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What is the Most Famous Horse Race in London?
There are few more famous sporting locations to visit in the world than London. The capital city of the United Kingdom is perfect for followers of all sports, with major matches being played in the Premier League every weekend, as well as multi-sport events such as the Olympics also being staged in London.
Its reputation as the best sporting city also outreaches other cities in the UK, with major matches on the American Football and MLB schedule also being staged in London. But, when it comes to horse racing, what are the most significant races that take place in the London area?
Ascot Gold Cup
It could be argued that the most famous horse race that is staged in London comes during the five-day Royal Ascot meeting. The Ascot Gold Cup is one of the most prestigious races on the flat schedule, and it is considered to be the most famous of the events on the calendar for stayers.
The Gold Cup was first run in 1807, and it is now held on the third day of Royal Ascot. This race is a Group One event, and it is the opening leg of the Stayers’ Triple Crown, with the following two legs coming in the form of the Goodwood Cup and Doncaster Cup. Stradivarius was the last horse to record victories in all three races in 2019.
Yeats is the most successful horse in the history of the race, having won the Gold Cup on four occasions between 2006 and 2009. So if you are looking for the horse racing best bets today this is a competition to be excited about.
Epsom Derby
The most important horse racing event on the flat schedule takes place on the outskirts of London, as the Epsom Derby is held annually in June in Surrey.
The Derby is the most famous flat race in Europe, with American and German races taking inspiration from the race to differentiate their races in Triple Crown events. This race is considered to be the most prestigious of the five Classics in Britain, and it is the richest race on the schedule in England.
The Derby is the opening leg of the Triple Crown, as it precedes the 2,000 Guineas and takes place before the St Leger. However, few horses attempt to win all three races in this modern day.
Horses compete over a mile and four furlongs at Epsom, with legendary horses such as Galileo, City Of Troy, and Nijinsky winning the Group One. Aidan O’Brien is the most dominant trainer in the history of the race with ten victories.
Bet365 Gold Cup
The jumps finale is staged at Sandown Park every April, as the top prizes for trainers and jockeys are handed out. The major races take place on the final day of jumps action, including the Celebration Chase.
However, the big betting race of the day comes in the form of the bet365 Gold Cup. This race is a handicap, and it is run over a distance of three miles and five furlongs.
Horses aged five and older are able to enter, and it can typically be a key race to help identify potential Grand National runners for the following season. That was only evident last year, as recent National winner Nick Rockett finished third at Sandown.
There have been some legendary winners of the bet365 Gold Cup throughout history, but perhaps none were as memorable as Desert Orchid’s diminish success of 11-11 for trainer David Elsworth in 1998. Other legendary winners of the race include Arkle and Mill House, with both horses combining to win a staggering four Gold Cups during their careers.
King George VI Chase
The Christmas period is all about horse racing, with major meetings taking place on both sides of the Irish Sea. Kempton Park’s December meet, which gets underway on Boxing Day, hosts some of the most important races on the calendar. Among those include the Christmas Hurdle.
However, the most informative race is the King George VI Chase. This race is the second most prestigious chase in England, with only the Cheltenham Gold Cup deemed to be of a higher quality. The King George was first run in 1937, and it has been an important prep race ahead of the feature at the Cheltenham Festival throughout history.
A total of 15 horses have won the King George on multiple occasions, including Kauto Star, who was a five-time winner. Paul Nicholls has been the dominant trainer in the race throughout history, and he won a 13th King George with Bravemansgame in 2022.
Thrilling finishes are typically common in the King George, and that was evident in 2024, as Irish raider Banbridge got up late to beat French rival Il Est Francais in the closing stages. Once again, it will be a vitally important race when it comes to examining potential Gold Cup contenders in 2025.
