UK Horse Racing

The Grand National Hunt Race held in Aintree, England, is both the most famous and most grueling course to seek victory on. Run over more than four miles the horses must navigate thirty fences successfully. The number of injuries suffered annually have developed a controversy with animal rights activists and did lead to the modification of two of the most dangerous hurdles. Still, it is the excitement and the thrill, which has swelled the race’s fame to the point where many people who do not normally gamble will put some money down on this popular event.

Begun in the 1830′s, the Grand Nationals have always focused on the skill and endurance of the contesting animals. They are legend. Red Rum was a star of some of the Grand National’s most memorable moments. He is the only horse to ever win three times and place second twice in five consecutive years running. His first win in 1973 over Crisp is a Grand Nationals hallmark. Some old racers managed to hold their own against a younger field. In 1853, Peter Simple took the win at age 15.

The Grand National is a part of a larger racing circuit. It is the second leg of the Spring Double of which the Lincoln Handicap is the first. in 1923 the first American bred horse, Sargent Murphy, took the win and in 1938, Battleship, son of Man o’ War took the Grand Nationals to add to the laurels of winning the American Grand Nationals as well. To date he is the only racer to do so. The popularity of the Grand Nationals has assured that, since its first television showing in 1960, the BBC has broadcast the race for all to enjoy.

The Nunthorpe Stakes is one of the rare Group 1 flat races in which younger horses are allowed to compete with older, more experienced horses. Being for two year olds and up, the Nunthorpe Stakes is also known as a selling race as one of the features is the subsequent auctioning of the winner. Being only 5 furlongs and three yards in length, the race is fast, rarely going for as long as a minuute, and is designed to highlight strong starters.

While the Nunthorpe Stakes originally began in 1903 it became a conditions race is 1922 and has followed that form ever since. The Nunthorpe Stakes helps set the pace for a horse’s racing career. It can demonstrate a dedicated winner at an early age so it can be trained and leveraged up the ranks to become a top contender in the Classics as well. High Treason was the first juvenile to take the win from his elders in 1953. Kingsgate Native also took top honor from an older pack in 2007.

There have been two horses that have each won the Nunthorpe Stakes three separate years. Tag End, owned by Jack Joel, took the Nunthorpe in 1928, 1929 and 1930. Such a feat was not seen again until Monica Sheriffe’s Sharpo pulled the same three year winning streak in 1980, 1981, and 1982. The oldest horse to take top honors among the pack of youngsters was Bahamian Pirate in 2004 when he was first over the finish line at the age of nine.

The Nunthorpe Stakes is included as part of the Ebor Festival held in August. While not the greatest betting venue as so many of the contestants are young and relatively untried, the savvy gambler who watches for the potential in new blood can often find a profitable day testing youth against experience.

The Epsom Derby Stakes was first conceived of as an additional celebration in honor of the first running in 1779 of the Oaks Stakes. Its inaugural run was the following year, 1780. The Epson Derby Stakes, most commonly known just as the “Derby,” is one of England’s five great “Classic” races. It is an exclusive three year old either gender event run over a course just 4 furlongs and ten yards over a mile. It is a Group 1 flat track race. The Derby has inspired many similar races that have included the moniker of “Derby” to their names. From Italy to Australia, Derby’s draw the greatest equine champions of the day. Even in the United States, the Kentucky Derby has become world famous.

The last filly to take top honors in the Derby was Fifinella in 1916. She also distinguished herself by winning the Oaks that same year. There are 13 other races considered to be trail races leading up to the Epsom Derby of which the Dante Stakes is considered the most important. There have been five Derby winners who also took top honors in the Dante. Still there are a few horses that are not run as three year olds until they get their chance in the Derby.

The Derby has had an uninterrupted run since the first race in 1780. There have been a few Derby’s run during the World Wars where the field was changed for safety’s sake. While the Derby is traditionally said to have been named for the 12th Earl of Derby, it was not until the eighth running in 1787 before his horse, Sir Peter Teazle, won the race for him. While not considered one of the “Classics,” the Derby is nonetheless one of England’s most beloved runs.

