Good Morning!
Today let’s take a look through some of the world’s richest horse races! (All exchange rates are correct when the post was posted.) In no particular order…
Firstly let’s have a look at the Pegasus World Cup which in 2017 unseated the Dubai World Cup as the world’s richest race. The event was brought to list by the owner of Gulfstream Park in Florida Frank Stronach. The race takes place on a dirt track over 1 mile and 2 furlongs and is for 4 year old and above mares and colts.
Just to enter your horse in the race it will cost the owners $1 million, this is to ensure that only serious contenders compete in the race. The inaugural event paid $12 million to the winner, but in 2018 this was upped to $16 millon in prize money. However in 2019 the race dropped to $9 million and in 2021 it was only worth $3 million.
As mentioned above, pipped to the world’s richest race is the Dubai World Cup. This race attracts some of the best 4 year old racehorses in the Northern Hemisphere and a large amount of 3 year olds from the Southern Hemisphere. The race is ran over 2000 metres on the dirt at Meydan Racecourse in United Arab Emirates and the prize money is a huge $10 million with the 2021 race being worth $12 million.
Onto The Everest next. In 2017 this new race was introduced and became Australia’s richest race ahead of the Melbourne Cup. It is ran over 1200 metres at Randwick Racecourse in Sydney. An entry fee of $600,000 is paid by each owner as the race only has 12 slots so the best of the best can run. However unusually, the fee is not paid for a specific horse, instead each slot can be sold by the buyer to other trainers and owners. The race is worth $10 million, with the 2020 race being worth $15 million.
Next we have The Breeders Cup Classic. The race is for 3 year olds and older and is ran in North America with it being ran once in Canada at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto in 1996. It is ran over 1 and 1/2 miles on the dirt. The prize money is a huge $6 million.
We then move on to the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. The race is ran over 2400 metres on turf at Longchamp Racecourse in Paris, France. It is for three year olds and older. The race regularly brings together the best horses from the United Kingdom, Ireland and continental Europe. The prize money is €5 million with the winner receiving €2,857,000 in 2021.
Next up, the Japanese Derby which is also known as the Tokyo Yushun. It is ran over 2400 metres on turf and is open to 3 year old colts and fillies. The race has traditionally heavily restricted participation by non-Japanese horses, with only a very very small number of foreign bred or trained horses able to compete in the race. Since 2017 the race has been worth ¥432,000,000 which in today’s currency exchange works out to $3,927,486.96 which is £2,858,329.18.
We then have the Dubai Turf which is ran over 1 mile, 1 furlong at Meydan Racecourse during their Dubai World Cup night. and it is open to 3 year olds and older from the Southern Hemisphere and 4 year olds and older from the Northern Hemisphere. The prize money currently stands at $6 million which with today’s exchange works out to around £4,407,390.
Next up, I want to mention the Dubai Sheema Classic, which shares all of the same entry requirements as the above Dubai Turf, with the only difference being that this is targeted at more middle distance horses and is ran over 1 mile and 4 furlongs at Meydan. Again, the prize money currently stands at $6 million which with today’s exchange works out to around £4,407,390.
The final one I want to mention is the Melbourne Cup which in Australia is known as the ‘race that stops a nation’. This is a race for 3 year olds and older and is ran over 3,200 metres at Flemington Racecourse. In 2020 the race was worth 8,000,000 Australian Dollars which is roughly equivalent to £4,286,977.60.
So there we have just a few of the world’s richest races. I know there are plenty more that pay big money so maybe a part 2 will follow soon! I am really enjoying being back writing so I hope you all enjoyed this on and I will see you all next Saturday for a new post!
zoelouisesmithx 