RacingBetter News
	Thursday 19th February 2026

The Grand Slam of English Horse Racing: 3 Famous and Unmissable UK Races

Horse races are not just sport and competition, in the United Kingdom, they are part of the social fabric and the culture of the islands. There are meetings and trials all year round but three races are considered to be unmissable, like the FA Cup final in football or a match played by the rugby National Team. During the winter we have the Cheltenham Festival and the Aintree Grand National meeting, where racers face hurdles and fences; then, during the summer, we move to Epsom and Ascot, where speed and glamour take center stage.

The allure of horse racing and its cultural value for English people is undeniable, with racetracks still attracting numerous enthusiasts to their stands today, thanks to their history and charm. If you're one of them and want to know predictions and odds for the main English horse racing events, such as the Cheltenham Festival, you can consult a comparison site like oddschecker, which offers bonuses and odds for the main horse racing events in the UK.

 Let’s check out the three races and see why they are so relevant in the horse racing landscape.

The Grand National

Aintree is the world’s greatest steeplechase and this could be enough said but the Grand National festival managed to become a lot more over the years. It has become an experience of great proportions, an event where stories may turn to legends and unforgettable moments are etched into an immortal history. As the claims go, the Grand National is horse racing with a difference, a national institution that draws a global audience eager to witness the excitement of high-stakes racing and the joyous camaraderie of the fans.

The festival goes on for three days, each of them offers a unique blend of top-tier entertainment, exhilarating sport and social festivities. As is the case for the other events we are about to describe, it is much more than horse racing. The track in Aintree is quite difficult, because of its record length of almost 4 miles and the presence of a lot of hurdles. Here, also an outsider can win and it has already happened several times in the past.

The Epsom Derby

In Epsom everyone looks to sit near to the world renowned Tattenham Corner, the turn where glory is given, which opens the way to the descent to the finish line and is usually the place where the best overtakes happen. This is the reason why people call Epsom “The Thrill of the Hill.” This race opens the summer racing season and does it with colours and flowers. Patrons here gasp in awe under the towers and get lost in the racing buzz. Three-year-olds thoroughbred make history in Epsom, where thoroughbred sprinting was born, and scouts can find the champions of the future here, where destiny calls and glory beckons, as the organizers say. 

Epsom is truly the place to be if you like a good trial of speed among young horses. But, if you prefer to bathe in glamour and style, you should visit another racetrack.

Royal Ascot

Calling Ascot just a race would be a big mistake. This is a stage where people show their fashion style, their eccentricity and their love for the English status quo. Royal Ascot presents five days of world-class racing, style, pageantry and everything you may expect for a top-tier horse racing competition. In Ascot the organizers pride themselves for their exquisite hospitality, the boldest millinery and, obviously, their top of the notch competition among the finest thoroughbreds.