The US Triple Crown is widely considered to be the most prestigious series of races in North America for horses aged three. It is a major test for all horses of the age, with the action kicking off at Churchill Downs in early May, before rolling through Pimlico and concluding at Belmont Park.
You can find out everything you need to know about the Triple Crown, including a history of the races and main betting markets here.
Triple Crown History
The Triple Crown of racing in the United States was commission with a trophy in 1950, despite the three races in the series having been run before the date that the trophy was first handed out.
Sir Barton was the first horse to win the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, and Belmont Stakes in the same year in 1919, but the term ‘Triple Crown’ wasn’t referred to until the 1920s. Overall, only 13 horses have ever won the Triple Crown, with the latest of those coming in the form of Justify in 2018.
You can find out more on how to bet on the events here: twinspires.com/edge/racing/wagering/
Kentucky Derby
The opening leg of the Triple Crown is the most famous race run in North America annually, with the Kentucky Derby taking place at Churchill Downs on the first Saturday in May.
The Derby was first run in May 1875, and it is referred to as the ‘most exciting two minutes in sports’. Derby day headlines the two-week festival at the track, and is the youngest of the Triple Crown races.
It is run over a distance of 1 ¼ miles, with a purse of $5 million up for grabs. The Derby is the most-watched and attended race in the United States, with the contest being won in the closest finish for 40 years by Mystik Dan in 2024.
Preakness Stakes
The middle leg of the Triple Crown sees the racing action move to Baltimore and Pimlico Race Course. The Preakness Stakes is run two weeks after the Kentucky Derby, and it is run over a distance of 1 3/16 miles.
Unlike the opening leg of the Triple Crown, it has been target for fillies throughout history, with Swiss Skydiver becoming the sixth female winner of the race in 2020.
Only the Kentucky Derby outweighs the Preakness in terms of attendance figures in American racing, and it typically sees Derby winning trying to follow up on their success at Churchill Downs. However, no horse has won both races since California Chrome in 2014.
This year will be a special one as Maryland celebrates its 150th edition.
Belmont Stakes
The Triple Crown series draws to a conclusion three weeks after the Preakness Stakes, as horses aged three take on the ‘Test of the Champion’ in the form of the Belmont Stakes. It is run over the classic distance of 1 ½ miles, making it the furthest that many runners in the race would have competed over during their short careers.
There is no hiding place at Belmont Park, as it is widely considered to be the fairest track in America, with horses having to use their speed, tactical know-how, and ability to win over the trip in New York.
The Belmont Stakes typically attracts huge television audiences, with 21.9 million turning in to watch the 2004 race. However, due to renovation works, the 2024 and 2025 editions of the race are to be held at Saratoga, with Dornoch winning the latest renewal for the team of Danny Gargan and Luis Saez.
How to Bet on the Triple Crown
Betting on all three races during the Triple Crown series are exceptionally popular, with newcomers getting involved in the action. Therefore, it is important to assess the selection of markets that are available when betting on horse racing.
Win Betting
The most popular way to make a bet on the horse racing action can be found in the win betting market. Here, the gambler will be looking to place their wager on the horse that will cross the line first. Odds for each runner will be available at the sportsbook, while pari-mutuel gambling options are also available.
Place Betting
Place betting is most popular on the Derby, with the Belmont Stakes and Preakness Stakes typically attracting smaller fields.
This market requires the bettor to place their money on a selection that will finish first, second or third. The odds will be smaller than in the win market, as the gambler will have the added insurance should their selection not cross the line first.
Exacta/Trifecta Betting
An extremely popular betting market for the Triple Crown races among experienced bettors are the Exacta and Trifecta options. In the former, bettors must correctly predict the horses that finish first and second in the correct order. Meanwhile, in order to land the Trifecta, a bettor must accurately predict the horses that finish exactly first, second and third.
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