Horse racing is a well-enjoyed form of entertainment across the pond, particularly in North America and the United Kingdom. The sport is watched by a substantial number of people all around the world due to the fact that key events the likes of the Pegasus World Cup, the Breeders Cup, and Royal Ascot consistently make headlines.
In spite of the fact that there is a considerable bit of overlap between the thoroughbred activity in the United States and the United Kingdom, one can still find a number of notable variations between the two, and in this article, we will take a closer look at the most key aspects of difference.
Track Direction
Races in the United States are almost universally left-handed around an oval course. A diverse bag of left and right-handed courses may be found in the UK.
A horse’s ability to race in a certain direction, utilizing their favorite leading leg to assist them through the corners, hence shifting odds. Savvy wagers will also need to keep in mind that certain thoroughbreds have a strong predilection for one particular side of the racetrack.
Betting UK vs. the US
Horse race betting is global. Since they’re so interwoven, most individuals can’t separate the two except the UK and US betting markets are quite different.
The UK Horse Betting Scene
In Britain, you may bet on sports with the same bookies wherever you are. Horse racing, football, and cricket are examples of sports you can bet on. In the UK, bookies give fixed odds for horse racing bets, In fact, today placing a punt on the nags is very easy, especially if you are using a trustworthy site. The Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act, which outlawed most sports betting until 2018, allowed pari-mutuel wagers. Winners of pari-mutuel bets split the pooled stakes.
The US Horse Betting Scene
Each US state has its own sports betting regulations. Prior to 2018, federal law prohibited most states from establishing bookies, with horse racing exceptions. 13 states permit online sports betting, and several also allow gambling like Texas Hold ’em and Omaha hi-lo.
This hodgepodge of laws means users can’t use their bookmaker’s app to wager on horse races whenever they travel, making it difficult for fans.
Prize Money
Numerous horse races in the United States provide substantial prize pools. In 2017, competitors in the Pegasus World Cup were awarded a total of $12 million. The next year, it was $16 million, but for 2019, it will be $9 million.
There is a total prize pool of $3 million up for grabs at the Kentucky Derby, with the winner taking home $1.86 million.
The top 10 finishers in the Grand National in the United Kingdom each received a portion of £1 million ($1.3 million). a very small fraction of the US total.
Race Distances
There are a variety of distances over which races can be fought, with the typical range for races held in North America is somewhere around four and a half furlongs and about a mile and a half.
The Belmont Stakes, which is a leg of the United States Triple Crown, is among the most grueling competitions on the calendar. Only at the New York track, thoroughbreds are obliged to compete for a distance of 12 furlongs. There is a wide variety of racing distances in the United Kingdom, with the Queen Alexandria Stakes at Ascot being the one that is widely considered to be the toughest flat contest at two miles and five furlongs.
These physically draining competitions, known as National Hunt racing, can be held over a distance of up to four miles. National Hunt racing is much more popular in northern Europe.
Several high-profile competitions, such as the Grand National and the Cheltenham Gold Cup, require a huge amount of stamina. Despite this, well-known horses including Tiger Roll and Denman have demonstrated a real aptitude for competing over the sort of distance that is involved in these competitions.
Conclusion
There are several distinctions between racing in the United States and racing in the United Kingdom, despite the fact that both types of racing include horses competing against one another on the course for the place. It’s not that one type of racing is superior to another; at the end of the day, they each have their own unique histories and traditions in the sport.
In the same way that there is a heated dispute about whether or not substitute teachers can still be effective without a degree, there is an equally heated debate about which country has the finest horse racing. The British take a more refined approach to the matter, and they even compel attendees of certain races to wear certain apparel. On the other hand, the attitude toward the problem in the United States is much more laid back.
