The likes of Churchill Downs and Belmont Park are just two of the tracks that UK horse racing punters will be familiar with across North America. Some of the biggest racing events actually take place at some of these tracks...
Many punters are unfamiliar with US racing but we're here to offer a brief introduction to the top US horse racing meetings on the calendar. Below, you'll find our beginners guide to the best racing events taking place in the USA each year.
Kentucky Derby
Also known as America’s greatest race, The Kentucky Derby is the longest continually held sporting event in America, and it is one of the most prestigious horse races in the world. It is also a very popular market in the horse racing betting.
Celebrating its 150th anniversary in 2024, the Kentucky Derby is the only race in America with a 20-horse field.
Preakness Stakes
Held on the third Saturday of May, the Preakness stands as the second leg of the Triple Crown with the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes completing the trio.
The Preakness Stakes takes place at Pimlico Race Course, and is sometimes referred to as “the Run for the Black-Eyed Susans” because a blanket of Black-Eyed Susans, the state flower of Maryland, is draped over the winning horse.
Belmont Stakes
The Belmont Stakes is the oldest and longest of the three Triple Crown races. Inaugurated on June 19, 1867 at Jerome Park, the Belmont was later run at Morris Park and then moved to Belmont Park when that venue opened in 1905.
The most famous of all the Belmont renewals is undoubtedly Secretariat’s 31-length romp in the 1973 edition.
Breeders’ Cup
In the world of horse racing, the Breeders' Cup is the year-end international championship of the sport and the action all starts with Future Stars Friday, where the stars of tomorrow compete in five Juvenile races.
The racing then continues on Saturday where the event crowns nine more World Champions across different surfaces and divisions, including the season-defining Breeders’ Cup Classic - one of the richest horse races on the planet.
Travers Stakes
The Travers Stakes is a popular stop for Triple Crown contenders, boasting some of the biggest names in Thoroughbred racing among its past competitors, legendary horses such as Man O’War and American Pharoah.
Arlington Million
Open to horses aged three years old and older, this Grade One race is contested on Arlington Park’s turf course at a distance of 1 1/4 miles (10 furlongs).
As its name implies, the 1981 Arlington Million was the first Thoroughbred race to offer a purse of $1 million.
Arkansas Derby
With its Grade One status and seven-figure purse, the Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park remains a key Kentucky Derby prep race for many trainers.
Santa Anita Handicap
Originally the Santa Anita Handicap was for three-year-old horses and up, up until 1969 when the age limit was pushed back to four years old.
After suffering a career-threatening injury in 1939, Seabiscuit famously made a triumphant return to the Santa Anita Handicap in 1940.
Pacific Classic Stakes
The Pacific Classic Stakes is a 11⁄4 mile thoroughbred horse race for three year and older horses run at the Del Mar Racetrack in California annually.
The race gives a purse of $1,000,000 and is Del Mar’s premier event of the season.
Haskell Invitational Stakes
The Haskell Stakes is a Grade 1, $1 million race for three-year-old Thoroughbred horses run every summer at Monmouth Park.
It is contested over a distance of 1 1/8 miles or nine furlongs. It was first run in 1968 and has become one of the top races of the year.
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*Credit for all of the photos in this article belongs to Alamy*
