Horse racing is one of the most popular sports in the world. Millions of people attend races every year to watch the enthralling action. But where are the best racecourses? Here are our top picks below to get the ultimate horse racing experience.
Cheltenham Racecourse, England
Few venues in the world provide an atmosphere that can match Cheltenham Racecourse during the Cheltenham Festival. Over 250,000 spectators attend the week-long festival to watch the best jump horses in the world compete for major prizes that include the prestigious Cheltenham Gold Cup.
Galopin Des Champs etched his place in history with a fine run in 2023 to win the Gold Cup and is backed again in the horse racing betting odds as the leading contender to triumph again in 2024.
The festival is the culmination of the jumps racing season so before you attend it’s worth checking the horse racing results over the course of the campaign to enter Cheltenham with the best information possible for your bets. The atmosphere is unmatched and there is never a shortage of drama. Go see for yourself!
Meydan Racecourse, Dubai
Meydan Racecourse is located in Dubai and hosts the most lucrative horse racing in the world in the form of the Dubai World Cup which takes place annually in March. The Dubai World Cup offers not only prestige but also intrigue attracting competitors from around the world into one location for the one-off contest.
The quality of the Dubai World Cup is just one of the outstanding races that are available to watch at Meydan, with the Dubai Mile Turf and Sheema Classic also taking place at the venue. Its location is perfect for racegoers and features all the luxury and grandeur you’d expect out of a venue in Dubai.
Over 60,000 spectators can attend the racecourse on a single day, allowing huge crowds to watch the best flat race horses compete for a collection of the top prizes in the sport.
Churchill Downs, Kentucky
The Churchill Downs plays host to the most famous race in the United States. The Kentucky Derby is the greatest prize in American thoroughbred racing, and every owner, trainer, and jockey strives to etch their name in the history of the sport.
Much like the Super Bowl, it is an event that everyone wants to witness in person and always brings out the great and the good from American culture in the stands. But, there are also ample opportunities for people with more modest budgets to attend one of the great sporting occasions with a capacity of 170,000.
It has witnessed truly incredible feats such as American Pharoah and Justify’s wins in 2015 and 2018 on their way to recording the Triple Crown. The Kentucky Derby is the measuring stick for how all of the great horses of American racing are compared.
A triumph at the Churchill Downs in May is unlike any other. There are ample other race days throughout the year at the venue including the Arlington Million and Churchill Downs Stakes. But, if you’re lucky enough to attend the Downs for the Kentucky Derby it’s one you’ll remember for a lifetime.
