9 of the best horses races of the year 

If you are a fan of horse racing then it can be hard to narrow down which events you are going to watch each year. This is an even harder task if you are new to the sport. 

With big races happening across Asia, the Middle East, and Europe, on top of a chock-a-block race calendar here in the USA – where do you start? 

But, do not worry! We are here to help you out. In the list below you will find the 9 races that you should not miss in 2022. 

#1 – Preakness Stakes 

This race is held on the third Saturday in May each year at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore. It is the second race a horse must win to claim the Triple Crown that year (more on this later). 

The Preakness Stakes is also known as “The Run for the Black-Eyed Susans” as the flower is the state flower and the winning horse is adorned in them after victory. 

The course is left-handed and is 1 13⁄16 miles long. The prize purse for this race is $1 million. 

#2 – Belmont Stakes 

The Belmont Stakes is held on the first or second Saturday in June, five weeks after the Kentucky Derby and three weeks after the Preakness Stakes. It is the final race that a horse must win to win that year’s Triple Crown. 

The race is held on The Championship Track (named because nearly every champion horse from America has raced on this track). The track is 1 ½ mile long and the race takes the form of one lap of the track. 

The race is most famous for its nail-biting photo finishes made possible by its long home straight. 

#3 – Kentucky Derby 

This race is undoubtedly the highlight of the American horse racing calendar, if not the global calendar. Many American newspapers refer to it as the most exciting two minutes in sport. 

This is the first race a horse must win the Triple Crown that year. This race is believed to set the benchmark for horses’ performances across the rest of the season. This race is also known as “The Run for the Roses”. 

If you are interested in betting on this race in 2022, you can find the Kentucky Derby odds here. 

#4 – The Breeders Cup 

This is one of the most popular horse racing events in the world. It is a chance to see the best of the best in action for a whole weekend. This is the event where the prestigious Trainer of the Year award is handed out. 

Many races take place throughout the weekend, however, the most exciting and the most-watched race is the Breeders’ Cup Classic. 

This is a left-handed, dirt race that takes place over a 1 ¼ mile track. This race has a reputation for being the hardest race in the world to predict the results of. 

#5 – The Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes 

This race was named after the 110-foot statue of the mythical creature that stands on the grounds of where the Pegasus World Cup is held. 

The purse of this race is the largest in the whole horse racing calendar (even more than the purse at the Dubai World Cup) – the prize money is a whopping $3 million. It used to cost $1 million to enter the race, it is now free to enter. 

This is a dirt track race that takes place over 1 ⅛ mile. 

#6 – The Dubai World Cup Invitational Stakes 

This is another big weekend-long event that many of the world’s best horses and trainers attend. It is the biggest horse racing event in the Middle East. The race prizes offered over the whole weekend add up to over $12 million. 

This is a 2000 meter long-range that takes the form of one lap around the stadium’s best track. 

There was no 2021 event because of the COVID-19 pandemic, so we are looking forward to this event. It is a rare opportunity to see European and American horses racing against each other. 

#7 – Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe

This is the most popular European event outside of Ireland and the UK. The event is held at the Longchamp course just outside of Paris. It is a 2400m long course that is right-handed. It takes place once a year on the first Sunday of October. 

This is one of the last races to be held in Europe each season, as the weather gets bad once November starts. This only makes the race more exciting, as some trainers will desperately be looking for their first win of the season. 

#8 – Royal Ascot

Horse racing is a big part of the culture in the UK, so much so that even the Queen will attend Royal Ascot. Most years she has at least one horse racing in the competition. The event was founded by the British Royal family over 200 years ago. 

The Gold Cup is the biggest race at Royal Ascot. This is a grass race that stretches over 2 ¾ miles. It is one of the longest on the circuit. This race has been running for over 210 years. It is the final race in the Stayers’ Triple Crown. 

#9 – The Grand National 

This is one of the most famous races in the sport of horse racing and is one of the biggest gambling events (outside the football world cup) in Europe. 

The Grand National is held on the first Saturday of April every year at Aintree Racing Course just outside of the city of Liverpool. 

This race is a steeplechase that is over 4 miles long and includes numerous jumps and turns. 

It is such an important event in British sport that the race is only allowed to be shown on public broadcast television. No private company is allowed to buy the rights to show it.