Horse racing has a long and illustrious history having been around for hundreds of years now. But when did horse racing become so popular? If we take a look back into history, evidence suggests that horse racing first became popular with ancient civilizations. The ancient Greeks and Romans loved nothing more than watching chariots race one another in arenas.
Since then, horse racing has continued to grow in popularity. It is now the second most popular sport in the world, after football.
Thanks to its popularity, many countries have chosen to create several horse racing events for the fans. Some of the best horse racing events take place in Ireland, Britain, and Australia. If you want to know more about the horse racing events in these countries, then keep reading below:
Irish Horse Racing Events
Many people refer to Ireland as one of the best horse racing countries in the world, Not only does Ireland have an enormous number of great trainers and jockeys, but it also hosts some of the finest horse racing events. Here are some of the horse racing events that take place in Ireland:
- Punchestown Irish National Hunt Festival – this festival takes place every year, just after England’s Cheltenham Festival. Races include the Champion Hurdle, the Champion Chase, and the Punchestown Gold Cup.
- The Curragh Irish Derby Festival – this is the most prestigious and glamorous horse racing event that is held in Ireland. It is a three-day festival that offers some amazing prizes in horse racing.
- The Galway Summer Festival – this event takes place during the summer months, and it is a favourite event for many. Not only is there horse racing, but there’s also some brilliant hospitality, entertainment, and fashion on offer too.
British Horse Racing Events
Similar to Ireland, there are lots of amazing horse racing events that take place in Britain. Thanks to the sheer number of events, it can be hard for fans to choose which one to attend. However, there are three horse racing events in Britain that all horse racing fans should attend. These include:
- Cheltenham Festival – this festival is the highlight of the National Hunt year and the pinnacle of Jumps racing. It is held over 4 days, and it displays some of the best the sport has to offer.
- The Grand National – this 3-day event is one of the most popular races in horse racing history. This is the race where the nation stops to have a bet, sweepstakes take place, and horses are cheered home.
- Royal Ascot – this event is the showcase event of the Flat season, full of class, glamour, and pageantry. Royal Ascot is one of the favourite events of the UK Royals, with the Queen attending.
Australian Horse Racing Events
Every year, several prestigious horse racing events take place in Australia, with competitors travelling from all around the world to take part. Here are some of the best:
- Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival – this is undoubtedly the best and the biggest horse racing event held in Australia. It is so popular that horses travel from as far away as the UK and Ireland to take part. Thanks to this, many horse racing fans like to attend and place bets on horses in this event. However, as there are so many amazing competitors taking part it can be hard to choose which horses to bet on. Thankfully, there are lots of brilliant Australian horse racing tips online to help you out.
- Sydney Spring Racing Carnival – this is another brilliant event held in Australia. It features the Group 1 Epsom Handicap.
- Magic Millions Carnival – this is another major racing event in the Australian calendar. It is held in Queensland, and it takes place in January each year.
Horse racing is a global sport and there are horse racing events around the world for horse racing enthusiasts to watch and bet on. However, not all horse racing events are equal. Some countries host much better horse racing events than others. But how do you know which events are the best?
If you speak to horse racing enthusiasts, most of them would agree that the best horse racing events take place in Ireland, Britain, and Australia. The horse racing events in these countries aren’t only better organized, but they’re also more enjoyable for fans too. From the Melbourne Cup which takes place in Australia, to Royal Ascot which takes place in the UK, which event would be your favourite?
