There are many Group 1 races UK punters can wager on both in Great Britain, Ireland and across European countries such as France. This page contains a full list of such horse racing events from those nations.
As the highest level of competition in Flat horse racing, betting on Group 1 action is naturally popular. The races feature the best thoroughbreds in training over a variety of distances. Some Group 1 events are restricted to horses of a certain age or gender and others open to both sexes.
Geldings cannot run in certain races that are seen as particularly important for the future of the thoroughbred. These include the Classics, which are only for three-year-old colts and/or fillies. As Group 1s are all early closing races for entries, you should fine plenty of ante post betting markets available on them. There are full lists of Group 1 races UK punters can bet on run in Great Britain and Ireland below.
UK Group 1 Races | For | Distance | Where | When |
2000 Guineas | 3yo colts & fillies | 1m | Newmarket | May |
1000 Guineas | 3yo fillies | 1m | Newmarket | May |
Lockinge Stakes | 4yo+ | 1n | Newbury | May |
Coronation Cup | 4yo+ | 1m 4f | Epsom | June |
The Oaks | 3yo fillies | 1m 4f | Epsom | June |
The Derby | 3yo colts & fillies | 1m 4f | Epsom | June |
Queen Anne Stakes | 4yo+ | 1m | Ascot | June |
King’s Stand Stakes | 3yo+ | 5f | Ascot | June |
St James’s Palace Stakes | 3yo colts | 1m | Ascot | June |
Prince Of Wales’s Stakes | 4yo+ | 1m 2f | Ascot | June |
Ascot Gold Cup | 4yo+ | 2m 4f | Ascot | June |
Commonwealth Cup | 3yo colts & fillies | 6f | Ascot | June |
Coronation Stakes | 3yo fillies | 1m | Ascot | June |
Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes | 4yo+ | 6f | Ascot | June |
Coral Eclipse Stakes | 3yo+ | 1m 2f | Sandown | July |
Falmouth Stakes | 3yo+ fillies & mares | 1m | Newmarket | July |
July Cup | 3yo+ | 6f | Newmarket | July |
King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes | 3yo+ | 1m 4f | Ascot | July |
Goodwood Cup | 3yo+ | 2m | Goodwood | July/August |
Sussex Stakes | 3yo+ | 1m | Goodwood | July/August |
Nassau Stakes | 3yo+ fillies & mares | 1m 2f | Goodwood | July/August |
Juddmonte International Stakes | 3yo+ | 1m 2.5f | York | August |
Yorkshire Oaks | 3yo+ fillies & mares | 1m 4f | York | August |
Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes | 2yo+ | 5f | York | August |
Haydock Sprint Cup | 3yo+ | 6f | York | September |
St Leger | 3yo colts & fillies | 1m 6.5f | Doncaster | September |
Cheveley Park Stakes | 2yo fillies | 6f | Newmarket | September |
Middle Park Stakes | 2yo colts | 6f | Newmarket | September |
Sun Chariot Stakes | 3yo+ fillies & mares | 1m | Newmarket | October |
Fillies’ Mile | 2yo fillies | 1m | Newmarket | October |
Dewhurst Stakes | 2yo colts & fillies | 7f | Newmarket | October |
Champions Sprint Stakes | 3yo+ | 6f | Ascot | October |
Champions Fillies And Mares Stakes | 3yo+ fillies & mares | 1m 4f | Ascot | October |
Queen Elizabeth II Stakes | 3yo+ | 1m | Ascot | October |
Champion Stakes | 3yo+ | 1m 2f | Ascot | October |
Futurity Trophy | 2yo colts & fillies | 1m | Doncaster | October |
Irish Group 1 Races | Type of Race | Distance | Where | When |
Irish 2000 Guineas | 3yo colts & fillies | 1m | Curragh | May |
Tattersalls Gold Cup | 4yo+ | 1m 2.5f | Curragh | May |
Irish 1000 Guineas | 3yo fillies | 1m | Curragh | May |
Pretty Polly Stakes | 3yo+ fillies & mares | 1m 2f | Curragh | June / July |
Irish Derby | 3yo colts & fillies | 1m 4f | Curragh | June / July |
Irish Oaks | 3yo fillies | 1m 4f | Curragh | July |
Phoenix Stakes | 2yo colts & fillies | 6f | Curragh | August |
Matron Stakes | 3yo fillies | 1m | Leopardstown | September |
Irish Champion Stakes | 3yo+ | 1m 2f | Leopardstown | September |
Moyglare Stud Stakes | 2yo fillies | 7f | Curragh | September |
Vincent O’Brien National Stakes | 2yo colts & fillies | 7f | Curragh | September |
Flying Five Stakes | 3yo+ | 5f | Curragh | September |
Irish St Leger | 3yo+ | 1m 6f | Curragh | September |
French Group 1 Races | For | Distance | Where | When |
