Horse racing now has a global appeal. There are races run from all different continents and it has just widened the knowledge and opportunity for punters across the world.
However, that doesn’t mean that they are all the same.
As with anything, in each country there are different styles, different tracks and a different approach to racing.
Here we will look at how racing in Latin America compares to that in the UK.
How it differs
The circumstances surrounding racing in Latin America and the UK are worlds apart. Photo (c) Turismo Buenos Aires 2016
South American racing will be fairly new to fans across the word, but it has steadily grown in popularity over the years.
So much so, that since 2011, races from South America have been broadcast to punters across the UK and given them the chance to wager on them.
Another cultural difference is the number of races.
The track at the Hipodromo de Chile is also a dirt-track, and the heat and conditions would obviously affect the runners, something that wouldn’t ever be a problem in the UK, where races are run on different types of ground. Photo (c)
At the Hipodromo in Chile, fans will get to see up to 20 races a day, and that is one of the major tracks in the country.
In the UK, the major festivals will give you around eight races a day, and you can act now and bet here for all of the horse racing betting you could want!
The track at the Hipodromo is also a dirt-track, and the heat and conditions would obviously affect the runners, something that wouldn’t ever be a problem in the UK, where races are run on different types of ground.
Prize funds
There’s also a big difference in the prize funds up on offer for races in South America and the UK. Photo (c) Barrio de Palermo 2016
As with most sports, the more money that is available, the better the sport can be.
Whether that is improving facilities, attracting sponsorship or bringing the biggest names to the track, money can help.
There’s also a big difference in the prize funds up on offer for races in South America and the UK.
In Chile the main races can fetch around $15,000, and although the money will have increased since then, it is still about selling your horses on to American or European owners for most South American owners.
The quality and investment will only continue to grow – which is great for the sport. Photo (c) Independent UK 2016
If you contrast that to the UK, the winner of the Grand National will fetch over £500,000 with a prize pot of over £1m for all involved.
Interestingly, that is the only English based race to make the top 10 lucrative races, and inevitably, none come from Latin America.
That goes to show, that whilst the principle is the same, and the excitement and thrill for the fans is the same, the circumstances surrounding racing in Latin America and the UK are worlds apart.
However, as we get greater access from racing across the world, the quality and investment will only continue to grow – which is great for the sport.
