Horse racing is an extremely popular sport in some parts of the world and has hardly any fans in others. Besides being among the oldest sports in existence, horse racing also has a strong cultural impact. There are many different horse races, and many countries have created their own particular traditions around them.
Speaking of horse racing events, the team at Nostrabet and I have made a list of all top-tier horse races in 2025 based on their prize money. Many people forget about the financial aspect of this sport, but some of the biggest races in the world come with jaw-dropping rewards.
Although we already had the chance to watch some of the most popular horse racing competitions, such as the Cheltenham Festival, there are many other events ahead of us. With that said, let’s go through all the top horse racing competitions and see their prize money.
Saudi Cup – $20M
The stats for 2025 reveal that the Saudi Cup (alongside The Everest [more about it in a bit]) is the horse racing event with the highest prize pool. The annual international competition is a part of the Saudi Cup Night, and it has a $20M prize pool.
An interesting fact about the Saudi Cup is that it takes place around 4 weeks after the $3M Pegasus World Cup. It is also 4 weeks before the Dubai World Cup (also on the list).
Horse racing fans may remember that the first edition of the Saudi Cup took place in 2020. Interestingly, the 2021 Saudi Cup became the horse racing competition with the highest prize pool because it featured a $30.5M reward.
The Everest – $20M
Moving to the beautiful country of Australia, we have The Everest. When talking about the top horse racing events in 2025 in terms of prize money, The Everest shares the number 1 spot with the Saudi Cup. In other words, this competition also has a $20M reward.
The Everest is an event where thoroughbred horses run over 1200 meters in Sydney, Australia. Fans may remember that the tournament first came to life in 2017. In fact, between 2017 and 2023, the race was classified as Special Conditions Class. From 2024 onward, however, it has a Group 1 status.
In terms of the prize money, The Everest had a smaller prize pool that was bumped to $15M in 2018. A few years later (in 2023), it was set to $20M, making it the richest turf race in the world. The competition takes place annually in October, and those who want to participate need to pay a $700k entry fee.
Dubai World Cup – $12M
The next name on the list of the top horse racing events in 2025 in terms of prize money is the Dubai World Cup. This is another Thoroughbred horse race that takes place every year. Unlike the others, however, this one has been around since 1996 and features a prize pool of $12M.
Like most things in Dubai, the Dubai World Cup came to existence because of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum. He is a big fan of horse racing and also owns the Darley Stud & Godolphin Racing, which is among the leading thoroughbred breeding and racing operations in the world.
Usually, the Dubai World Cup takes place on the last Saturday of March. An interesting fact is that Cigar became the first horse to win the event, and the latter later became a part of the US Hall of Fame. People who decide to attend the race now will find a special plaque that honors Cigar.
The Golden Eagle – $10M
This is another impressive horse racing event that you definitely do not want to miss out. The Golden Eagle takes place in Australia, and it is held on the last Saturday of October. Beside bringing together some of the best horses from around the world, The Golden Eagle is also famous for its $10M prize pool.
Aside from the Saudi Cup, The Golden Eagle is the “newest” horse racing event because it started its existence in 2019. Back then, the tournament’s prize pool was $7.5M, and Chris Waller won it.
Nowadays, this horse racing competition has fans all over Australia, as well as many other parts of the world. An interesting fact is that 10% of the $10M prize pool will be donated to charity.
Melbourne Cup – $8.6M
Australia has another amazing horse racing event that fans look forward to – The Melbourne Cup. This is another Group 1 Thoroughbred horse race that first appeared in 1861. In other words, it is one of the oldest horse racing competitions in the world. The Melbourne Cup is so popular that the day of the race has become a public holiday for Victoria.
Horses who take part in this competition must be at least three years old and will compete for a $8.6M prize pool. The horses will have to run around 3200 meters, and the race takes place on the first Tuesday in November.
In terms of entry fees, all participants have to pay an initial entry fee of $600 per horse, which is a lot less than what we’ve seen so far. With that said, participants need to pay several fees after that, including the final acceptance fee, which is $45,375.
Japan Cup – $7.3M
Aside from the countries in the Middle East and Australia, Japan is another country with millions of horse racing fans. The country is home to a lot of top-tier races, including the Japan Cup. This is one of the leading horse racing competitions in the world, with a prize pool of $7.3M.
If you wish to follow the Japan Cup, you must watch it on the last Sunday of November. The competition takes place in Tokyo, and the first-ever race was held in 1981.
What makes the Japan Cup different from many other competitions is that it is an invitational event. Horses wishing to participate must be at least 3 years old and run 2400 meters.
An interesting fact is that the inaugural running in 1981 only included horses that were trained in Canada, NZ, India, Japan, the US, and Australia. Fortunately, this restriction only lasted for one year because, after that, the race welcomed horses worldwide.
Breeders’ Cup Classic – $7M
This is the only US horse racing event on the list, and it offers a prize pool of $7M. Breeders’ Cup Classic is a Grade 1 horse race that includes horses who are at least 3 years old. They need to run close to 2000 meters on dirt, which makes the competition very interesting to follow.
The Breeders’ Cup Classic first took place in 1984 and has been held in the US every year except in 1996. This was when the competition took place in Toronto, Canada.
Prior to the arrival of some of the races mentioned earlier, this used to be the richest horse racing competition in the world.
Dubai Sheema Classic – $6M
The last of the top horse racing events in 2025 in terms of prize money goes to the Dubai Sheema Classic. First held in 1998, this horse racing competition includes horses that are at least 4 years old or above. They need to run around 2400 meters on the turf track in Dubai.
The Dubai Sheema Classic takes place every year during the Dubai World Cup, and it obtained Group 1 status in 2022. Despite having a significantly lower prize pool than the other big races in Dubai, this one also attracts horse racing fans worldwide.
Horse Racing and Online Betting – The 2025 Trends
Horse racing is one of the most popular sports regarding betting. Unlike a lot of other popular options, such as eSports, people have been wagering on horse racing events for years. In fact, many of them are popular solely because of the fact that fans like wagering on them.
Nowadays, top-tier online bookmakers provide various options for horse racing fans. Besides allowing people to bet on all of the races mentioned so far, many brands also have special bonuses. In fact, all big bookies will provide at least a couple of propositions before a big event, such as the Saudi Cup.
Users who decide to wager on horse racing will come across a variety of features that they can rely on. Most sites may offer Bet Builder, Cash Out, and even the option to change certain bet parameters called “Edit Bet”. Sometimes, it is also possible to find live streams for some of the more interesting horse races.
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