How Popular Is Horse Racing Betting In The UK?
Horse Racing is one of the oldest sports in history bursting with tradition. In order to look at the state of Horse Racing today, we have to start from the beginning.
Even though we’ve seen traces of horse racing in Ancient Greece at the Olympic Games, the first traditional form of horse racing is seen in Great Britain back in 1519 at the Kiplingcotes Derby in the East Riding of Yorkshire.
That’s why many people believe that the UK is considered the birthplace of the world’s most loved sport, horse racing.
Horse Racing in the United Kingdom
Horse racing is the second-most popular spectator sport in the UK after football. According to the industry survey, there are approximately around six million people attending horse races in Britain alone and 40% of the attendees are women.
According to social media searches, horse racing is actually the 4th most popular sport in the UK with more than 200K monthly searches, 1.7 million posts, and close to 200 million views on TikTok.
When it comes to official horse racing events, the UK has some of the biggest races in the world. Most people consider the Grand National to be the number one most popular horse racing event in the country.
The Grand National attracts the largest TV audience and thousands of fans on the racetrack. One of the reasons why the Grand National is so popular has to do with betting. Even though betting is not for everyone, you’ll find many people who bet once a year on the Grand National.
This is why last year’s Grand National managed to break a record with wagers accumulating close to $140 million on a single race.
Another reason why horse racing is so popular in the United Kingdom has to do with its rich history and tradition with the sport. Over the years, they’ve organized many impressive races that are still remaining today. Horse racing tradition runs through everyone’s blood and it is easy to see why this sport catches the attention of many British people.
Apart from the Grand National, other exciting horse racing events draw the attention of the public, such as:
- The Royal Ascot
- Epsom Derby
- Scottish Grand National
- Cheltenham Festival
- Newmarket
- Kempton Park
Since Britain has a rich tradition of horse racing, the UK has one of the best organizations when it comes to horse racing. It is obvious to see some of the greatest jockeys, trainers, and breeds coming from Britain.
However, besides the British races, people in the UK can also bet on several sportsbooks on foreign events like the Kentucky Derby, the Japan Cup, or the Dubai Cup of Racing.
We also have some impressive champions coming from the UK, such as:
- Eclipse – (18 wins) – 1764
- Ormonde (16 wins) – 1883
- Frankel (14 wins) – 2008
- Honeysuckle (14 wins) – 2014
Clearly, horse racing is a very popular sport in the UK with millions of fans coming to the country each year just to experience the real magic of horse racing.
The United Kingdom is the country with the biggest history behind the sport, and many people say that horse racing is on this level today, thanks to the UK. The country also holds the crown as the pioneer as it is where it all started.
Conclusion
The popularity of horse racing is steadily increasing over the years, and it has quickly become one of the favorite sports in the world, at least when betting is in question. We have the same situation in the UK, as viewers, streams, and fans increase each year.
Even though the UK is the birthplace of horse racing, there is still some room for improvement and expansion. The United Kingdom has a deep connection with horse racing which is easily translated through their racecourses, racing events, horse breeds, and the amount of skill coming from all the participants.