Horse racing has a long history of capturing audiences’ attention, and it continues to do so even today, attracting fans worldwide. Despite the fact that the United Kingdom is home to some of the world’s most prestigious horse racing competitions, there are a number of races in other countries that have earned a reputation for their thrilling environments and high levels of competition. In this article, we’ll look at five of the most prestigious horse racing events held outside of the United Kingdom each year.
From Japan in May to Hong Kong in December, let’s look at five of the most worthwhile horse races to visit!
1. Japan May – Japanese Derby/ The Tokyo Yushun
The Tokyo Yushun, or the Japanese Derby as it is also called, is one of Japan’s most renowned horse races. The race takes place at the Tokyo Racecourse, Fuchu, in late May or early June. For 2023 the event is scheduled for the 25th of May. The course is flat and covers a distance of 2,400 m. Only 3-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies can run this race. The last edition of the race was won by Yutaka Take, who collected his sixth win of the competition partnering with Do Deuce on Sunday 28 May 2022. As a general rule, British bookmakers are excellent resources for odds on Japanese horse races. However, for races in Japan, you should look into bookmakers with a Japanese platform. Because the majority of Japanese bookmakers operate online, you may already have an account with them. However, you may be unaware that the Japanese section contains more local Japanese betting markets. If you happen to be in Japan, you should know that horse racing is one of the few gambling activities permitted in Japan, so local bookmakers go out of their way to provide the best services, promotions, and odds possible.
2. France October – Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe
This horse race takes place in the heart of Paris, France, in one of the most famous and prestigious locations on the planet. This race can boast a history of over 100 years, and winning this race is still the dream of all horse racers. The race is held on the first Sunday in October every year, covers a distance of 2,400 m, and includes 20 full gates. Only 3-year-old stallions and fillies can run the Arc de Triomphe race.
3. USA November – Breeders’ Cup
It’s a horse racing festival representing the American horse racing world. This competition takes place on the first Friday and Saturday of November every year on rotating racetracks. It includes the Breeders’ Cup Classic and the Breeders’ Cup Turf. The Breeders’ Cup attracts thousands of bettors because of its very high prizes, from 1 to 6 million dollars (about 140 to 850 million yen) per race. Different courses and distances are available for each race of the competition. Participation is open to all thoroughbred horses.
4. Australia November – Melbourne Cup
The Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne has quite a long tradition in horse racing events. The Melbourne Cup is held on the first Tuesday of November every year since 1861, and it’s still today one of Australia’s leading racing events. This race comes with a total prize of 8,075,000 AUD (about 736 million yen) and a winning prize of 4,400,000 AUD (about 416 million yen). The distance to run for the Melbourne Cup is 3,200 m, and only stallions, fillies, and draft horses aged 3-year-old and over can participate.
5. Hong Kong December – The Hong Kong International Race
The horse race is held at the Sha Tin Racecourse in Hong Kong in early December every year. This horse race includes the Hong Kong Cup, the Hong Kong Mile, the Hong Kong Sprint, and the Hong Kong Vers- All these four races are held on the same day for a total prize as high as 110 million HKD (about 1.948 million yen). This horse racing event is sponsored by international leading companies in several industries.
First Time Betting On Horse Races
There are many hacks for betting on horse races but nothing is more important than choosing the right bookmaker. Horse racing bets are prone to scams and wagering should only be done through a highly reputable and recommended bookmaker, which ensures your bets are covered with strict security measures. Today, you can find online a large variety of bookmakers for every sport, including horse racing. Since it may be confusing for first-time bettors, our best tip is to look, visit, and compare the sites of different bookmakers. Also, take some time to look for reviews and customers’ opinions – it matters more than you may think, as other customers can give you a clear idea of a bookmaker’s behavior and policy.
