The St Leger is the oldest classic in horse racing dating back to 1776, and it invariably is won by a horse that has contested some of the best races as a three year old.

The distance of one mile six furlongs makes it the longest classic of the five that are run each year. A Classic is a race that is confined to three year old horses; three are open to both colts and fillies while two others are specifically for fillies only.

Glorious Goodwood is one of the major horse racing events of the season and takes place in the last week of July.

Goodwood racecourse is within the Duke of Richmond’s family grounds and horse racing has taken place at the venue since 1802. Goodwood’s moniker of Glorious is well deserved as the weather is usually very good and racing is played out within one of the most beautiful settings anywhere in the World, with the picturesque South Downs as a stunning backdrop.

The Irish are renowned for many things from Guinness to Blarney, but as the final countdown to one of the highlights of the racing calendar approaches, so the level of Dubai duty free Irish Cup betting surges.

“It’s a day similar to many others in the racing calendar,” says one Irish writer. “Just about everyone knows the race history and so all and sundry post a Dubai duty free Irish Cup bet!”

The Darley July Cup, run over six furlongs at Newmarket, is one of the highlights of the historic three-day July meeting, held at the headquarters of British flat racing. Inevitably, the scale of Darley July Cup betting increases enormously during the lead-up to the event.