Horse racing dates back thousands of years, and throughout its lifespan, it advanced into being one of the most popular choices when it comes to betting. Horse racing has a rich tradition and the community has only been growing stronger in the past couple of years.
Every year we see new participants, organizers start new major international racing events, and despite the fall in market size from 5 billion in 2011 to 3.5 billion in 2021, the sport has grown in popularity.
When it comes to horse race events, there are plenty of races to watch every year ranging from events with rich tradition to new and prestigious races with a lot of money involved.
Since the end of the year is approaching and only a few big horse races still remain on the schedule, it is time to find out more about what 2022 has to offer.
Dubai World Cup Carnival 2022 (13 January)
We kick off this year with a major event that started in 1996, and since then it has been the prime jewel in the Middle East. The Dubai World Cup has quickly made built all the things that are necessary for creating an ultimate horse racing culture that will increase awareness for the sport.
One of the reasons why the Dubai World Cup is the ultimate goal for every Jockey and Horse Trainer is the eye-watering $35 million prize purse. Ever since the start of this event, it has been the richest horse race on the planet. Over the past decade, Dubai has built quite a reputation in the horse racing world. Apart from the Dubai World Cup, they also host many different smaller horse racing events throughout the year.
Kentucky Derby 2022 (7 May)
Kentucky Derby is probably the most popular horse racing event when it comes to attendance and watches time. Despite having a much smaller prize purse than the Dubai World Cup of only $3 million, it has made its mark in the sport, and horse racing wouldn’t be the same without it.
The Kentucky Derby dates back to 1875 and has generated quite a big audience that grows every day. Horse racing fans are treated to several amazing races during the event and the place is packed with world-class participants from all around the world.
The most popular race of the event is the Triple Crown of Thoroughbred. Fans refer to it as the “Greatest 2 Minutes in Sports” and no other event comes close to getting that level of revere.
Preakness Stakes 2022 (21 May)
The Preakness Stakes is an American thoroughbred horse race that takes place in Baltimore every year. This horse racing event started in 1873 and with such rich tradition, it is definitely one of the must-watch events in the horse racing world.
When it comes to the prize purse, it offers a much lower reward for the winner with only $1 million up for grabs, but with that said this event helped the sport grow in popularity.
Royal Ascot 2022 (14 June)
As the name suggests, the popularity of this event attracts even the attention of the Royal family. This is one of the races with the biggest tradition that dates back to 1711. Over the years, the event has grown so much that it attracts the best participants from all over the world and it is not only a national institution in Britain but also an important part of the country’s social calendar.
The entire event comes with plenty of high-end fashion, fine dining, champagnes, and mind-blowing prizes for the winners.
Breeder’s Cup (4 November)
Here we have another popular horse-racing event that you cannot miss next year. Until the Breeder’s Cup takes place, there are a series of qualifying races that are held around the world, which are also fun to watch.
The event takes place in different parts of America each year, and during the two-day horse extravaganza, it attracts massive crowds and tourists who want to experience some horse racing.