Before football, baseball, or basketball was invented, horse racing was around as far back as 700 BC and entertained people in Ancient Greece. Even then, the sport is one of the most exciting and thrilling, where spectators gather to watch.
In 2023, horse racing will be one of the most popular pastimes globally, and it’s a sport that people can place their bets on, and it’s pretty straightforward to wager on the sport. Every day, numerous races are held, and there are notable horse races that manage to gain attraction.
If you’re looking to place your bets on the best of the best contenders this 2023, then be sure to add the following racing events to your list. The following races are held annually, and it doesn’t occur all in one month, saving you enough time to save money and information on the horses and jockeys.
Kentucky Derby
The Kentucky Derby is usually held on the first Saturday in May. It’s known as the “Run for the Roses” and the “fastest two minutes in sports.” This horse race is the most anticipated one on this list, and it’s the longest sporting event in the United States that’s still continuously running since its inaugural race in 1875.
Celebrities, known names, fans, and bookies go to Churchill Downs to witness majestic three-year-old thoroughbreds run a one-1/4-mile dirt race. The Kentucky Derby is the first leg of the Triple Crown, which features two other races, the Preakness Stakes and the Belmont Stakes.
Breeders’ Cup Classic
The Breeders’ Cup Classic is a Grade 1 weight-for-age race for three-year-olds and above thoroughbreds. This race is regarded as one of North America’s most elite and prestigious races.
The first race occurred in 1984; in 2023, it had a purse of $6,000,000. It’s one of the highest-attended events in the United States, after the Triple Crown and the Kentucky Oaks. Like the Kentucky Derby, the Breeders’ Cup Classic is a 1 1/4 mile dirt race.
Dubai World Cup
The United States isn’t the only country with a popular horse racing event; Dubai has its own popular horse racing event too! Its inaugural race was in 1996, and it currently has a purse of $12 million.
The Dubai World Cup hosts a race on dirt for the Northern Hemisphere four-year-olds and above thoroughbreds, three-year-olds and above Southern Hemisphere thoroughbreds. These horses run a distance of 10 furlongs or 2,000 meters.
Indeed, the Dubai World Cup is relatively new to the horse racing events list, but it quickly became a significant attraction and made its way to this list.
Melbourne Cup
The Melbourne Cup is the most famous thoroughbred racecourse in the Land Down Under. It’s held annually on the first Tuesday of November. It’s dubbed “the race that stops a nation.” It’s a 2-mile turf handicap for three-year-old thoroughbreds and has a purse of about 6$ million.
Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe
The Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe is named after the World War I monument, the Arc de Triomphe. This race is the richest horse racing event in Europe, and one of the most popular events worldwide, making its way into this list.
It’s usually held on the first Saturday in October; so after betting on the Triple Crown with TVG online, you may want to study up on the contenders of this race to increase your 2023 earnings. It’s held at the Longchamp Racecourse, Paris, France.
Preakness Stakes
The Preakness Stakes is the second leg of the well-known Triple Crown series. The three-year-old thoroughbreds run a 1 3/16 mile long race. Its other name is “The Run for the Black-eyed Susans.” It has a purse of $1 million, and it’s held annually on the third Saturday of May at the Pimlico Race Course in Maryland.
The Everest
The Everest just started to join the club in 2017 with its inaugural race, and it still isn’t eligible for Grade 1 status. However, the purse given to the contenders makes it enticing for jockeys and horse owners to join and bettors enticing to wager. It’s a 1,200-meter or six-furlong race. Like the Pegasus World Cup, contenders must pay an entry fee.
Belmont Stakes
The Belmont Stakes is the last leg of the Triple Crown, and it’s usually held on the first or second Saturday of June at Belmont Park in New York. It’s an annual Grade 1 thoroughbred race. If a bettor is betting on one of the Triple Crown races, then there’s a high possibility that they will bet on the rest of the series.
It’s also one of North America’s most-attended horse racing events. Belmont Stakes received the nickname “The Test of the Champion” since it’s the last race to determine who won all three races. In the Belmont Stakes, horses will stretch in 1 1/2 miles on dirt.
Final Thoughts
Horse racing, or the sport of the kings, has a great tradition; over the years, numerous horse racing events have made their way to the top. The above competitions are known for their history, significance, and prize funds.
