Overly general, “Gravel” racing, events and riding take place on unpaved, secondary roads that are composed of a wide range of dirt and rock embedded surfaces. Some events add in rougher and less developed back roads, double-track roads and even single-track trails.
Here are a bunch of videos that go in various directions.
I sadly think you’re right. Mid South is the last cheap one. Rest are just taking advantage of these ‘middled aged men and women with disposable income’.
I’d rather get my teeth kicked in at the Breck Epic for a bit more $ than do Leadville.
“Gravel”, for me, is all the stuff I “generally” don’t take my road bike on (although I am not opposed to riding dirt on the road bike. Usually only when needed).
Gravel consist of rough road surfaces, dirt roads, double track, single track that is both smooth and flowing and single track that is technical and challenging, trail with varying terrain and obstacles, full fledged mountain bike trails…fill in the blank…
I ride my gravel bike on almost everything. I often treat it as a ridged, drop bar mountain bike because that is pretty much what it is. I have found it capable to ride a large (90%) amount of the technical mountain bike trails that I ride on my full suspension XC bike. It is just a different experience, and actually really makes it a lot of fun to mix up and change the experience of the trails I ride so often. Adds great variety.
Finally, the best thing about gravel is how it links all the routes together. I wouldn’t drive with the MTB to some short piece of trail .5 to 1 mile in length trail, but I can ride there on the road and grab multiple short, fun sections along the way for a very dynamic and super fun all around adventure. That’s the magic of gravel for me, it is the variety and variation. Routes I’ve ridden for years and years have come alive again with mixed surfaces…
First local gravel race of the year for me is this Saturday. OMG 50 in Oxford, MS. Part of the Mississippi Gravel Cup. 4 events in Jan/Feb/Mar.
Forecast is an awesome low-60’s with solid rain expected all Friday and Saturday. 
Check out Gravelstoke.com
This is a super rad list of gravel races to check out!!
This is basically my bike-it wish list.
My ambition will probably get the better of me. This what I’m hoping to do this year as far long races:
Epic 150
MACO 100
Dirty Kanza 200 Lottery
Iowa Gravel Classic
Damn (The Day Across Minnesota)
Ultra Spotted Horse
The Ultra Spotted Horse has gotten the better of me two years in a row. It is always a challenging day. Sarah Cooper is the race director and always like a tough course she would ride.
That looks like a great ride…redemption is a very tasty dish. The best, infact.
I love that the “short course” is 150 miles
She likes to emphasis that it is the “Sprint Distance” to rub it in your are not doing the 200 miles. The weather has been brutal the last two years.
Don’t see it mentioned yet but there’s an awesome gravel event (not race) in Redlands CA March 21st called Strada Rossa and it’s only $65 Strada Rossa 7 Tickets, Sat, Oct 24, 2020 at 7:00 AM | Eventbrite
Awesome mix of gravel, pavement and single track. Good opportunity to test your fitness heading into Spring/summer gravel events
Nova Eroica California
Received this Central California mixed surface event as an awesome Christmas gift from my girls! Asked my wife where she was hiding the new bike 
There are enough long descents that I’ll be renting a gravel bike for the day.
that list is stout
Mid South 100
Barry Roubaix 100
Sweetwater Whiskey Rebellion 200k
and rounding out the early season will be Lumberjack 100 (not gravel but MTB)
or Sancho 200
New to the gravel world but do we have many events in the UK/Europe?
I am doing DKXL. Or at least I am going to attempt to do it!
Good luck…you are a better man than me.
(I have dibs on his bikes!!! 
)
I am considering doing my local rail trail’s End2End X2 event. 322km, full length twice, I think its about 2500m vertical as well
Problem is im purely a short effort VO2 guy, CX and crits only, so not sure I am barking up the right tree here 
Hoping to DK200 again this year. I do get weird urges to try DKXL in the next few years. Good luck and would love to know how it goes
I don’t have personal knowledge of specific events in the UK, but I know they are there. I have had teammates move out of the country and participate in a crazy amount of gravel, and cross country mountain bike races, rides, and events. I would love to hear other people on the forum chime in.
This was from the cold AF year, 2017.