International Horse Racing

Horse racing betting is no longer restricted to your local race card or even to horse racing in the country where you live. Thanks to online betting that either links your wagers to international pari-mutuel pools or pays out according to those odds, you can now bet on the world's biggest and most exciting horse races.

If you live in Hong Kong and want to bet on the Kentucky Derby you're only a couple of clicks away from international horse racing betting. Meanwhile horse racing bettors in the USA can now bet on the latest races at the Sha Tin racecourse thanks to online wagering.

We showcase the most famous international horse races, and list our recommended bookmakers for online betting on those races. We have stringent criteria that must be satisfied by online sportsbooks and racebooks, not least of which is total peace of mind regarding your funds when you bet on the world's best horse races.

International horse racing is a global goldmine of opportunity for shrewd horse racing handicappers and we will guide you throughout: From identifying those races all the way to ensuring your winning tickets are cashed as easily as if you were at the race in person.

International Horse Racing - The Major Races

The Randwick Guineas is a major horse race for three-year-olds in Australia. Until 2006 the race was known as the Canterbury Guineas. It is run at Randwick racecourse for a purse of AUS$400,000

The New Zealand Derby is the country's most important race for three-year-olds. It is run at Ellerslie race course, and carries a purse of NZ$700,000.

The UAE Derby is one of the major events on the Dubai horseracing calendar and takes place on Dubai World Cup night. The race is run over 9 furlongs at Nad Al Sheba

The Derby Italiano is one of the most important races run in Italy, and is the Italian equivalent of the Epsom Derby. It is held at the Capannelle racecourse in Rome.

The Queens Plate has been held since 1860, making it the oldest surviving horse race in North America. There's a piece of trivia that few people know! It is run at Woodbine in Toronto, Canada for a stake of CAN$1 Million

The Gran Criterium is Italy's most important Juvenile horse race. Over the years some top European two-year-olds have won this race, which is held at the San Siro racetrack in Milan.

The Victoria Derby is one of Australia's major horse races for three-year-olds. The stakes are $1.5 million (AUS) and the race is run on the first day of Melbourne's world famous Spring Carnival race meeting.

The Grand Prix de Paris is one of the four Classic races held in France for three-year-olds. It is run over a distance of a mile and a half at the famous Longchamp racecourse.

The Summer Cup is a handicap that is one of the most important races on the South African calendar. It is worth R1.5 million in stakes and is held at Turffontein racecourse in Johannesburg.

The Poule d'Essai des Poulains is France's version of the English 2000 Guineas, a Classic race over a mile for the best French three-year-old male racehorses.

One of the leading North American turf races is the Canadian International Stakes, which is run at Woodbine racetrack in Toronto. The purse is $2 million and attracts some of the best racehorses from around the world.

The Grosser Preis von Baden is Germany’s most prestigious horse race and is run at Iffezheim racecourse over the Derby distance of a mile and a half. The stakes money for the race is €870,000.

The Hong Kong Cup is one of the world's great horse racing spectacles. Run over a distance of a mile and a quarter in mid-December, it is watched by some of the most zealous punters in the world at Sha Tin racecourse.

The Japan Cup is considered Japan's greatest horse race and is open to horses that are three or older. The Japan Cup is run at the Tokyo Racecourse over a distance of a mile and a half.

The W.S. Cox Plate is a premier horse race in Australia and is considered to be the truest test of a horse's ability due to the fact that the Cox Plate is contested as a weight for age (WFA) race as opposed to a handicap.

A major Australian horse race, the Caulfield Cup is the first leg of a popular betting double with the Melbourne Cup. Both races are held in the state of Victoria. The Caulfield Cup was first run in 1879.

The J&B Met handicap is one of South Africa's greatest horse races and a social event that brings Cape Town to a standstill. This Grade 1 race is run over 2000m (10 furlongs) at Kenilworth racecourse for a purse of R1.75 million.

The Durban July Handicap, held on the first Saturday in July, is South Africa's premier horse race. The purse for the race is R2.5 million as of 2007 and the race is run at Greyville racecourse over a distance of 2200m (11 furlongs).

The Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe is the most important European race of the year and is arguably the world's greatest turf race in terms of the general quality of the field. It is held at Longchamp in October and is the culmination of the flat season.

Australia's main race meeting of the year, The Melbourne Cup, is run at the awesome Flemington racecourse that can accomodate over 100 000 people. Its the biggest Aussie horse racing betting event of the year.

The Dubai World Cup is the world's richest horserace with an enormous purse of $6 million. The first Dubai World Cup was run in 1996 and won by Cigar, and since then the race has attracted the world's best flat racehorses