Major Horse Racing Events for Online Betting

Horse racing has become one of the most popular betting sports anywhere in the world. Online horse betting offers bettors a multitude of betting options ranging from straight win bets to more exotic bets.

Picking the right horse could mean walking away with some seriously big winnings. In the world of horse racing, there are many major horse races that take place throughout the year. We take a look at some of the major horse racing events on the international calendar.

The Grand National

If you are familiar with horse racing, you have probably heard of the Grand National. First run in 1839, the Grand National is an annual horse race held at Aintree Racecourse in England. It is considered to be one of the major horse racing events on the international racing calendar and attracts spectators and bettors from all around the globe.

The Grand National is a handicap steeplechase race run over a distance of 4 miles 3½ furlongs or 7,141 meters.

The race has two circuits with horses jumping a total of 30 fences and is open to horses seven years old and up.  The Grand National is considered to one of the most important horse racing events in Europe and the specifically the most important jump race. The total prize money for 2016 was a cool £1,000,000.

The Melbourne Cup

Moving across the ocean, the Melbourne Cup is an annual thoroughbred horse race held at Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne Australia. The Melbourne Cup is one of the world’s richest horse races and one of the most important horse racing events on the international racing calendar.

The popularity of the race has earned it the nickname as the race that stops a nation. The Melbourne Cup is held on the first Tuesday each November and is hosted by the Victoria Racing Club. It is open to three-year-olds and up and run over a total distance of 3200 meters.

The first Melbourne Cup race was held in 1961 and run in front of 4000 spectators. In 2014, the total prize money for cup was $6,200,000. If you’re into the online horse betting you definitely shouldn’t miss Melbourne Cup super competitive races

The Kentucky Derby

In the USA, the Kentucky Derby is one of the most popular horse racing betting events in America. It is a grade I stakes race for three-year-old thoroughbreds and is run over a distance of 2 kilometres. It is the second oldest horse race in the country with the track built on old farmland in Louisville Kentucky. The first Kentucky Derby was held in 1875 with 10 000 spectators in attendance.

At home, the race is commonly referred to as “the most exciting two minutes in sports.” This is in reference to the time it takes for the horses to complete the race. The race is also affectionately known as the run for the roses as the winning is draped with 554 red roses.

The Kentucky Derby forms part of the US Triple Crown of thoroughbred racing. The other events that make up the Crown include the Preakness Stakes and the Belmont Stakes. A horse that wins all three races will win the Triple Crown.