10 Biggest American Horse Races Today
The horse racing industry in the U.S. is growing every year. The volume of bets and viewership ratings of the horse races are the manifestations of the expansion.
The top horse races in America are held annually, staging thrilling moments on the track every year. So, based on the American audience’s perspective, let’s rank the biggest horse racing events highly anticipated by fans.
- Kentucky Derby
Because of its approximate duration, the Kentucky Derby is also popularly recognized as “The Fastest Two Minutes in Sports.” The Kentucky Derby is the first race of the American Triple Crown Series, followed by the Preakness and then the Belmont Stakes.
It’s a Grade One race held at Churchill Downs on the first Saturday in May each year, and it’s the highlight of the Kentucky Derby Festival. With a 2 million dollar prize pool, bettors can expect to see some of the top names in the industry participating in this race.
Many spectators wager on horses in the Kentucky Derby. Since it’s the first race in the Triple Crown, bettors would refer to betting tips and guides provided by wagering sites like TVG to increase their chances of winning.
- Preakness Stakes
Every year on the third Saturday in May, the Preakness Stakes is hosted at Pimlico Race Course, Baltimore. It is the second leg of the Triple Crown Series. The race is held on dirt over a distance of 1 3/16 miles.
The purse for the Preakness Stakes in 2021 was $1 million. Last year, it was $1.5 million, showing a decline from the $1.65 million prize money in 2019. Rombauer, winner of the Preakness Stakes in 2021, received $600,000, or 60% of the total prize pool.
- Belmont Stakes
The U.S. Triple Crown comes to a close with this race. The Belmont Stakes, also known as the “Test of the Champion,” takes place every June, three weeks after the Preakness Stakes. The race, which has a purse of $1.5 million, is run on the dirt at Belmont Park over a distance of 12 miles. The Belmont Stakes is one of the most well-attended events in American thoroughbred racing.
Secretariat is the most renowned hero of this racing event. He went on to win the Triple Crown in 1973 by 31 lengths over the field. He also holds the course speed record, which is difficult to beat.
- Breeders’ Cup
The Breeders’ Cup is the year-end international championship of horse racing, or, to put it another way, “Racing’s Super Bowl.” It’s held in a different place each year but continues to gain popularity every year.
The number of people who attend the Breeders’ Cup differs significantly, primarily due to the capacity of the host racecourse. In 2016, Santa Anita Park had the highest two-day attendance of 118,484 people.
- Travers Stakes
The Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, New York, hosts the Travers Stakes, an American Grade I Thoroughbred horse race. The race is known as the “Midsummer Derby” because of its great significance on the racing calendar. It was initially known as the “Travers Midsummer Derby” from 1927 to 1932.
Unlike the Kentucky Derby, the Travers has not been run every year since its launch in 1864. During an era of corrupt track ownership, the Travers was not run from 1896 and 1898 to 1900. Many stakes races were pulled from the program. It also wasn’t run in 1911 and 1912 after certain policies shut down New York’s horse racing industry.
- Arlington Million
The Arlington Million, hosted in the United States, is a Grade 1 flat horse race for thoroughbreds aged three and up. This was the first race where a purse of $1,000,000 was promised to the champion. It composes the Breeders’ Cup Challenge series, the winner earning an instant spot in the Breeders’ Cup Turf.
- Arkansas Derby
The Arkansas Derby is the final event on the road to the Kentucky Derby. The winner earns 100 points toward qualifying for the race. That means the Arkansas Derby winner is practically assured of a spot in America’s most famous race.
- Santa Anita Handicap
The Santa Anita Handicap is a yearly American Thoroughbred horse race held at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California, in early March. It’s a Grade I race for thoroughbreds aged four and up. It used to be the most valuable race for older equines in North America all throughout the winter racing season. The Santa Anita Handicap is a ten-furlong race with a purse of $600,000.
- Pacific Classic Stakes
The Pacific Classic is Del Mar Thoroughbred Club’s premier race. It’s undeniably one of the significant summer races in southern California. This racing event’s track is 1 ¼ mile long, similar to the Kentucky Derby and the Breeders’ Cup Classic. It’s a Grade One race over 10 furlongs on dirt and is considered one of the best races for older horses.
- 10.Haskell Invitational Stakes
Since 2006, the Haskell Invitational has always been a stakes race for 3-year-olds at Monmouth Park, also known as The Shore’s Greatest Stretch. The race has a $1,000,000 prize money, but it’s only open to three-year-olds.
This racing event has been a stakes race for 3-year-olds at Monmouth Park since 2006. It is New Jersey’s biggest race. The winning horse in this race will automatically qualify for the Breeders’ Cup Classic.
Takeaway
Horse racing fans across America have these ten premier horse races to follow annually. These horse racing events are even considered as the world’s major races, anticipated by fans all over the world. This only shows that the U.S. loves and enjoys horse racing as much as other competitive games.
