In the United States, horse racing is a popular sport that is played all over the country and offers a variety of betting options. All types of horse racing can be found in the United States, from minor contests to some of the largest horse racing occasions.
In this post, we'll take a quick look at a few of the major horse racing racing events on the American racing calendar that are worthy enough to bet on.
Kentucky Derby
When compared to the Kentucky Derby, other horse racing competitions don't come quickly as stated. It is difficult to disagree with the majority of people who consider this as the pinnacle of American horse racing events. The Grade 1 Kentucky Derby, the best race of its kind, is a one-mile event that takes place on the first Saturday in May.
Churchill Downs racetrack in Louisville, Kentucky, serves as the location for this illustrious and important horse racing event. The Kentucky Derby draws the top three-year-old horses, riders, breeders, and trainers in the industry to compete for a whopping $2 million in winnings.
This is one of the finest horse racing events for gamblers to wager on with racing odds from TVG and make a significant profit. Country House, a huge outsider with odds of 62-1, won the Kentucky Derby in the past four years.
Despite the fact that Maximum Security was the first to cross the finish line, Country House was given the victory. Following his lane change without permission on the final backstretch and interference with other horses. Maximum Security was later disqualified by the racetrack officials for interference.
Preakness Stakes
One of the in-demand months for American horse racing is May. Every May, on the third Saturday, Pimlico Race Track in Baltimore hosts the Preakness Stakes. It is the second American fixture of the Triple Crown. The race is held on dirt over a length of 1 3/16 miles.
Each year, the best three-year-old racehorses compete in the event. Five fillies have won the Preakness, which are Rachel Alexandra (2009), Nellie Morse (1924), Rhine Maiden (1915), Whimsical (1906), and Flocarline (1903). This year, Easy Voting wins the Preakness Stakes.
Belmont Stakes
This is the United States' last race for The Triple Crown; The Belmont Stakes, popularly known as the "Test of the Champion," . This takes place every year in June, three weeks after the Preakness. The event, which has a $1.5 million payout, is run over 1 1/2 miles (12 furlongs) of dirt at Belmont Park.
At Belmont in 1973, the Triple Crown-winning Secretariat set a North American record for 1 1/2 miles in 2:24 and won the race with a record margin of 31 lengths. In the 46 years that have passed since Secretariat's stunning performance, no racehorse has been able to beat either mark. This year, it’s Mo Denegal who won the Belmont Stakes.
Breeders’ Cup Challenge
The Breeders' Cup Finals is a lively competition that always has a fresh flair. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum has triumphed in fifteen Breeders' Cup races, and jockey Mike Smith has won the most races at this competition overall with twenty six victories.
This year, the Breeders’ Cup Challenge will take place at Keeneland Racecourse in Lexington, Kentucky. Epicenter and Flightline are going head-to-head this November and the Breeders’ Cup will determine who’s the best racehorse between the two.
Travers Stakes
The Travers Stakes, a 1 1/4-mile race, is a major summer event and one of the highlights of the American horse racing season. The oldest significant stakes event in the United States is the Travers Stakes, sometimes known as the "Midsummer Derby," which was first run in 1864. The Travers Stakes happens annually at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs.
Four Triple Crown victors have participated in the Travers, but only Whirlaway, who won the event in 1941, has won it. In the Travers, seven fillies have triumphed over male competitors,and no one followed since Lady Rotha's victory in 1915.
Catholic Boy won the 2018 Travers, giving Javier Castellano a Travers record sixth victory. Epicenter, who was trained by Steven Assmussen, has triumphed in the Travers Stakes this year.
Haskell Invitational Stakes
The Haskell Invitational is one of Monmouth Park's proudest feats. The event, as the name would suggest, is only limited to three-year-olds and there is a huge $1,000,000 prize pool, but there is a catch. While Girvin won in 2017 for jockey Joe Sharp, it went against the norm since Bob Baffert, his rival, had claimed victory on five of the eight editions from 2010 to 2017.
Final Thoughts
From nightly racecourses like Monmouth Park, Churchill Downs, Belmont Park, many horse racing enthusiasts come and gather in these places to celebrate a grand horse racing showdown. Apart from that, betting is the sole reason why this sporting event comes as an anticipated sport to watch in the U.S.
Therefore, if you are looking for a horse racing event this year and in the next coming days, the races outlined above are the top choice to make.
