72 articles
Group races
Group races are Thoroughbred horse races ranked Group 1, 2, or 3 within the European Pattern race system created in 1971, distinguishing them from Listed races and from the parallel North American Graded stakes system.
Hong Kong Cup
Hong Kong Cup: Group 1, 2000m turf race for 3yo+ at Sha Tin each December, richest race in Hong Kong at HK$40 million and flagship of the Hong Kong International Races. Romantic Warrior won it four times (2022-2025).
Hong Kong Derby
The Hong Kong Derby is the most prestigious local horse race in Hong Kong, run over 2000 meters at Sha Tin Racecourse by four-year-old Thoroughbreds since 1873.
Indian Derby
Indian Derby: India's premier Grade 1 horse race, first run 30 January 1943, run over 2400 m at Mahalaxmi Racecourse, Mumbai, on the first Sunday of February; 2026 winner Fynbos.
Irish 2,000 Guineas
Irish 2,000 Guineas (Tattersalls Irish 2,000 Guineas): Group 1 flat race over one mile at the Curragh, Ireland, for three-year-old colts and fillies, run each May after the Newmarket 2,000 Guineas; Aidan O'Brien leads trainers with 8 wins since 1990.
Irish Champion Stakes
Irish Champion Stakes, also run as Joe McGrath Memorial Stakes, a Group 1 flat race over 2000m each September at Leopardstown, Dublin; headline race of the Irish Champions Festival and an Arc trial, first run 1976.
Irish Derby
Irish Derby (Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby): Ireland's oldest classic, a Group 1 for three-year-olds over 2,400 m at the Curragh, founded 1866, run four weeks after Epsom; 2026 winner Benvenuto Cellini.
Irish Grand National
Irish Grand National: 3m5f handicap steeplechase run on Easter Monday at Fairyhouse, Co Meath, first run 1870 (winner Sir Robert Peel). Records: Tom Dreaper 10 wins, Pat Taaffe 6, Brown Lad 3; Arkle 1964; Freewheelin Dylan 150-1 in 2021.
Iroquois Steeplechase
The Iroquois Steeplechase is an annual steeplechase horse race meeting held on the second Saturday in May at Percy Warner Park in Nashville, first run in 1941.
Japan Cup
Japan Cup (ジャパンカップ), Japan's premier G1 international invitational horse race, 2,400 m turf, weight for age, at Tokyo Racecourse each late November. First run 1981; 2023 IFHA world top-rated race; 2025 winner Calandagan in record 2:20.3.
Kentucky Derby
Kentucky Derby, the "Run for the Roses": Grade I stakes for three-year-old Thoroughbreds at 1 1/4 miles, first Saturday in May at Churchill Downs, Louisville. Run since 1875; first winner Aristides; first jewel of the Triple Crown.
Kentucky Oaks
Kentucky Oaks (Longines Kentucky Oaks), Grade I 1 1/8-mile race for 3-year-old fillies at Churchill Downs, first run May 19, 1875, day before the Derby; $1.5 million purse, Road to the Oaks points system, lilies garland, pink Oaks Day, primetime NBC since 2026.
King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes
The King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes is a Group 1 horse race run over a mile and four furlongs at Ascot in July, first run in 1951.
King George VI Chase
King George VI Chase, a Grade 1 three-mile steeplechase at Kempton Park run on Boxing Day since 1937; Kauto Star won it a record five times, Desert Orchid four; second leg of jumps Triple Crown before the Cheltenham Gold Cup.
King's Plate
King's Plate, formerly Queen's Plate, Canada's most prestigious thoroughbred horse race and North America's oldest continuously run race, first run June 27, 1860 at Toronto with Queen Victoria's 50-guinea prize; 1 1/4 miles for Canadian-bred 3-year-olds at Woodbine, first leg of the Canadian Triple Crown.
List of winners of Japanese Thoroughbred Triple Crown races
Japanese Thoroughbred Triple Crown races: Satsuki Sho, Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby), Kikuka Sho, plus the fillies' Triple Tiara (Oka Sho, Yushun Himba, Shuka Sho). Winners include Deep Impact, Orfevre, Contrail, and seven Tiara winners led by Mejiro Ramonu.
Maryland Hunt Cup
Maryland Hunt Cup: annual four-mile timber steeplechase over 22 solid fences in Worthington Valley, Maryland, run since 1894 for amateur riders; $100,000 purse, course record 8:15 (Vintage Vinnie, 2022), called America's toughest timber race.
Melbourne Cup
Melbourne Cup, 'the race that stops a nation', Australian Group 1 3200m Thoroughbred handicap at Flemington, first Tuesday of November, first run 1861, $10 million, won 2025 by Half Yours.
Nakayama Grand Jump (中山グランジャンプ)
Nakayama Grand Jump (中山グランドジャンプ), a J-G1 steeplechase each April at Nakayama Racecourse over 4,260 m turf; founded 1999 from the 1934 Nakayama Daishogai; Oju Chosan won six times, Ecoro Duel the 2025-2026 champion.
National Hunt flat race
National Hunt flat race (bumper): a British/Irish Jump-rules race with no obstacles for unraced, late-maturing jump-bred horses aged seven or younger; limited to three runs, a bridge to hurdling or chasing.
National Hunt racing
National Hunt racing, or jumps racing, is British and Irish Thoroughbred racing over hurdles and steeplechase fences, plus flat bumpers; originated in Ireland (1752 Buttevant-Doneraile), culminating in the Cheltenham Festival and Grand National.
New Zealand Derby
New Zealand Derby, also the Great Northern Derby and Trackside NZ Derby: Group 1 thoroughbred race for three-year-olds over 2400 m at Ellerslie, Auckland. First run 1875; moved from Riccarton in 1973; 2026 winner Road To Paris.
Palio di Siena
Palio di Siena (Il Palio), bareback horse race run twice yearly, 2 July and 16 August, in Siena's Piazza del Campo by 10 of 17 contrade over three laps; 2026 winners Aquila and Nicchio, both ridden by Tittia.
Point-to-point (steeplechase)
Point-to-point (pointing) is amateur steeplechase racing over fences for hunting horses and amateur riders, run November–June on temporary countryside courses in Britain and Ireland; rooted in the 1752 Buttevant–Doneraile steeple-to-steeple race.
Preakness Stakes
The Preakness Stakes, also called the Run for the Black-Eyed Susans, is an American thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, first run in 1873.
Prince of Wales Stakes
The Prince of Wales Stakes is a Canadian Thoroughbred race for three-year-olds foaled in Canada, run on dirt at Fort Erie Race Track in Ontario.
Prix de Diane
Prix de Diane (Prix de Diane Longines), French Group 1 flat race for 3-year-old fillies over 2,100 m at Chantilly, created 1843 as the French Oaks; €1,000,000 purse, record 2'03"77 (Trêve, 2013), 2026 winner Diamond Necklace.
Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe
Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe: Group 1 flat horse race over 2,400 m at ParisLongchamp, first run 1920, first Sunday of October, €5m purse, Europe's championship race.
Prix La Haye Jousselin
Prix La Haye Jousselin, French Group 1 steeple-chase at Auteuil, Paris, 5,500 m for 5-year-olds and up, run each November. Founded 1880 as Prix de la Croix de Berny; Al Capone II won it seven times, 1993–1999.
St Leger Stakes
St Leger Stakes, Britain's oldest Classic horse race, first run 24 September 1776 at Doncaster; Group 1 over 1m6f115y for three-year-old colts and fillies, final leg of the British Triple Crown, last won by Nijinsky in 1970.