Who are the Favorites to Win Horse Racing’s Biggest Races in 2025?

Horse racing is currently well and truly in the public eye, courtesy of the recently
concluded Cheltenham Festival and April 5th Grand National. The former took the world
by storm thanks to the sheer number of upsets on display, with huge favorites such as
Constitution Hill and Galopin Des Champs suffering shocking upsets on the grandest
stage. Meanwhile, the Aintree showdown demands respect thanks to its mighty field of
horses and grueling 33 fences that the planet’s finest must navigate if they wish to be
crowned champion.

But it isn’t just British-hosted showdowns that capture global appeal. In fact, no UK-
hosted race features in the top ten most lucrative in the world. So, with that being said,
there must be plenty out there to sink our teeth into throughout the rest of the year,
right?

Correct. Let’s take a look at the favorites to win some of the biggest races in the world
throughout 2025.

Kentucky Derby

There’s no stage bigger in American horse racing than the Kentucky Derby. Every May,
the Churchill Downs showdown gets put under the spotlight on sports shows and
podcasts all over the Land of the Free. Back in 2023, the popular Blinkers Off podcast
previewed that year’s showdown, listing eventual winner Mage as one of the
contenders, and he duly delivered at 15/1. But who is best positioned to claim the crown
in 2025?

Just over a month out from the iconic Run for the Roses, online sports betting sites feel
that all signs point to Journalism as the colt with the tools to write his own destiny. The
latest sports betting online at Bovada odds currently makes him the 7/1 frontrunner for
glory, pricing which suggests he is built for the drama of Derby Day.

Journalism is the very definition of a dual-threat colt, capable of burning up the front of
the pack or launching a jaw-dropping move from deep when it counts. That versatility
makes him not just a contender but potentially unstoppable. But here’s the twist. The
Derby is anything but predictable.

The 19 other runners don’t roll over for anyone, and this race’s history has been defined
by upsets from overlooked outsiders. It was only three years ago when the 80/1 Rich
Strike made his late charge from the back of the field to become the biggest underdog
ever to win the Kentucky showdown. Can Journalism handle the white-hot spotlight this
year, or will the grind of that 1 ¼-mile test tell a different story?

Dubai World Cup

While The Derby is all about prestige and legacy, the luxury of the Dubai World Cup is
about cash… and it’s the one race on the calendar that every owner wants to win. And
the horse everyone’s trying to take down? Meet Forever Young, the odds-on favorite at
8/11.

Forever Young has been an absolute freight train in recent outings, running away from
his competition like they’re stuck in slow motion. As his razor-thin odds might suggest,
the bookies aren’t questioning whether he can win, but whether anyone can keep up.
His performance in the Pegasus World Cup earlier this year was a statement. Now, he’s
set to prove he can own the lights, the pressure, and the most valuable dirt on the
planet in Meydan.

Dubai’s unique course can be tricky, and that could open the door to an upset. But the
favorite justifiably has his tag, and he is now expected to deliver the knockout punch
that leaves the field eating dust.

Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe

Across the Atlantic, ParisLongchamp is hosting the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, Europe’s
ultimate battlefield for middle-distance titans. It’s all about stamina, timing, and class,
and in 2025, the spotlight is circling 16/1 Bluestocking, who is looking to crash the party.
While her odds might seem lengthy, she remains the favorite, but much of that is down
to the fact that runners could be chopped and changed numerous times over between
now and the October 5th date with destiny.

Don’t write her off just because of her lofty odds seven months out from the showdown.
Bluestocking knows how to pick her moment. She bides her time in mid-pack, studies
the field, and then unleashes a closing kick that can turn the Arc into her own 100-meter
dash.

The storylines here write themselves. Bluestocking’s trainer has compared her to
legendary finishers like Enable, and her growing poise makes the whispers of her
breakout all the louder. The Arc doesn’t roll out a red carpet for outsiders—but if
Bluestocking fires on all cylinders, she could pull it off.

Breeders’ Cup Classic

Held at Santa Anita in November, the Breeders’ Cup Classic’s 1 ¼-mile showdown
packs horsepower, style, and plenty of drama. It’s the most lucrative race in all of
Stateside racing, and much like in Dubai, all bets point toward Forever Young as the
one to beat, this time at 11/2.

Forever Young isn’t just fast; he’s versatile. Dirt? Turf? Doesn’t matter. He wins both.
His ability to adapt to changing conditions makes him a nightmare for his opposition.
And if you think he’ll be worn out from any of his exploits earlier in the year, think again.
This stage has Forever Young’s name written all over it.