<p>There are racecourses where you show up to watch horses run, place your bets, and head home. Functional venues with decent facilities and nothing particularly memorable about the surroundings.</p> <p>Then there are racecourses that make you forget about the racing entirely for a moment because you're too busy staring at snow-capped mountains, frozen lakes, or coastlines that look ripped from luxury travel magazines.</p> <p>Places where the architecture alone is worth the entry price and the backdrop creates Instagram content that makes your mates genuinely jealous and make you even forget to look at <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/racing-schedule">horse racing odds</a> for a moment.</p> <p>These venues transcend sport. They're destinations in their own right, as they combine world-class racing with settings and structures that architects study and travel magazines feature regularly.</p> <p>The kind of places racing fans add to bucket lists and non-racing fans visit anyway because the venue itself is that spectacular. Unsurprisingly, of course, they are often the venues that host <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/huddle/horse-racing/news/biggest-horse-racing-events-attendance">the largest horse races in the world</a>.</p> <p>Some offer modern architectural statements that cost hundreds of millions to build. Others feature centuries-old structures with more history than many museums. A few sit in locations so unique that racing there feels surreal, like watching thoroughbreds gallop across a frozen Alpine lake or sprint along beaches with ocean views.</p> <p>In this guide, we're covering <strong>the most beautiful racecourses worldwide</strong>, ranked not by prize money or attendance figures but by pure visual impact and travel appeal. The venues that deserve spots on any racing enthusiast's bucket list.</p> <h2>Architectural Masterpieces</h2> <p>These racecourses spent serious money creating structures that look like they belong in architecture journals rather than sporting venues. Modern marvels built to impress as much as to host racing.</p> <h3>Meydan Racecourse (Dubai, UAE)</h3> <p><a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/horse-racing/international/meydan">Meydan</a> is a statement about what happens when oil money meets architectural ambition with essentially unlimited budgets.</p> <p>The main grandstand stretches over one mile in length, making it the longest man-made structure of its kind anywhere; the building is literally a mile long, with a roof that resembles a breaking wave frozen in steel and glass.</p> <p>Built in 2010 at<strong> a cost exceeding $1 billion</strong>, Meydan replaced the older Nad Al Sheba Racecourse with a venue that looks more like a luxury hotel than a racetrack. The facility includes a five-star hotel, restaurants, a rooftop terrace with 360-degree views, and a racing museum, all integrated into the grandstand structure.</p> <p>The track itself features both dirt and turf courses totalling 2.6km around, with floodlights that make night racing feel like a concert event. Racing under lights with Dubai's skyline glowing in the background creates visuals that cameras struggle to capture properly.</p> <p>Capacity sits around 60,000 when full, but Meydan never feels crowded due to the impressive size of the facility. The hospitality areas alone could host entire race meetings at smaller tracks.</p> <p>The Dubai World Cup meeting in late March (which also happens to be one of <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/huddle/horse-racing/news/richest-horse-races-in-world-2025">the richest horse races in the world</a>) showcases Meydan at its finest, with $30 million in prize money attracting international horses and the venue dressed up with additional decorations and entertainment. But honestly, Meydan looks spectacular on any race night.</p> <p>Getting there is very easy from Dubai International Airport (about 20 minutes), and the surrounding Meydan development includes hotels, restaurants, and entertainment venues that make it a proper destination rather than just a racetrack.</p> <h3>Longchamp Racecourse (Paris, France)</h3> <p><a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/horse-racing/australia-nz/Longchamp">Longchamp</a> sits in the Bois de Boulogne on Paris's western edge, meaning you can visit one of France's finest racecourses while staying in one of the world's greatest cities. The combination of accessibility and prestige makes it an unbeatable destination for European racing trips.</p> <p>The venue underwent a £145 million renovation completed in 2018, which resulted in a modern grandstand that somehow respects the track's 1857 origins while adding contemporary facilities.</p> <p>The new structure features clean lines, massive glass panels, and rooftop terraces that overlook the course and surrounding parkland.