Betting on horse racing is popular throughout the year is incredibly popular, but that is especially the case when we approach the more lucrative races on the calendar.
When races such as the Preakness Stakes come around, it encourages bettors that wouldn’t bet at any other point of the year to put down a stake on a selection in the hope that they may win big. Some of the most lucrative races take place around the world, but what are the most popular from a bettor’s perspective?
Grand National
It would be hard to find a more lucrative race for bettors than the Grand National in the United Kingdom. Aintree hosts this race annually, which sees 40 runners line up and take on 30 of the most challenging fences in the world. The field competes over four miles, and it is the richest jumps race on the calendar. It is one of the most appealing from a betting perspective, as it is watched in all four corners of the world, and there is value right across the field.
Typically, the favourite for the Grand National would never be any shorter than 6/1, which in any other race would make it an outsider. Furthermore, many of the leading sportsbooks also offer extra places due to the sheer size of the field, which means that there are excellent each-way opportunities for horses at massive prices.
Kentucky Derby
There isn’t a more popular race on the American racing calendar than the Kentucky Derby. It was revealed that the race in 2022 was one of the biggest in history, as sportsbooks took over $273 million in bets, and it was watched by an audience of 15.8 million; making it the most-viewed sporting event this year after the Super Bowl. Like the Grand National, the Kentucky Derby is one of the rare races on the calendar that sees newcomers to betting making wagers on the race for the one time in the year.
It is also one of the most lucrative betting races to put down a wager, as the race often has an open feel to it. This year’s race was no different, with 20 contenders lining up, before 81/1 shock outsider Rich Strike held off pre-race favorite Epicenter to reach the line first. It was the second-biggest winner in the history of the race, and once again proves that there’s money to be made when it comes to the showpiece day at Churchill Downs.
Since the Derby has already passed, you can bet on the next race on the Triple Crown calendar, which is coming on the 21st of May. The Preakness Stakes is also a very lucrative race for bettors and you can find some handicapping tips here: http://www.twinspires.com/preakness-stakes/handicapping
Melbourne Cup
It isn’t just in the United Kingdom and the U.S. that racing is taken very seriously, as Australians love a good flutter on the horses. Their biggest day of the year takes place at Flemington, as the Melbourne Cup is run annually in November. The race brings the entire nation to a standstill, as everybody looks to put a bet on the race and watch it live to see how their selection does. It is a historic event on the Australian calendar and has been run since 1861.
The Melbourne Cup is the richest two-mile handicap in the world and is the showpiece of the Melbourne Spring Carnival. Very few races in the world of horse racing have produced as many 100/1 winners at the Melbourne Cup, as the outsider has won on four previous occasions.
The most recent 100/1 winner came in 2015, as Prince of Penzance shocked the world. Favorites also don’t have the best record in the race, as the selection at the top of the betting has won just 34 of the 150 renewals of the race.
