The five year old horse was trailing for most of the race before sprinting past the leaders to win in the last strides. To this day, he’s famous for managing to beat out the favorite Bertrando in what is one of the greatest upsets in horseracing history. 2009 Kentucky Derby. Most likely Australia’s most famous horse race, as well as being one of the oldest and richest. Every year the entire country comes to a standstill on the first Tuesday of November to watch some of the best horses in the world battle it out over 3200m, all vying to stake a claim in Australian horse racing history. Although horse races are essentially the same format today as they were centuries ago, many studies have shown that the horses themselves have gotten faster over the years. For example, Kentucky Derby winning times today are more than 10 seconds faster than they were in the early 1900s, and modern-day Epsom Derby winners clock in nearly 40.

• Most Famous Horse Races In America
• Famous Horse Races In America
• Most Famous Horse Race In Australia
• Most Prestigious Horse Races
• Most Famous Horse Races
• Most Famous Horse Racing Events

By Laura Graham, Sydney
24 April 2019

Australia is world renowned for having some of the best and richest horse races on the global racing calendar. There wouldn’t be too many people in racing circles who haven’t heard of the Melbourne Cup, for example.

Along with the race that stops a nation, what are some of the best known Australian horse races in no particular order of notoriety?

W.S. Cox Plate

This is a trophy every trainer, jockey and horse owner wants to win.

The Cox Plate is a weight for age race for horses 3 years old and above. It’s run annually in late October at Melbourne’s Moonee Valley Racecourse, known for its tight bends and ability to sort the best horses from the rest.

The race is a precursor to the upcoming Melbourne Cup, with some Cup starters appearing in the Cox Plate

The field for this 2040m race is restricted to just 14 entrants; the best of the best of Australian and New Zealand racing.

The W.S. Cox Plate is the richest weight for age race in Australia, and one of the richest races overall.

Caulfield Cup

The Caulfield Cup is one of the country’s richest and most prestigious horse races, and once again the race is run on a Melbourne track, this time at Caulfield Racecourse. The race has been going strong since way back in 1879.

The 2400m event is limited to 18 starters and is a great lead up race to the Melbourne Cup, which is run just a few weeks later. The Caulfield Cup is considered to be the world’s richest handicap horse race run over that distance.

Up until 1998 the race was only open to entrants from Australia and New Zealand, but now it’s become a truly international affair.

Horses must be aged 3 years and over to be eligible, and if a horse wins both the Caulfield Cup and the Melbourne Cup, they have achieved what’s termed the “Cups Double”, a feat that hasn’t been seen since Ethereal did it in 2001.

The Melbourne Cup

The great race. The Melbourne Cup. Most likely Australia’s most famous horse race, as well as being one of the oldest and richest.

Every year the entire country comes to a standstill on the first Tuesday of November to watch some of the best horses in the world battle it out over 3200m, all vying to stake a claim in Australian horse racing history.

Melbourne Cup 2019 is shaping up to be bigger and better than ever

It’s a classic weight for age handicap race where up to 24 horses are allowed to compete. These days much of the field is comprised of international horses, spreading the fame of this great race all around the globe.

Who do you think will win it this year?

Golden Slipper Stakes

The Golden Slipper Stakes is a race for juvenile horses aged 2 years and has been run on turf annually at Rosehill Gardens Racecourse in Sydney since 1957. The race takes place in April and is a part of the Golden Slipper Carnival.

This thoroughbred race is a true sprint affair at the short distance of just 1200m. It’s Australia’s 4th richest race on the calendar, and the world’s richest race for 2 year old thoroughbreds.

Many a champion racehorse has risen to stardom after winning the Golden Slipper Stakes.

Shane Dye is the jockey with the most Golden Slipper victories, having ridden a winner 4 times. For trainers, both Gai Waterhouse and T.J. Smith have 6 wins to their credit.

The Everest

The Everest is the world’s richest horse race, with a prize purse in 2019 of $13 million!

The race was only first run in October of 2017, and while it might not be one of the most famous horse races at this stage, I guarantee it soon will be.

The Everest is a race with a difference. Horses can’t just be automatically entered, and there is no ballot system. The only way to enter a horse into The Everest is by parting with a cool $600,000 entry fee.

Now that’s a lot of cash, but for many it’s worth the gamble because of all the prize money at stake and the notoriety.

Most Famous Horse Races In America

Keep your eyes on this race.

