The UK's biggest horse races

Horse racing is one of the most popular sports in the UK, especially where betting is concerned. And, as one of the nations leading the way on the horse racing front, some fantastic races occur throughout the year, some bigger than others.

Cheltenham Gold Cup

The Cheltenham Gold Cup is, in the eyes of many, the biggest and best horse race in the UK. It will primarily come down to how seriously someone takes their horse racing, as for more casual fans, it will be the Grand National. The Cheltenham Gold Cup takes place on the final day of the Cheltenham Festival, which is always a Friday. It runs over a distance of three miles and two furlongs, and because the race happens in March before the Grand National, it can often prove to be an indicator of who goes well in the National the following month.

Grand National

As mentioned above, it really is a toss-up between the Cheltenham Gold Cup and the Grand National over which horse race is the biggest and the best in the UK. However, one thing is for sure where the Grand National is concerned, the online betting sector see more bets on this race than any other, which has been confirmed by bwin and many other established bookmakers. In many ways, the Grand National attracts a lot of casual fans as it’s very much a race you can describe as a free for all because of the large field and the huge number of fences involved. The Grand National is run every year at Aintree in Liverpool, which has been its home since 1839.

Epsom Derby

The Epsom Derby, also known simply as The Derby, is one of the UK’s oldest and most prestigious sporting events. While some sporting occasions come and go, and the same can be said about horse races too, The Derby has been running since 1780, and it’s still going strong to this day. Unlike the Cheltenham Gold Cup and the Grand National, this is a race that takes place on the flat, with no hurdles or jumps in sight. The spectacle runs each year in June, and because it is a race of three-year-olds, it means you will never get the same winner two years in a row. The Derby is also often a launchpad for said three-year-olds to go on to bigger and better things.

Royal Ascot

We’ll end the list with another mention of flat racing, but this time it’s not a single race we’re bringing to the fore. It’s a festival. We could have done the same for Cheltenham, but the Gold Cup just stands out head and shoulders above other races across the four days. Royal Ascot runs over five days, and it’s racing of the highest order as you get the best of Group One action. So, each race across the five days features quality runners, which is why it’s a must-attend event for many. Royal Ascot 2023 will see King Charles attend for the first time since taking the throne.