Horse racing is one of the oldest and most storied sports in the world—a sport built on heritage, excitement, and dreams. From the perfection of Royal Ascot to the thunderous roar of Churchill Downs, certain races just hit different. They become more than competition — they’re traditions, spectacles, and celebrations of the incredible connection between humans and horses.
At Tropical Racing, the passion for racing isn’t confined by borders or disciplines. The syndicate’s spirit — uniting owners, horses, and fans — mirrors the same sense of community and ambition found at the world’s greatest horse racing festivals.
These global showcases are the pinnacle in racing, where the best horses, jockeys, and trainers come together to rewrite history.
As a member of Tropical Racing, you will be familiar with the major US racing festivals, but today we are going to take you on a tour of the world to some of the greatest shows on turf.
The United States – Home of the Triple Crown
If there’s one title that defines American horse racing, it’s the Triple Crown — three races that test brilliance, endurance, and the will to win.
Only a select few have achieved this greatness, joining an elite club that includes Secretariat, Seattle Slew, American Pharoah, and, most recently, Justify.
The Kentucky Derby
- Location: Churchill Downs, Louisville, Kentucky
- When: First Saturday in May
- Distance: 1¼ miles (2,000m)
- Nickname: “The Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports”
First run in 1875, the Kentucky Derby is pure Americana. A race that symbolizes the proud history of American racing. Big hats, glamour, and the iconic playing of “My Old Kentucky Home.” But beyond the glamour lies a race that defines greatness.
For many, it’s the ultimate dream: 20 of the best three-year-olds battling for horse racing immortality.
The Kentucky Derby is the first leg of the Triple Crown, and winning it instantly elevates a horse’s legacy. Horses like Secretariat (1973) and Justify (2018) turned Derby victories into history-making careers.
For syndicates like Tropical Racing, we dream that one day, we can make the impossible possible.
The Preakness Stakes
- Location: Pimlico Race Course, Baltimore, Maryland
- When: Two weeks after the Kentucky Derby
- Distance: 1 3/16 miles (1,900m)
- Nickname: “Middle Jewel”
Known as the “Middle Jewel”, the Preakness is often the most tactical leg of the Triple Crown. The tighter turns and shorter distance make it a thrilling, high-speed contest.
Horses that win both the Derby and the Preakness spark national and worldwide excitement.
But now with one more race standing in their way of racing immortality, the question quickly becomes, can they go all the way?
The Belmont Stakes
- Location: Belmont Park, New York
- When: Early June
- Distance: 1½ miles (2,400m)
- Nickname: “The Test of the Champion”
The Belmont Stakes is where Triple Crown dreams are realized, or shattered. It’s a grueling mile-and-a-half distance that tests stamina and courage like no other.
When American Pharoah captured the 2015 Belmont, ending a 37-year Triple Crown drought, it spiked global passion back into U.S. racing.
Together, these three races combine courage, passion, and the never-say-die attitude in every winning Thoroughbred, and it serves as an inspiration for every owner and Tropical Racing syndicate member who dreams of one day competing at the highest level.
The United Kingdom – Royal Ascot and the Spirit of Tradition
No event in world racing matches the pageantry and prestige of Royal Ascot. Held each June at Ascot Racecourse, Berkshire, this festival combines top-class racing with centuries-old royal tradition.
Royal Ascot
- Location: Ascot Racecourse, London, England
- When: Five days in mid-June
- Founded: 1711 by Queen Anne
- Dress Code: Top hats and morning suits for men, formal dresses and fascinators for women.
- Nickname: “The Royal Meeting”
Each year, Royal Ascot hosts 35 races, including eight Group 1s, that bring owners and trainers from every corner of the globe to compete for the elusive Royal Ascot victory.
The Royal Procession opens the festivities daily, led by members of the British Royal Family in horse-drawn carriages down the hollow turf of Ascot.
Notable races include:
- The Ascot Gold Cup: A true test of stamina over 2½ miles, where only the bravest prevail.
- The Prince of Wales’s Stakes: Middle-distance Group 1, often featuring international stars. Restricted to three-year-olds.
- The King’s Stand Stakes (straight course): A blistering 5-furlong sprint for elite speedsters. Won by the US’s own Wesley Ward with Lady Aurelia in 2017.
Winners like Yeats, Frankel, and Black Caviar have etched their names into the history books on the back of winning at Royal Ascot.
For global racing enthusiasts and syndicates like Tropical Racing, who dream of one day being represented at Royal Ascot, the Royal meeting represents the pinnacle of racing excellence.
It’s a stage where the best of America, Europe, and Australia converge to compete for global glory.
The Cheltenham Festival – The Greatest Show On Turf
If flat racing is about speed and elegance, jump racing (National Hunt racing) is about endurance, courage, and sheer will to win.
Nowhere is that truer than at the Cheltenham Festival, the beating heart of British and Irish jumps racing.
Cheltenham Festival
- Location: Cheltenham Racecourse, Gloucestershire, England
- When: Four days in March
- Signature Race: The Cheltenham Gold Cup
- Nickname: “The Greatest Show On Turf”
Every spring, over 250,000 fans flock to Cheltenham for four days of world-class jump racing. It’s not just a festival — it’s a pilgrimage.
The Irish invade in their thousands, bringing color, passion, and the unmatched Cheltenham roar that sends runners on their way every day for the greatest show on turf.
Key races include:
- The Champion Hurdle (old course): Speed and precision over 2 miles of hurdles on the more speed-oriented old course.
- The Queen Mother Champion Chase (old course): A test of bravery and accuracy over 2 miles of steeplechasing on the old course.