</p> <p>The course features several interlaced tracks ranging from 1,000 to 4,000 metres, with 46 different starting posts allowing races to use the famous hill or avoid it depending on distance and conditions.</p> <p>That hill (La Cote des Tribunes) creates the defining visual element of Longchamp racing: horses climb gradually through the backstretch before descending toward the home straight, with the elevation changes testing stamina and creating dramatic racing that flat tracks can't replicate.</p> <p>The <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/huddle/horse-racing/tips/prix-arc-de-triomphe-2025-betting-guide">Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe</a> on the first Sunday of October represents European racing's championship day, with €5 million in prize money and crowds exceeding 50,000. But Longchamp hosts quality racing throughout the season, and visiting during quieter meetings allows you to appreciate the venue without fighting crowds.</p> <p>Paris itself is 15 minutes from Longchamp by metro, meaning you can watch morning trackwork, head into the city for lunch, return for afternoon racing, and finish with dinner in Saint-Germain-des-Prés. It would be a challenge to find any other racecourses able to offer that level of cultural accessibility.</p> <h3>Tokyo Racecourse (Tokyo, Japan)</h3> <p><a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/horse-racing/asia-racing/tokyo">Tokyo Racecourse</a> in Fuchu handles crowds exceeding 100,000 for major races, which makes it one of the world's largest racing venues by capacity. The numbers are staggering: a grandstand that holds 13,750 people with additional viewing areas accommodating tens of thousands more.</p> <p>The facility features JumboTron screens larger than many sports stadiums, multiple restaurants and food courts, kids' playgrounds, and manicured gardens that create a parklike atmosphere despite the urban location. Japanese attention to detail shows in every element, from immaculate turf to spotless facilities.</p> <p>The course itself measures 2,083 metres around (about 1.3 miles) for the main oval, with separate turf and dirt tracks that host both flat racing and occasional jump races. Banking in the turns allows horses to maintain speed, creating some of the fastest racing globally.</p> <p>Major races like the <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/horse-racing/futures-international/japan-cup">Japan Cup</a> in November and Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) in May draw massive crowds and serious prize money. The Japan Cup offers ¥640 million (approximately $5.9 million), attracting international horses despite the long journey to Tokyo.</p> <p>Getting there requires being able to ‘survive’ Tokyo's extensive train system, but English signage makes the journey manageable even for first-time visitors. The racecourse sits about 30 minutes from central Tokyo, accessible via the Keio Line.</p> <h2>Historic Venues with Character</h2> <p>Some racecourses have been hosting racing for over a century, accumulating history and atmosphere that new construction simply cannot replicate. These tracks feel lived-in, with stories embedded in every grandstand seat.</p> <h3>Churchill Downs (Louisville, Kentucky, USA)</h3> <p><a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/horse-racing/international/churchill-downs">Churchill Downs</a>' twin spires define American horse racing iconography more than any other architectural element. Those white spires, added in 1895, appear in Kentucky Derby coverage so consistently that they've become synonymous with the race itself.</p> <p>The grandstand combines historic elements with modern renovations, creating a venue that respects tradition while accommodating 150,000-plus on Derby day. The paddock area, where horses walk before races, sits beneath ancient oak trees that provide shade older than most American cities.</p> <p>But, to be completely honest about it - Churchill Downs is not actually that beautiful outside of Derby week.</p> <p>The grandstand architecture is distinctive rather than gorgeous, and the surrounding Louisville neighbourhoods are working-class residential areas, not upscale suburbs.</p> <p>What Churchill Downs offers, however, is an incredible combination of atmosphere and history. The venue has hosted the Kentucky Derby since 1875, making it one of American sports' oldest continuously used facilities - and walking through the grandstand corridors truly feels like moving through 150 years of racing history.</p> <p>The Kentucky Derby Museum sits adjacent to the track, offering tours year-round that include the winner's circle, paddock areas, and even trackside boxes when racing isn't scheduled. These tours provide access that Derby day crowds could never experience.</p> <p>Louisville itself has developed into a proper destination beyond racing, with bourbon distillery tours, restaurants, and Muhammad Ali's hometown attractions drawing visitors independently of Churchill Downs.