A list of Major Horse Races in the UK
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The UK is a major hub for horse racing. While the concept of racing two animals against each other has been in place across the world for centuries, this is where the sport truly began.
The oldest meetings of all take place here and many will remain on the calendar for a long time to come. If you’ve yet to get involved with horse racing, here is a list of the UK’s biggest events.
The Grand National
There are two distinct horse racing seasons: In National Hunt racing, fences are involved while flat racing is literally ‘on the flat’ with no obstacles. And, in terms of obstacles, those that face the horses and jockeys in the Grand National are the toughest of them all.
Run over the famous Aintree Course in Liverpool, this is a grueling test for all competitors. With high fences over a lengthy course, it’s a test of endurance as well as skill. The Grand National is the most popular horse race for the wider betting community but there’s much more to enjoy.
The Epsom Derby
First run in 1780, the Epsom Derby is regarded by most racegoers as the most important flat race in the UK. It’s frequently referred to in England as simply ‘The Derby’ but other countries add the ‘Epsom’ prefix to make a distinction.
This is the biggest flat race for serious punters and casual bettors alike. Among the best places to access odds is the Sbo.net website for the top horse racing betting sites are all linked in. The market appears several weeks in advance of the race and the odds will adjust in the period leading up to the off.
While readers are assessing those odds, they can also study news and opinion articles on horse racing while Sbo.net also provide extensive bookmaker reviews. Anyone wishing to get involved can then sign up with companies listed on that panel of recommended sportsbooks.
After completion of a swift and secure sign up form, a number of bookmakers kick things off with a welcome promotion. A range of deposit methods can add the necessary funds while customer services can assist with any queries.
Once the account is confirmed, there are many thousands of horse racing markets from around the world. Players can consider those along with other sports while additional benefits may include mobile betting, in-play markets and live streaming.
It’s a good site to follow for anyone looking to bet on any of the UK’s biggest horse races.
The Cheltenham Gold Cup
As a National Hunt race, the Cheltenham Gold Cup is second in prestige, only to the Grand National. In fact, many serious racegoers feel that this is the better of the two events. The Cheltenham Festival is run over four days in mid-March, and it acts as something of a curtain raiser to a summer of British sport.
The Gold Cup itself is traditionally held on the Friday, which is the final day of the meeting. While the fences may not be as testing as those found in the Grand National, the Cheltenham Gold Cup is another lengthy race with three miles and two furlongs of the Cheltenham Course to be negotiated.
Royal Ascot
A five-day meeting traditionally held in June, Royal Ascot has the highest density of world class, Group One races. It’s impossible to list all of them but some of the highlights include the Prince of Wales’s Stakes, the Coronation Stakes, the Commonwealth Cup and the Diamond Jubilee Stakes.
There are multiple Group Ones on most days, and this is another busy period for the racegoers and the wider horse racing fraternity.
1,000 and 2,000 Guineas
These are two very hotly contested races held over Guineas weekend at Newmarket and it’s tough to say which is the most prestigious. Both can often be seen as trials for the Epsom Derby which follows on a few weeks later.
They are prestige events in their own right and there will always be plenty of interest in the 1,000 Guineas and the 2,000 Guineas.
There are many more top-class races such as the Oaks and the St Leger as the UK continues to be a major focus for world class horse racing.
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