One of the oldest sports, which is still hugely popular today, is horse racing. We have evidence of competitive horse racing, that can be dated back to Ancient Egypt, Greece, and later Rome. In the Ancient Era, horse racing was one of the most popular sport (along with chariot racing). It was played at the Olympics, and numerous other sporting events throughout history. Today, the sport remains a popular event worldwide, though especially in The United States, the United Kingdom, Japan, etc.
The reason for the sports overwhelming popularity is the mass punter-appeal that the sport has. In fact, for a good chunk of human history, horse racing was the undisputed, most popular betting sport in the world. Since the 20th century, however, association football has supplanted horse racing as the most popular wagering sport. Although, horse racing has not lost any of its popularity. It is still hugely popular on betting sites like the ones found on www.novibet.ie.
As stated, the popularity of horse racing never waned. It is still one of the most popular sports watched and betted on today. In this article, we are going to take a look at some of the most popular events in countries where horse racing is watched regularly.
Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe
Held in Paris, France, the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe is one of Europe’s most prestigious flat horse races. The Triomphe is open to thoroughbreds older than three years, and is run at the Longchamp stadium in Paris.
Often called the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe due to its affiliation with the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club, the tournament has some of the grandest and most enticing prizes in the world of horse racing.
The Kentucky Derby
The Kentucky Derby is an annual event, usually held on the first Saturday of May. Often referred to as the first leg of the US Triple Crown, the Kentucky Derby is attended by hundreds of thousands of spectators every year.
Probably the most well-known event in horse racing, the Kentucky Derby has seen some of the most popular horses in the history of the sport run on its tracks, chief among which is Secretariat, possibly the greatest race horse in the history of the sport.
The Dubai World Cup
One of the newest additions to the world of horse racing, the Dubai World Cup was first held in 1996, rising drastically in popularity since. Today, it is the uncontested, richest horse race in the world, with a purse equal to $10 million awarded to the winner.
The first-ever winner in the Dubai World Cup was the thoroughbred, Cigar, a horse now immortalized in the US Hall of Fame.
The Grand National
The Grand National differs slightly from the rest, as it is not a flat race, but rather a “national hunt race”, which requires the horses to jump over various obstacles. Held every year, usually in early April, the Grand National is a 3-day event, accompanied with cocktail parties and restaurants.