At Taunton Racecourse, the excitement for the new national hunt season is building. With the arrival of autumn, it’s always intriguing to see the jumps trainers, horses, and jockeys get into their groove, building up through the winter fixtures, then onto the spring for the big prizes at Cheltenham and Aintree. In Britain, the flat season comes to an end, and we get to focus on the unique national hunt events.
That said, the big events keep taking place around the world, with blue chip races happening on every continent in the coming months as we close out 2024. Below, we have picked out five of the big ones for you to keep an eye on, all of which can be viewed on UK racing channels.
Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe
The biggest race on the continent is set for Sunday, 6th October. Held at Paris Longchamp Racecourse, Europe’s richest flat race always draws an incredible field of talent. Names floated as potential runners this year include Look de Vega, Sosie, City of Troy, and Opera Singer.
Regardless of who lines up, this is always one of the best international fixtures on the calendar. Home support will be huge for the highly talented Look de Vega, but the Arc has thrown up several surprises in recent years. The fact it’s always open can add to the drama.
Breeders’ Cup Classic
While America’s Triple Crown action takes place across the early summer, many racing fans see the highlight of the year coming in November with the Breeders’ Cup Festival. While it has plenty of disciplines, it’s hard to look beyond the Breeders’ Cup Classic as the box office draw. It can be a tricky one to call, but if you learn strategies for how to bet on horse racing in the United States, you can catch some trends and perhaps pinpoint some value.
The 2024 edition could feature several Kentucky Derby alumni, including the exciting Japanese star Forever Young and the highly-rated Fierceness. What might make it one for the ages is if the Epsom Derby winner, City of Troy, is aimed at it? Aidan O’Brien’s horse is co-favourite in the ante-post betting markets.
Melbourne Cup
Australia’s biggest race is always worth setting the alarm clock for, or at least recording for a viewing the next morning. Some pundits are mesmerised by the growing ambitions of Willie Mullins to land the big one Down Under. The master jumps trainer has gone close before, and had the favourite last year (Vauban disappointed, unfortunately). Mullins will be back for another crack on the 5th of November. Guy Fawkes Night back home, but will there be fireworks in Australia?
Japan Cup
Moving to Asia, and the Japan Cup has grown in stature over the years, drawing an ever-greater international audience. Frankie Dettori rode to victory on Alkaased back in 2005 for one of the underrated victories of his storied career. There’s now approximately £2 million up for grabs for the winner, who will contest the Tokyo Racecourse over 1.5 miles in front of up to 100,000 spectators. Like all the world’s great horse races, this is both a sporting event and a cultural celebration. A trip of a lifetime if you can ever make it.
Hong Kong Cup
The world has some beautiful racecourses, ranging from Chantilly to Ascot, Flemington to Goodwood. Yet, there is something fascinating about Sha Tin Racecourse, juxtaposing the megacity skyline of Hong Kong with mountains looming in the background. It’s the venue of the Hong Kong Series (mid-December), which features the prestigious Hong Kong Cup (15th December). Dettori has been successful in it three times, and Ryan Moore has won a couple. The last two wins have come for Romantic Warrior, named Horse of the Year.
