Horse racing Archives | Sports Tourism News

Kentucky Derby 2027: Premium hospitality packages offer fans the ultimate horse racing getaway

18Oct

By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Kentucky Derby 2027: Premium hospitality packages offer fans the ultimate horse racing getaway

Horse racing fans planning a trip to the Kentucky Derby in 2027 can enjoy premium hospitality, exclusive trackside access and a range of travel experiences, including bourbon distillery tours and visits to thoroughbred farms. Derby Experiences, the official experience package provider to Churchill Downs, has unveiled two-day packages for the Kentucky Oaks and Kentucky Derby, taking place in Louisville, Kentucky, on 30 April and 1 May 2027. Combining premium race-day seating with all-inclusive hospitality, the packages offer visitors a chance to experience one of America's most iconic sporting occasions while exploring the wider region. What do the Kentucky Derby 2027 packages include? A range of hospitality experiences are available across Churchill Downs, including the Clubhou...

Horse racing 2026-2027 calendar: biggest UK and global races and festivals

4Oct

By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Event Calendars, Other sports

Horse racing 2026-2027 calendar: biggest UK and global races and festivals

Horse racing fans have plenty of major events to look forward to during the remainder of 2026 and throughout 2027, with some of the sport’s biggest races and festivals taking place across the UK, Ireland, Europe, Middle East, Asia, Australia and the United States. From the famous jumps festivals at Cheltenham and Aintree to flat racing showpieces including the Derby, Royal Ascot and the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, the British and European calendars feature a packed schedule. Further afield, international highlights include the Saudi Cup in Riyadh, Dubai World Cup at Meydan, the US Triple Crown races, Melbourne Cup, Japan Cup, Hong Kong International Races and the Breeders’ Cup World Championships. Here are some of the biggest horse racing events, races and festivals for the remaind...

Sports travel bucket list: derby experiences at the 2026 Kentucky Derby

28Mar

By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Bucket List, Events

Sports travel bucket list: derby experiences at the 2026 Kentucky Derby

The Kentucky Derby returns in 2026 as one of the most iconic dates on the global sporting calendar, blending elite thoroughbred racing with a spectacle of Southern culture, fashion and tradition. Taking place on 2 May 2026 at Churchill Downs in Louisville, the race is widely known as “The Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports” and forms the opening leg of US horse racing’s Triple Crown alongside the Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes. The 152nd Kentucky Derby is expected to attract more than 150,000 spectators, alongside millions of viewers worldwide, reaffirming its status as a cornerstone event in the sports tourism landscape. With a purse typically exceeding $3 million, the Derby brings together the top three-year-old thoroughbreds from across the United States and beyond, ea...

Qiddiya City to develop new horse racing venue that will host the Saudi Cup

28Mar

By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Middle East & Gulf, Other sports, Sports Business, Venues & Stadiums

Qiddiya City to develop new horse racing venue that will host the Saudi Cup

Development plans have been unveiled for a landmark horse racing venue in Saudi Arabia’s Qiddiya City. A part of the long-term plans, the venue will become the new permanent home of the US$20 million Saudi Cup, the world’s richest horse race. Abdullah Aldawood, managing director of Qiddiya Investment Company, said: "Every element, from racing performance and equine welfare to hospitality and fan engagement, has been designed to meet the expectations of the world’s leading racing jurisdictions. In line with our wider vision for Qiddiya City, this state-of-the-art venue is designed to be fully accessible, pioneering a new chapter in spectator engagement and experiences." Featuring a distinctive and flexible racing configuration, the venue is designed to support a broad range of intern...

Sporting days out: behind the scenes tours at the Royal Yards in Newmarket

5May

By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Sports Travel, Trips & Experiences

Sporting days out: behind the scenes tours at the Royal Yards in Newmarket

Discover Newmarket, the official tourism service for Newmarket and the surrounding area, has been given the exclusive chance to show visitors behind the scenes at Somerville Lodge, Fitzroy House, and Clarehaven, the Royal Yards where Queen Elizabeth II has horses in training. The royal trainers will also take guests to the Gallops – the training grounds around Newmarket where horses are put through their paces – to see these top thoroughbreds exercise. The full-day tour includes a visit to the National Stud, where a special Stallion Parade will be conducted by the former manager of The Royal Studs. Plus, there will be a chance to look around the National Horseracing Museum, which the Queen opened in 2016 on the original site of Charles II's Palace and Stables. Discover Newmarket is a...

2022 Dubai World Cup Carnival guide: Super Saturday and World Cup dates confirmed

1Nov

By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Destination Guides, Events, Sports Travel, Trips & Experiences

2022 Dubai World Cup Carnival guide: Super Saturday and World Cup dates confirmed

Dates for the 2022 Dubai World Cup Carnival, Super Saturday and Dubai World Cup night have been confirmed. Dubai Racing Club has announced an enhanced racing calendar for the 2021-2022 season, which will now include a four-race “Jumeirah Series” on turf launched for the Classic generation, plus an exciting new race for Super Saturday, the WAM Emirates News Agency reported. The Carnival, which begins at Meydan Racecourse on 13 January, will have several new races for 2022. The Super Saturday card, sponsored by Emirates Airline, is scheduled for 5 March 2022 and will welcome the addition of a new race - the $300,000 Ras Al Khor over 1,400m on turf. Prize money for Dubai World Cup night, which boasts six Group 1 races and three Group 2s, has been increased to $30.5m. Due ...

