How to Watch and Bet on Horse Racing's Triple Crown: The Kentucky Derby, Preakness, and Belmont Stakes
(PointSpreads.com)
- You may have heard of the Triple Crown, but do you know what it is and why it garners so much attention? Here is everything you need to know to prepare for the three most prestigious horse racing events in the world, brought to you by PointSpreads.com.
What is the Triple Crown?
Throughout the year, numerous races take place worldwide, but not all thoroughbred horses are created equal. The best among them are invited to Grade 1 Stakes races, which boast the largest purses and the most prestige.
The Triple Crown comprises three Grade 1 Stakes events exclusively for the top three-year-old thoroughbreds: the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, and Belmont Stakes. Since the Triple Crown's inception in 1875, when the Kentucky Derby joined the Belmont and Preakness Stakes, only 13 horses have won all three races.
Kentucky Derby
Also known as the Run for the Roses, the Kentucky Derby premiered in 1875 and is the first and most popular of the three events. Held annually on the first Saturday in May, it spans one and a quarter mile at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky.
Preakness Stakes
The second leg of the Triple Crown, the Preakness Stakes, takes place at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland, on Armed Forces Day, the third Saturday in May. The race covers 1 3/16 miles. Introduced in 1873, the Preakness winner is traditionally draped with a blanket of Maryland's state flower, the black-eyed Susan, earning the race the nickname "The Run for the Black-Eyed Susans."
Belmont Stakes
The final and longest leg of the Triple Crown, the Belmont Stakes, covers 1 ½ miles and is held annually at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. Debuting in 1867, it is the oldest of the three events and is known as The Test of Champions due to the race's length, which demands speed, strength, and, most importantly, stamina.
Win, Place, and Show
Betting on any Triple Crown race is the same as betting on an ordinary horse race. It involves parimutuel wagering, meaning the odds depend on the percentage of money bet on each horse. A favorite has the lowest odds, while a long shot has very high odds.
A win bet requires the horse to cross the finish line first and be declared the winner. This bet offers the highest payout, but a place bet allows the horse to finish first or second, with the bettor receiving a payout either way.
A show bet permits the horse to finish in first, second, or third position, but the payout is the lowest among the three. Bettors can also participate in exacta (or perfecta) wagering, which requires predicting the precise order of the top two finishers, or a trifecta bet, which demands correctly predicting the order of the top three finishers.
The 2023 Triple Crown Schedule
Kentucky Derby
Date: Saturday, May 6
Where: Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky
TV Network: NBC
Streaming: Peacock, NBCSports.com, NBC Sports app
Preakness Stakes
Date: Saturday, May 20
Where: Pimlico Racecourse in Baltimore, Maryland
TV Network: NBC
Streaming: Peacock, NBCSports.com, NBC Sports app
Belmont Stakes
Date: Saturday, June 10
Where: Belmont Park in Elmont, New York
TV Network: NBC
Streaming: Peacock, NBCSports.com, NBC Sports app
Get ready for the most exciting horse racing events of the year! Don't miss your chance to watch and bet on the Triple Crown, featuring the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, and Belmont Stakes.
With the help of sports betting news and information sites like Point Spreads, you can prepare yourself to enjoy the thrill of these Grade 1 Stakes races and potentially win big. Whether you're a seasoned bettor or a newcomer to horse racing, there's something for everyone. So, mark your calendars and tune in to NBC or stream on Peacock, NBCSports.com, or the NBC Sports app.
Image Credit: Patrick Smith / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP. Editorial, used under license for PointSpreads.com.
