For Some, horse racing takes pride of place on the sporting calendar. Without a doubt, it provides some of the biggest spectacles in sport. Year after year, many spectators watch their favourite races from around the world – some may even have a flutter on a hot favourite. Racing takes place in the United Kingdom, Ireland, France, The United States, and other great nations. The sport is worth billions and attracts a huge audience with each race. Here a glimpse at some of the World’s most famous horse races and what to expect if you get the chance to go to one.

The Grand National

Aintree is home to this famous 4-mile race that takes place every April. The course itself has 30 fences and is considered one of the toughest races in horse racing. There are the famous grandstands and top restaurants where spectators can go between races to relax, dine, have a drink, place bets, or play at   Regal Wins casino site. The festival lasts for three-day culminating in the Grand National. Some of the best horses and trainers attending the event.

Cheltenham Festival

Cheltenham is a big outing for all those concerned. It is one of the biggest races in the UK. Spread over four days, the festival features prize money which is divided among various Grade 1 Runnings. The main races include the Cheltenham Gold Cup – this years’ gold cup was won by Al Boum Photo – the winner can win up to £625,000. People flock from all over to attend these important races. The Cheltenham Festival sees up to 60,000 people daily.

Kentucky Derby

Every year, on the first Saturday of May, all eyes are on the famous Kentucky Derby. The race is run over 2,012m, each race attracts nearly 160,000 people. It is also famous for its “Millionaires Row”. This is where the world of celebrity assembles to watch the race. The winner is always draped in a cloak of roses – this is where it got it the name – “Run for the Roses”. In 2015, punters smashed all records when they bet around $133,000,000 on the race!

l’Arc de Triomphe

l’Arc is always eagerly awaited each year. Believed to be one of the most prestigious horse races in the racing calendar, and with a prize pot worth up to ‎5,000,000. This has made it one of the most famous races in the world. The race has been dominated by Frankie Dettori, his last win came in 2018. It is one of the top three richest races and is run over 2,400m. The race takes place in the Longchamp Racecourse in Paris.

Melbourne Cup

Dating back to 1861, the Melbourne Cup never fails to thrill racing fans year in and year out. It is seen as the biggest and best race found anywhere in the world. It has entrants from all over the world. The Cup is a very fashionable affair where attendees must be suited and booted. The race takes place on the first Tuesday each November. The Melbourne Cup lasts all week long, and there is much to enjoy in this ultimate racing fest.

The Grand National

Aintree is home to this famous 4-mile race that takes place every April. The course itself has 30 fences and is considered one of the toughest races in horse racing. There is the famous grandstands and top restaurants where spectators can go between races to relax, dine, have a drink, place bets, or play at   Regal Wins casino site. The festival lasts for three-day culminating in the Grand National. Some of the best horses and trainers attending the event.

The horse racing calendar is packed full of high-quality events and races that always attract attention.

For some, the Grand National is the number one race of the year, and it’s easy to see why due to the historic and legendary winners it has produced. Meanwhile, others will prefer the Cheltenham festival and the non-stop big races that come over the four days.

However, there are plenty of excellent races that go on up and down the United Kingdom regularly, even if they don’t get the same publicity or attention as those high profile events.

And, one race that certainly falls into that category is the St Leger Stakes at Doncaster.

September 1970
Lester Piggott on Nijinsky II (green & yellow) winning the St Leger Stakes @DoncasterRaces pic.twitter.com/pzNZn9pvDk

— Anaglogs Daughter (@AnaglogsDaughtr) August 7, 2016

The Group 1 Flat race is for three-year-old horses and is one of the five Classic races run during the Flat season. The others are the 1,000 & 2,000 Guineas Stakes at Newmarket, Epsom Oaks and the Epsom Derby. All of these are races well-known to fans as they bring the best horses in that age category together, and there have been some significant winners over the years.

The St Leger Stakes is the oldest of the five Classics as it was established in 1776, which also means it’s one of the oldest horse races around. As well as that, it’s also the longest of the five races as it covers a distance of one mile, six furlongs and 115 yards. Again, all of that just adds to the appeal of the race, and the traditions are passed from generation to generation ensuring it remains a popular event.

Therefore, all eyes will be on the race later in the year, and it will be interesting to see what names will feature as punters look to pick a winner when the horse racing betting odds for the race are revealed.

Arguably one of the biggest names to secure a win at Doncaster was Nijinsky, who secured several major wins throughout his impressive career. He remains the last horse to win the Triple Crown, winning three of the major Classic races in one year.

That came back in 1970 when ridden by Lester Piggott, as Nijinsky won the 2,000 Guineas Stake at Newmarket, the Epsom Derby and he completed the treble with a win at Doncaster, making history in the process and the first to achieve the feat in 35 years.

As you would expect for such a prestigious event, high-profile jockeys have regularly featured at Doncaster too, with Frankie Dettori picking up his sixth win of this particular race in 2019 as he won with favourite Logician. Incredibly, his first win in the race came in 1995 and the success on Logician ended 11 years without a win in the St Leger Stakes for Dettori. That victory ended two successive wins for Ryan Moore and trainer Aidan O’Brien,

Even though there is plenty of racing to enjoy between now and the event in September, the St Leger Stakes is a race that stands out in the calendar. The historic race is sure to provide more entertainment and memories when the day arrives.

Although the summer is the time for the stars on the Flat to shine in the sun, it won’t be long before the jumpers are back in action.

