5 Horse Racing Events That You Should Look Out For In 2022

With spring here, more horseracing events are about to start and continue throughout most of the year. You can find them all over the world, with multiple events being held in those countries where horseracing is an established sport.

If you’re interested in horseracing, you need to witness some of the best venues in the industry, which is what we’re covering today. We have five horseracing events that everybody should look out for when planning their calendar. Depending on when you read this, some of them may have passed, but they can inform your knowledge of the industry. The same horses also make the same appearances at these events too.

Of course, half the fun of going to the races is choosing which horse to bet on. First, you’ll want to know how to read racing odds before you continue, then choose which horse is your favorite and you want to back.

5. Cheltenham Festival

Our first horse racing event can be found in Britain and takes place in March – the Cheltenham Festival. Based in England, the Charlton race court hosts some of the best equine talent currently in the world. This year, it’s happening from the 15th to the 18th of March.

The venue hosts races that have a focus on jumping – namely the Cheltenham Gold Cup, the Beltway Queen Mother champion chase, the Unibet champion hurdle, and the Ryanair Chase.

The least expensive tickets will set visitors back £40, which is approximately $52. However, any prices are subject to small changes at the discretion of the venue and the event organizers.

4. Dubai World Cup Carnival

One of the longest-running events on this list is the Dubai World Cup Carnival. This one has started already, having started midway through January and continuing until the end of March. It’s facilitated through the Meydan racecourse, one of the Middle East’s best destinations for horseracing.

It’s also one of the most popular international racing events in the world that offers a great change of scenery and climate. It’s also a great draw because of the variety of its events. With two and a half months to fill, you can find all sorts of meetings and race types that you can watch. You can go for a specific race or you can stay out there to soak in as much horseracing action as you possibly can.

3. Pegasus World Cup

The first American event on this list, the Pegasus World Cup is the earliest in the year. This means that it has already passed, having started in late January. Hosted at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Florida, this is also the newest event that started in 2017 and has run every year since.

It may not have the prestige that others on this list have but it’s a great location for those in Florida and the South that can’t or do not want to journey to Louisville. The Pegasus World Cup is also different because it allows horses that are 4-years-old or older, whereas most events only allow 3-year-olds at max.

While it’s over for this year, it’s an event you may want to keep in mind if you’re nearby, prefer older horseracing, and/or looking for very early-year horseracing action.

2. Melbourne Cup

Based out of the Flemington racecourse, the Melbourne Cup is one of the most popular horseracing events that isn’t set in the West. This event has your late 2022 covered, typically starting late in October and ending in early November. That said, the dates vary from year to year, and Australia has changed a lot in the past two years due to the pandemic. This makes figuring out the date difficult until we’re closer to the end of the year.

Being later in the year, the Melbourne Cup Carnival is one of the flagship events that globe-trotting horseracing fans should try to attend. It’s a huge event that regularly draws crowds around 100,000 strong. You can be one of them if you live in Australia or nearby countries or take the plane journey to get there.

1. Kentucky Derby

What else could take the top spot on this list? In any given year, 2022 included, the Kentucky Derby is the place to be when you want to watch some quality horseracing. It is the most prestigious event in the USA but it’s based out of Louisville, Kentucky, which is surrounded by other great locations and none of the pomp you may find in places like Paris.

This year, the Derby is scheduled to begin in May, though dates can always be changed. The event is known to be very strict so that only the best horses can run at their racecourse. You’ll only find seasoned 3-year-old horses running at these events. Having been established for 148 years now, this year, the next year, and the 150th year should draw some big crowds.

The event can get crowded, however, because it is the most popular and prestigious horseracing event in the USA. As the biggest event in the USA, it’s also one of the biggest in the world by default. You can secure your place but tickets can get expensive as demand increases.

Conclusion

Those are the five horseracing events that everybody should look out for in 2022. Very few people can or should attend them all, naturally, but avid fans should try to hit them all in a lifetime. Find the one closest to you first and try it out, if you haven’t already, and see what you think!

There are many other horseracing sites too, in places like mainland Europe. Countries like France have great courses that are also historical sites for the horseracing industry, older than anything you’ll find within the shores of young countries like America and Australia.

Note that all of these events should be running in 2023 too if it’s too late for you now. These locations aren’t going anywhere, so you can plan vacations around visiting them.

This article does not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors or management of EconoTimes