UK Horse Racing Tips

A great horse race can be run in numerous ways. It could be the story of two perfectly matched horses running head-to-head until the last length. It could equally be the story of a race that begins with a strong favourite and ends on a win for the underdog. We’ve selected a few of the best racing legends of all time.

Grundy vs. Bustino in the King George IV and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes, 1975
In one of the closest QE Diamond Stakes races ever, Grundy and Bustino duked it out practically neck and neck the whole way to the finish line. It was so close that no one would have dare called it until the last half a length. Grundy beat out Bustino in a display of flat racing athleticism that Brough Scott described as the toughest and most flawless performance of flat racing that he had ever witnessed. It’s written in the history books as the ‘race of a century’.
Arkle vs. Mill House in the Cheltenham Gold Cup, 1964
Not only were two of the most unstoppable young steeplechasers of their generation squaring off against each other, the whole affair was tied deep into national pride with Arkle representing the Irish stables and Mill House representing England. The build up to the race was phenomenal, measurable against any of the most famous sporting events of the past. Arkle sat behind Mill House for most of the race, and then began to pull up ahead of him over the jumps. It wasn’t a close race by the time Arkle rode to victory, but it certainly was one of the most spectacular races ever seen. It’s also one of the only events in horse racing to have a song – ‘Arkle’ by Dominic Behan.
Secretariat in the Belmont Stakes, 1973

The legendary racehorse known as Secretariat or ‘Big Red’ still holds the speed record at the Belmont Stakes in New York, nearly 40 years on from his amazing victory in 1973. He flew down the course, setting a staggering record of 2:24.00. He deserves his own solo entry in this list – there simply never has been any competition. After his win, many hundreds of the winning tickets were never cashed in but instead kept as souvenirs. Secretariat’s performance in the 1973 Belmont Stakes is regarded as one of the most amazing sporting achievements of all time. The event has been fictionalised in the 2010 movie Secretariat produced by Disney studios.
Crisp vs. Red Rum in the Grand National at Aintree, 1973
This is the story of an unbelievable defeat and an astonishing win. Crisp dominated most of the race by building a huge lead and going strong over the jumps. He looked as if he were going to carry the race away as he ran 20 lengths in front of Red Rum, as both horses approached the end of the race. Unfortunately, his potential dramatic win morphed into a dramatic loss when fatigue got the best of him and slowed him down. Red Rum, coming up fast behind with energy to spare, beat him by three quarters of a length. This win was the first of the legendary three Grand National wins for Red Rum. Most racing fans will say that Crisp nevertheless put in a fantastic performance (whilst carrying the maximum weight allowed) and that both horses rightfully have legendary status.
Our list focuses mostly on the 1960s and 70s, because those are the races and the names that seem to endure the most to this day. Horse racing fans still find watching these races an emotional experience – despite many fans being too young to remember the races as they happened! What is your favourite horse race of all time?

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