Amazing Horse Racing Tracks Across the World
A day out at the horses… You really can’t beat it. It’s one of the most enjoyable sporting days out in the world, historically. Luckily, if you’re yet to experience the races, there are plenty that you can attend in the calendar year that will not disappoint. It might not even be to see the jockeys and horses themselves. There are some absolutely mesmerising horse racing tracks across the globe with some top entertainment for you to enjoy.
We’re going to showcase to you some of the most amazing horse racing venues in the world that you should add to your list of places to visit. Some are closer to home, whilst others are quite a plane journey away. Nonetheless, these tracks are home to some of the best and well known events within the sport and can almost guarantee you a fine day out!
The Churchill Downs
Top spot has to go to Churchill Downs, home of the Kentucky Derby. This glorious race track is located in Lexington, Kentucky and originally opened back in 1875. Along with the Kentucky Derby, other famous races held there include the Kentucky Oaks and the Clark Handicap.
This iconic mile long dirt racetrack is home to the most exciting 2 minutes in the country’s sporting calendar, when, in May, the top racers in the world compete for the ultimate prize, the first of the three legs of the Triple Crown. However, it has also been host to nine Breeders’ Cups and is home to 7 Grade 1 events each year.
Ascot
For number 2, we travel over the Atlantic back home to the UK – and the ultimate horse track, Ascot. Located in Berkshire, it first opened back in 1711 and is home to races and festivals such as Royal Ascot, Clarence House Chase and British Champions Day.
This legendary track dates all the way back to the Stuart period – and was founded by our horse mad Queen of England – Queen Anne. This is now a global racing phenomenon and attracts fans from all over the world.
The pinnacle is the famous five day festival, the Royal Ascot, which is held in mid-June and is a favourite of online bookies around the world, where online offers and generous bonuses are plentiful. You can sit back and watch races such as the King’s Stand, St James’s Palace Stakes and the Gold Cup – with millions being dished out to the winners. However, it also hosts British Champions Day in October – the official end to the UK’s Flat turf season.
Longchamp
Hopping across The Channel to France, we head over to Longchamp, which is steeped with tradition and history, dating all the way back to the Bois de Boulogne, Paris, France. The track first opened back in 1857 and is host to races such as the Prix du Cadran, the Grand Prix de Paris and the world-famous Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.
The ParisLongchamp is most famous for being home to the richest horse race in Europe, the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe which is run annually on the first Sunday of October and has been a staple event for more than a century. However, the history of the course goes back way further, all the way back to the Second French Empire.
So famous is it that it is host to more than half of France’s Grade 1 races, with people always excited to watch the racers navigating their way along its famous false home stretches. The track has been renovated to hold even more fans recently – and it now stands even higher above the rest of the French race tracks.
Meydan
This Dubai racetrack may not be the most historical out there, but the views, experiences and prize money certainly puts it up there. Located in Ras Al Khor, Dubai, it was opened in 2010 and is home to races including the Sheema Classic, Dubai Gold Cup and the Dubai World Cup.
Although still a baby, this offers more than 6,000 fans a mile long grandstand with stunning views. It has now overtaken Nad Al Sheba to be named the best horse racing track in the entire Middle East.
The main event here is the Dubai World Cup Carnival which is held at the end of March every year – and offers eye-watering prize purses. This means it attracts the biggest racers from across the world. It also offers Arabian purebred racing, which is pretty spectacular in itself.
There were so many more we could have mentioned – Santa Anita Park in LA, Epsom Downs in the UK, Flemington in Australia, Tokyo race track, Saratoga in New York plus Aintree and Cheltenham here in the UK. We truly are spoilt for choice.
So, if you do want to travel the world and visit the best tracks in the world, these should be on your list!