Horse racing has a long and illustrious history and is one of the world’s most beloved sports. Dating back to the 12th century, this pastime showcases speed and endurance and tends to attract huge audiences. With a jam-packed calendar of high-class events, there is rarely a dull moment when it comes to elite-level thoroughbred racing.
We’ve compiled a list of must-watch races that are widely viewed as marquee events, focusing on their history, longevity, and the reasons for their continued popularity with horse racing bettors.
Kentucky Derby
The Kentucky Derby is known as “The Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports” and is one of the best-attended sporting events in the US. In 2024, the race celebrated its 150th consecutive running, a milestone yet to be achieved by any other American sporting event. An audience of 20.1 million people tuned in to see Mystik Dan declared the winner in a three-way photo, and last year’s event set a record for an all-time betting handle with $210.7 million wagered on the race and $320.5 million across the card.
This race is steeped in heritage, with the winner of the contest covered in a blanket of 554 roses, a tradition that began in 1883.
It is also part of ‘The Triple Crown,’ a series of races for three-year-old thoroughbreds. Very few horses can achieve the feat of winning all three of these competitive contests, with Justify and American Pharoah being the only two runners to succeed in this accomplishment since 1978.
Aintree Grand National
The Aintree Grand National is a historic race that still holds significant appeal amongst sports fans. The Steeplechase, which is contested over four miles, attracts an estimated worldwide audience of 600 million and remains the most valuable jumps race in the UK. With a field of 34 runners attempting to clear 16 different fences, this is a highly unpredictable race and is rarely short of drama.
Red Rum remains the only horse to emerge victorious on three occasions, however, Tiger Roll is the most recent example of a horse going back-to-back in this iconic race. It is an incredibly rare occurrence due to the sheer unpredictability of the race as well as the stamina required to complete the course.
Grand National Day tends to be the busiest day of the year for both online and land-based bookmakers, and several national newspapers create special pull-outs to preview the race and the accompanying card. Furthermore, online casinos in the UK also look to capitalize on this surge of interest by promoting their horse racing-themed slots, such as Big Bass Day at the Races and Frankie Dettori’s Magic Seven.
Melbourne Cup
The Melbourne Cup is an annual Group 1 thoroughbred event held at Flemington Racecourse on the first Tuesday in November. It is the richest two-mile handicap in the world and is nicknamed by the locals “the race that stops the nation.”
This race has plenty of prestige and has been contested each year since 1861, although it has undergone several alterations, with the race now being held over a shorter distance and fewer overseas horses invited to compete. It is held on a public holiday, resulting in a bumper attendance of between 80,000-100,000 spectators.
Makybe Diva was the last horse to win this race on multiple occasions, securing three consecutive victories between 2003 and 2005.
Prix De L’Arc De Triomphe
The Prix De L’Arc De Triomphe may not be able to compete with the Kentucky Derby and the Grand National in terms of history and prestige. However, this contest, which is held at the beginning of October, is Europe’s richest race and never fails to attract a high-quality field of raiders from France, Ireland, Germany, the UK, and Japan.
It is held over a distance of 1 and a half miles (2,400 meters), and the track attracts over 60,000 visitors across the course of the weekend.
Eight horses have won the Prix De L’Arc De Triomphe on more than one occasion, although we are yet to see a three-time champion here. Trainer Andre Fabre is the most successful trainer in this event, with eight winners, although his last came back in 2019. Horses based in the UK and Ireland have been responsible for six of the last ten victories, with Sir Mark Prescott, John Gosden, and Aidan O’Brien amongst the successful trainers who have scored at Longchamp.
