Horse racing is one of the most popular sporting events of the year, with at least one significant race scheduled for each month of the year.
Even though there are many of these events, only a select few are prominent and well-known enough to be included on this list of the finest horse racing betting events.
KING ABDULAZIZ RACETRACK, RIYADH, SAUDI CUP
Only established in 2020, the Saudi Cup is already the richest horse racing competition in the world. Over the course of two days, 16 races will be held, with a $35.1 million total prize pool:
The wealthiest horse race in the world, the Saudi Cup ($20 million), will be held on February 26 as part of the stc International Jockeys Challenge Day.
(CHELTENHAM RACECOURSE, CHELTENHAM) CHELTENHAM FESTIVAL
In 2022, one of the biggest, wealthiest, and most renowned jump racing competitions in the world will finish its 162nd season. Tuesday, March 15 marks the start of Cheltenham Champions Day, which is followed by Ladies Day, St. Patrick’s Day, and Gold Cup Day on Wednesday, March 16, Thursday, and Friday, respectively.
On Day 4, the steeplechase for the £625,000 Cheltenham Gold Cup will be the highlight of the day, with millions of pounds in wagers being placed. You can discover extensive coverage of the event online, as well as Cheltenham Day 4 tips for finding the schedules, updates, odds, and even the favorites for each of the seven races on March 18—including the Cheltenham Gold Cup.
MEYDAN RACECOURSE, DUBAI: DUBAI WORLD CUP NIGHT
Dubai World Cup Night, which is always hosted on the final Saturday in March, is set for March 26 in 2022. It will remain one of the wealthiest horse racing competitions in the history of the sport with an increased prize pool of $30.5 million.
AINTREE RACECOURSE, AINTREE) GRAND NATIONAL FESTIVAL
The Grand National will return in all its splendor on Saturday, April 9, 2022, with a prize fund that has been replenished to £1 million, just like the Cheltenham Gold Cup. Although it is the most prestigious and lucrative race in the UK’s entire horse racing industry, it is not the only race that takes place as part of the Grand National Festival. On Thursday, April 7, Friday, and Saturday, April 8, there will be a total of 21 races.
Kentucky Derby Festival in Louisville’s Churchill Downs
The $3 million Kentucky Derby will mark the conclusion of the Kentucky Derby Festival, which will begin on Saturday, April 30 with Opening Night. Watch for Dawn at the Downs on May 1st and May 2nd, Champions Day on May 3rd, and the Kentucky Oaks on May 6th in between.
(EPSOM DOWNS, EPSOM) DERBY FESTIVAL
The £1.125 million Epsom Derby Stakes, usually referred to as The Derby, is the most expensive horse race in the United Kingdom and the focal point of the Epsom Derby Festival. Keep Friday, June 3, 2022, free for the races. Saturday, June 4, 2022, is especially important because it is Derby Day.
(BELMONT PARK, ELMONT) BELMONT STAKES
On Saturday, June 5th, the Belmont Stakes Festival will take place, with a total purse of over $4 million up for grabs. On June 5, there will be just one Grade II event and a total of seven Grade I races.
(RANDWICK RACECOURSE, SYDNEY) SYDNEY SPRING RACING CARNIVAL
The Everest is both one of the most lucrative horse races in the world and Australia thanks to a prize pool of AUD$15 million. It is planned to take place as the centerpiece of the Sydney Spring Racing Carnival 2022 on Saturday, October 15.
But the Sydney Spring Racing Carnival, which begins in August and lasts for eight weeks, is especially long. Keep an eye on Epsom Day on October 1 and Golden Eagle Day on October 29 as well, with a total allowed pool of AUD$45+ million at play.
World Championships for the Breeders Cup at Keeneland Racecourse in Kentucky
With a $31 million total prize fund, the Breeders’ Cup World Championships 2022 is now arguably the second-richest horse racing competition in the world. The two-day event will take place on November 5th and November 6th. The minimum prize money for each of the 14 events is $1 million, with the Breeders’ Cup Classic having a $6 million purse.
RACING CARNIVAL FOR THE MELBOURNE CUP FLEMINGTON RACECOURSE, MELBOURNE
The AUD$8 million Melbourne Cup, the most famous and well-known horse race in Australia, is always the highlight of the Melbourne Cup Racing Carnival. The Melbourne Cup Carnival, which began on October 29, 2022, is a 4-day event that is nearly as old as the Cheltenham Festival itself. The schedule is below:
Victoria Derby Day is on Saturday, October 29. Melbourne Cup Day is on Tuesday, November 1. Oaks Day is on Thursday, November 3. Stakes Day is on Saturday, November 5.