Horse Racing In Scotland: Best Events To Attend
Horse racing is the second-most watched sport in the United Kingdom, with only football exceeding the numbers drawn to the track.
Apr 09, 20251K Shares23K Views
Horse racing is the second-most watched sport in the United Kingdom, with only football exceeding the numbers drawn to the track.
Attendance figures in the world of racing remain at a high level, with a younger demographic being enticed to the sport to see some of the world’s best horses in action in person. Excluding point-to-point racecourses, there are 59 courses across the United Kingdom, with five being located in Scotland.
There is a clear appetite for racing within the nation, and attendance figures at all Scottish tracks are high throughout the season.
But, what are some of the most famous races that are staged in Scotland every year?
Scottish Grand National
It would be hard to start anywhere else other than the biggest raceday on the Scottish calendar. If you want to find the big horse races this weekendlook no further, since the Scottish Grand National is staged to happen next Saturday, April 12th.
The Scottish Grand Nationalis staged at Ayr, and it is typically held seven days after the Grand National.
It forms a blockbuster day of racing action, but the feature is one of the most betted on events in Scotland. The Scottish National is run over four miles, with the handicap typically featuring big fields. It was first run in 1867, and four runners have landed the National double.
However, the only horse to have achieved the feat in the same calendar year was the legendary Red Rum in 1974. Macdermott was the most recent winnerof the race for trainer Willie Mullins, and the runner could become the first two-time winner of the race since Vicente this year.
Scottish Champion Hurdle
A fixture on Scottish Grand National day is the Scottish Champion Hurdle, with both races having been run on the same card since 1994. The Scottish Champion Hurdle was first run in 1966, and the field of runners compete over a distance of two miles, with nine hurdles to jump.
Unlike the Champion Hurdle run at the Cheltenham Festival, the race at Ayr is a limited handicap. However, there have been several winners of both races. Alderbrook was the most recent runner to do the double in 1995.
The legendary Sea Pigeon is one of the few multiple-time winners of the race after winning in back-to-back years in 1977 and 1978. The most recent winner of the Scottish Champion Hurdle was Favour And Fortune for trainer Alan King in 2024.
Morebattle Hurdle
Kelso is widely regarded as Britain’s friendliest racecourse, and it is a must-visit for all racing fans in the local region. Two major races are staged annually at the track, with the most notable coming in the form of the Morebattle Hurdle.
The Class Two handicap hurdle is open to horses aged four and older, and is competed over two miles and eight hurdles. One of Britain’s biggest upsets occurred in the Morebattle, as pre-race Champion Hurdle favourite Zaynar for trainer Nicky Henderson was beaten at 1/14 in 2010.
Cracking Rhapsody has been the dominant horse in the race in recent memory, winning each of the last two editions of the Morebattle Hurdle for the trainer and jockey combination of Craig Nicol and Ewan Williams.
Glasgow Stakes
While jumps racing is more popular in Scotland, there are also notable flat races that are staged across the nation throughout the season. One of the most notable comes in the form of the Glasgow Stakes, which is held annually in July at Hamilton Park. This race covers a distance of one mile and three furlongs.
It was previously held in May, and served as a trial for the Epsom Derby. However, it was transferred to Hamilton in 2006 and switched to a later date in the season. Sir Michael Stoute is the leading trainer in the race with seven victories.
It has still been a notable race in terms of winners, with 2020 victor Subjectivist later landing the Dubai Gold Cup and Ascot Gold Cup. The prestige of the race could be furthered this year, as 2024 winner Kalpana is among the front-runners for the Prix de l’Arc de Triomph.
Ayr Gold Cup
One of the biggest betting races of the flat season in Scotland comes in the form of the Ayr Gold Cup. This race was first held in 1804, and it takes place annually in September. A maximum field of 25 runners are eligible to line up in the field, with unfortunate horses taking their spots in the Ayr Silver Cup.
Dazzle is the most successful horse in the history of the race, claiming three straight wins between 1889 and 1891. Tom Dawson is the dominant trainer, having landed 15 victories between 1835 and 1869.
Younger horses have dominated the race in recent memory, with Lethal Levi becoming the second straight five-year-old winner of the Ayr Gold Cup at odds of 20/1 in 2024. There has only been one winning outright favourite in the race since 2015.
Latest Articles
Popular Articles