Now the dust has settled on the 2019/20 National Hunt campaign, we have put together what we believe are three great bets for next season.

Lostintranslation to Win Betfair Chase (2/1)

Lostintranslation proved his class last season in what was his best campaign outside of novice company. Not only did he prevail in two races, he was third in the Cheltenham Gold Cup, coming home just 1½ lengths behind Al Boum Photo as you can read at https://www.theguardian.com/sport.

Colin Tizzard’s chaser’s biggest win came in the Grade One Betfair Chase at Haydock. He went off as the 5/4 joint-favourite at the Lancashire racecourse where he defeated two-time winner Bristol De Mai.

Lostintranslation is a chaser you should have on your side next season. He is 2/1 at https://www.betfair.com/sport/horse-racing to defend his crown in the Betfair Chase, while those who want to back him in the Cheltenham Gold Cup, can get 14/1 on the eight-year-old.

Altior to Win Tingle Creek (7/2)

The Queen Mother Champion Chase was expected to be the race of the week at the Cheltenham Festival in 2020, however, Altior and Chacun Pour Soi both had to miss the contest due to injury.

Altior has been off the track since February now and a long break is exactly what he may have needed. Hopefully Nicky Henderson’s superstar can return to his best next season.

It is worth remembering that Altior has won 15 of his 16 races over fences. His only defeat came in the Ascot Chase where he featured over 2m5f for the first time. Expect to see him campaign back at 2m next season.

His return to action is likely to come in the Tingle Creek where he is as big as 7/2 to win the race for the second time in his career. If all goes well, he should be back at the Festival in 2021 for the Queen Mother Champion Chase.

Champ To Win King George VI Chase (8/1)

Champ was one of the star novice chasers last season, with the highlight of his campaign being his victory in the RSA Chase at the Festival. A full report on that success can be found at https://www.itv/com/racing.

Henderson’s runner won three of his four starts. His only blip came in a Grade Two contest at Cheltenham where he fell at the last fence when clear of his rivals.

His success in the RSA Chase suggests he could be a Gold Cup horse this year. He powered home up the hill at the end of that 3m contest so the distance is clearly not a problem for him.

Champ’s first real test against the older horses in the 2020/21 season may be the King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day. He is 8/1 to win that race and given it has an open feel to it. He looks great value to add his name to the roll of honour.

It should be an exciting National Hunt season and one where hopefully you will find plenty of winners throughout the campaign.

Another Cheltenham Festival has been and gone, but that just means it’s time to take stock and what we learned during four superb days of jumps and horse racing action.

The next big event following on from Cheltenham in the National Hunt calendar is the Grand National – the world’s most famous steeplechase over legendary spruce-covered fences like The Chair, Canal Turn, and Becher’s Brook.

Some of the races that really test horses’ stamina at Cheltenham can give punters pointers towards the Aintree showpiece. This year’s Festival is no exception, with a couple of winners shaping like Grand National horses of the future.
Easysland

An obvious place to start on this subject is with a young, improving horse that didn’t just beat dual Aintree hero Tiger Roll, but left him for dead up the famous Cheltenham hill. That is exactly what French raider Easysland did in the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase.

The way in which the David Cottin-trained six-year-old disposed of four-time Festival winner Tiger Roll was something you couldn’t help but be impressed by. Easysland is so young that he wouldn’t have been eligible for the 2020 Grand National, but there is nothing to stop new owner JP McManus from entering him at Aintree in 2021.

Purchasing this prolific French Cross Country winner could prove a very shrewd move by the legendary gambler indeed. It’s worth checking horse racing results today to see how Easysland gets on in whatever events he is entered into next.

The fact he already gets a distance of three-and-three-quarter miles with a gruelling uphill finish at a course like Cheltenham bodes well for any potential future Grand National bid. Easysland should stay further in time, so the extra half-mile at Aintree shouldn’t be a problem for him, and he by and large handled the variety of obstacles on the Cross Country course well.

Ravenhill

Gordon Elliott’s week at Cheltenham:

🏆 Envoi Allen
🏆 Samcro
🏆 Ravenhill
🏆 Chosen Mate
🏆 Aramax
🏆 Sire Du Berlais
🏆 Milan Native pic.twitter.com/mwJXoLJkxn

— ODDSbible Racing (@ODDSbibleRacing) March 13, 2020

Recent National Hunt Chase winners like Rathvinden, Tiger Roll, and Cause Of Causes have all gone on to run very well in the Grand National. The fact that this Grade 2 novice chase for amateur riders had its distance shortened for the 2020 running shouldn’t be seen as a negative for Gordon Elliott’s Irish raider Ravenhill.

He won it well, despite being sent off at 12/1 and the ten-year-old outstayed the prominent, race-hardened and younger Lord Du Mesnil for Cheltenham glory. County Meath trainer Elliott is invariably mob-handed in the Grand National, so it will be no surprise to see Ravenhill line-up at Aintree in future.

Unlike Easysland, time isn’t so much on his side though. Ravenhill may only get one or two tries at the Grand National but, as Rathvinden showed as an 11-year-old when third in 2019, being a more mature horse is no barrier to success.

Stamina is not in doubt, so the only thing Ravenhill needs to prove is that he can take to the unique demands of the course at Aintree. He is a 66/1 shot for the 2020 Grand National, but probably won’t sneak into the race this year, so all eyes are on prepping him for 2021.