What are the Biggest Horse Racing Events Around the World?
From the Melbourne Cup to the Hong Kong Cup, the Australasian and Asian horse racing calendars have big prize pots.
Horse racing remains extremely popular, with ample betting markets for every race.
We have provided an overview of the biggest races and shown you how to store crypto in Stake’s vault .
What are the Biggest Horse Races & Carnivals?
Stake.com has every angle covered, and the following festivals offer excellent value betting opportunities:
Cheltenham Festival, England
March 11-14 2025
Sometimes called the “World Cup of National Hunt Racing,” the Cheltenham Festival boasts 14 Group 1 races every March. Hosted on St Patrick’s Day, it’s a particularly popular festival with Irish racing fans.
Dubai World Cup, UAE
April 5, 2025
The 8-race festival at the Dubai World Cup is a rich and prestigious tournament at the Meydan Racecourse in Dubai. The World Cup race alone has a purse of more than $30,500,000.
Royal Ascot, England
June 17-21, 2025
Dating back to 1768, the Royal Ascot Festival hosts events like the Gold Cup and the Platinum Jubilee Stakes. Attended by royalty, it is rightfully regarded as one of the world's most prestigious flat racing festivals.
Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival, Australia
October 18-November 5, 2025
Aussies flock to Melbourne for the Spring Racing Carnival for the biggest Group 1 races on the Australian racing calendar, including the Melbourne Cup and the Caulfield Cup.
Overview of Australia Racing
The Australian racing calendar revolves around the Melbourne Spring Carnival, where the Melbourne Cup, the Caulfield Cup, and the WS Cox Plate are run. These are Australia's three biggest Group 1 horse races and attract the most interest.
Below is a list of the biggest horse races that take place each year in Australia:
The Melbourne Cup
Track – Flemington
Distance – 3,200m
Purse - $8,000,000
Type – Open HCP
The Caulfield Cup
Track – Caulfield
Distance – 2,400m
Purse – $5,000,000
Type – Open HCP
WS Cox Plate
Track – M. Valley
Distance – 2,040m
Purse - $5,000,000
Type – WFA
The Victoria Derby
Track – Flemington
Distance – 2,500m
Purse - $2,000,000
Type – 3yo SW
Major Racing Events in Asia
Hong Kong Racing
The famed Hong Kong Jockey Club is home to some of the richest horse races, with huge purses and big potential wins for horses that place well.
The Jockey Club turns over more than HK$75 billion every year, with races scheduled at the legendary Sha Tin and Happy Valley Tracks. There are a total of 14 Group 1 horse races each year in Hong Kong, with the following 5 races usually attracting the most bets:
Hong Kong Cup
Track – Sha Tin
Distance – 2,000m
Prize money - HK$40,000,000
Type – 3yo+
Hong Kong Mile
Track – Sha Tin
Distance – 1,600m
Prize money - HK$36,000,000
Type – 3yo+
Audemars Piguet QE II Cup
Track – Sha Tin
Distance – 2,000m
Prize money - $24,000,000
Type – 3yo+
Hong Kong Sprint
Track – Sha Tin
Distance – 1,200m
Prize money - HK$26,000,000
Type – 3yo+
BMW Hong Kong Derby
Track – Sha Tin
Distance – 2,000m
Prize money - HK$26,000,000
Type – 4yo
Overview of Japan Racing
Japan has hosted professional horse races since 1862, and the sport has become one of the most watched in the country, alongside baseball.
There are 26 Group 1 races in Japan every year, with more than $50,000,000 in prize money up for grabs. The richest race is the iconic Japan Cup held at the Tokyo racecourse, which regularly attracts more than 200,000 spectators. Below is a list of the most popular Group 1 horse races each year in Japan:
Japan Cup
Track – Tokyo
Distance – 2,400m
Prize money - JPY300,000
Type – 4yo+
Tokyo Yushun (Japan Derby)
Track – Tokyo
Distance – 2,400m
Prize money - $3,600,000
Type – 3yo+
Tenno Sho
Track – Kyoto
Distance – 3,200m
Prize money - $2,708,000
Type – 4yo+
Takarazuka Kinen
Track – Hanshin
Distance – 2,200m
Prize money - $2,708,000
Type – 3yo+
Kikuka Sho
Track – Kyoto
Distance – 3,000m
Prize money - $2,070,000
Type – 3yo+
Popular European Horse Racing Events
With 30 Group 1 horse races on the UK racing calendar, there are huge prize purses and lots of betting interest. From March through September, you can bet on the biggest and best horse races in the UK, from the Cheltenham Festival to the Epsom Derby. The Epsom Downs Racecourse provides some brilliant Derby memories: Below is an overview of the best races in the UK to bet on at Stake.com:
Cheltenham Gold Cup
The Grand National
Track – Aintree
Distance – 6,907m
Prize money - £1,000,000
Type – 7yo+
The Epsom Derby
Track – Epsom Downs
Distance – 2,419m
Prize money - £1,604,000
Type – 3yo
Ascot Gold Cup
Track – Ascot Racecourse
Distance – 4,014m
Prize money - £600,000
Type – 4yo+
King George VI Chase
Track – Kempton Park
Distance – 4,828m
Prize money - £250,000
Type – 4yo+
Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe
Track - Paris Longchamp
Distance - 2,400m
Prize money - €2,857,000
Type - 3yo+ (Group I)
Prestigious Americas Horse Racing Events
Kentucky Derby
Track - Churchill Downs
Distance - 1,250m
Prize money - $5,000,000
Type - 3yo
Belmont Derby
Track - Belmont Derby
Distance - 1,250m
Prize money - $2,000,000
Type - 3yo
Preakness Stakes
Live Streaming Horse Racing Events on Stake Sportsbook
Did you know you can live stream many horse races above from your account at Stake Sportsbook ?
Simply log in to your account and check which horse racing events you can live stream for free.
This is the best way to watch live horse racing without an expensive subscription. When it comes to live betting vs pre-match betting , bettors that have a live stream can make the most of in-play betting.
How Do Betting Types Differ on Different Types of Horse Races?
You can place numerous types of bets on horse racing, including the following:
Win bets: This is like moneyline betting where you predict which horse you think will win a race.
Place bets: If you don’t want to dial down on a winner, you can bet on a horse to “place,” meaning you can bet on them to finish first, second, or third in a particular race.
Each-way bets: This dual bet is very popular in horse racing. You’re betting on the horse to win but also on the horse to place.
Tricast: This is an adventurous bet in which you seek to predict which horses will finish first, second, and third in a race, respectively.
Straight Forecast: This involves predicting the correct order of two horses to finish first and second.
Horse Betting Guides & Resources on Stake
Check out our full guide to betting on horse racing , latest horse racing news and betting types like flexi betting , each way vs place bets and exotics guide over on our blog. You can also read through our sports betting guide for more helpful tips that will help you make your selections.
Stake will run plenty of promotions for the biggest races, and that includes money back offers . Those who wish to spend more money can join the exclusive VIP club , and there will be plenty of benefits available, including access to VIP hosts for platinum members. They will be on hand to guide you through some of the bespoke offers.
Please remember to bet on horse racing responsibly, and read our responsible gambling guidelines. You can refer to our Stake Smart guidelines to help you stay in control and utilise our budget calculator to determine how much you can afford to spend.
