Every racing season carries its promise of new stories: rising stars, veteran champions, surprise upstarts, and shifting strategies in how people bet. As the global horse racing market expands, in 2025 it’s estimated at around $127 billion, with predictions it could reach $182 billion over the next five years, the stakes, literally and figuratively, keep growing.

Bettors who like to rely on Frankie's top picks or other experts and jockeys predictions, that means more opportunity but also more competition, more noise, and more need for discipline. The top races will draw not just crowds but also intense betting activity, making odds more volatile, favorites more heavily scrutinized, and value, when you find it, more precious.

The Big Races to Watch

One simple rule that bettors tend to follow religiously is to not bet on every race. Even though the temptation can be great, sometimes it’s better to sit it out and wait for safer or bigger odds. Here are some of the races that draw global attention, big purses, and heavy betting interest.

Kentucky Derby

In the United States, the Kentucky Derby remains one of the crown jewels. For 2025, bettors are already analyzing not just which horse might win, but which combination makes the most sense. The top contenders, based on horse racing sportsbooks, are Grande, Journalism, Sovereignty, and Luxor Cafe. Grande, in particular, is being backed by some as a win bet at relatively long odds.

Grande

Grande is a lightly raced colt with upside, and bettors have been drawn to him because of his improvement curve and connections. In his three starts, he’s recorded two wins and one second, showing that he can contend even under pressure. That second place run not only gave him points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby leaderboard, but also showed he can handle quality competition and step up when it matters the most. Grande runs as a “stalker” style, meaning he likes to sit just behind the early pace and pounce. That has appeal in a big field if the early fractions are hot or if the pace collapses. Because he’s lightly raced, some bettors see value in him: they think the public doesn’t yet fully appreciate how good he’s becoming. That’s why, in the preview, people talk about him as a “win bet at relatively long odds”. He offers upside if things break his way. One drawback: because of his lighter resume, there’s more uncertainty about how he handles the traffic, the pressure, and the distance, especially in a full Derby field. But that also makes him a candidate to pay off for those willing to back him at value.

Journalism

If there’s a “go to” among that group, it’s Journalism. He enters as the consensus favorite, and for good reason. He has a more robust resume, consistency, and metrics that back his claims. Journalism has won four straight going into the Derby, and his connections believe he’s built for the mile and a quarter distance. Because of that, analysts often say he is “the fastest horse in the race”.His pedigree helps his case. He is a son of Curlin, a stallion whose offspring often improve with distance and have stamina. Also, being a third start off a layoff is often seen as an ideal horse that has fresh energy but is sharp. His running style is ideal. He can settle midpack and avoid early speed duels, then produce his turn of foot when it counts. All that combines to make him a favorite in bettors’ minds. Of course, one historical caveat: no favorite had won the Kentucky Derby since Justify in 2018, before this year, so the “favorite curse” is often brought up.

Sovereignty

Going into the race, Sovereignty’s strengths were in his pedigree, adaptability, and racing pattern. He is a Godolphin homebred trained by Bill Mott, which already draws respect from many bettors because of the resources and consistency behind him which puts him at the top of horse racing picks and predictions for the upcoming season. Also, Sovereignty had proven he could close strongly in earlier races. In the Fountain of Youth Stakes, he came from behind to win, and in the Florida Derby he finished second, showing he can handle stiff competition. Bettors found great value in this racing style since Sovereignty ran from off the pace, picking up horses late, which gives an edge in a race where the early pace might be too hot for front runners to sustain. Furthermore, horse racing experts saw that his running style, combined with a balanced blend of speed and stamina, could play well in a full field. Some previews even said he could “cure a lot of bad Derby beats for Godolphin, Mott, and company”, meaning that his win would validate a lot of effort and expectations.

Luxor Café

Luxor Café was perhaps the sleeper among the group, the kind of horse bettors like to “sneak into” their tickets. He doesn’t have the same level of fame as Journalism, but he brings impressive numbers on betting platforms like Stake.com and a style that appeals to many fans and horse racing enthusiasts. Luxor had three victories this year at Kurochiku Sho, Hyacinth Stakes and Fukuryu Stakes. One particular race that drew attention was the Fukuryu Stakes back in March 2025, where he rallied from sixth place and responded easily to his jockey’s urging. Analysts saw that as a sign of athleticism and competitiveness. That kind of responsiveness matters: in tight stretch drives, a horse that can change gears has a shot. As far as betting odds and quotes, Luxor Café was compared favorably to Journalism before Fukuryu in his speed figures. Luxor Café started from stall number seven, which is a good spot. From there, he could sit just behind the front runners, stay out of tight traffic, and save energy. It also meant he didn’t have to run too wide around the bends, which helps a horse keep speed and not waste ground. Because Luxor Café’s profile is less established, there's more room for bettors to believe he’s undervalued. If things break well he’s the kind of horse that can surprise. That’s what makes him a favorite among “value hunters”.

