Horse racing is unlike any other sport, as it gives fans the opportunity to travel the world in order to learn more about the history of the game in different countries. Racing is popular is almost every country, with each nation boasting its own prestigious races that are staged throughout the calendar year.
The growth in betting on the sport means that leading sportsbooks now offer a wealth of information surrounding the competition in countries around the world. Visit this website to learn more: twinspires.com/edge/racing/betting-info/horse-racing/
However, what are some of the best racecourses in the world that all lovers of the sport must visit at least once during their lives?
Churchill Downs
There are few more famous racecourses in the world than Churchill Downs, with the track in Louisville, Kentucky, welcoming international visitors throughout the season. This track was first opened in 1875, and over 170,000 people are able to pack into the iconic course. Churchill Downs regularly ranks among the top courses in the world, with the Horseplayers Association of North America ranking it fifth on the list in 2009.
The course is most famous for hosting the opening leg of the Triple Crown in the United States, with the Kentucky Derby being run at Churchill Downs on the first Saturday in May.
This race is one of the most-attended races in the world, and it is watched by a global audience annually. It is labelled as the ‘most exciting two minutes in sports’, and it has been won by a plethora of greats throughout history, including Secretariat, American Pharoah, and Justify.
Paris-Longchamp
Racing is incredibly popular across Europe, meaning that there are no shortage of iconic tracks to visit. Paris-Longchamp is one of the most beautiful on the continent, with racing having been staged at the French track since 1857. The course regularly welcomes 50,000 fans on course throughout history, and it is traditionally regarded as one of the most demanding for Thoroughbreds due to the famous hill down the final stretch.
Longchamp is home to over half of the Group One races that are staged in France, with the standout fixture of the season coming in the form of the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, which is staged annually in October.
This race is the most prestigious turf contest on the international schedule, with talented runners competing over a distance of 2,400 metres. The Arc is the fifth-richest race to be run in the world, and a number of legends of turf racing have landed success in the race. Among those include Enable, Treve, and Ribot.
Cheltenham Racecourse
While flat racing is most popular across the world, it’s the jumps code that is most prominent across the United Kingdom and Ireland. That is evident across four-days in March every year, when over 200,000 visitors pass through the gates at the iconic Cheltenham Racecourse. The track, which is located in Gloucestershire, is home to the legendary Cheltenham Festival, which sees 28 high-quality races run over a four-day period.
The Festival sees a massive boom in the local sector, with championship races being run on every day between Tuesday and Friday. However, few are as prestigious as the Cheltenham Gold Cup, which is the feature on the final day.
This contest, which is run over three miles and two furlongs, is regarded as the blue-riband race on the National Hunt schedule, and the roll of honour highlights the prestige of the contest. Legendary stars such as Arkle, Kauto Star, and Denman have all won the Gold Cup, while the most recent winner of the race was Galopin Des Champs, who will be chasing a third straight honour in 2025.
Randwick Racecourse
Australia is home to the most Group One races throughout the season, meaning that there is no shortage of tracks that visitors to the nation are able to visit. However, few are as picturesque as Randwick, which is located in Sydney and overlooks the entire city. Randwick was first opened in 1833, and it is owned by the Australian Turf Club.
The premier racing meet on the calendar at the track is the Championships, which is staged annually in April. It is a hugely lucrative event in the world of racing, with over $20 million up for grabs in prize money in races such as the Australian Derby and Doncaster Handicap.
Other major events to be held at the track include the Spring Carnival and the Sydney Carnival. Randwick is also home to the richest race in Australia, with The Everest boasting an eye-watering purse of $15 million. Established in 2017, the race has been won by some legends of Australian racing throughout history, including Redzel, Yes Yes Yes, and Nature Strip.
