Are you searching for a horse race near you? Or are you wondering which tracks are worth watching? Worry not, read through this article, as we have compiled five of the most famous horse races around the world, their history, and how they’re held, to enable you to take on new gambling adventures with ease.
- The Preakness Stakes
Track Length: 1.2 miles
City: Baltimore, Maryland
Country: USA
The second leg of Thoroughbred Racing is The Preakness Steak. This is a horse race that is held on the 3rd Saturday of May annually. This often happens two weeks after the Kentucky Derby, and it typically ends within 2 minutes. The Preakness Stakes was termed ‘The Run for Black-Eyed Susan,’ because of the thick blanket of yellow flowers hung around the winner’s neck. This horse race is famous for its InfieldFest, which is enjoyed during the run. This is a festival where all revelers partake in an outdoor party for a grad booze experience.
- Belmont Stakes
Track Length: 1.5 miles
City: Belmont Park, New York
Country: USA
The second best race in the world is the Belmont Stakes. This race started in 1867 and is held on the second Saturday of June. It is the third and final leg of the US Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing, and it comes with a $ 1.5 million prize money for winners. The Belmont Stakes is considered the oldest horse racing tradition and the longest of the three Triple Crown legs. In this race, the horses need to be three years and older. Towards the end of the Belmont race, the winning horse is draped in a blanket of white carnations to signify its victory.
- The Grand National
Track Length: 4 miles / 10 minutes.
City: Aintree, Liverpool
Country: England
The Grand National is our next best horse racecourse in the world and another veteran in the game. The first race was held in 1839 for the first time, and it has since gained popularity all over Europe, with millions of spectators and endless Grand National tips. With a track length of 4 miles, which extends to ten minutes, the Grand National is held annually, on the first and second Saturday of April in Liverpool. It is considered by many jockeys to be the toughest horse race in the world, and also a very dangerous one too. In this race, riders have to move through 30 different fences and 500 yards, which involves two significant laps.
- Nakayama Grand Jump
Track Length: 4250 meters
City: Nakayama, Funabashi
Country: Japan
From Europe, we move to Asia, and Japan specifically. We take a look at the Nakayama Grand Jump, the famous Japanese horse racing track. This is a relatively new race, which started in 1999. It features a 4250-meter track length and a $1.7 million winning prize. The competition always gets stricter and more intense as the years go by, with the track also getting more challenging. The Nakayama track has many sharp turns and twists, with inclines, jumps, and declines that enable racers to test their limits and the capabilities of their horses. Besides the racing, this Grand jump is considered the best family-oriented event in Japan, and a very glamorous one at that.
- The Kentucky Derby
Track Length: 1.25 miles
City: Louisville, Kentucky
Country: USA
The last horse race we will discuss is the Kentucky Derby. In under two minutes, you and your horse are to move across 1.25 miles of road, with the chance to win $2 million. This track is located in Louisville and is held on the first Saturday of May. The first race took place in 1875, and since then, horse jockeys around the world have worked to find their way into the race. The Kentucky Derby is highly luxurious by design as it welcomes the who’s who of the country to a single location. In total, the track sees about 150,000 spectators annually, making it one of the most popular sporting events in the world.