10 Biggest American Horse Races Today
The horse racing industry in the U.S. is growing every year. The volume of bets and viewership ratings of the horse races are the manifestations of the expansion.
The top horse races in America are held annually, staging thrilling moments on the track every year. So, based on the American audience’s perspective, let’s rank the biggest horse racing events highly anticipated by fans.
- Kentucky Derby
Because of its approximate duration, the Kentucky Derby is also popularly recognized as “The Fastest Two Minutes in Sports.” The Kentucky Derby is the first race of the American Triple Crown Series, followed by the Preakness and then the Belmont Stakes.
It’s a Grade One race held at Churchill Downs on the first Saturday in May each year, and it’s the highlight of the Kentucky Derby Festival. With a 2 million dollar prize pool, bettors can expect to see some of the top names in the industry participating in this race.
Many spectators wager on horses in the Kentucky Derby. Since it’s the first race in the Triple Crown, bettors would refer to betting tips and guides provided by wagering sites like TVG to increase their chances of winning
2. Preakness Stakes
Every year on the third Saturday in May, the Preakness Stakes is hosted at Pimlico Race Course, Baltimore. It is the second leg of the Triple Crown Series. The race is held on dirt over a distance of 1 3/16 miles.
The purse for the Preakness Stakes in 2021 was $1 million. Last year, it was $1.5 million, showing a decline from the $1.65 million prize money in 2019. Rombauer, winner of the Preakness Stakes in 2021, received $600,000, or 60% of the total prize pool.
3. Belmont Stakes
The U.S. Triple Crown comes to a close with this race. The Belmont Stakes, also known as the “Test of the Champion,” takes place every June, three weeks after the Preakness Stakes. The race, which has a purse of $1.5 million, is run on the dirt at Belmont Park over a distance of 12 miles. The Belmont Stakes is one of the most well-attended events in American thoroughbred racing.
Secretariat is the most renowned hero of this racing event. He went on to win the Triple Crown in 1973 by 31 lengths over the field. He also holds the course speed record, which is difficult to beat.
4. Breeders’ Cup
The Breeders’ Cup is the year-end international championship of horse racing, or, to put it another way, “Racing’s Super Bowl.” It’s held in a different place each year but continues to gain popularity every year.
The number of people who attend the Breeders’ Cup differs significantly, primarily due to the capacity of the host racecourse. In 2016, Santa Anita Park had the highest two-day attendance of 118,484 people.
5. Travers Stakes
The Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, New York, hosts the Travers Stakes, an American Grade I Thoroughbred horse race. The race is known as the “Midsummer Derby” because of its great significance on the racing calendar. It was initially known as the “Travers Midsummer Derby” from 1927 to 1932.
Unlike the Kentucky Derby, the Travers has not been run every year since its launch in 1864. During an era of corrupt track ownership, the Travers was not run from 1896 and 1898 to 1900. Many stakes races were pulled from the program. It also wasn’t run in 1911 and 1912 after certain policies shut down New York’s horse racing industry.
6. Arlington Million
The Arlington Million, hosted in the United States, is a Grade 1 flat horse race for thoroughbreds aged three and up. This was the first race where a purse of $1,000,000 was promised to the champion. It composes the Breeders’ Cup Challenge series, the winner earning an instant spot in the Breeders’ Cup Turf
7. Arkansas Derby
The Arkansas Derby is the final event on the road to the Kentucky Derby. The winner earns 100 points toward qualifying for the race. That means the Arkansas Derby winner is practically assured of a spot in America’s most famous race.
8. Santa Anita Handicap
The Santa Anita Handicap is a yearly American Thoroughbred horse race held at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California, in early March. It’s a Grade I race for thoroughbreds aged four and up. It used to be the most valuable race for older equines in North America all throughout the winter racing season. The Santa Anita Handicap is a ten-furlong race with a purse of $600,000.
9. Pacific Classic Stakes
The Pacific Classic is Del Mar Thoroughbred Club’s premier race. It’s undeniably one of the significant summer races in southern California. This racing event’s track is 1 ¼ mile long, similar to the Kentucky Derby and the Breeders’ Cup Classic. It’s a Grade One race over 10 furlongs on dirt and is considered one of the best races for older horses.
10. Haskell Invitational Stakes
Since 2006, the Haskell Invitational has always been a stakes race for 3-year-olds at Monmouth Park, also known as The Shore’s Greatest Stretch. The race has a $1,000,000 prize money, but it’s only open to three-year-olds.
This racing event has been a stakes race for 3-year-olds at Monmouth Park since 2006. It is New Jersey’s biggest race. The winning horse in this race will automatically qualify for the Breeders’ Cup Classic.
Takeaway
Horse racing fans across America have these ten premier horse races to follow annually. These horse racing events are even considered as the world’s major races, anticipated by fans all over the world. This only shows that the U.S. loves and enjoys horse racing as much as other competitive games.
