UK Horse Racing Tips

Racing is universally known as the sport of kings, and in the UK it’s certainly a sport that the nation holds close to its collective heart. With races like the Grand National and 2000 Guineas steeped in 100 years plus of history, and with royal connections to festivals such as Royal Ascot, there can be no doubting its appeal in the country.

Let’s not assume that a love of horse racing begins and ends in the UK though.  Horse racing holds truly global appeal, and many of the world’s most prestigious racecourses and races are abroad. Vast numbers of Australians for instance simply can’t wait for the Melbourne Cup 2019. Held on Tuesday, 5th November (and first held way back in in 1861!) this much loved racing spectacle is set to feature the cream of the crop of thoroughbred racing. With prize money of A$8,000,000 this jewel in the crown of Australian racing takes place in Flemington, Melbourne, Victoria and is known to be the richest two mile handicap in the world. Previous winners include the likes of the Godolphin owned and Charlie Appleby trained Cross Counter in 2018 and Rekindling the year prior. The race is part of the stylish and lavish Melbourne Cup Carnival.

If we travel around 7400km from Melbourne we find ourselves at the visually stunning Happy Valley Racecourse in Hong Kong. While the current problems in the area are lamentable, the Happy Valley course situated on Hong Kong Island offers a skyline view like no other, and is popular with both locals and tourists. With a 55,000 spectator capacity and dazzling views, especially during night-time racing, this is one for the racing casuals and purists alike. The course is one of two in Hong Kong, was built in 1845 and had its first race held there the following year.

If you’re less about the views and more about the dollars signs, you may want to check out horse racing in Dubai. Of course the interest from this area of the world within worldwide racing as a whole is ever apparent, but it’s on Dubai soil that the Dubai World Cup meeting is held. It’s the race day that holds the distinction of being both the richest day ($35 million dollars) and the richest race (the Dubai World Cup – $7.2 million dollars going to the winner in 2019). Held each year at the Meydan Racecourse, Godolphin has once again experienced much success here, registering its record seventh victory in 2018 with the Saeed bin Suroor trained Thunder Snow.

The reality is that wherever you find yourself in the world, you’re never far away from top class racing action, unmissable festivals, and big money races. And all of this is held up by a general public with a love of this, the sport of kings.

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