</p> <h3>Royal Ascot (Berkshire, England)</h3> <p><a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/horse-racing/international/royal-ascot">Royal Ascot</a> combines racing with royal pageantry in ways that feel uniquely British. The venue sits just 6 miles from Windsor Castle, close enough that the royal family arrives daily via horse-drawn carriage procession down the course's straight mile.</p> <p>(Yes, they really do that)</p> <p>The grandstand architecture won't win design awards, but the setting in Berkshire countryside and the rigid dress codes create something that is possibly even more impressive than the buildings themselves.</p> <p>Morning coats and top hats for men, formal day wear and mandatory hats for women in the Royal Enclosure create scenes that look transported from the 1920s.</p> <p>The track features a straight mile course that's relatively rare in British racing, which allows sprinters to run the entire distance without turning. This creates dramatic racing where horses hit top speed and maintain it through the finish, with no corners to navigate.</p> <p>Royal Ascot's five-day meeting in mid-June represents Britain's top social and racing event, attracting around 300,000 across the week. Prize money exceeds £10 million, with 18 Group races including eight Group 1s drawing the finest horses from Europe and beyond.</p> <p>Join the event, and you’ll find plenty of champagne on the lawn between races, picnics in the carpark, fashion competitions where hats cost more than cars, and betting that ranges from serious punting to complete guesswork from casual attendees.</p> <p>Getting there requires roughly an hour from central London by train, which means Ascot is easily accessible for visitors basing themselves in the capital..</p> <h3>Chantilly Racecourse (Chantilly, France)</h3> <p><a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/horse-racing/international/chantilly-">Chantilly</a> sits 50km north of Paris in grounds adjacent to the Château de Chantilly, a Renaissance castle that rivals Versailles for architectural significance.</p> <p>The racecourse itself features a grandstand built in 1881 and listed as a historical monument, creating a venue where the buildings matter as much as the racing.</p> <p>The facility includes the Grandes Écuries (Great Stables), designed by architect Jean Aubert and stretching 186 metres in length. These stables are absolutely remarkable and&nbsp; feature sculpted keystones, bas-reliefs, pilasters, and horse statues that make modern racing facilities look utilitarian by comparison.</p> <p>The track itself runs through parkland and forest owned by the Institut de France, with trees lining the course and the château visible from various vantage points. Racing at Chantilly feels pastoral in ways that urban tracks cannot match.</p> <p>The Prix du Jockey Club (French Derby) in early June represents Chantilly's biggest race day, attracting France's finest three-year-olds and crowds exceeding 40,000. But the venue hosts racing throughout the season, with smaller meets offering opportunities to appreciate the setting without fighting Derby-day crowds.</p> <p>Chantilly itself functions as a proper equestrian centre with training facilities that have produced countless champions.</p> <h2>Nature's Backdrops</h2> <p>Some racecourses didn't need expensive architects because they simply chose locations so naturally beautiful that the surroundings do all the heavy lifting. These venues prove that sometimes the best design decision is…to simply get out of nature's way.</p> <h3>Goodwood Racecourse (West Sussex, England)</h3> <p><a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/horse-racing/international/goodwood">Goodwood</a> sits atop the South Downs in West Sussex, creating elevation and views that make it perhaps Britain's most scenic racing venue. The grandstand overlooks rolling Sussex countryside, with the English Channel visible on clear days about 5 miles south.</p> <p>The track runs along the hilltop, meaning horses race with panoramic views on both sides. The downhill home straight creates fast finishes and dramatic racing as horses accelerate toward the line with gravity assisting.</p> <p>Goodwood's five-day "Glorious Goodwood" meeting in late July represents British summer racing at its finest: the combination of quality racing, perfect timing (hopefully catching British summer weather at its peak), and spectacular settings draws crowds around 100,000 across the five days.</p> <p>However, getting to Goodwood requires effort. The nearest major city is Brighton (20 miles southeast), with London sitting about 60 miles northeast. This relative remoteness keeps crowds manageable and creates an atmosphere that feels exclusive without being pretentious.