The races to look forward to in 2023

For well over a century, horse racing has been a popular sport in all corners of the planet. Known colloquially as the Sport of Kings, racing is of particular interest to those looking to place a bet, with major races taking places all around the globe throughout the course of every year. 2023 will be no different. From the USA to Australia, Europe to the Middle East, these are some of the major races to look forward to this year.

Dubai World Cup (23^rd of March)

Many of the world’s biggest races take place in the latter stages of the year, but not so the Dubai World Cup. This 2,000 metre race will take place on the 23^rd of March this year, and will see runners compete for a massive $12 million prize pool. The winner will take home $7.2 million of that, so it’s easy to see why a spot in this race is so highly sought after. Taking place at Meydan Racecourse in the UAE, this is a relatively new race having only first been run in 1996, meaning its history pales into comparison of some other races on this list. In that 27 years, however, it has established itself as one of the most significant events on the global horse racing calendar.

Prix de L’arc de Triomphe (1st of October)

This race has been held for over a century, having first been run in 1920, and is widely regarded as one of the most significant races in Europe. Most years, it is run at Longchamp Racecourse in France, and though there have been a few exceptions, it will be held at its normal home this year. Run over 2,400 metres, or one and a half miles, there is a huge financial incentive for those affiliated with the participants, with a huge $5.6 million up for grabs in total. It’s never an easy race to pick, even if you can get your hands on some free racing tips, but you can give it a crack this year on the 1^stof October. The 2023 incarnation of the event will be one of the most anticipated events of the year, and expect it to be a thrilling contest as it always is.

Kentucky Derby (6^th of May)

The Kentucky Derby is a race steeped in history, and testament to its significance is how well known the name is even for those not interested in the racing industry. The history of the Kentucky Derby goes a long way back – all the way to 1875, in fact, when it was first run. As have many major horse races around the world, the prize pool has continued to swell ever since, with recent years seeing a particularly significant growth, and though it doesn’t compare to some other major races around the world, the $3 million which is up for grabs is still a pretty hefty sum. Getting to that money is a big effort, with a series of 37 races ultimately deciding which 20 horses will make their way to Louisville on the 6^th of May this year.

Melbourne Cup (7^th of November)

The Melbourne Cup is the biggest race in Australia – as its nickname The Race That Stops A Nation suggests – but moreover, it’s widely regarded as one of the most significant staying races in the world. This is a gruelling test for runners, held over a whopping 3,200 metres at the iconic Flemington race track for horse aged three and up. For well over a hundred years, the Melbourne Cup was contested by and won by horses bred in Australia and New Zealand, but over the past few years a growing number of runners from overseas have begun to make their way into the lineup, many of them ending up victorious. A massive $8 million is up for grabs at the Melbourne Cup, so on the first Tuesday in November (which falls on the 7^th this year) at 3.00pm, there will be plenty of nervous owners, trainers and jockeys at Flemington.

The Everest (21^st of October)

While the Melbourne Cup has been plying its trade as a globally iconic race and the biggest race in Australia for well over a hundred years, the Everest was first run in 2017. It was inaugurated essentially as New South Wales’ attempt to match Victoria’s Melbourne Cup, and of course, without any history behind it, it is just the price tag associated with it that has brought the attention. But what a price tag! It’s gone up consistently over the past few years too, to the point where it now has the largest prize pool in Australia and the largest of any race held on turf in the world at a whopping $15 million. Almost half the prize money is made up from the unusual entry conditions where connections purchase one of the 12 “slots” in the race for $600,000, which can be filled by any horse they prefer.

Also differentiating The Everest significantly from the Melbourne Cup is the fact that, where the Melbourne Cup is a gruelling staying race, this is a flat out sprint, held over just 1,200 metres. The horses running in this race are among the fastest in the country. Like the Melbourne Cup in 1861 and 1862, the first two runnings of the The Everest (2017 and 2018) were won by the same horse! This year you can watch them strut their stuff on the 21^st of October.

2023 will be a big year in horse racing

Throughout the course of the 2023 calendar year, there will be a number of massive horse races take place all around the world. Many of these have a huge amount of historical significance while others are a little more new, but one thing that they all have in common is that there will be plenty of eyes on them. And with so many of them boasting massive prize pools, it’s easy to see why they’re always able to lure such a talented group of runners.

Category: Racing