2026 Horse Racing Major Events Calendar
2026 World Horse Racing Calendar
Horse racing is truly one of the world's universal sports. There's barely a country where there are no events that draw huge crowds to enjoy the spectacle of horse racing action. We've put together an overview of the biggest horse racing carnivals and events taking place in 2026, so you can stay in the know at Stake.com.
What are the Biggest Horse Races & Carnivals Around the Globe?
From Australasia to Asia and Europe to North America, there are massive meets, festivals, and carnivals that see thousands descend on tracks to witness the finest horses and most skilled jockeys take each other on in high-stakes races.
No matter where you are in the world, there is likely to be a meet that not only entertains, but also offers great value for those looking to place a bet on horse racing at Stake Sportsbook, including these big race dates:
Cheltenham Festival, England
March 10-13, 2026
Sometimes called the “World Cup of National Hunt Racing,” the Cheltenham Festival boasts 14 Group 1 races every March. Hosted on St Patrick’s Day Week, it’s a particularly popular festival with Irish racing fans.
Dubai World Cup, UAE
March 28, 2026
The 8-race Dubai World Cup Festival is a rich and prestigious tournament held at the Meydan Racecourse in Dubai. The World Cup race alone has a purse of more than $30,500,000.
The Epsom Derby, England
June 5-6, 2026
This is one of the biggest events in thoroughbred racing, and for good reason. Along with the 2000 Guineas and the St Leger Stakes, it makes up the British Classics of Group 1 racing.
Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival, Australia
October 31-November 7, 2026
Aussies flock to Melbourne for the Spring Racing Carnival for the biggest Group 1 races on the Australian racing calendar, including the Melbourne Cup and the Caulfield Cup.
Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, France
October 4-5, 2026
In Europe, they don’t come any bigger than this. The Longchamp-held event is the richest in flat racing, with a purse of €5 million up for grabs. European racing calendars are all set around events like the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.
Saudi Cup, Saudi Arabia
February 14, 2026
In 2026, Saudi Arabia means business in sport. It will hold the soccerWorld Cup in two editions, for example. In horse racing, it is already a powerhouse. The Saudi Cup is a growing event that sees fans and trainers flock from all over the world, and with a $20 million purse, it’s easy to see why.
Popular Horse Races in Australia
The Australian racing calendar revolves around the Melbourne Spring Carnival, where the Melbourne Cup, the Caulfield Cup, and the WS Cox Plate are run. These are Australia's three biggest Group 1 horse races and attract the most interest.
Below is a list of the biggest horse races that take place each year in Australia:
The Melbourne Cup
Track – Flemington
Distance – 3,200m
Purse - $8,000,000
Type – Open HCP
The Caulfield Cup
Track – Caulfield
Distance – 2,400m
Purse – $5,000,000
Type – Open HCP
WS Cox Plate
Track – M. Valley
Distance – 2,040m
Purse - $5,000,000
Type – WFA
The Victoria Derby
Track – Flemington
Distance – 2,500m
Purse - $2,000,000
Type – 3yo SW
Major Racing Events in Asia
Hong Kong Racing
The famed Hong Kong Jockey Club is home to some of the richest horse races, with huge purses and big potential wins for horses that place well.
The Jockey Club turns over more than HK$75 billion every year, with races scheduled at the legendary Sha Tin and Happy Valley Tracks. There are a total of 14 Group 1 horse races each year in Hong Kong, with the following 5 races usually attracting the most bets:
Hong Kong Cup
Track – Sha Tin
Distance – 2,000m
Prize money - HK$40,000,000
Type – 3yo+
Hong Kong Mile
Track – Sha Tin
Distance – 1,600m
Prize money - HK$36,000,000
Type – 3yo+
Audemars Piguet QE II Cup
Track – Sha Tin
Distance – 2,000m
Prize money - HK$24,000,000
Type – 3yo+
Hong Kong Sprint
Track – Sha Tin
Distance – 1,200m
Prize money - HK$26,000,000
Type – 3yo+
BMW Hong Kong Derby
Track – Sha Tin
Distance – 2,000m
Prize money - HK$26,000,000
Type – 4yo+
Overview of Japan Horse Races
Japan has hosted professional horse races since 1862, and the sport has become one of the most-watched in the country, alongside baseball.
