Jumping clinic with international show jumper Laura Kennedy
Saturday 16 November 2024
Horse racing has always been a sport of kings, successfully managing to attract the biggest names on the face of the earth to marquee events for centuries.2024 has been no exception, with several thrilling races crowning new champions in front of global superstars as well as tens of thousands of raucous punters cheering on their favourites to glory. Several marquee races have already taken place so far this year, and there is still plenty more to come.
In October, Europe will take centre stage as two huge showdowns from the UK and France are broadcast, namely the St. Leger Stakes and the l'Arc de Triomphe. The latter of that duo is the most lucrative race on the continent, with a whopping €5 million purse divided up between the front runners, €1 million of which will go to the victor. The latest horse racing betting odds currently price him up at +250, making the favourite for victory and that mighty prize pot to be the talented 3-year-old Look De Vegaa, with the likes of City of Troy waiting in the wings.
Then, as the year winds down, there is plenty more to get excited about. In Australia, the Everest and the Melbourne Cup are both upcoming and eagerly anticipated, while in America, the Breeders Cup will bring the curtain down on another stellar year of Stateside racing. But what of the first half of 2024?
Plenty of huge races have already taken place this year, and here are the horses that reigned supreme.
The Champion Hurdle is one of the many jewels in the crown of the Cheltenham Festival. Taking place on the opening day of the four-day extravaganza, it provides punters with the perfect opportunity to hit the ground running ahead of three more days of thrilling action. This year, much of the talk was around the awe-inspiring Constitution Hill and his quest to claim back-to-back triumphs.
However, in the weeks leading up to the big race, trainer Nicky Henderson shocked the world as he announced that the reigning champion would be withdrawing from 2024's event with health issues, and as such, a new champion would be crowned.
State Man became the new favourite following Constitution Hill's withdrawal, and he duly lived up to the billing. The Willie Mullins-trained horse finished as the runner-up in 2023 but he went one better this year, finishing just over a length clear of Irish Point. Now, all attention will turn to 2025, and the showdown between the two most recent champions in the grandest stage will be one of the most eagerly anticipated of the year.
While Constitution Hill didn't have the chance to claim consecutive victories at Cheltenham this year, one horse that certainly did was Galpin Des Champs. The French eight-year-old stormed to glory as a narrow frontrunner in the 2023 Gold Cup and this time around, he was the odds-on-betting favorite. Retaining the trophy isn't for the faint of heart, and only Al Boum Photo had managed to do it in the previous two decades.
Under the guidance of Danny Mullins, another Mullins-trained sensation displayed the perfect blend of stamina and speed to navigate a tough field. The race was competitive, with several top contenders vying for the lead, however, Galopin Des Champs simply had too much for the opposition to handle. He made his decisive move in the final stretch, pulling away from the pack to secure a convincing three-and-a-half length victory, scooping up £350,000 in prize money.
The Grand National is renowned for its challenging course and unpredictable outcomes. It has come to be known as the Greatest Show on Turf and because the winner will have to make its way through four gruelling miles of competition, it's not hard to see why. However, with £1 million waiting in pre-money for the victor, there is certainly a lucrative light awaiting at the end of the most difficult of tunnels.
This year, I Am Maximus managed to live up to his +700-favorite tag, becoming just the fifth frontrunner of the last 20 years to manage to convert his status into victory. The French horse was expertly ridden by jockey Nico de Boinville, who navigated the 30 fences with plenty of muscle. Despite the stiff competition and the demanding nature of the course, the eight-year-old managed to stay ahead of the pack, crossing the finish line to the roar of the crowd, finishing seven and a half lengths clear of Delta Work.
The Kentucky Derby is arguably the biggest horse race in the world and it certainly lived up to its reputation in 2024 after ending with a thrilling three-way photo finish. The race hadn't had a photo finish since 1996, and you had to go back to 1947 for such a finish containing not two but three horses.
Ultimately it was 18/1 outsider Mystik Dan that managed to just hold off late charges by Sierra Leone and Forever Young to reach the wire first.
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