With the Glorious Goodwood festival underway once again this week, 38 races will take place at the legendary racecourse, set in the beautiful Sussex countryside. But magnificent horse racing venues are not a uniquely British phenomenon. Here James Moore looks at the breathtaking venue and five other similarly stunning courses around the world.
Glorious Goodwood
Over 100,000 punters will flock to the Qatar Goodwood Festival. The stylish spectacle was established back in 1802 and became a favourite with royalty. It was even described by Edward VII as “a garden party with racing tacked on” and attracts celeb racegoers like Bond girl Naomie Harris. There’s plenty of action on the track too though. Last year Qirat won the Sussex Stakes at odds of 150/1.
Meydan, Dubai
You might not expect to find a top piece of turf in the desert, but this incredible course in the Middle East boasts a grandstand which is a mile long and accommodates 60,000 racegoers. Its futuristic look meant it was a setting for the movie Star Trek Beyond. There’s even a rooftop infinity pool. Opened in 2010, Meydan is the venue for one of the richest horse races in the world, the Grade 1 Dubai World Cup, with prize money of £23million.
Chantilly, France
The flat racing course, just north of Paris, has a magnificent 19th-century grandstand and the historic Chateau de Chantilly as its backdrop. The pile featured in the Bond movie A View to a Kill. Races have been held here since 1834 and the course now hosts the Prix du Jockey Club, one of French racing’s five classic races.
Happy Valley, Hong Kong
Established on former swampland in 1845 when Hong Kong was run by the British, the course is now surrounded by the skyscrapers of the modern city. It features seven storey stands with a capacity for 55,000 punters. Races are usually held on Wednesday nights and Michael Palin famously visited it for his TV show Around the World in 80 Days.
Santa Anita Park, California, US
Set beneath the dramatic San Gabriel Mountains, the course dates to the 1930s and has an Art Deco grandstand along with grounds studded with palm trees, giving it a movie set vibe that reflects its proximity to Hollywood. It was here that the famous racehorse Seabiscuit bowed out in 1940, winning the Santa Anita Handicap in record time.
Hipodromo da Gavea, Rio, Brazil
The course is definitely one of the most picturesque on the planet, located beneath the Corcovado Mountain where the famous statue of Christ the Redeemer, with its arms outstretched, looms over the city. Built back in 1926, the course is also a stone's throw from the glamorous Copacabana beach. It hosts the nation’s top horse race the Grande Premio Brasil.