- The Stayers’ Hurdle (new course): A stamina-sapping test over three miles on the more stamina-demanding new course.
- The Cheltenham Gold Cup (new course): The race where legends are made, run over 3 miles and 2½ furlongs of fences.
Legends like Arkle, Best Mate, Kauto Star, and Galopin Des Champs have defined eras with Gold Cup victories.
Cheltenham embodies passion, cheers, camaraderie, and the sheer intensity and drama, making it unlike any other festival in the world.
Aintree and The Grand National – The World’s Most Famous Steeplechase
If Cheltenham is about class, Aintree is about courage and luck. The Grand National, held each April in Liverpool, is arguably the most famous steeplechase in the world — watched by over 600 million people globally.
The Grand National
- Location: Aintree Racecourse, Liverpool, England
- When: Early April
- Distance: 4 miles, 2½ furlongs
- Fences: 30, including legendary obstacles like Becher’s Brook, Foinavon, The Chair, and Canal Turn.
- Founded: 1839
- Nickname: “The World’s Most Famous Steeplechase“
The Grand National tests everything, from jumping skills, stamina, strategy, and heart. Horses must navigate massive fences and a huge field of 34 runners (reduced from 40 in 2024) if they are to claim a historic victory.
It’s a race that has produced unforgettable moments:
- Red Rum, the three-time winner of the 1970s, remains an icon. This record has yet to be broken.
- Tiger Roll’s back-to-back victories (2018 & 2019) have reignited modern passion for the National.
Though it may not be as grueling as it once was, the National is still deeply loved worldwide.
The National embodies the sport’s unpredictability, heart-stopping moments and spirit of endurance. Traits that connect every racing fan, from Liverpool to Lexington.
The Melbourne Cup – The Race That Stops a Nation
In Australia, the Melbourne Cup is more than just a race; it’s a national holiday. Held on the first Tuesday of November, the country literally shuts down for the “Race That Stops a Nation.”
The Melbourne Cup
- Location: Flemington Racecourse, Melbourne, Australia
- When: First Tuesday in November
- Distance: 3,200m (approx. 2 miles)
- Founded: 1861
- Prize Money: Over A$8 million
- Nickname: “The Race That Stops A Nation”
The Melbourne Cup combines high-stakes competition with a carnival atmosphere. Crowds dress to impress, filling Flemington’s grandstands with unmatched energy.
It’s also one of the most internationally contested races in the world, with top stayers from Europe and Asia regularly making the trip.
Horses like Makybe Diva (a three-time winner), Fiorente, and Irish-trained Vintage Crop have become household names on the back of their Melbourne Cup victories.
The Cup is proof that horse racing’s appeal stretches across continents.
The Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe – Europe’s Championship Race
In Paris, racing elegance reaches its peak with the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, or simply “the Arc.”
Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe
- Location: Longchamp Racecourse, Paris, France
- When: Early October
- Distance: 2,400m (1½ miles)
- Prize Money: Over €5 million
- Nickname: “The Arc”
The Arc is Europe’s most prestigious flat race, bringing together the continent’s top middle-distance horses to battle it out for history.
It’s the race every owner, breeder, and trainer dreams of winning. Legends like Sea Bird, Treve, and Enable have turned the Arc into a showcase of Thoroughbred perfection.
The race captures France’s flair for blending sport and spectacle, as crowds gather under the autumn leaves beside the River Seine.
The Arc is a bucket-list event for any racing enthusiast.
The Japan Cup – Precision and Prestige
Japan has become one of the world’s strongest racing nations, and its showpiece event, the Japan Cup, reflects that rise.
The Japan Cup
- Location: Tokyo Racecourse, Tokyo, Japan
- When: Late November
- Distance: 2,400m (1½ miles)
- Prize Money: ¥864 million (approx. $5.7 million USD)
Created in 1981 to invite global competition, the Japan Cup has since become one of the richest turf races in the world. Renowned for incredible crowds, pristine facilities, and unmatched precision, the Japan Cup continues its rise in popularity each year.
Japanese champions like Deep Impact, Orfevre, and Almond Eye have brought the nation’s breeding and training programs to global prominence.
The Cup showcases how modern racing blends tradition with innovation, a philosophy that resonates deeply with Tropical Racing’s forward-thinking.
Dubai World Cup – Where Racing Meets Luxury
Few races embody modern racing’s glamour like the Dubai World Cup — held under the lights at the magnificent Meydan Racecourse.
Dubai World Cup
- Location: Meydan Racecourse, Dubai, UAE
- When: Late March
- Distance: 2,000m (1¼ miles)
- Surface: Dirt
- Prize Money: $12 million USD
Founded by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum (owner of Godolphin) in 1996, the Dubai World Cup night is a global celebration of horse racing. With immense prize money and luxurious hospitality, it attracts the world’s best horses from America, Europe, and Asia.
Winners like Cigar, Curlin, Thunder Snow, and Arrogate have become legends, etching their names in racing history.
Dubai represents the sport’s future. The international pull, aligned with its technological advances, is a fitting contrast to the centuries-old heritage of Royal Ascot or the Kentucky Derby.
Global Racing – United by Passion
Each of these races offers something unique. Whether it’s under the scorching Australian sun, the crisp spring air at Cheltenham, or the magnitude of the Kentucky Derby, they all share the same heartbeat.
They unite people from every corner of the world in admiration of equine perfection.
For syndicates like Tropical Racing, these events serve as both inspiration and aspiration. They remind every owner, from newcomers to veterans, why we fall in love with the sport. The pursuit of excellence, the thrill of competition, and the dream that one day, it could be our horse in that winner’s circle.