Belmont Stakes

The Belmont Stakes, one of the Triple Crown races, also draws enormous attention. In 2025, the Belmont is being run at Saratoga because of renovations at Belmont Park, and has been shortened to a mile and a quarter, matching the Kentucky Derby distance. The horses to watch at Belmont, besides Journalism and Sovereignty, are Baeza and Rodriguez.

Baeza

Baeza is viewed as a dangerous underdog. He’s priced at 4/1 on the morning line. He skipped the Preakness, giving him more fresh legs compared to some rivals who ran back to back. His Derby performance was solid, and some bettors see him as a possible great bet with little risk.

Rodriguez

Rodriguez is interesting because he’s a type of stud to be in the front from the start of the race. If he can control the pace early, he could force others to chase and potentially set things up for the final stretch. However, he had a foot injury that kept him out of the Derby, so when placing bets this is something to take into consideration. Rodriguez is a horse with a lot of potential, but whether he’s ready to take the crown this season is very questionable.

Others to Watch: Hill Road, Crudo, Uncaged, Heart of Honor

Rodriguez (a likely early pace horse) might press or lead, and Crudo (a frontrunner in past races) figures as another speed force. Meanwhile, handicappers are looking for horses that can “stay the trip” under more tactical pace settings.

Epsom Derby UK

The Epsom Derby continues to be a highlight of the British flat season. The 2025 running took place on 7 June, and the winner was Lambourn, ridden by Wayne Lordan, trained by Aidan O’Brien. For the upcoming seasons, the Epsom Derby will remain a target for the best three year old colts. It’s not just a matter of speed, but balance, stamina, ability to adapt to Epsom’s oscillations, and the experience to cope with a large field.

Royal Ascot

Royal Ascot is a week of top level turf racing, elegance, spectacle, and betting excitement. In 2025, Day One included a standout performance by Field of Gold in the St. James’s Palace Stakes. The races bring in a variety of tracks, distances, horses and racing styles. Bettors usually don’t take chances when it comes to huge competitions like Royal Ascot, but rather place their wagers on favorites with big names, strong pedigrees, and favorable draws.

Cheltenham Festival / Jump Racing

Much of the horse racing are flat races, but in the UK and Ireland, jump racing also sparks big interest. Cheltenham Festival each year is a pinnacle, featuring events like the Gold Cup, Champion Chase, Stayers’ Hurdle, and more. This year, Cheltenham made a gesture that sparked a nod all over the world, by renaming its opening race in honor of the late Irish jockey Michael O’Sullivan. Jump racing is actually more complex than flat racing. Horses need to have stamina, flexibility, and consistency, rather than just raw speed. Bettors like these slower races and see great value in them. Knowing which horses jump well, stay well in ground conditions, and have experienced jockeys is crucial for placing a winning bet.

Faces, Names, and Voices: Jockeys, Tipsters & Legends

It’s not just about horses. The personalities behind them matter. The jockeys, trainers, tipsters, and commentators help frame the narrative about the possible future champions. One recent example: in a recap of the Churchill Downs Stakes, jockey Junior Alvarado, riding Patriot Spirit, in second place, talked about how hard the horse fought for him by saying that in the home stretch the race seemed to be won for them, but they still finished second coming out of the last turn.

In the jump racing world, tipsters like Templegate are followed closely in the U.K. for their complete race by race insights. In 2025, before Cheltenham, Templegate released a full guide, trend pointers, and tips for every major race. That said, Templegate’s record shows he does get enough winners to stay relevant. The tipster’s statistics page claims that in recent months his winning rate has been in the mid 20% range. That means for every 100 tips, perhaps 23-26 might win, which is decent for public tips over many races, so if you’re new to horse racing betting, this might be a good starting point.

Putting It All Together: What to Watch This Season

When the big races roll around, there are a few tactics that experienced bettors apply. First, study the horses and teams. Who is in form? Who is stepping up from lesser races? Which jockeys are having hot seasons? Statements from jockeys after each race can help tell the story, not just about triumphs but about struggles, ground conditions, and tactical decisions.

Second, analyze the pace scenario. Many races are won or lost based on whether the early fractions are too fast or too moderate for the field. If you have a strong closer in a race where pace is likely to collapse, that could be your window. Third, think twice about the odds. Even if a horse is your pick to win, if its odds are too short, the payout might not justify the risk. Sometimes a second or third choice with decent odds and credible chances is a better bet. Fourth, size your bets in proportion to your bankroll, and don’t overextend. In the big events, it's tempting to bet heavily, but that’s a trap. Fifth, use clever combinations when needed (exactas, trifectas), but avoid overcomplicating your tickets, especially with too many horses crowding your exotic tickets since those often become “ticket clutter” and increase the chance of losing. Finally, be mentally prepared. Big races can come down to luck: a stumble at a jump, an inside horse gets boxed in, or the pace collapses in a way you didn’t expect. Acknowledging that no bet is “guaranteed” keeps you grounded.