Horse racing is arguably one of the most global sports around. Played in largely the same format for many hundreds of years, this European export has now become a beloved tradition in the United States, Mongolia, Ireland, and even Saudi Arabia.
As the racing season slowly but surely begins to wind down and fans begin researching the Breeders’ Cup, (which, by the way, can be done right here: https://www.twinspires.com/breeders-cup/odds/)
It could be fun to take a look at some of the best horse racing destinations in the world.
The Breeders’ Cup
The Breeders’ Cup is all about attracting top animals from all over the world. The event was designed by John R. Gaines, who was himself a thoroughbred breeder.
The idea was simple: to present a classier version of racing with the focus all on equines and the teams behind them. One could argue, of course, that horse racing, which has long been called “the sport of kings,” did not necessarily need the Breeders’ Cup to assign it elegance.
But Gaines’ early vision included world-class talent, celebrity attendees, large purses, and beautiful venues—all things he attained.
The Breeders’ Cup is not held at a single location, but rotates. This year’s event is going to be held at Del Mar, making it the second year in a row for that track.
However, there are several other notable locations, including Churchill Downs. Any one of the venues known for hosting the Breeders’ Cup would be a worthwhile travel destination for racing fans in its own right.
If you’re interested in seeing the major end-of-the-year races themselves this year, that will mean booking a flight to California, where you’ll see great racing and maybe even a celebrity or two.
Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia has, for decades, been developing itself as a world-class travel destination for people in search of absolute luxury. It’s accomplished this on several fronts. It has literally hundreds of luxury shopping locations, including the world’s largest shoe store. It has world-class hotels, exquisite dining, and the first grass golf course in the Middle East. It also has one of the fastest-growing horse racing events, the Saudi Cup.
The Saudi Cup is held in King Abdulaziz Racecourse, a large stadium that can hold tens of thousands of guests.
It also has the distinction of offering the world’s largest purse out of any current race. Unless you happen to already live in the Middle East, you’ll have a lot of logistical considerations to make if getting to Saudi Arabia is on your bucket list, but fans find it more than worthwhile. You come perhaps for the racing, but you stay for what might very well be the most intense concentration of high living on the entire planet.
Australia
At least as difficult to get to as Saudi Arabia for most people reading this, Australia has a distinguished racing tradition that is very much worth your consideration.
This country actually has several notable events: the Everest, the WS Cox Plate, and the Caulfield Cup.
Beyond any measure, however, the Melbourne Cup is its most famous event and certainly the one that draws the most international attention.
Held at the Flemington Race Course, Australian fans call it “the race that stops a nation.” The meaning, of course, is simple. Everyone in Australia stops what they are doing and watches horses run around a circle for two minutes as fast as they can.
If you’re interested in attending the Melbourne Cup, you’ll need a lot of time for planning. Held at three PM on the first Tuesday of November, it’s one of the most popular sporting events on the continent. Reservations everywhere fill up quickly, and tickets are hard to come by. Still, in the age of StubHub, nothing is impossible.
Royal Ascot
Finally, there’s Royal Ascot. One of the oldest events in sporting history, Royal Ascot was founded in 1711 by Queen Anne and has since stood as one of the most popular and decadent events in the season.
More than three hundred thousand people go each year to watch not only horse races, but also to see the famous Royal procession that begins each day of racing.
There are So Many More!
For example, we did not even mention Churchill Downs, where a little-known event called the Kentucky Derby brings hundreds of thousands of people each year. Why the obvious exclusion? The simple reason is that most people reading this will already be quite aware of it. Churchill might be the most recognizable track in the country.
In taking a global approach to this article, we were forced to settle for a list that would, out of necessity, be incomplete. There are more than seventy tracks in the United States alone, and hundreds, or even thousands, more around the world. What track interests you the most?
