What Are the World’s Richest Horse Races?

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In recent years prestigious horse races around the world have really been upping the ante when it comes to prize money. Let’s check out some of the world’s richest horse races.

 

The Everest – Australia

With a total prize pool of a whopping $13 million slated for the 2019 running of The Everest on the second Saturday in October at Randwick Racecourse, it’s currently the world’s richest horse race on turf.

Only 12 horses compete in the race over 1200 metres, and it’s an exciting sprint to the finish. To enter a horse in The Everest, owners have to pay a $600,000 joining fee, which is well worth it if your horse ends up winning.

 

Dubai World Cup – UAE

The Dubai World Cup comes in a close second with a prize pool of $12 million. The race is run at night under lights due to the heat of the day in the Middle East and attracts some of racing’s elite from all over the world.

The race has only been in existence since 1996, but has already cemented itself as one of the most prestigious events on the global horse racing calendar.

 

Pegasus World Cup – United States

For one year the Pegasus World Cup was the richest horse race on the planet, but since the prize money has now been dropped to $9 million, it comes in third on the list.

The race has only been running for a few years, but has already established itself as one of the most popular horse races in the USA. Open only to 4 year olds and above, horses dash it out over a race distance of 1800 metres.

 

The Melbourne Cup – Australia

Sneaking into fourth spot is Australia most loved horse race – the Melbourne Cup. Run on the first Tuesday in November each year and featuring 24 of the world’s best horses, the prize pool for Melbourne Cup 2019 is set at $7.3 million.

It’s the only sporting event that brings the entire country to a grinding halt. Just about everyone stops what they’re doing to watch the race.

It’s a day of high fashion, parties, gambling and the downing of a lot of champagne.

 

Breeder’s Cup Classic – United States

With $6 million in prize money on offer, the Breeder’s Cup Classic in the US is one of the country’s most lucrative horse races.

It’s a race open to 3 year olds and above, attracting a good cross section of the racing community, and the horses battle it out over a distance of about 2400 metres, making it one of the longest horse races in America.

 

Dubai Sheema Classic – UAE

The Dubai Sheema Classic is another race that offers up a $6 million purse. Again the race is run under lights to avoid the excessive heat of the desert sun, as the race distance spans a lengthy 2400 metres.

In recent times the race has been dominated by racehorses from the United Kingdom, a trend that is likely set to continue.

 

Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe – France

France’s pinnacle of racing is the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, boasting a healthy prize money pool of  $5.5 million. The race attracts horses from all over Europe to give it a truly international flavour, where the horses battle it out over 2400 metres in a bid to be first past the post.

This feature race was first run way back in 1920, so unlike some of the other races featured on this list, it’s a race that’s steeped in history.

 

Dubai Turf – UAE

Yet another entry from the UAE, the Dubai Turf also boasts a generous prize money purse of $5 million. It’s hosted during the same carnival as the Dubai World Cup, so it’s certainly a night of racing with loads of cash up for grabs.

The interesting feature about this race is that horses from the Northern Hemisphere have to be at least 4 years old and above, whereas horses from the Southern Hemisphere can be 3 years old and above.

An international field of the world’s best horses duke it out over a race distance of 1800 metres. It’s an exciting middle distance race that produces a real sprint to the finish.

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