competition is held on the first Saturday of June annually at Belmont Park, New York. In the Belmont Stakes 2018 race, Justify halted a strong push and became the winner of the 150-year-old event. The most famous horse in race history, Secretariat, remains the record-holder, being the fastest finisher in 1973 and also winning the Triple Crown.

Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe

One of the world’s most significant sporting events and Europe’s most valuable horse race takes place annually on the first of October at the magnificent Paris Longchamp Racecourse. The field is 2400m, running for the first time in 1920 and a horse named Comrade was the first winner of the event. Traditionally, Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe is the most frequented horse racing day in France, is the richest turf race and the third richest horse race in the world, awarding the winning horse with 4 million Euros, one of the races highest prize money.

The 2018 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe winner was Enable, which was ridden by his jockey Frankie Dettori.

Royal Ascot

The Ascot Racecourse is one of the most famous racecourses in Britain, founded in the year 1711 by Queen Anne. Royal Ascot, the annual race meeting, is held in Berkshire, England every June. The crowd of around 300,00 wears their grandest clothes and hats for five consecutive days for the week-long event, in which the Queen of England and the members of the Royal Family also attend.

The Queen itself owns and breeds many thoroughbred horses and shares with other members of the family, showcasing her appreciation of horses. For many years of participating in the race, the Queen’s horses have won several competitions at Royal Ascot.

The 60th Royal Ascot winner Stradivarius took the Gold Cup after an exhilarating finish, with jockey Frankie Dettori astride.

Takeaway

Horse racing remains a favorite of many people even though it is known as the oldest sports event. There are plenty of races present today worldwide; each of them has their picks and favorites. Thus, these are just five of the many competitions that stand out today to thousands crowd of people.