Taking place on the first weekend in May each year the Kentucky Derby is one of the most famous horse races in the world, taking place at Churchill Downs race track annually. Similar to the Kentucky Derby, the Grand National offers live horse racing viewing annually at the Aintree Racecourse every April. These two competitions have their differences including in the distance, type of races and weight. One significant difference is the betting favorites. The Kentucky Derby favorites have done quite well in recent years, but less than 10 favorites have won the Grand National horse race since World War II.

Racecourse Distance & Competing Horses

Starting from their distance; the Grand National is much longer, to be more specific it is 2 ¾ miles longer than the Kentucky Derby (1 ¼ miles). Many American horse racing lovers consider the Kentucky Derby as “The Fastest Two Minutes in Sports” as it lasts around two minutes. Another difference between them is the number of horses competing in the race; the Grand National race has double the horses as the Kentucky Derby, which has just 20 competing horses. These horse races also differ on the age of the horse; while the Grand National only allows horses over the age of 7 years old, the Kentucky Derby qualifies horses as young as 3 years old.

Race Track Location & History

The Grand National is held at Aintree Racecourse in Liverpool, England (which if you’re interested in learning more about you can do so here: https://britishracecourses.org/aintree). Whereas the Kentucky Derby is held at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky, U.S. Both races are very old but the Grand National predates the Kentucky Derby by over 30 years. Neither of the races has ever been canceled but in 1993 the results of the Grand National were declared void because of two false starts and protests. Probably, the most recognizable tradition for both events which has been followed from the start is the headwear for the ladies. In the beginning, the ladies were encouraged to wear their extravagant headwear to show their wealth and class but now it’s more of a fashion statement that fascinates many people. Another tradition at the Kentucky Derby ever since 1875 has been the traditional command of ‘Riders Up!’ from the Paddock Judge for jockeys to mount their horses before a race.

Winning Stats

Starting with the Grand National only one horse was ever able to win the Grand National 3 times in 1973, 1974 and 1977. In the Kentucky Derby, one horse (Secretariat) was able to complete the 1 ¼ mile course in 1:59:40 and still holds this record to date.

The Triple Crown is a series of 3 horse races and is considered one of the most difficult accomplishments in horse racing. As of May 2020, only 13 horses have taken the Triple Crown victory, one of which was Secretariat.

The most won races by jockeys were George Stevens (Grand National jockey), Eddie Arcaro and Bill Hartack (both Kentucky Derby jockeys) of 5 races each.

Famous Horse Races In America

Prizes of Horse Racing

There is a massive prize to be won at both horse races. At the Kentucky Derby, the winner takes home around $1.86 million and 10% goes to the jockey. While the Grand National prize is lower, the winner still takes home around $1.25 million home.

Most Famous Horse Race In Australia

Over £300,000,000 was wagered on the Grand National race in 2019. The Kentucky Derby hit a record in 2019 with $165.5 million being wagered, which was up 10% from 2018.

Similarities Between Kentucky Derby and Grand National

Despite being on the opposite ends of the pond these two horse races still have some similarities between them. This includes the attire racegoers wear to the traditions that they both celebrate.

Many people enjoy watching these amazing horse races all around the world. The Grand National has been broadcast live for free since 1960 in the UK, where an estimated 500 to 600 million people watch the Grand National in over 140 countries. Even though there are much fewer viewers of the Kentucky Derby its popularity has been growing with 6 million viewers, more than in the previous years. Both horse races have similar attendance numbers at the race track of around 150,000 people each year. Many spectators also enjoy both horse races from home, pubs and cafes.

No matter where you are in the world both the Grand National and the Kentucky Derby are fantastic races to be enjoyed and watched by any horse racing lover. Horse racing is one of the most exhilarating sports to watch especially when the horses are getting closer to that finish line where betting tickets are either thrown down or clutched happily in wagerers’ hands. The atmosphere at these events is astronomical where you could celebrate and spend your time with family and friends. These events have been occurring annually for quite a few years, so it has become a long-standing tradition for horse racing lovers to watch it every year and make a holiday of the races!

Tours & Events Around the Kentucky Derby offered by Mint Julep Experiences

Most Prestigious Horse Races

Most Famous Horse Races

As a full-service tourism and destination management company based in Louisville, Mint Julep Experiences combines deep expertise, long-term partnerships and complete hospitality services to help you experience the richness of Kentucky culture, especially during the Kentucky Derby.

Most Famous Horse Racing Events

Leading up to the Kentucky Derby, Mint Julep offers public Derby week tours and custom tours through Bourbon Country and Horse Country. Guests can also celebrate Derby with social Derby events the Thursday before the race (aka Thurby) and a social event the eve of the horse race.