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Australians are known around the world as some of the biggest racing enthusiasts in the industry with this great nation hosting thousands of different races each year.
Since the first official horse race meeting in 1842, Australian racetracks have produced legendary horses including the king of horse racing, Phar Lap, triple Melbourne Cup champion Makybe Diva, and the heroic four-time Cox Plate winning mare Winx.
Horse racing is embedded in the Australian culture and for many it is their whole life. There will never be another trainer like Bart Cummings. The “Cups King” has more wins to his name than any other trainer in the history of Australian racing.
Group and Listed Races
Horse racing in Australia is divided into different statuses which are determined by the Australian Group and Listed Races Advisory Board. The four largest divisions are Group 1, Group 2, Group 3 and Listed Races. Commonly referred to as “Black Type” races, the Group 1-3 events are deemed the most prestigious and important in the world of racing. Australia currently has approximately 550 Group status races with a total of 21,000 races during the season.
The Melbourne Cup – The Race That Stops A Nation
The biggest race in Australia is unmistakably the Melbourne Cup held in November. This $10 million dollar race is the richest handicap in the world and literally stops the entire nation during its few minutes of exhilarating racing.
The Melbourne Cup takes place during the Spring Racing Carnival which is the most anticipated carnival of the year. However, throughout the year there are plenty of local race meetings which offer racing enthusiasts the chance to dress up and witness some spectacular racing.
The first Tuesday of November, you can count on being able to enjoy the Melbourne Cup. It is such an important event in Australia it was made a national holiday. People get pretty excited over the thoroughbred race, and rightfully so. The Excitement of the Melbourne Cup Race.
The race is itself is exciting. Then there’s the four-day carnival, the fashion fiesta, and let’s not forget about the betting. Flemington racetrack is where they run the Melbourne Cup race. This pear-shaped track offers a racing distance of 3.2 km. It attracts more than 120,000 spectators each year, who enjoy the three grandstands that were built back in 2000.
International Horse Racing
There are two main types of horse racing in Great Britain, Flat Racing and National Hunt Racing. Flat Racing is the same as horse racing in Australia, with horses racing on an unobstructed course. National Hunt Racing is also known as jump racing or steeplechases because horses have to jump over fences or hurdles during the race. If you are looking for more information, see our recommended UK Horse Racing website.
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