Major horse racing meetings not only attract the best horses, making for a great spectacle, but they have lots of entertainment at their respective racecourses to ensure you have a day you will not forget.
If horse racing is a sport that you enjoy watching, or you’d like to visit an event for the first time, here is a look at three meetings around the world that you should include on your bucket list.
Grand National – Aintree Racecourse, Liverpool, England
The Grand National is the most famous steeplechase in the world. If you have ever caught the race before on television or at Aintree Racecourse, you will know why. It is unique in that the fences the runners jump in the marathon contest are much bigger than a standard race.
This event seems to frequently throw up great storylines, like in 2022 when Noble Yeats prevailed for amateur rider Sam Waley-Cohen. The defending champion is the +800 favorite in the racing odds for the latest renewal in 2023.
Liverpool is a city with a rich sporting history, and the Grand National is a key part of that. It offers a warm welcome to all those visiting the Grand National Meeting each year.
Melbourne Cup – Flemington Racecourse, Victoria, Australia
Described as “The Race Which Stops a Nation”, the Melbourne Cup is a key part of the Australian racing calendar. It takes place annually in November on a Bank Holiday, which ensures huge crowds head to Flemington Racecourse to enjoy their afternoon at the venue.
For decades, the Melbourne Cup was a race that only featured horses from Australia, however, the race has become an international event now, with horses making the trip from Japan, the UK, and the USA.
The record crowd for the Melbourne Cup came in 2003 when 122,736 spectators were on hand to see Makybe Diva win the first of his three successes in this contest. Expect the numbers to continue to be high at future editions of this event.
Breeders’ Cup – United States (Racecourse varies each year)
The Breeders’ Cup Meeting in North America is considered the world championship in horse racing. It takes place over two days, with the venue changing each year. In 2022, it was held at Keeneland in Kentucky, while in 2023, it will take place “where the surf meets the turf” at the fantastic Santa Anita in California.
This meeting produces memorable performances year after year. In 2022, Flightline blew his rivals away in the feature race of the weekend, the Breeders’ Cup Classic. It was a performance that put him among the greatest Flat horses of all time.
Horse racing fans from across the globe travel to the Breeders’ Cup which creates a great atmosphere, as they tend to cheer for horses from their country.
Saudi Cup – King Abdulaziz Racetrack, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
The Saudi Cup in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia is now the richest horse race in the world. With such a huge purse on offer, it attracts the best dirt thoroughbreds and jockeys from across the globe, making for a great spectacle.
In 2023, Japanese star Panthalassa came out on top for jockey Yutaka Yoshida and trainer Yoshito Yahagi. The horse won $10,000,000 in prize money in that race. He was able to hold off the challenge of 2022 Dubai World Cup winner Country Grammer in the closing stages of the 1m1f contest. Those two horses are expected to meet each other again at Meydan for the feature race on the Dubai World Cup Carnival.
The Saudi Cup is one of the newest major international horse racing meetings in the sport. It was inaugurated in 2020 and since then there have only been four renewals. It comes a month after the Pegasus World Cup at Gulfstream Park in Florida and just weeks before the Dubai World Cup. The race should continue to grow in popularity over the next few years.
A big part of the Saudi Cup is the Cultural Village at the racecourse. You will find lots of activities to get involved in on the day. There is live music throughout the day to enjoy and a big screen if you would like to watch the action from this section of the venue.
Fashion and culture are a big part of Saudi Cup Day. If it is your first visit to the Middle East, you will be able to learn more about the region of the world in the Cultural Village.
Have a great time if you are heading to one of the above three events this year. You can find more details on tickets, directions to the racecourses, and dress codes on the official websites for each meeting.