From its origins in 1776, the St. Leger is the oldest of the five “Classic” races in England. It is always the last of the Classics to run and is the final leg of the English Triple Crown. Another of the Group 1 flat races, the St. Leger is currently set at one mile, 6 furlongs and 132 yards in length. This has varied several times over the last two hundred years. Run exclusively for three-year-olds, the St. Leger was originally a two mile race. It was established at its current location at Town Moor in Doncaster in 1778.

The popularity of the St. Leger rose in 1800 with the Double Crown Derby/St. Leger win by the thoroughbred Champion. By 1853 West Australian became the first horse to take the Triple Crown victory. The race was removed to safer locations during the World Wars with the 1939 race being cancelled entirely due to the outbreak of World War II.

One of the top favorites for the 2010 running of the Doncaster St. Leger Stakes is The Geezer with 6/1 odds in his favor. Also considered being capable of contending the field are Scorpion, Avalon, Tawqeet, and Hard Top. Scorpion has already placed second in the Irish Derby and is carrying 3/1 odds for a successful fall run at Doncaster although some betters do not feel he will have the stamina to compete by the end of the season.

Betting on the St. Leger has always been enjoyable as there is an entire summer of racing to get a gauge on the capabilities of the contestants running this great Classic horse race.

Being the premiere National Hunt chase, the Cheltenham Gold Cup for horses aged five and more is a prestigious British event. Run over a course of over three miles, the track is set with twenty-two jump fences. The Cheltenham Gold Cup is a non-handicap all out chase with the highest prize offered in its field. With nearly two hundred years of tradition behind it, the Cheltenham Gold Cup is most recently run on the “New Course” since 1959.

The mid-March festival surrounding a set of races leading up to the Gold Cup at the end offers four days of racing and dining and enjoying life to the fullest. In 2010 the first day starts with the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle race to celebrate the champions of the sport of the jump. This year the Festival and St. Patrick’s day join in the luck of the Irish to present the Seasons Holidays Queen Mother Champion Chase. The crown of the festival comes with the running of the Gold Cup hunt on the last day. This year’s prize clocks in at nearly a half a million pounds.

Nearly a quarter of a million people flock to the Cheltenham Festival. Last year’s winner of the Gold Cup was Kauto Star. The strong, consistent gelding has the distinction of being the only horse yet to have won the Gold Cup twice as he also took the race in 2007. The best of the best will be in the running at Cheltenham and whether seeking enjoyment of reward, this is one of the best racing festivals you could attend. You can find lots of resources for cheltenham tickets online.

The 2000 Guineas Stakes is one of the premiere Group 1 flat races in the UK. It runs three-year-old thoroughbreds of both genders. It is a short, furious run over a straight single mile of track. The 2000 Guineas Stakes is one of the “Classic” races run each year in England and has the distinction of being the oldest. As the first of three races exclusively for three-year-olds, the Triple Crowne continues with the Derby and the St. Leger Stakes. Over the course of two centuries, fifteen separate horses have achieved the Triple Crowne from all three races.

The 2000 Guineas Stake will be the highlighting event of the Stan James Guineas Festival held on May the 1st and 2nd at Newmarket Racecourse. While fillies are eligible to run, there have been none entered in the 2000 Guineas for many years. With a top prize of 375 thousand pounds, it is a sure bet that the race will be drawing he very best new racing talent. St Nicholas Abbey is this year’s early favorite to win. Comparable to last year’s winner, Sea The Stars, St. Nicholas Abbey has already scored in the Group 1 races as a two year old. This is a feat Sea The Stars did not even manage.

Placing the right bets for success can be difficult for this first Classic race of the season. Some of the horses have not taken the track since last autumn. A careful study of bloodlines, trainers, and past racing records are the most trustworthy indicators of just who may take the day and the 2000 Guineas prize money. She is currently at 3/1 odds with the next best-favored horses, Canford Cliffs and Steinbeck, matching up at 10/1 odds. The ultimate long shot is the hopeful Big Audio whose odds are running at around 66/1 for a win.