From the historic elegance of the Kentucky Derby to the high-stakes excitement of the Melbourne Cup, certain races stand out as pinnacles of achievement in the sport. In this article, we highlight the top 10 horse races in the world, exploring the unique traditions, massive prize pots, and legendary horses that make these events truly unforgettable. 

Epsom Derby

Widely considered the most famous flat race in the world of horse racing, the Derby at Epsom has been won by some of the very best the sport has ever seen in terms of flat horses, including the likes of Nijinksy, Galileo and Sea The Stars to name a few. The Derby has inspired versions all over the world with most countries who have horse racing starting their own versions of the race, but there is only one original that has been run since 1870. It is without a doubt one of the top 10 horse races in the world, and is well worth attending if you ever get the opportunity to. 

Prix de L'Arc de Triomphe

One of the richest races in Europe, where the best middle-distance horses from around the world battle it out for the winning prize money of over £2 million. Some of the racing greats have landed this contest previously, including the likes of Sea The Stars, Treve, Golden Horn and Enable. Two days of racing accompanies the Arc itself, with a total of 8 Group 1 races across the weekend; we get to see the best two-year-olds, sprinters and middle-distance horses, as well as the best of the Arabian horses. It really is one of the grandest races in Europe and one that many look forward to watching.

The Everest

Run in Australia, the Everest was classified as a Special Conditions race between 2017 and 2023, but in 2024 the race was elevated to Group 1 status. The prize money for the contest was increased in 2018 to 15 million Australian Dollars, and then once again in 2023 to 20 million Australian Dollars, making it the richest race in Australia and the richest turf race in the world of horse racing. It is held annually in October as the feature race of the Sydney Spring Carnival, which is one of Australia’s biggest carnivals. 

Melbourne Cup

Keeping on with the theme of top Australian races, this is the race described as “the race that stops a nation”, and although one of the richest races in the world, it has a slightly different format of being a Handicap contest. It is the richest two-mile Handicap in the world of horse racing and one of the richest turf races in Horse Racing. The Handicap means the ratings of the horse will decide how much weight the horse has to carry around when running. It’s a race that attracts plenty of support from Europe, and although European horses' winning record in the race is not the best, it makes for a very attractive task for anyone who wishes to tackle it. The day of the race has been a public holiday for much of Victoria since 1876, so that just goes to show the magnitude of how it is represented in Australia. It's safe to say that any race that is described as "the race that stops a nation" deserves a place in the top 10 races in the world! 

The Grand National   

There is no denying that the Grand National is one of the most well known races within the sport of horse racing and is one the most unique at that. Over 70,000 people attend the feature steeplechase at Aintree in April, with millions more watching the race on TV, bringing in viewers from all over the world. The highest profile winner of the race would be Red Rum, who won the race in 1973, 1974 and 1977, and was even a special guest on the 1977 BBC Sports Personality Of The Year Award. More money is bet on the National than any other British race, with around 13 million punters in the UK enjoying a flutter or two on the race, so it certainly deserves its place as one of the top horse races in the world. 

Dubai World Cup

The Dubai World Cup was created in 1996 by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum (the Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai who owns Darley Stud & Godolphin Racing. Godolphin are one of the world's leading Thoroughbred breeding and racing operations, with their horses running in the famous all-blue coloured silks. The Dubai World Cup is held on the last Saturday in March as the final race of the Dubai World Cup Night. The Group 1 flat race on dirt is run over a distance of 10 furlongs (2,000 metres), and is officially the world's richest horse race, with a purse of $12 million. The race has been dominated by Saeed Bin Suroor, who has trained some of Godolphin's biggest talents, and with a total of 9 winners to his name, his record for most winners isn't likely to be broken any time soon!

Kentucky Derby

The Kentucky Derby is one of the most anticipated races in the United States, and is one race that all US trainers, owners and jockeys dream of winning at least once in their careers. Held annually on the first Saturday in May, the Derby is the first leg of the US Triple Crown. The race is known as "The Run for the Roses", as the winning horse is draped in a blanket of roses when enjoying the winning parade after the race has finished. Lasting approximately two minutes, the Derby has been alternately called "The Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports", "The Fastest Two Minutes in Sports", or "The Greatest Two Minutes in Sports". The Kentucky Derby is the most-watched and most-attended horse race in the United States. The 2024 Kentucky Derby, won by Mystik Dan, marked the 150th running of the race. Out of the 150 running of the race, only 13 horses have managed to win the US Triple Crown (A horse that has won the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, and Belmont Stakes in one season), highlighting how tough it is to land all three prizes.

Japan Cup

The Japan Cup is one of the most prestigious horse races in the world and is the biggest race held in Japan. Contested on the last Sunday of November at Tokyo Racecourse over a distance of 1 mile 4 furlongs (around 2400 metres) in total, it is one of the richest races in the world, with a total prize pot of around $8.3 million (¥1,085 million). Despite a relatively short history, the race has established itself as an international contest with winners from Japan, North America, Britain, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, France, Germany and Italy. Along with the Prix de L'Arc de Triomphe, Melbourne Cup and the Breeders Cup, the race ranks as one of the great end-of-year events. 

Breeders Cup Classic

The late autumn months brings one of the biggest international festivals in the sport, and arguably the biggest to take place in the United States, with the annual edition of the Breeders’ Cup World Championship. Headlining the racing action is the Grade 1 Breeders Cup Classic, a dirt contest held over 1 mile 2 furlongs. Although not as famous as the Kentucky Derby, this is the classiest US contest of all, in terms of the quality of horses on show. The Classic is considered by many to be the premier thoroughbred horse race of the year in the United States, with the 2024 rewewal seeing the winner Sierra Leone taking home over $4.4 million. As it is raced on the dirt, we don’t tend to see many European runners due to the nature of the surface, with the US horses dominating in the race, due to their familiarity with the underfoot conditions. 

Saudi Cup

The Saudi Cup is an international horse race held annually at the end of February at King Abdulaziz Racetrack in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. It is the richest horse race ever held, with an incredible $20 million purse, making it the most lucrative event in horse racing. The race is held four weeks after the $3 million Pegasus World Cup at Gulfstream Park, Florida, and four weeks before the $12 million Dubai World Cup at Meydan Racecourse, Dubai, making it possible for horses in those races to compete. With so much money up for grabs to the winner, it's easy to see why it's considered one of the top races in horse racing.