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A pastime that has captured the hearts and imaginations of people around the globe for centuries is horse racing. Whether it be the Melbourne Cup, the Kentucky Derby or the Grand National, these are just three examples of great races being staged worldwide.
Whether it be the thundering hooves of the thoroughbreds or the vibrant atmospheres of the racecourses, these events offer an unparalleled combination of three elements - speed, strategy, and tradition.
Ranking the World's Top Horse Racing Events! 🌍✨
But which of these great racing events is considered to be the best in the world? This article delves into the most prestigious and celebrated horse racing events, analysing them through five distinct criteria to rank the top ten.
And They're Off
Who will find themselves in the winner’s enclosure? Who will find themselves bringing up the rear? The answers to these questions can be found below:
| Rank | Event Name | Attendance (10) | TV Viewership (10) | Betting Handle (10) | Prize Money (10) | Prestige & Impact (10) | Total Score (50) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Melbourne Cup | 10 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 49 |
| 2 | Grand National | 9 | 9 | 10 | 7 | 10 | 45 |
| 3 | Kentucky Derby | 10 | 7 | 9 | 7 | 10 | 43 |
| 4 | Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe | 8 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 39 |
| 5 | Breeders’ Cup | 7 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 7 | 38 |
| 6 | Dubai World Cup | 7 | 6 | 7 | 10 | 7 | 37 |
| 7 | Epsom Derby | 8 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 9 | 36 |
| 8 | Cheltenham Gold Cup | 8 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 8 | 35 |
| 9 | Belmont Stakes | 7 | 5 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 34 |
| 10 | Pegasus World Cup | 6 | 5 | 6 | 8 | 7 | 32 |
The Top 10
Knight's Choice crosses the finish line to win the Melbourne Cup Australia // Associated Press / Alamy Stock Photo
1. Melbourne Cup - 49 Points
The Melbourne Cup is topping the list with 49 points out of a possible 50. Held annually on the first Tuesday of November, the Melbourne Cup is Australia’s most iconic race and is often called "the race that stops a nation."
Run at Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne, the 3200m (2-mile) handicap attracts elite international stayers and draws a massive crowd, with 84,000 spectators on race day and 262,000 over the four-day carnival.
Its global TV audience of 750 million makes it the most-watched horse race in the world, and with A$650 million wagered annually, it is one of the biggest betting spectacles. There is also an A$8 million prize fund to ensure a top-class field every year.
It is considered a profoundly ingrained cultural event, so the Melbourne Cup is a public holiday in Victoria. Because of its unique mix of sport, fashion and tradition, it makes it the world’s most popular horse race and the race that stands head and shoulders above the rest.
With maximum scores in four of the five categories, it was only prize money where the Melbourne Cup could arguably improve. Still, with it being such an overall sporting show, the ability to win the event outweighs the slight loss in potential earnings.
I Am Maximus Grand National // PA Images / Alamy Stock Photo
2. The Grand National - 45 Points
Finishing second in our dash for the line is The Grand National. Staged at the Aintree Racecourse in Liverpool, it is known for being the world’s most famous steeplechase and a race where legends are created in just a matter of minutes and the entire country spends the day picking and praying for their Grand national runners.
With the race being contested over a distance of four miles, it is known for its unpredictability and thrilling finishes and these are two of the main reasons why roughly 70,000 spectators will be attending this Saturday in April and it is the most gambled on race of the yar with horse racing betting sites.
While many of its obstacles, including Becher’s Brook and The Chair are considered legendary by those who follow racing week in and week out or even those just watch this race in isolation and its long history dating back to 1839 makes it one of the most celebrated races in the world.
The 600 million global TV audience makes it the second most-watched race in the world, and its £300 million betting handle is among the highest for any sporting event. However, the £1 million prize fund is modest compared to flat racing, but the prestige of winning is priceless.
Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs // UPI / Alamy Stock Photo
3. Kentucky Derby - 43 Points
Ranked third is The Kentucky Derby after scoring 43 points out of a possible 50. The race itself is held at Churchill Downs, Louisville, on the first Saturday in May and is considered as America’s premier horse race.
Covering a distance of 10 furlongs on dirt, the race also serves as the first leg of the legendary US Triple Crown and with it being famous for its pageantry, mint juleps, and extravagant hats, winning here can put you on the first step to racing immortality.
With 150,000 spectators in attendance, it boasts the highest single-day attendance of any horse race in the world and its TV audience of 16 million in the US makes it America’s most-watched race with over $200 million is wagered annually.
Though its $3 million purse is lower than some international races, it once again is a race where prestige is arguably just a little more important than being able to add additional zeros into your bank account.
Bluestocking, ridden by Rossa Ryan wins the Qatar Prix De L'Arc De Triomphe // Associated Press / Alamy Stock Photo
4. Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe - 39 Points
Back to Europe now and the fourth entry on the list as The Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe scores 39 points out of a possible 50. Run at Longchamp Racecourse, Paris on the first Sunday in October, this is undoubtedly the pinnacle of European flat racing.
Covering a distance of 2400m the Arc attracts the best middle-distance horses from around the world and because of the calibre of entrant, the €5 million prize fund ensures a world-class field are well compensated for their efforts.
While exact attendance and viewership figures vary, the race remains one of the most anticipated in the sport and with it being a fixture on France’s sporting calendar since the 1920’s, it earns a deserved nine out of ten points in the prestige category.
Breeders Cup Turf Spring 2024, Startles, Rossa Ryan up // UPI / Alamy Stock Photo
5. Breeders' Cup Classic - 38 Points
Rounding out the top five with 38 points is The Breeders’ Cup Classic. Taking place annually as part of the Breeders' Cup World Championships, the race is usually held in early November of each year, with a different racetrack location each time and as of 2024, it offers entrants a purse of $7 million - an increase of $1 million on the year before.