</p> <p>The estate surrounding the racecourse includes Goodwood House (the Earl of March's residence), a motor circuit that hosts the famous Festival of Speed, and an airfield. The entire property spans thousands of acres, with the racecourse occupying a relatively small hilltop portion.</p> <h3>Del Mar Racetrack (San Diego, California, USA)</h3> <p><a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/horse-racing/international/del-mar">Del Mar</a> sits literally on the Pacific Ocean coastline in Southern California, with grandstand views that include crashing waves and sunset racing that looks like it was designed by Instagram's algorithm or a very clever AI model.</p> <p>The track's motto "Where the Turf Meets the Surf" isn't marketing hyperbole, since this is the place where you can actually watch horses run while ocean breezes carry salt air across the facility and surfers ride waves visible just beyond the track's western edge.</p> <p>The summer meet runs from mid-July through early September, perfectly timed to capture Southern California's beach season at its peak. Racing typically starts in the afternoon and extends into evening, allowing sunset finishes that create lighting conditions photographers dream about.</p> <p>Del Mar's architecture is California casual, with open-air facilities that don't require air conditioning even in peak summer. The paddock area includes palm trees and coastal landscaping that reinforce the beach atmosphere.</p> <p>To get there you would need to arrive to San Diego (20 miles south) or Los Angeles (100 miles north), with the racetrack accessible via the Pacific Coast Highway that runs along California's coastline.&nbsp;</p> <h3>Saratoga Race Course (Saratoga Springs, New York, USA)</h3> <p><a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/horse-racing/australia-nz/saratoga">Saratoga</a>'s setting in upstate New York's Adirondack foothills creates a different type of natural beauty than oceanfront or mountain venues. The track sits surrounded by trees, with the grandstand facing east toward morning light that creates stunning conditions for dawn trackwork.</p> <p>The venue claims to be America's oldest operating racetrack (opened 1863), giving it history that Churchill Downs can't quite match.</p> <p>Saratoga's six-week summer meet from mid-July through Labour Day weekend represents American racing's premier summer destination. The combination of quality racing, perfect timing (escaping New York City summer heat), and small-town atmosphere draws crowds that include serious racing fans and summer vacationers.</p> <p>The surrounding Saratoga Springs offers natural mineral springs, Victorian architecture, and a downtown area filled with restaurants, bars, and shops that cater to racing crowds. The town essentially exists because of the racetrack, and this means there is almost a symbiotic relationship that's rare in modern racing.</p> <h2>The Truly Unique</h2> <p>Some racecourses operate in conditions so unusual that describing them to non-racing fans requires convincing them you're not joking. That, for example, is the case of the incredible White Turf in St Moritz.&nbsp;</p> <h3>White Turf St Moritz (St Moritz, Switzerland)</h3> <p>St Moritz hosts horse racing on a frozen lake.&nbsp;</p> <p>Yes, you read that correctly.</p> <p>Every February, organisers create a temporary racetrack on the ice-covered Lake St Moritz in the Swiss Alps, with thoroughbreds racing on snow while surrounded by mountain peaks.</p> <p>The White Turf festival runs over three Sundays in February and draws around 30,000 spectators who watch horses sprint and trot (yes, harness racing too) across a surface that would terrify most trainers.</p> <p>Special horseshoes with ice cleats prevent slipping, but the spectacle of seeing thoroughbreds at full gallop on frozen water remains surreal.</p> <p>The backdrop, of course, is Alpine perfection. Snow-covered mountains surround the lake, with St Moritz's luxury hotels lining the southern shore. And that’s not all - since the racing happens at around 1,800 metres elevation, there’s an issue of thin air that affects both horses and spectators unaccustomed to altitude.</p> <p>Sure, this isn't serious championship racing and it does not compare to other prestigious events like the Melbourne Cup, the Everest, or the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.</p> <p>Prize money is modest and most runners come from Switzerland and neighbouring European countries. But the event itself is unlike anything else in global racing, combining sport with Alpine luxury in ways that create bucket-list appeal regardless of racing knowledge.</p> <p>Before you book your tickets to Europe, keep in mind that getting to St Moritz requires effort and money. The resort town is proper luxury territory, with hotel prices reflecting its status as a playground for the seriously wealthy. But for racing fans wanting something genuinely unique, White Turf delivers experiences that no traditional venue can match.</p>