How Popular is Horse racing?

<a href="https://handicapcontests.com/">Horse racing contests</a> are still fairly popular, but its level of popularity depends on the region and how you define "popular"—whether in terms of viewership, betting volume, cultural relevance, or attendance. Here's a quick breakdown:

🔥 Globally Popular Spots

• UK & Ireland: Huge cultural tradition. Events like the Grand National and Royal Ascot are major national occasions.
• USA: Still big, especially around marquee events like the Kentucky Derby, Preakness, and Belmont Stakes (aka the Triple Crown). That said, it’s not as mainstream as it used to be.
• Australia: Major following, especially for events like the Melbourne Cup—which they call “the race that stops a nation.”
• Japan: Enormously popular with high attendance and betting. Horses like Deep Impact are literal legends.
• Middle East (e.g., Dubai): Big investment and prestige, especially with high-stakes races like the Dubai World Cup.

📉 Trends

• Declining in some places: In the U.S., horse racing has seen a gradual decline in casual viewership, particularly among younger audiences.
• Still strong in betting: Globally, horse racing remains one of the biggest betting sports, which helps keep it financially viable.
• Animal welfare concerns have also led to more scrutiny and debate, especially in countries like the U.S.

📺 Media & Pop Culture

• Not as front-and-center in mainstream media these days, but it still gets coverage during big events.
• Movies like Seabiscuit and Secretariat revived some public interest.

Would you say you're asking from a cultural interest point of view, a sports betting angle, or something else? I can tailor it more based on what you're curious about.