Jumping clinic with international show jumper Laura Kennedy
Saturday 16 November 2024
The horse racing world will for the most part turn its attention to flat racing following the Grand National in April. The season will run until October with some of the greatest sprinters on the planet set to compete for the biggest prizes on British soil.
Flat racing was historically known as 'the sport of Kings' but in the modern world, it is a sport that is accessible to all kinds of people. There are now ways in which fans can become directly involved in the on-course action instead of taking in the proceedings as neutral.
Here we will explain how fans can become closer than ever to the sport they love this year and the big festivals that must not be missed.
A huge development of 21st-century horse racing is that ownership is no longer restricted to the super-rich. Fans can now obtain racehorse shares via syndicates for a one-off fee.
RaceShare for example offers a variety of part-ownership options including the Red Mirage horse - which most recently received an official rating of 81 at Chester last September.
Red Mirage takes the Ministry Of Sound Disco 20th August Handicap!
— Chelmsford City Racecourse (@ChelmsfordCRC) April 15, 2022
A thrilling finish sees the Andrew Balding trained horse come out on top under a skilfully judged ride from Ryan Moore.@AndrewBalding2 pic.twitter.com/13m9gkRTuD
Owning shares in a horse comes with bonuses such as the potential to visit the stables from which they are trained, and some owners can even watch from the stands on occasional race days. Fans can genuinely build a relationship with their horses whom they have physically backed.
This method of following the sport could be revolutionary for the most passionate fans who have dreamed of owning a horse, as now they can enjoy the racing experience that was once impossible for the majority due to financial constraints.
While owning a horse would certainly make the flat season much more enjoyable, it is also important that fans do not miss the big events - attending them would be the greatest way to enjoy flat racing in 2024.
The year of horse racing got underway with the big jump racing festivals which means now the headlines will be dominated by the big flat racing events which will arrive in May and June.
Firstly the Epsom Derby Festival will take place across the final day of May and the first of June. Both days on the calendar are massive events although the latter Derby Day is arguably the pinnacle of flat racing events across the world.
236 years ago today, 4th May 1780.....the first Epsom Derby was run! #MayThe4thBeWithYou https://t.co/jKH53ZKDDU pic.twitter.com/UefjGTwc57
— Epsom Downs Racecourse (@EpsomRacecourse) May 4, 2016
Fans can attend in person that day with tickets priced as low as £20 - which, similarly to the recent developments in horse ownership, means more people can get close to the exhilarating action.
The Epsom Derby will conclude the festival and it will see some of the greatest sprinters across the country and beyond take to the course.
Later in June, the Royal Ascot Festival will take place this year on a racecourse that has been in use since its Royal foundations in 1711. The five-day event will feature an intense lineup of races throughout with its most prestigious race set to take place on day two.
The Prince of Wales' Stakes will be the headline race that most fans will want to attend and fans can enter the stands for £49 this year, which is not a massive figure for one of the greatest days on the entire calendar.
Ultimately, being a horse racing fan who opts for the unrivalled experience of following the action in person has not always been affordable. However, in 2024 fans could purchase a share in a racehorse and attend the two biggest days of the flat racing year for little more than £100 combined.
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