Do you love horse racing? Well, the 2024 calendar will soon get underway, with the Cheltenham Festival just around the corner. But it isn’t just Cheltenham, this year’s calendar isn’t one to miss.
Let’s trot around the globe (we had to put that pun in there) and explore some of the biggest horse racing events that we think you should watch.
The Cheltenham Festival
Cheltenham is one of the most iconic horse racing events – if you know your horses, you know Cheltenham. Over the years, the event seems to have become more popular. In 2023, the festival capped visitors at 68,500 people per day who placed thousands of Cheltenham free bets.
And this year should be better than ever. The hype around horses like State Man, Galopin Des Champs, and Fastorslow is palpable. All three performed at the top of their game in 2023. It’ll be interesting to see what they can do this year. The Cheltenham Gold Cup event is one to watch.
The Kentucky Derby
In the US, the Kentucky Derby is by far one of the most popular horse racing events in the US. Held annually in Louisville, Kentucky (Sat May 4, 2024), the event will see 150,000 people pack into Churchill Downs to see some of the best horses compete.
Known as the “The Run for the Roses,” thanks to the lush blanket of roses draped over the winner, we can’t wait to watch this event. The 1.25-mile race has seen some of the most legendary horses and jockeys cross the finish line.
This year, look out for Epic Ride, Fierceness, and Forever Young. They’re the ones the bookies have put the best odds on.
The Royal Ascot
The Royal Ascot is the most prestigious in the UK. Cheltenham is incredible – but we’d call it more a race for the people. The Royal Ascot is an event for the rich, famous, and royal. It honestly is a spectacle. We know the day is about the racing events, but the high fashion is iconic to the Royal Ascot event.
This year, it runs from Tuesday, 18 – 22 June, at the prestigious Ascot racecourse in Berkshire, with a predicted attendance of over 300,000 people.
Although the event is inherently part of British culture and a prestigious tradition for the wealthy, the racing itself is incredible. Some of the best horses in the world compete in events like the Gold Cup and the Diamond Jubilee Stakes.
This year, it’ll be interesting to see whether Prince Charles and the Queen will be in attendance due to multiple issues with ill health. The Queen’s entrance was always iconic.
The Melbourne Cup
Australia has a love affair with horse racing and the Melbourne Cup, and so do we. This year’s event is on Tuesday, November 5, starting at 3 PM local time, at the Flemington Racecourse. We’d go as far as to say the event, sometimes called the Melbourne Cup Carnival – that’s essentially a four-day festival – is an integral part of Australian culture.
The event usually attracts over 300,000 punters and millions of TV viewers – it isn’t one to miss. The festival atmosphere has incredible fashion, entertainment, and horse racing events. The Melbourne Cup 2024 horses are yet to be released, but it shouldn’t be long until they are along with the odds.
Which event will you be watching? The next event is Cheltenham, held on Tue, Mar 12, 2024, 2:30 PM – Fri, Mar 15, 2024. As ever, it should be one of the best, with sold-out tickets and thousands of people heading to Gloucester.
