Horse racing is a global,
multi-billion dollar industry, and this is reflected in the thousands of horse
races which take part annually. As any racing enthusiast knows, these races can
range from 1 mile sprints, to jump courses over many furlongs, meaning
it’s often tough to pick a winner.
Whilst all of these differing
courses have their challenges, jockeys have come to consider some courses as
tougher than others and here we bring you some of the hardest tracks and races
in the world:
Ascot Gold Cup
The Gold Cup comes in at a distance of 4,014 metres, being 2 miles 3
furlongs and 210 yards in old money. Open to the most elite “stayers”
in British racing, the prestigious event holds a special importance to jockeys
and trainers as the most importance race at Ascot, and with a sizeable purse
for the winners nearly £150,000, many jockeys have succumbed to the
weight of expectation surrounding this race.
The Mongol Derby
If you’re racing fan
who appreciates the quick thrills and victories afforded by most races, The
Mongol Derby may not be for you. Coming in at a whopping total of 1000 km, a
winner normally grosses the finish line around 10 days after setting off. The
course is changed every year, and kept secret from most competitors until
shortly before the race, but you can guarantee it will include mountain
valleys, river crossings and semi-desert like conditions across the Mongolian
Steppe. To give you an idea of the challenge, only half the riders typically
finish this mammoth endurance course.
The Grand
National
Regarded by many as the toughest thoroughbred race
on the planet, life in the UK all but stops for the 10 minutes or so whilst
this historic race is run.
Such is the importance of this race in
British culture that for many people, the Grand National is the only race event
they will even pay attention to, never mind bet money on. Its reputation is
fearsome however, with a fiendishly long race length of 4 miles and 2½
furlongs, and 30 obstacles, plus handicap weights. It’s no surprise that
many riders do not finish the course.
Given how difficult it is to pick
a winner of this famous race, although
Tiger Roll has tried his best to dispel that myth, it’s
always worth doing your research ahead of the National before you back a
runner.
For those punters of a more cautious disposition, it may be
worth trying a few different horse racing bets like
Scoop
6 races if you don’t want to back singles like outright winner- but
always keep it fun!
Velká
pardubická
The Czech Republic may not be the first
place to come to the minds of most horse racing fans, but the country hosts one
of the toughest steeplechases on the planet, the Velká
pardubická. This cross country jump course takes place over 6.9 km, and
comprises 31 obstacles, including the infamous Taxis ditch, which has claimed
the lives of 28 horses over the history of the race. Whilst still a relatively
obscure event in the UK, a handful of British and Irish jockeys have found
success at this meet.
The Melbourne Cup
Widely regarded as Australia’s most famous thoroughbred
race, this 3200 metre course is also one of its toughest, reflected by the
enormous purse of over £4 million, roughly four times that of
the Grand National.
Horses travel from all over the
globe with their trainers to compete, and such is its importance in its home
city of Melbourne, that a national holiday is granted for the residents of the
area. As with most great races, it is not with scandal and controversy, but for
many this just adds to the glamour of this prestigious event |
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