Famous Events of the Horse Racing System
Horse racing is your thing. No surprise there. After all, what other pasttime could be as exciting and exhilirating as such? Winning at the races adds up to all the hype. Though it may seem that every race is as special an event as the next, the horse racing system is actually at its best with the most spectacular racing events all over the world.
The Royal Ascot
The Royal Ascot is actually the most famous racecourse in the world with several events staged throughout the year. Founded by Queen Anne in 1711, the course has played host to the most prestigious races in England.
Until 1945, the Royal Meeting event was the only race that took place at Ascot. The Royal Meeting still runs at the course today, as well as 16 flat meetings and 9 National Hunt meetings running throughout the year. Running for 4 days in June every year, the Royal Meeting is more than just a race. It’s a huge social event where the creme de la creme of England converge in smart dress and high fashion. The Queen herself leads a Royal Procession to the racecourse and only when she’s seated can the race begin.
The Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe
The Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe is actually a spin-off from the original Grand Prix de Paris founded in 1862. During the time, it was the race that had the highest stakes, attracting runners from all over the world. Thirty years later, it became the Prix du Conseil Municipal, a race open to horses at least 3 years old. It was a handicap race, however, which means that it could never be known as a classic in the racing world.
In 1920, it became the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe as a tribute to the French soldiers who died in WWI. It was first run at Longchamp racecourse on a Sunday. It has since been run 78 times in the first Sunday of October annually with the exception of 1939 and 1940.
There are still a number of other famous racing events all over the world such as the Melbourne Cup, the Kentucky Derby, and Churchhill Downs, to name a few. These events have been known to be so exciting and infectious, easily capturing the heart of the people. And for the serious horse racing bettors, well, these are when the stakes are at their highest, of course!
June 19th, 2008 at 10:15 am
i didn’t know that there are famous events in horse racing