What Are the Biggest Horse Races to Look Forward to in 2023?

The international calendar in horse racing continues to evolve, as more lucrative races are added each year. It means horse racing fans have a lot to look forward to in 2023 across the globe.

Here is a preview of some of the biggest races taking place this year in the sport and what makes these races so special.

Saudi Cup

With a purse of $20 million, the Saudi Cup is the richest horse race in the world. It was launched in 2020 in a bid to attract the best dirt horses to Riyadh. Since then, it has been won by Maximum Security, Mishriff, and Emblem Road.

Grade I, $300,000 Runhappy Malibu Stakes Headed By Baffert’s Taibahttps://t.co/putye9MoRh pic.twitter.com/AQEVZDl6o7

— Santa Anita Park (@santaanitapark) December 22, 2022

US-trained horse Taiba is one of the horse racing tips for the race this year. Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert is set to travel across to Riyadh for the contest and his horse is the +300 favorite in the betting to prevail.

Dubai World Cup

The Dubai World Cup has been a race that every major international Flat trainer has targeted with their best horse since it launched in 1996. It has a purse of $12 million, making it one of the most lucrative races in the world.

Run at Meydan Racecourse, the Dubai World Cup is the final race of the Dubai World Cup Carnival, which takes place from January to March. The winner of this contest tends to be in contention for many horse racing awards at the end of the year.

Derby

The Derby is arguably the most famous Flat race in the world. It dates back to 1780 and it is run at oa unique racecourse in the UK, Epsom Downs. This race features three-year-old colts and fillies and each generation only gets one shot at the British Classic.

There are several versions of the Derby around the world, including the Kentucky Derby and Florida Derby, however, this race remains known simply as the Derby.

Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe

The Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, or the Arc, is known as the premier horse race in Europe. It takes place at the end of the Flat season on the continent in October. The best middle-distance horses travel across to Paris for the 1m4f contest at Longchamp Racecourse.

The Arc is an important race in a Flat horse’s career as success ensures they are added to the honors board alongside some of the best turf horses in history.

Breeders’ Cup Classic

The Breeders’ Cup Meeting is known as the world championship meeting in the sport. The best horses from Europe, Japan, and Australia take on the finest thoroughbreds in North America in each of their respective divisions.

Flightline remains unbeaten after dominating win in Breeders’ Cup Classic https://t.co/WHDYoHqoYe pic.twitter.com/NQeQ9Krdic

— New York Post (@nypost) November 5, 2022

Run over 1m2f, the Breeders’ Cup Classic is the feature race at the two-day meeting. In 2022, Flightline ended his career in the contest at Keeneland with a memorable performance that ensured he retired as one of the greatest dirt horses of all time.

Enjoy all five of the above races in 2023, hopefully, they will produce memorable renewals.