Popular Horse Races in the UK
UK horse racing is immensely popular, with millions of fans every year placing horse racing bets online and going to racecourses every month. If you’ve ever heard the roar of the Aintree crowd at the Grand National when the horses vault the final jump then you’ll know just how passionate Brits are about racing.
And while you can be sure to find great horse racing action on a random midweek day in the autumn, the most popular horse races in the UK come around towards the start and middle of the calendar year. That’s when the National Hunt season ends and the Flat season begins, when the ground is soft but not sodden, and the world’s best race horses descend on Britain and Ireland.
Whether it be the Grand National, Cheltenham Gold Cup or the Derby at Epsom, legends are made and iconic moments enshrined into folklore at the popular horse races in the UK. And Unibet offers punters access to every big race of the year, with full race cards, special bets, promotions and the best odds on the biggest events.
Biggest Horse Races
The list of top UK horse races is long. The biggest all fall under Grade 1 events in the National Hunt season, and Group 1 races on Flat. National Hunt runs from the autumn through to spring, while Flat is run during the summer months when the ground is too firm for jumps. These Group 1 and Grade 1 races are the biggest horse races and feature the largest prize funds.
You’ll likely know when a big horse race is coming because the Unibet sportsbook will feature Ante Post markets and provide extensive build-up to the event. This happens in races such as the Grand National and The Oaks. So be sure to keep a look out for big race previews, special bets and promotions when betting with Unibet!
Grand National
The biggest horse race on the planet, the Grand National comprises 40 runners leaping over 30 fences. The race at Liverpool’s Aintree racecourse is run every spring and is a behemoth in UK horse racing, with thousands of spectators watching from the stands and millions more online and on TV at home.
Icons such as Red Rum, L’Escargot, Monty’s Pass and Tiger Roll have earned bettors huge payouts down the years and created memorable moments in British sport. Grand National betting often comes in the form of sweepstakes, where friends all take a lucky punt on a horse. Winners can be priced at huge odds, with Mon Mome in 2009 claiming victory at 100/1!
The Cheltenham Festival
Horse racing would be nothing without the Cheltenham Festival and the Gold Cup is the biggest race of the four-day extravaganza. Fans from across the country love to bet on Cheltenham and Unibet offer extensive promotions and special bets – such as extra places – during the biggest races.
Betting on Cheltenham Festival events gives online punters the chance to experience the highest-quality horse racing in the UK. Grade 1 races such as the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, the Unibet Champion Hurdle, the Champion Bumper and the Gold Cup all run at Cheltenham
