4 Must-Watch International Horse Races Still to Come in 2025
The global horse racing calendar finishes strong each year, and 2025 is no exception. While the Triple Crown and other major spring events are receding into the past, the final months of 2025 are filled with internationally significant races. These aren’t just routine fixtures; they’re career-defining contests that attract elite competitors from every major racing jurisdiction.
1. Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe – October 5, Longchamp, Paris
Few races in the world carry the same weight as the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. Held at Longchamp Racecourse every autumn, the Arc stands at the summit of European turf racing. It brings together the best middle-distance horses from across the continent and increasingly, from Japan and beyond. Open to horses aged three and older, the 1½-mile test rewards a rare blend of stamina, acceleration, and racecraft.
Its timing in early October makes it a natural finale for horses coming off summer campaigns in races like the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes or the Irish Champion Stakes. French-trained runners typically perform well, but foreign contenders are far from outmatched. Over the past two decades, Arc results have consistently underscored how internationalized the sport has become.
More than just a fixture on the French calendar, the Arc is a global focal point. Its combination of elite competition, historic setting, and unpredictable outcomes makes it a centerpiece of the fall season.
2. The Everest – October 18, Randwick, Sydney
Created in 2017, The Everest is one of the newest, but most talked-about additions to the international racing circuit. Run at Randwick Racecourse in Sydney over six furlongs, it features a format unlike any other: twelve slot holders pay to enter a runner, and each participant competes for a share of a prize pool worth AUD 20 million.
That model has brought global attention and attracted horses from far beyond Australia. However, it’s worth noting that the quality of local sprinters remains high, with top-tier runners from the domestic scene often holding their own. What sets The Everest apart is the intensity. It’s short, explosive, and tactically sharp. Races are won and lost in the first few strides.
The event has quickly become a cornerstone of Sydney’s sporting identity. Despite being less than a decade old, it commands the kind of respect usually reserved for century-old races.
3. Breeders’ Cup – November 1, Del Mar, San Diego
Every year, the Breeders’ Cup serves as the grand finale of the North American racing calendar. In 2025, it returns to Del Mar, a track known for its tight turns, seaside views, and deep fields. The Breeders’ Cup is, in reality, a series of races, but the key events fall on the Saturday card, which showcases multiple Grade 1 contests.
One of the event’s most defining traits is its dual-surface structure. Turf and dirt races run side by side, allowing horses from diverse backgrounds to compete on their ideal footing. American dirt specialists face off in races like the Classic, while international turf champions target races like the Turf and Mile.
For fans trying to make sense of the event’s intricacies, the Breeders’ Cup often sparks deep analysis and research. It’s during major meets like this that seasoned enthusiasts delve into horse betting tips, not just to understand potential outcomes, but to better grasp how different racing styles, jockey decisions, and course layouts can influence results.
4. Melbourne Cup – November 4, Flemington, Australia
If there’s one race that defines a nation, it’s the Melbourne Cup. Held each year on the first Tuesday in November at Flemington Racecourse, it is more than a sporting event in Australia, it’s a cultural ritual. With a history dating back to 1861, the Cup is a two-mile handicap that tests stamina, strategy, and staying power like few other races.
The field is one of the deepest in racing. Horses from Europe, Japan, New Zealand, and beyond regularly travel to Melbourne in hopes of inscribing their name in the history books. Because it’s a handicap, runners carry different weights based on their prior performance, making outcomes highly competitive and often unexpected.
The Melbourne Cup is not just about tradition. It also reflects how thoroughly international horse racing has become. No other event blends local fervor with global participation quite like it.
The Final Charge For 2025
These final months deliver some of the sport’s most important showdowns. The Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, The Everest, Breeders’ Cup, and Melbourne Cup each serve as proof positive of racing’s global reach. They’re not just season swan songs – they’re its defining chapters.