International Racing Previews: 

Carlisle Racecourse in the very north of England is home to one of the most historic horse races in the world, with the Carlisle Bell dating back to 1599. However, in November 2023, it’s the 2:05 pm race on the 13th, which is of particular interest. This race is open to horses aged four and over, offering a cool £50,000 prize (over 96,000 Australian dollars) to the winner of this nearly two-mile race. Sail Away, the French horse, is of note, having performed very well in its prior races.

Punchestown Racecourse is often seen on sports betting apps by those looking for a bet and has become more famous than the area it is located in, much like Glastonbury Festival supersedes the actual town of Glastonbury. This race, as a Maiden category, is only open to horses that have not won a hurdle type before. One horse to consider is Camino Rock. It had its odds slashed last week from 33/1 to 16/1. It has also placed in the majority of its races, making it one to watch in this race.

The United Arab Emirates certainly has a passion for horse racing, even if not as well known as other markets. The Al Ain Grandstand and Racecourse hosts many races throughout the year and has a series of races in mid-November. This Friday, they are set for seven races, and we’ve picked out race six as the most interesting as it is a Handicap (0-100) only open to Purebred Arabian horses and has the biggest purse of the day at 85,000 dirhams, just over 35,000 in Aussie dollars.

Cheltenham is synonymous with horse racing. While not as iconic as Cheltenham Festival, the November Meeting is still a must-watch and ample opportunity for bettors. There are multiple races taking place, mostly jump-based, and it is seen as the traditional curtain-raiser to the winter season. Last year in the opening race on Sunday, a 10/1 outsider, The Real Whacker, won the race – providing a quality win for those who backed him.

The entire day at Ascot here could be listed as an event to savour and salivate over for horse racing fans. The event is now seen as the end of the flat racing season and, as such, enjoys a bumper roster of races. Opening the show is the Long Distance Cup, which is notable as Trueshan looks to win the race again!

That race is followed by the Champion Sprint Stakes, where horse racing legend Frankie Dettori looks to sign off his career (well… he’s been threatening to retire) at Ascot with a win while riding Kinross. This horse has shown ability to win on the flat British courses, having emerged victorious in nine of 20 races.

Located in Belmont Park in New York, the Hill Prince Stakes race has a rich history, especially for a Grade II race, dating back to 1975. It’s always worth checking out if Irad Ortiz Jr. is racing, as the Puerto Rican jockey has won this race three times before. If he wins it again, he will level the record of four wins. He is reported to have won over 3,000 horse races, having dominated the North American events for many years.

Caulfield Racecourse in Melbourne, Australia, is one of the country’s best-known and well-regarded tracks. While there’s a host of races taking place on the day, it’s The Thousand Guineas (also known as Caulfield Thousand), which everyone gets excited about. The three-year-old filly, Alectrona, is one to watch. She won her last race and has been in good form all year.

Located on the western edge of Paris, Auteuil Hippodrome is, for many racing enthusiasts, the pinnacle of French horse racing. This Saturday is a showcase of fine horses with eight spectacular contests set to take place, but none more rewarding than the seventh, Prix Sytaj. La Manigance is one to watch here, having already won a race on this track earlier in the year and often still placing in the top three or four of every event it enters.

The jewel of Japanese horse racing is considered by many to be the Grade I flat race, the Mile Championship. The race is contested across 1600m at Kyoto Racecourse and has a massive purse of 388,800,000 yen or about 4,040,020 Australian dollars. Christophe Lemaire has made Japan his home, having enjoyed lots of success on the tracks in the land of the rising sun. He won the 2020 and 2021 races with Gran Alegria. Could he do it again in 2023?

Another horse race over in Asia attracting attention is the BOCHK Jockey Club Cup. This is part of the wider BOCHK Race Day held at Sha Tin Racecourse, where three events take place. While the Private Wealth Jockey Club Mile and the Private Bank Jockey Club Sprint might have some appealing selections, it’s the Jockey Club Cup that features Romantic Warrior. This Irish horse has been terrific for the last few years, winning multiple races, including a race back in late October at Moonee Valley.