In any sport, there are some events that stand head and shoulders above the others. Whether it’s the Grand Slams in tennis, the major championships in golf, or snooker’s triple crown series, these are the events that capture the attention of all sports fans.
Horse racing is no different, with the sport featuring several blue riband fixtures throughout the year, in both jumps and flat racing. It’s a chance for thousands of spectators to gather and take in the action in person, and for thousands more to get comfy on their sofas and watch on TV.
Let’s take a look at the highest profile race meetings each year, with each attracting plenty of interest in the race odds.
Where else could we start than with the Cheltenham Festival? This jump racing meeting is one of the great sporting occasions of the year, with hundreds of thousands filing through the Prestbury Park gates to witness the action unfold.
Cheltenham Festival
Each day of the festival has its own feature race, with the Champion Hurdle taking centre stage on Tuesday, the Queen Mother Champion Chase on Wednesday, and the Stayers’ Hurdle on Thursday.
Of course, the highlight of the four-day Festival is the Cheltenham Gold Cup, which takes place on the final day. It’s the dream of every owner, trainer, and jockey alike to win the Gold Cup at some point in their careers.
Grand National Festival
Close behind the Cheltenham Festival is the Grand National Festival, held at the famous Aintree Racecourse. The Merseyside venue attracts thousands of spectators, all keen to witness the greatest race of the year, the Grand National.
While there are plenty of other exciting races held throughout the Grand National Festival, the Grand National itself is the main highlight. To win the marathon race, and clear all the obstacles, is to earn your place among the true greats of racing past and present.
Few events gain as much wider sporting attention as the Grand National, proof of its enduring popularity over so many years.
Derby Festival
Turning to flat racing now, the Derby Festival is one of the great early-summer racing fixtures. Featuring a plethora of Group races, including two British Classics in the form of the Oaks and the Derby, it’s a Festival jam-packed with high-quality racing.
The first day of the Festival sees the Oaks take centre stage, while day two is all about the Derby, one of the most historic and storied races in the sport.
Royal Ascot
Royal Ascot is perhaps the most famous horse racing fixture in the flat racing world. Held in the salubrious surrounds of Ascot Racecourse in Berkshire, Royal Ascot has stood firm as one of the favourite British sporting events of the summer for centuries now.
The biggest race of the meeting is the Gold Cup, which is regarded as one of the most prestigious races for stayers. A win in the Gold Cup is proof of a horse’s ability to do the business over long distances.