The Breeders Cup is just around the corner, arguably the biggest meet of the US racing calendar.
It isn't the last significant meet of the year; the Clark Handicap, Cigar Mile and Le Brea Stakes are all set to take place before the New Year, but the Breeders Cup is perhaps the biggest horse racing event of the year. Even if you have little interest in racing all year round, you're likely to cast an eye over the Breeders Cup field. That's the nature of the race, a national moment that captures the attention of a watching country.
There are other races like this around the world, other courses and individual moments that stop a country, albeit briefly, as they check their sweepstakes. They're the ones worth knowing about for all US racing enthusiasts, wherever they are. If that's you, you might be interested in these big races and when they usually occur.
Aintree Grand National
The Grand National is the UK equivalent of The Breeders Cup. It's a race that makes sporting headlines across the country, where even those with no interest in the event at all end up cheering on a horse in a workplace sweep. It's even described on the Coral horse racing page as being the world's most famous steeplechase. 40 runners attack the four-mile course, and the eyes of more than 500 million people are briefly transfixed on the race at the Aintree course in Liverpool, usually on the second weekend in April.
Longchamp Prix de L’Arc de Triomphe
This showcase event in France has just taken place on the first Sunday of October. It is affectionately known as The Arc and has been run ever since 1920. It is a short race, just a mile-and-a-half long, but it still captures the world's attention. The prize fund tops $5.6m, and the rest of the weekend is a show of elegance of typical French class; it boasts fashion, jazz music and other tasteful European luxuries. It can also provide a real shock; this year's winner was an 80-1 outsider, according to Reuters.
Dubai World Cup
The Dubai World Cup is the newest race on the list and the earliest. It takes place in March at Meydan Racecourse in the UAE. It has only been held since 1996, but it is one of the most lucrative in the world, with a prize fund that will top $12m in 2021. It might be an international race, but America could claim to be a winner this year; Mystic Guide romped home, a horse trained on home soil by Mike Stidham.
The Melbourne Cup
The Melbourne Cup is Australia's most prestigious horse race and takes place around the same time as the Breeders Cup in November. It has been a feature of the racing calendar since 1861 and takes place at Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne. It is a two-mile-long course, and it is one to stop a country in its tracks. Within metropolitan Melbourne, the day is a public holiday, and other areas of Victoria have followed suit. With a prize purse of $8m, it is certainly lucrative for those taking part.
You can find more interesting and informative articles in our section on Horse Racing.
