The American Triple Crown may already be finished but that doesn’t mean there aren’t plenty of races to keep people entertained during the rest of the year. While most casual observers are only aware of the biggest races such as the Cheltenham Festival or the Kentucky Derby, there are actually plenty of races taking place across the world every day and the sport is only gaining in popularity.
Of course, most casual racing fans generally only pay attention to around three races a year, at least in America. And the interest in these races either increases or decreases with each one. Last year, the American Triple Crown was won for the first time since 1978 when 3-year-old thoroughbred American Pharoah finally took home the elusive honour. But the excitement of such an incredible feat has overshadowed the sport in 2016 when this year’s Kentucky Derby winner, Nyquist, failed to repeat the feat when he lost the Preakness Stakes. Without the possibility of a Triple Crown on the line, the interest in the third leg of the fabled series, the Belmont Stakes, decreased significantly.
That said, the historic achievement still raised popular interest in the sport with both television viewership and live attendance seeing significant jumps. This has also translated to significant increases in the betting markets. In April 2016 in the States, the amount placed on races increased by 4 percent compared to the numbers in 2015, jumping to a whopping $3.4 billion. And that’s in a place where horse race betting isn’t even allowed in most of the country.
Those involved in the American side of the sport are probably hoping that this interest can help make horse racing half as popular there as it is in the United Kingdom. In the UK, horse racing is the country’s second-largest spectator sport, coming in only behind football. There are loads of races taking place around the country every day, with each offering their own unique charms for those looking to get in on the action. There are so many races happening that many fans require online exchanges to keep track of the events, and they’re used to learn more about not only the horses themselves but other circumstances such as the conditions of the tracks.
The situation is similar for horse racing in India as well. The sport has been a part of Indian culture for more than 200 years since the first race course was initially built in Chennai in 1777, making it one of the oldest racing jurisdictions in all of Asia. The country’s long history with the sport has continued throughout the years and racing remains one of the only sports with legalised betting in the country. There are nine separate racetracks in the country boasting a host of events. The Indian Derby remains one of the most popular sporting activities in all of Mumbai and while not nearly as popular a spectator sport as cricket or football, racing is definitely growing in popularity among the people.
Most of the racing season in India tends to take place in the winter, after the monsoon season. However, there are official tracks that run specific monsoon-season races such as the Hyderabad Turf Club and the Royal Calcutta Turf Club. The sport is popular enough that, like in the UK, there is a seven-day race schedule for much of the country, providing plenty of opportunities for new spectators to find and grow to appreciate the pastime. As international interest continues to increase, the stakes keep getting higher and will hopefully draw even more fans to horse racing.
