The Triple Crown is the pinnacle of horse racing, but did you know there are actually 4 classic races, which fans passionately bet on through platforms like Unibet Horse Racing Betting because it’s so much fun? Here are some of the most legendary races in history.
Kentucky Derby
The Kentucky Derby is the first leg of the Triple Crown and it’s known to be one of the most watched horse races in the world. The first race was held on May 17th in 1875 with 12 horses competing for $2,850 prize money.
A few years later, when gambling became legal at racetracks, it was decided that the winner of this event would receive a gold trophy called “The Golden Trophy”. This trophy has since been renamed to “The Waterford Crystal” and awarded every year since 1954. In addition to this trophy, winners are given a garland wreath.
The Preakness Stakes
The Preakness Stakes is a Grade I thoroughbred horse race and it is part of the Triple Crown series and is run over a distance of 9/16 miles (201.1 m). It’s nicknamed “The Run for the Black-Eyed Susans” since black-eyed susans are Maryland’s state flower.
It currently offers a purse worth $9 million dollars with $3 million going towards first place winners!
The Belmont Stakes
The Belmont Stakes is an American race held each year at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. It is a Grade I event run over a distance of 10 furlongs (1.25 miles) on dirt, and is open to three-year-old horses.
Traditionally, this race has been held two weeks after the Preakness Stakes and three weeks before the Kentucky Derby, however since 1993 it has been run about one week after the Preakness Stakes. The name “Belmont” refers to August Belmont II (1816–1890), who was part of the wealthy German-Jewish immigrant family that founded Harness Racing in America near Hempstead Plains, New York between 1853–1859. His son August III took over operations until he retired and married Alice Claypoole Vanderbilt—an American railroad heiress—in 1907; after their deaths their heirs sold their interests in 1908. The estate continued under different names until 1978 when it was purchased by Michael Crichton for development into an entertainment complex which opened in 1984; its current tenant owners include Triple Five Group (who bought out previous owner Warner Communications’ stake).
The Breeders Cup Classic
The Breeders Cup Classic is the final leg of the Breeders Cup World Championships, a series of horse races held annually in the United States. The Breeders Cup World Championships are held at the end of the year and comprise four races: the Classic, Sprint, Filly & Mare Turf, and Juvenile.
The Classic is run over 1 mile and 1/8 on dirt while carrying a purse value of $6 million. The race was first run in 1984 as part of Hollywood Park’s annual Grand Slam II Day program that featured all five original classic distance events—the Derby (1¼ miles), Belmont Stakes (1½ miles), Preakness Stakes (1¾ miles), Arlington Million Stakes (1⅛ miles) and Jockey Club Gold Cup (1½ miles).