There are 26 Group 1 races in Japan each year, with more than US$50 million in prize money up for grabs. The richest race is the iconic G1 Japan Cup held at the Tokyo racecourse, which regularly attracts more than 200,000 spectators. Below is a list of the most popular Group 1 horse races each year in Japan:
Japan Cup
Track – Tokyo
Distance – 2,400m
Prize money - US$3,300,000
Type – 4yo+
Champions Cup
Track – Chukyo Racecourse
Distance – 1,800m
Prize money - US$760,000
Type – 3yo+
Tokyo Yushun (Japan Derby)
Track – Tokyo
Distance – 2,400m
Prize money - US$3,600,000
Type – 3yo+
Tenno Sho
Track – Kyoto
Distance – 3,200m
Prize money - US$2,708,000
Type – 4yo+
Takarazuka Kinen
Track – Hanshin
Distance – 2,200m
Prize money - US$2,708,000
Type – 3yo+
Kikuka Sho
Track – Kyoto
Distance – 3,000m
Prize money - US$2,070,000
Type – 3yo+
Major Horse Races in Great Britain
With 30 Group 1 horse races on the UK racing calendar, there are huge prize purses and lots of betting interest. From March through September, you can bet on the biggest and best horse races in the UK, from the Cheltenham Festival to the Epsom Derby. The Epsom Downs Racecourse provides some brilliant Derby memories. Below is an overview of the best races in the UK to bet on at Stake.com:
Cheltenham Gold Cup
Track – Cheltenham Racecourse
Distance – 5,294m
Prize money – £625,000
Type – 5yo+
The Grand National
Track – Aintree
Distance – 6,907m
Prize money - £1,000,000
Type – 7yo+
The Epsom Derby
Track – Epsom Downs
Distance – 2,419m
Prize money - £1,604,000
Type – 3yo
Ascot Gold Cup
Track – Ascot Racecourse
Distance – 4,014m
Prize money - £600,000
Type – 4yo+
King George VI Chase
Track – Kempton Park
Distance – 4,828m
Prize money - £250,000
Type – 4yo+
Major Racing Events in America
North America is home to some of the most exciting horse racing action in the world, with the Triple Crown event, the Kentucky Derby in particular, a world-famous event. It has a unique racing culture, too, with standardbred racing - in particular, harness racing - being more popular than almost anywhere else on Earth, as well as quarter horse racing sprints.
Here are some of the most prestigious and popular horse racing events in North America:
Kentucky Derby
Track - Churchill Downs
Distance - 1,250m
Prize money - $5,000,000
Type - 3yo
Belmont Stakes
Track - Belmont Park
Distance - 1,250m
Prize money - $2,000,000
Type - 3yo
Preakness Stakes
Track - Pimlico, Baltimore
Distance - 1,900m
Prize money - $2,000,000
Type - 3yo
Pegasus World Cup
Track - Gulfstream Park, Florida
Distance - 1,800m
Prize money - $1,000,000
Type - 4yo
How to Live Stream Popular Horse Races on Stake Sportsbook
If you’re ready to watch some of the most exhilarating racing action from across the world, you can right here at Stake.
Once you have created your account and added funds, you can navigate to our live and upcoming sections to find the latest events, meets, and festivals. Once there, look for the events with the live streaming logo for available streams. You can learn more in our live streaming guide.
What’s more, you can place bets on races as they’re unfolding, meaning you can keep an eye on the action and use it to inform your choices. This is a very different proposition to moneyline or outright betting before post times, so check out our live v pre-match betting guide for more information.
How Do Betting Options Differ Across Horse Race Types?
You can place numerous types of bets on horse racing, including the following:
Win bets: This is like moneyline betting where you predict which horse you think will win a race.
Place bets: If you don’t want to dial down on a winner, you can bet on a horse to “place,” meaning you can bet on them to finish first, second, or third in a particular race.
Each-way bets: This dual bet is very popular in horse racing. You’re betting on the horse to win but also on the horse to place.
Tricast: This is an adventurous bet in which you seek to predict which horses will finish first, second, and third in a race, respectively.
Straight Forecast: This involves predicting the correct order of two horses to finish first and second.
Horse Betting Tips, Guides & Resources on Stake.com
Check out our full guide to betting on horse racing, latest horse racing news and betting types like flexi betting, each way vs place bets, and exotics guide over on our blog. You can also read through our sports betting guide for more helpful tips that will help you make your selections.
We offer plenty of promotions for the biggest races, and that includes money back offers, as well as regular rakebacks and reloads. What’s more, our regular players may be eligible to join our VIP Club, where they will receive different rewards based on their staking history, including access to a VIP host. For more information, check out our VIP FAQs.
Please remember to bet on horse racing responsibly and read our responsible gambling guidelines. You can refer to our Stake Smart guidelines to help you stay in control and utilise our budget calculator to determine how much you can afford to spend.
