Horse racing is one of the oldest sports in the world, with its origins dating back to ancient history. It is a sport that is still incredibly popular today and is followed by millions of fans around the world. There are many big races throughout the year, but there are three races that stand out above the rest as the biggest and most prestigious in the world. These three races are the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness Stakes, and the Belmont Stakes.
Kentucky Derby
The Kentucky Derby is a Grade I stakes race for three-year-old Thoroughbred horses, held annually in Louisville, Kentucky. The race is a 1 1⁄4-mile (2 km) dirt track and is the longest continuous sporting event in the United States, having been held every year since 1875. It is often referred to as “The Run for the Roses” due to the blanket of roses draped over the winner of the race. The Kentucky Derby is the first leg of the Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing, followed by the Preakness Stakes and the Belmont Stakes.
Preakness Stakes
The Preakness Stakes is a Grade I stakes race for three-year-old Thoroughbred horses, held annually in Baltimore, Maryland. The race is a 1 3⁄16-mile (1.91 km) dirt track and is the shortest of the three Triple Crown races. The Preakness Stakes was first run in 1873 and has been run every year since. It is the second leg of the Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing, preceded by the Kentucky Derby and followed by the Belmont Stakes.
Belmont Stakes
The Belmont Stakes is a Grade I stakes race for three-year-old Thoroughbred horses, held annually in Elmont, New York. The race is a 1 1⁄2-mile (2.4 km) dirt track and is the longest of the three Triple Crown races. The Belmont Stakes was first run in 1867 and has been run every year since. It is the third and final leg of the Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing, preceded by the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes.
The Triple Crown
The Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing is a series of three races for three-year-old Thoroughbred horses, held annually in the United States. The Triple Crown consists of the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness Stakes, and the Belmont Stakes, and is considered one of the most prestigious honors a horse can achieve in the sport of horse racing. The Triple Crown was first established in 1919, and the first horse to win all three races was Sir Barton in 1919. Since then, thirteen horses have won the Triple Crown.
Notable Winners of the Triple Crown
- Sir Barton (1919)
- Gallant Fox (1930)
- Omaha (1935)
- War Admiral (1937)
- Whirlaway (1941)
- Count Fleet (1943)
- Assault (1946)
- Citation (1948)
- Secretariat (1973)
- Seattle Slew (1977)
- Affirmed (1978)
- American Pharoah (2015)
- Justify (2018)
Notable Jockeys
Eddie Arcaro, born in Cincinnati, Ohio, is considered one of the greatest jockeys of all time. He won the Triple Crown twice, first with Whirlaway in 1941 and then with Citation in 1948. He also won the Kentucky Derby four times, the Preakness Stakes five times, and the Belmont Stakes six times.
Bill Shoemaker, born in Fabens, Texas, is another one of the greatest jockeys of all time. He won the Triple Crown once, with the great horse, Swaps, in 1955. He also won the Kentucky Derby four times, the Preakness Stakes four times, and the Belmont Stakes eight times.
Notable Horses in the Triple Crown
Secretariat is considered one of the greatest horses of all time, winning the Triple Crown in 1973. He set records in all three races that still stand today and is the most recent Triple Crown winner.
Seattle Slew is another great horse, winning the Triple Crown in 1977. He was the first horse to win the Triple Crown while undefeated and is the only horse to have ever won the Triple Crown and the Breeders’ Cup Classic.
Affirmed was the last horse to win the Triple Crown before American Pharoah in 2015. He won the Triple Crown in 1978 and is the only horse to have ever won the Triple Crown while being challenged by a rival horse, Alydar.
Notable Tracks
The three biggest tracks in the United States are Churchill Downs, Pimlico Race Course, and Belmont Park.
Churchill Downs is a racetrack in Louisville, Kentucky, and is the home of the Kentucky Derby. It is a 1 1⁄4-mile (2 km) dirt track and has been hosting the Kentucky Derby since 1875.
Pimlico Race Course is a racetrack in Baltimore, Maryland, and is the home of the Preakness Stakes. It is a 1 3⁄16-mile (1.91 km) dirt track and has been hosting the Preakness Stakes since 1873.
Belmont Park is a racetrack in Elmont, New York, and is the home of the Belmont Stakes. It is a 1 1⁄2-mile (2.4 km) dirt track and has been hosting the Belmont Stakes since 1867.
Purses and Prizes
The Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, and Belmont Stakes all offer large purses and prizes for the winners. The Kentucky Derby has a purse of $3 million and the winner receives a blanket of roses. The Preakness Stakes has a purse of $2 million and the winner receives a blanket of Black-Eyed Susans. The Belmont Stakes has a purse of $1.5 million and the winner receives a blanket of White Carnations.
Conclusion
The three biggest horse races in the world are the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness Stakes, and the Belmont Stakes. These three races make up the prestigious Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing and are the most sought-after honors that a horse can achieve. The winners of these races receive large purses and prizes, and are forever remembered as some of the greatest horses and jockeys in the history of the sport.