Typically, a horse race involves two or more horses being ridden by jockeys over a set distance for competition. There are many different types of races, from the Grand National to the Preakness Stakes.
Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course
Taking place at the Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland, the Preakness Stakes is one of the most famous and prestigious thoroughbred horse races in the world. It is the second leg of the Triple Crown, after the Kentucky Derby.
Held every third Saturday in May, the Preakness is a 1 3/16-mile race for three-year-old Thoroughbred horses. It is usually the second most-attended race of the year, only surpassed by the Kentucky Derby.
The Preakness has a purse of $1,500,000. It is run on the Old Hilltop track and is open to only three-year-old Thoroughbreds. The horses in the field must carry a minimum of 121 pounds. This race is a test of speed and endurance.
Ticket prices vary between $45 and $250. Tickets are sold in socially-distanced groups of eight. In 2016, 135,256 people attended the Preakness. It was the second-largest attendance ever recorded in North America for an equestrian event.
Grand National in Aintree, England
Founded in 1839, the Grand National is the world’s most popular horse race. It’s held at Aintree, a horse racing course in Liverpool, England, and is one of the most prestigious events in the National Hunt calendar. The race has been watched by millions of people worldwide, and is considered the greatest race of its kind in the world.
It’s also a marathon test of a horse’s stamina. The race is over four and a half miles, with 30 fences. The racecourse has been modified over the years to make the race safer for horses. In some cases, the distances have been reduced by up to 110 yards.
The most famous fence on the course is The Chair, which is located on the first lap. The fence also has a ditch on its take-off side to slow a horse’s approach.
Summer Cup at Turffontein Racecourse in Johannesburg
Touted as the most exciting horse race in South Africa, the Gauteng Summer Cup is a Grade 1 event on the Joburg calendar. The event will be held at the Turffontein Racecourse on 26 November.
It’s a day of glitz and glamour at the prestigious Turffontein racecourse. It’s the only race day that features a half-time show. This year, the show will feature a choir, drum majorettes, dancers and a huge field band. It’s an entertaining experience for the entire family.
Aside from the main event, there are several other fun activities that are taking place at the track. For example, there is a kids’ area with an inflatable castle, face painting, a giant ferris wheel and puppet shows. The venue also boasts a private bar, so you can watch the racing action from the comfort of your seat.
Sun Met at Kenilworth Race Course in Cape Town
Known as the “Africa’s Richest Race Day”, the Sun Met is a glamorous affair attracting socialites, fashionistas, and sports stars to the Western Cape’s Kenilworth Race Course. This Grade One race, held on February 1st every year, brings together world-class horse-racing and award-winning entertainment.
The first official Metropolitan Mile was run in 1883, and since that time, the race has been a staple of South African racing. It was initially run over a mile, but it was later extended to a 2000-metre track, making it a Grade One event. The honour roll of the Metropolitan Mile includes some of South Africa’s top racehorses.
It was previously called the J&B Met. But it was renamed in 2017 when Sun International took over the headline sponsorship of the event. The new sponsor is dedicated to restoring glamour to race day.
Group show parlay
Taking a group of friends to a Las Vegas style casino is a surefire way to have a good time. One of the easiest wagers to put on the table is a show parlay. You will need to ante up $5 per person, but the resulting bet is a win for all involved. A group of four can wager a little over $100 on a single show, and the fun never ends.
The best part is that you get to see the results. The show parlay may be best described as a multi-race wager, but you can pick and choose which races you’d like to place your bets on. In fact, you can bet on just about any horse, from the tame to the star studded. In addition to the show, you can bet on each of the individual races.