When it comes to sports betting, nothing beats the excitement of betting on horse racing. Best of all, there are a number of horse races to bet on annually, each of which is an event unto itself. But which are the best annual horse racing events, which are the best to bet on, and which should you be giving your attention?
The quick answer is that you can pay attention to whichever horse racing events grab your interest. But let’s take a deeper look, investigate the biggest, most prestigious racing events of the year, and get a better idea of sports betting in general.
Here are the biggest horse racing events that occur on an annual basis.
Kentucky Derby
You probably already know the Kentucky Derby, which isn’t surprising. The Kentucky Derby is, without a doubt, the most attention-grabbing horse racing event in the world. The Derby takes place at Churchill Downs in Kentucky, is for three-year-old thoroughbreds, and generally finishes in around 2 minutes. The 2-minute runtime is what gives the Kentucky Derby the nickname ‘the most exciting two minutes in sports.’
Additionally, the Kentucky Derby holds the record for attracting the most bets of any racing event every year. Hundreds of thousands of wagers are put on the main race, with bettors from every country on earth getting in on the action. The Kentucky Derby ran on the 6th of May in 2023.
Melbourne Cup
Next up is the Melbourne Cup, a racing event that comes in as a close second to the Kentucky Derby. The Melbourne Cup takes place on the Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne, is also exclusive to three-year-old thoroughbreds, and attracts almost as much local attention as the best online casinos. Notably, the Melbourne Cup is part of the Spring Carnival, meaning that there are numerous horse races over multiple for you to bet on.
Melbourne Cup betting is now fully online, meaning that you can check out Melbourne Cup odds, put down bets, and even watch the races, no matter where you are in the world. The Spring Carnival will run from November 6th to November 7th in 2023.
Grand National
Moving to the United Kingdom, The Grand National is seen as one of England’s most prestigious horse racing events. Though, the Grand National differs from the Kentucky Derby and Melbourne Cup in a number of ways. The Grand National is a much longer race at over 4 miles, plus also involves horses jumping 30 fences over 2 laps.
What makes the Grand National really stand apart is the grand prizes that often exceed a whopping £1 million. For this reason, the Grand National is amongst the most hotly contested events in the world.
Bet Smart And Do Your Research
No matter which horse racing event gets your attention, remember to always bet smart and do your research. You can look into a horse’s recent form, as well as the trainers and jockeys behind each animal. The more research you do, the better your chance of winning.