The Jockey Club gets ready to welcome back horse racing fans in May

13Apr

By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Events

The Jockey Club gets ready to welcome back horse racing fans in May

The Jockey Club, owners of 14 racecourses across the UK, has announced that tickets are now on sale for 16 horse racing fixtures in May. England’s roadmap out of lockdown will see a limited number of fans return to sporting events from 17 May at the earliest - this is the same day that Carlisle Racecourse will host its Flat Speed Ahead event. Tickets are also available for May race days at Nottingham, Kempton Park, Warwick, Market Rasen, Sandown Park, Haydock Park and Newmarket. To buy tickets for the below events see thejockeyclub.co.uk Flat Speed Ahead at Carlisle RacecourseWhen: 17 May Tickets: from £15; under-18s go free Afternoon Racing at Nottingham RacecourseWhen: 18 May Tickets: from £15; under-18s go free Floodlit Racing at Kempton Park RacecourseWhen: 19 May Tick...

Racing League: 2021 meeting dates and how it works

11Oct

By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Destination Guides, Events, Sports Business

Racing League: 2021 meeting dates and how it works

Championship Horse Racing has confirmed that the inaugural season of the Racing League will begin in July 2021. Held over six consecutive Thursday evenings, the new flat racing competition will be contested at four of the UK’s leading racecourses - Doncaster, Lingfield Park, Newcastle and Royal Windsor. Racing League 2021 race days Race Day 1: Newcastle – 29 July Race Day 2: Doncaster – 5 August Race Day 3: Lingfield Park – 12 August Race Day 4: Royal Windsor – 19 August Race Day 5: Lingfield Park – 26 August Race Day 6: Newcastle – 2 September Race Distances Each meeting will have six races over the following distances: 5 furlongs 6 furlongs 7 furlongs 8 furlongs – 1-mile race 10 furlongs – 1 and ¼ mile race 12 furlongs – 1 and ½ mile race The format will...

UK horse racing in 2020: major races, events and festivals

26Aug

By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Destination Guides, Events

UK horse racing in 2020: major races, events and festivals

Horse racing - flat and jumps - is a huge sporting tradition in the UK. Featuring the English Classics and Grand Nationals to the Gold Cups and the Derby, the UK racing calendar is action-packed throughout the year. From Ayr to Ascot, we look at the major UK horse races and events taking place in 2020. Newsletter: sign up for the latest updates from Sports Tourism Media 2020 sports calendar: UK and global major sporting events and ticket details Major UK horse races and festivals in 2020 Editor's note: events and dates are subject to change because of the Covid-19 pandemic Sprint Cup Festival What: the Group 1 Sprint Cup is the feature race of the Flat season at Haydock Park When: 3-5 September 2020 Where: Haydock Park Website: The Jockey Club St Leger Festival Doncaster ...

British Horseracing Authority: jump racing in the UK suspended until July

2Apr

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Events, Sports Business

British Horseracing Authority: jump racing in the UK suspended until July

The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) has confirmed that jump racing in the United Kingdom is suspended until the beginning of July. However, detailed proposals are being developed for a resumption of flat racing from 1 May, if possible, with meetings held behind closed doors. The BHA added: “Racing will begin on the flat and behind closed doors to minimise demands on emergency services.” Newsletter: sign up for a weekly update from Sports Tourism Media Richard Wayman, chief operating officer of the BHA, said in a statement: “The decision to lose jump racing until July was not one which was taken lightly and we are very conscious of the impact this will have on many across our sport. “We are working closely with the horsemen, racecourses and Levy Board to ensure the sport is ready...

2020 Grand National Festival: event guide, tickets and hospitality options, travel details

2Mar

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Destination Guides, Events

2020 Grand National Festival: event guide, tickets and hospitality options, travel details

The sporting world will be watching Aintree as the famous Liverpool racecourse hosts the 2020 Randox Health Grand National Festival for three days in April. Starting with Liverpool’s Day on Thursday 2 April, the opening day of the festival is described as “one of the region’s best kept secrets” and a popular choice for racing fans and couples alike. Day two at Aintree, #FabulousFriday (3 April), is Ladies Day. As well as four Grade One races on the track, fashion and style is the order of the day off the track. The final day of the festival, Saturday 4 April, is the big one as the Grand National is held at 5.15pm (UK time). Millions around the world will be watching the £1m Grade 3 handicap steeplechase as the horses jump 30 fences around the 4-mile-2.5-furlong circuit. Here we loo...