Prix Ganay | 4yo+ | 1m 2.5f | Longchamp | April |
Poule d’Essai des Pouliches | 3yo fillies | 1m | Longchamp | May |
Poule d’Essai des Poulains | 3yo colts | 1m | Longchamp | May |
Prix Saint-Alary | 3yo fillies | 1m 2f | Longchamp | May |
Prix d’Ispahan | 4yo+ | 1m 1.5f | Longchamp | May |
Prix du Jockey Club | 3yo colts & fillies | 1m 2.5f | Chantilly | June |
Prix de Diane | 3yo fillies | 1m 2.5f | Chantilly | June |
Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud | 4yo+ | 1m 4f | Saint-Cloud | June / July |
Prix Jean Prat | 3yo colts & fillies | 7f | Deauville | July |
Grand Prix de Paris | 3yo colts & fillies | 1m 4f | Longchamp | Bastille Day |
Prix Rothschild | 3yo+ fillies & mares | 1m | Deauville | July / August |
Prix Maurice de Gheest | 3yo+ | 6.5f | Deauville | August |
Prix Jacques Les Marois | 3yo+ (no geldings) | 1m | Deauville | August |
Prix Jean Romanet | 3yo+ fillies & mares | 1m 2f | Deauville | August |
Prix Morny | 2yo colts & fillies | 6f | Deauville | August |
Prix du Moulin | 3yo+ | 1m | Longchamp | September |
Prix Vermeille | 3yo+ fillies & mares | 1m 4f | Longchamp | September |
Prix du Cadran | 4yo+ | 2m 4f | Longchamp | September / October |
Prix Royallieu | 3yo+ fillies & mares | 1m 6f | Longchamp | September / October |
Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere | 2yo colts & fillies | 7f | Longchamp | October |
Prix Marcel Boussac | 2yo fillies | 1m | Longchamp | October |
Prix de l’Arc de Trimphe | 3yo+ (no geldings) | 1m 4f | Longchamp | October |
Prix de l’Opera | 3yo+ fillies & mares | 1m 2f | Longchamp | October |
Prix de l’Abbaye | 2yo+ | 5f | Longchamp | October |
Prix de la Foret | 3yo+ | 7f | Longchamp | October |
Criterium de Saint-Cloud | 2yo colts & fillies | 1m 2f | Saint-Cloud | October |
Criterium International | 2yo colts & fillies | 1m | Saint-Cloud | October |
Prix Royal-Oak | 3yo+ | 1m 7.5f | Longchamp | October |
There have been 10 different horses to win multiple Group 1 races in the UK, Ireland and France this year:
The European Pattern isn’t set in stone, so additional Group 1s may be added to the programme in future. Much depends on the official ratings of the horses contesting a race over a set number of years. After also offering record prize money during the 2023 season, York Racecourse hopes their Group 2 City Of York Stakes held during the Ebor Festival will be upgraded in future.
Their argument is that there is no open Group 1 event over 7f in either the UK or Ireland. While the Dewhurst Stakes, Moyglare Stud Stakes and Vincent O’Brien National Stakes are all run at that distance, they are for two-year-olds only. As York have removed penalties from the race conditions, the City Of York Stakes is essentially a Group 1 contest in all but name.
Glorious Goodwood is a five-day meeting with only three Group 1 races on the schedule, meanwhile, so it wouldn’t be a surprise if Goodwood Racecourse held similar ambitions for one of their Group 2s during the gala known for sponsorship reasons as the Qatar Festival. The likes of the 7f Lennox Stakes and 5f King George Qatar Stakes could under future consideration.
While there are many top betting sites out there, some are better than others for taking a punt on Group 1 horse races. Remember, you should be able to wager on these events early if you wish, because of the elite horses involved. That means a market both before and after final declarations.
Our experts’ recommendation here is William Hill because of the speed with which they price up these feature races once the final field is known. You can also enhance the price of one horse every day using Bet Boost. Other top bookies for betting on Group 1 races UK punters use include bet365 and Betfred.
Chances are that runners in Group 1 horse races are ones even casual observers of the sport have heard of. After all, they are the best thoroughbreds around. If you want to know more about how to bet on horses, then our experts have more information across the site. It’s worth a look for anyone looking at Group 1 races UK punters commonly wager on.