A Quick Guide to the Major Races of the UK
Though there are many racecourses across the UK, there are three that are considered to be some of the most prestigious in the world. They are the Grand National, the Cheltenham Festival, and the Royal Ascot. We’ve put together this quick guide to help you find out more about each one.
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The Grand National
The Grand National has been held since 1839. Since its inauguration, it has been held at the Aintree Racecourse near Liverpool. This is a steeplechase, that sees the horses and their riders cover approximately 4 miles and 2 and a half furlongs over the course of the race. This takes the form of two laps of the course, with the horse jumping over 30 fences.
Many of the fences are famous themselves, and fans and commentators watch eagerly to see how the horses will approach these turns. It is often considered to be an amazing display of skill to be able to handle these jumps so easily. The winner takes in the most valuable prize pot in European jump racing – with a total prize currently of £1 million.
The Cheltenham Festival
Held in Cheltenham in March each year, the Cheltenham Festival has the second biggest prize pot after the Grand National. The festival stretches over four days, and includes many different events. The oldest race still running today is the Stayers’ Hurdle. Horses must cover a distance of about 3 miles and successfully jump over the 12 hurdles of the race. This race has been running since 1912.
Cheltenham attracts many different types of racing fans to it – from those who follow the sport ardently to those who are just interested in the major races. No matter where you fall in this, check out some Cheltenham odds to gain some early insight into what might happen in the next festival.
The Royal Ascot
The Royal Meeting takes place at the Ascot Racecourse in Berkshire in June each year. Queen Elizabeth II can be found at the races at Ascot throughout the year, but it is the Royal Meeting which is often considered to be the most prestigious. This racecourse has had close ties with the monarchy of the UK since it was founded by Queen Anne in 1711.
The Gold Cup is the most prestigious of the Ascot races. It is a flat race that takes place over a distance of approximately 2 miles and 3 furlongs. This race has been taking place since 1807.
These are just three of the biggest races in the UK. You will find plenty more on the racing calendar here. You could want to learn more about racing as a whole, or you could want to focus your knowledge on the races mentioned above. Either way, you are going to be able to find lots of facts to learn about some of the biggest racing meets that the UK hosts each year. The three above will always be a great place to start.