COVID-19 has hit the world with a vengeance, with governments everywhere shuttering the borders to foreign traffic, major sports events being postponed or cancelled, and general attendance at horse racing meets expected to ebb somewhat. While the world waits with bated breath, the thoroughbreds are ready to burst through the gates and tear down the tracks at a furious pace.
The horse racing calendar in 2020 is packed to capacity with plenty of blistering events. While the off-season is short, there is more than enough action taking place to keep horse racing fans interested. From January through December, sports betting fans and horse racing enthusiasts alike get to watch the hottest action on the turf as these racing spectaculars unfold at lightning-pace. In April, many exciting horse racing events are scheduled, including the following:
- April 4, 2020 – The Ashland Stakes
- April 11, 2020 – The Arkansas Derby
- April 18, 2020 – The Champagne Stakes
- April 25, 2020 – The Queen’s Cup Steeplechase
Also, on 4 April 2020 is an event known as the Santa Anita Derby, hosted in Arcadia, California. With a $1 million payday, it’s one of the most anticipated horse racing events ahead of the Kentucky Derby later on in the year.
Horse Racing Events in May 2020
Hopefully, by May 2020, the world will have a better hold on COVID-19, but for horse racing fans who enjoy betting on the ponies, there are other options besides the land-based bookmakers in New Jersey. Sports betting apps from licensed and regulated online sportsbooks like 888sport NJ are readily available to legal-age betting fans, to make it much more convenient to place bets on sports. The horse racing events in May 2020 include the following:
- May 2, 2020 – The Kentucky Oaks
- May 2, 2020 – The Kentucky Derby
- May 2, 2020 – The Virginia Gold Cup
- May 9, 2020 – The Iroquois Steeplechase
- May 10, 2020 – The Runhappy Stakes
- May 16, 2020 – The Preakness Stakes
There is no doubt that the biggest horseracing event in the United States is the Kentucky Derby. In fact, one could go so far as to say that this is arguably the premier horse racing event in the world. It takes place every year in Louisville Kentucky, and is as much a glamorous social event as it is a tribute to the finest thoroughbreds the world has ever seen. Just before the Kentucky Derby takes place, there is a contest known as the Kentucky Oaks – listed above.
No other horse racing event hogs the limelight quite as much as the Kentucky Derby, not by a long margin. It rivals the biggest sports betting events on the calendar, with tens of millions of dollars changing hands at any given time. The prelude to the Kentucky Derby – the Kentucky Oaks forms part of the prestigious Triple Crown – the ultimate trifecta in horse racing Americana. The other events include the Preakness Stakes, and the Belmont Stakes.
There are of course many international races taking place outside of the United States, including the Prix de l’Atlantique in France in April, the Royal Ascot in the UK in June, and the Melbourne Cup in November in Australia. Horse racing events are a hot ticket item on the global sporting calendar, and for good reason. Equestrian aficionados and horseracing bettors have got an incredibly busy year to look forward to.
