Must-see races: Frankie's top five

LONDON, England (CNN) -- There was a time when Frankie Dettori saddled up to race 1,200 times a year. Now he's one of the world's leading jockeys, he has cut his commitments by half.

His manager Ray Cochrane told CNN: "Whenever the big days do come along he's fresh and well, and he's got plenty of fire to go and give those his best shot."

These are the top five races on Frankie Dettori's calendar.

DUBAI WORLD CUP MEETING

When: End of March, one day
Where: Nad Al Sheba racecourse in Dubai, United Arab Emirates

It's the first big race of the year and also the world's richest. $6 million is riding on the strongest runner in the Dubai World Cup, one of the youngest racing meets on the calendar.

Though the event began only 12 years ago, the origins of modern horse racing can be traced back to this part of the world.

All of today's thoroughbred horses started with the bloodlines of three Arab stallions: Godolphin, Darley Arabian and The Beverley Turk. These horses were imported by the English and bred with their mares to produce offspring that were both quick and powerful.

Today, the name Godolphin is associated with one of the top international racing stables, owned by Dubai ruler HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

The stable's main retained jockey, Frankie Dettori, has won the Cup three times. He set a race record in 2000 of one minute 59.5 seconds on the back of Dubai Millennium, one of Sheikh Mohammed's horses. He also won by the widest margin of victory -- six lengths -- ever seen in this race.

NEWMARKET GUINEAS FESTIVAL

When: Late April or early May, two days
Where: Newmarket racecourse in Newmarket, Suffolk, England

Known as the home of English horse racing, Newmarket is where Charles II, in 1665, instituted the first race under written rules ever to be run in Britain.

Over three centuries later, the same racecourse still plays host to battling hooves.

Today the Rowley Mile course, whose name is adapted from the nickname of Charles and his horse, Old Rowley, is the epicenter of flat-racing (i.e. without jumps).

Featuring the first two of five British Classic Races on the annual racing calendar -- the 1,000 and 2,000 Guineas, this is where reputations are established for the season.

Now entering its 200th running, the 2,000 Guineas was named for the original prize amount awarded for this race (about $218,000 today). Today, the total prize money has risen to £350,000 ($693,363).

Mark of Esteem, under Frankie Dettori, had the most thrilling finish by a short-head (the smallest possible advantage by which a participant can win) in 1996, giving owner Godolphin its first win. The colt became one of Dettori's "magnificent seven" at Ascot later that year.

EPSOM DERBY FESTIVAL

When: First weekend of June, two days
Where: Epsom Downs racecourse in Epsom and Walton Downs, Surrey, England

A coin toss between friends decided the title of this competition when Edward Smith Stanley, the 12th Earl of Derby, and Sir Charles Bunbury flipped for the prestige of naming the inaugural 1780 race.

The "Style on the Downs" fashion competition has become a highlight of racing day one, also known as Ladies Day. This is the event where hatted women sitting in the Grandstand and Queen's Stand vie for the title of most fashionably dressed.

For those more intrigued by the horses, the "Oaks Race," named after Lord Derby's estate, is the feature of the day.

The actual Derby race takes place on day two of the weekend-long competition.

The largest Derby field was in 1862, with 34 competitors, and the smallest race occurred in 1794, with just four entrants. Nowadays, the race is limited to 20 runners for safety reasons.

ROYAL ASCOT

When: End of June, five days
Where: Ascot racecourse, in the Royal County of Berkshire, England

The five-day Royal Ascot is a jacket, collar and tie event, where spectators come not only for the thrill of racing but also in the hope of catching a glimpse of their favorite royals.

For almost three centuries, the racecourse near Windsor Castle has been a social gathering point for the royal family. The first race, Her Majesty's Cup, took place in 1711 at the behest of Queen Anne.

Today, the Gold Cup race is the feature of the third day of Ascot.

The Queen not only presents the Gold Cup each year but also owns and breeds horses that compete in the races.

Jockeys riding the royal thoroughbreds wear Her Majesty's racing colors -- purple body with gold braid, scarlet sleeves and black velvet cap with gold fringe.

Royal Ascot is Britain's most popular racing event, attracting over 300,000 spectators to the annual competition. The race grounds themselves cover 179 acres, and the course includes two tracks, allowing year-round racing with both flat and jump meetings.

PRIX DE L'ARC DE TRIOMPHE WEEKEND

When: First weekend in October, two days
Where: Longchamp racecourse in Paris, France

The featured race of this early October weekend -- the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, or simply, the "Arc", has become Europe's richest race with prize money totaling roughly 4 million euros ($5.8 million).

One of four French Classic races, it is the major end-of-season European race.

The first official race at Longchamp was the Grand Prix de Paris in 1863. The Arc, created as a spin-off from this original race, debuted in 1920 when it was run in celebration of the Allies' victory in World War I.

Until 1930, Parisians would sail down the Seine River on steamboats and other vessels, traveling about an hour to the Longchamp racecourse. The aristocracy would observe the competition from the exclusive royal enclosure, while others watched from their barouche carriages on the lawn.

Since 1994, the male bloodline of every winner of the Arc can be traced to the horse Nearco, his son Nasrullah, and his grandson Northern Dancer. E-mail to a friend

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