Ran over a distance of 2,000m and usually completed within two minutes, this race is not only a thrilling spectacle but also considered to be one of the highlight of the American racing calendar, with attracting attention from fans, bettors, and industry professionals alike. Not only that, but the event often serves as a culmination of the season for the best thoroughbreds, with many horses running their final race of the year in this event.
With Sierra Leone winning the race in 2024, the Chad C. Brown-trained entry joins an illustrious list of former winners with legends such as American Pharoah, Curlin, and Tiznow previously finding themselves in the winner's enclosure and that same enclosure will welcome 2025's winner in just a few months.
Dubai World Cup 2024 // JTW Equine Images / Alamy Stock Photo
6. Dubai World Cup - 37 Points
Our first trip to the Middle East for our sixth entry on the list and one that scores 37 points out of the 50 on offer. The Dubai World Cup, held at Meydan Racecourse in late March, is the richest horse race in the world and because of this, it picked up 10 points in our Prize Money category.
Offering a generous prize fund of $12 million, the race is run over a distance of 2000m on a dirt surface and unsurprisingly, because of the size of the prize on offer, it attracts top international horses, particularly from the US and Japan.
Though exact attendance and viewership figures are not widely available, the race is certainly one of the most financially significant in the modern era of the sport and this is highlighted by the heavy luxury brand sponsorships that partner the race – only adding more prestige to the event.
Horse Racing at The Derby on Epsom Downs Racecourse // Stephen Bardens / Alamy Stock Photo
7. Epsom Derby - 36 Points
Back to the United Kingdom now and our seventh entry on the list with 36 points out of 50. The Epsom Derby, run at Epsom Downs in June each year, is the most prestigious race in British flat racing. Covering a distance of 2400m, it is seen as the ultimate test for three-year-old thoroughbreds.
Although the £1.5 million prize fund may be lower than some international races, the Derby remains a cultural institution and this is due to the race going as far as back as 1780 – which was good enough for nine points in our prestige category.
Not only is it one of the most-watched racing events in the United Kingdom but it is usually adorned by members of the Royal Family with King Charles taking the mantle from his now late mother Queen Elizabeth II
Gold Cup legends, 2024 Cheltenham Festival // PA Images / Alamy Stock Photo
8. Cheltenham Gold Cup - 35 Points
Staying in the United Kingdom for our eighth entry on the list as the Cheltenham Gold Cup earns itself 35 points out of a potential 50. Held at Cheltenham Racecourse in March, this serves as the pinnacle of National Hunt racing.
With racing being held from Tuesday through to Friday, the Gold Cup is the feature race of the Cheltenham Festival. The one that all the major trainers and jockeys want to win in that week and a week attracts 250,000 attendees across four days of racing drama.
When it comes to the pot on offer, there is just £625,000 in prize money and although the Gold Cup doesn’t rival flat racing in financial terms, its prestige and difficulty makes it the one of the most important race in the racing world.
Dornoch, ridden by Luis Suez, Belmont Stakes at Saratoga Race Course // UPI / Alamy Stock Photo
9. Belmont Stakes - 34 Points
We go over the Atlantic now for our ninth entry on the list as The Belmont Stakes earns 34 points out of 50. Run at Belmont Park, New York, this race is the final and longest leg of the US Triple Crown and if you have won the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes, greatness may not be far away.
With a distance of 12 furlongs, this race is known as the "Test of the Champion” and not since 2018 has a horse managed to snare itself the US Triple Crown after winning the three biggest races on the US-based racing calendar.
Admittedly, its $1.5 million purse is somewhat lower than the Kentucky Derby, but due to its historical significance – with the first edition of the race being run in 1867, it also picked up eight points in our prestige category.
Pegasus World Cup Championship // Storms Media Group / Alamy Stock Photo
10. Pegasus World Cup - 32 Points
Rounding out the top 10 is one of the more recent entry on the global racing calendar. The Pegasus World Cup was introduced in 2017 and with it taking place at Gulfstream Park, Florida every January it is wasting no time in trying to make its mark on the sport.
Especially as it was initially labelled as the richest race in the world and because of this, it caught the attention of the racing world. However, since starting quickly out of the gates eight years ago its prize fund has now been reduced to $3 million.
Although it is still considered a high-profile event even after the decrease in prize fund, the Pegasus’ relative lack of history and tradition keeps it behind other races in the ranking for now at least. Then again, with potential for future growth in years to come, it could soon see a rise in its status.
Methodology
Ranking Criteria
- Attendance (Max 10 points) – Higher attendance = higher score.
- Global TV Viewership (Max 10 points) – Measured by estimated worldwide audience size.
- Betting Handle (Max 10 points) – Total amount wagered on the race.
- Prize Money (Max 10 points) – The total purse for the event.
- Historical Prestige & Cultural Impact (Max 10 points) – The race’s tradition, history, and significance in the sport.
Sources:
https://www.racenet.com.au/melbourne-cup/attendance
https://www.vrc.com.au/latest-news/melbourne-cup-carnival-shines-brightly-as-crowds-flock-to-australia-s-premier-week-of-racing/
https://www.racingtv.com/news/itv-records-peak-of-8-8-million-viewers-for-historic-grand-national
https://nielsensports.com/grand-national-among-watched-tv-events-planet/
https://horseracing.guide/news/most-valuable-horse-races-in-the-world/
https://racingquestions.co.uk/which-are-the-most-valuable-races-in-britain/
