One of the original forms of
gambling was heading down to the tracks and betting on the horses. Each year,
hundreds of people travel to these highly anticipated events to witness some of
the most exciting horse races. The history of horse racing in England goes back
as far as the 17th century when Charles II established Newmarket as
the headquarters of English horse racing; although the oldest racecourse is in
Chester.
Horse racing betting and events around the world are still just as popular today, with the industry turning over £4.32 million in 2018. As time has gone on, these iconic horse racing events have become a staple in our calendars every year. Here are some of the most popular events from across the globe.
Royal Ascot
Queen Anne opened this iconic venue in 1711, and since then, a member from the Royal family has attended every year. Most famous for her colourful attendance is our current monarch, Queen Elizabeth II – who has had a known interest in horses since childhood and is often found amongst betting markets, with regards to what color she will be wearing for the occasion.
Held for more than 3 centuries and traditionally
associated with the British Royal family, Royal Ascot is a race meeting that
certainly doesn’t lack in glamour. The event lasts for five days and enforces a
strict dress code for both men and women, which proves the importance of the
Royal Ascot traditions.
Away from the top hats and tails, Royal Ascot
brings you the best flat equine action from anywhere around the world with
top-class horses from Ireland, UK, France, America and even Asia taking part in
the five day spectacular that is Royal Ascot.
Day one of Royal Ascot kicks off with the Group 1
Queen Anne Stakes where the best one-mile horses aged 4 or over in the world
come to together to clash over the straight mile of Ascot. The betting on this
is sometimes extremely close at the top because most years you can have battle
hardened winners coming to clash with the best 3-year old’s of last season which
usually includes the previous year’s 2000 Guineas winner.
Australia
is known for its exceptional lineage of thoroughbreds and with good reason.
There’s a rich history behind the sport of horse racing in the country that
dates as far back as the formation of Australia as fledgling colony.
If you’re
interested in learning about the roots of Australian horse racing, then read
on.
The Introduction of Thoroughbred Horses to
Australia
Once the first
settlement in Australia was established in 1788, the colonists introduced a
small population of horses that consisted of one stallion, a colt, and five
mares. The breeding of these animals was slow, with only two hundred horses
accounted for by the turn of the century.
By 1810,
there was a boom in their population, totalling over a thousand horses by this
time. Prior to this, the Australian government began importing thoroughbreds
from Cape Town and India, introducing stronger horse breeds into their current
stock. Two of the most notable imported breeds that began the trend were the
Rockingham and Northumberland thoroughbreds.
This was an
auspicious start to Australia’s horse racing tradition as the bloodhorse
population began to swell in the following decades. Strong lineages like Manto
and Malua have been produced since the 1800s and still continue to produce
champions to this day.
One of the most iconic sporting
events of the year is upon us – the Grand
National. In horse racing terms it’s the biggest of the lot, with
punters all around the world tuning in for what usually tends to be an
incredible spectacle and a must-watch event, even for onlookers who aren’t
usually into horse racing.
Held at
Aintree racecourse in Liverpool, England, it’s a handicap steeplechase over
6.907 km with horses jumping 30 fences over two laps, with the winner
receiving the most lucrative payout of any horse racing event anywhere in
Europe, bringing home a staggering £1million in 2018.
With
the 172nd edition of the race fast approaching, many punters are planning their
long-term predictions in order to secure their bets and make a more profitable
return in the process. There’s plenty of value to be found in the Grand
National, partly because there are
so many runners and any horse can reign supreme on the day, although that does
make it incredibly hard to predict too.
The ancient
spectacle of horse racing hasn’t essentially changed in the past 3000 years—but
the settings sure have. If you don’t count chariots, the sport of flat racing
has reached its zenith in the modern era. There are full seasons and
championships across the globe, with billions of gambling dollars following the
thunder of hoofs.
A few truly epic
spectator events highlight each season. Each of these race meetings are
international happenings that feature the best horses and jockeys, and each
shines with its own unique flavor. The excitement and drama of these events not
only help keep the love of horses alive in our technological age, these top
competitions are poised to continue exciting the public imagination for many
years to come.
The following 5 top horse racing meetings are listed
according to their annual calendar date:
The Dubai World
Cup
The Dubai World
Cup is the youngest race meeting on our list, and is run annually on the last
Saturday in March. It began in
1996 as the world’s richest horse race and will hit $12 million in
2019. There are eight Thoroughbred races and–unusually–a contest for purebred
Arabians.
The race is
already a favorite of many fans, and has become the biggest sporting and social
event in Dubai. As with many top races, there is a heavy fashion component to
the celebration. The Dubai World Cup is held on the new Meydan Racecourse which
has the world’s first track-side hotel, offering luxury spectating from your
own room.
Aidan O’Brien has enjoyed great success at the 2,000 Guineas, winning the event more times than any other trainer in the history of the prestigious race. The Irishman has claimed victory eight times during his career and could be on course for his ninth triumph at Newmarket.
Gustav Klimt and Saxon Warrior are the leading contenders for the crown. Both horses are from O’Brien’s yard and are quality competitors. However, a lot can still happen between now and the start of the race, therefore, it’s worth tracking Betfair’s racing news to keep up with their progress as well as today’s horse racing tips to keep the mind sharp for future punts. We’ll now look back at O’Brien’s wins at the Guineas to see whether that resulted in success for his charges later in the term.
King of Kings brought the Irishman his first triumph at the Guineas in 1998. The bay stallion had form entering the race, having won three titles the previous season. The three-year-old made a steady start to the event with Michael Kinane in the saddle before making his move with one furlong left in the contest. He surged down the straight to claim the win ahead of Lend A Hand by one-and-a-quarter lengths. The Irish horse competed at Epsom Downs in The Derby but could not produce the same level of form before a knee injury forced him to retire.
Rock of Gibraltar
The horse was a pure stud and inhabited the winning nature of his owner Sir Alex Ferguson. He had won four titles in the previous campaign, including the Dewhurst Stakes. Rock of Gibraltar was not considered the favorite for the event but he produced a fine run to claim the victory in 2002. It was a closely-fought race, edging the favourite Hawk Wing by a neck. He went on to great success in the rest of the season, adding the Irish 2,000 Guineas, Sussex Stakes and Prix du Moulin de Longchamp to his list of victories. Read the rest of this entry →
The Sports Then and Now Vintage Athlete of the Month is a former major league baseball player who came into the game as a teenager and stayed until he was in his 40s. In between, Rusty Staub put up a solid career that was primarily spent on expansion or rebuilding teams.
Originally signed by the Colt .45s at age 17, he made his major league debut as a 19-year old rookie and became only the second player in the modern era to play in more than 150 games as a teenager.
Though he hit only .224 splitting time between first base and rightfield, Staub did start building a foundation that would turn him into an All-Star by 1967 when he finished fifth in the league with a .333 batting average.
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