The Best Horse Racing Events

No matter what sort of horse racing fan you are, youthis race six times. Anyway, we love this race and
probably have a list of horse races that you considerdream of sitting with the wealthy ladies with hats, have
to be the best out there. We agree with that and oura few Mint Julep’s, and maybe sop up some great
favorite top three horseraces in the United StatesBurgoo Stew—a heck of a time.
have to be the Belmont State, Preakness, and theWe also love the Preakness—even the name is
Kentucky Derby. We wait weeks and months forcool. The last three years have brought us horse
these races and follow betting odds, jockey careers,names like Big Brown, Curlin, and Bernardini; all of these
and can’t wait for the visit to the track or thesuper horses won this race. Also a Grade One race
television show to entice us even more.for three-year old thoroughbreds held in Baltimore,
Why did we pick these three when there are soMaryland at the Pimlico Race Course, this race has
many? Because it is our list, not yours and we want tobeen called “The Run for the Black-Eyed
talk about them, where they are, the smell of the track,Susans.” We cheer here watching those horses
and the history behind these three events. First off,run this 1-3/16 mile race and can’t wait for that old
these three events make up the Triple Crown seriesblack-eyed Susan to be hung around the winner’s
and are run in this order:neck. Mostly, we like betting on this race and being
• Kentucky Derby – Held the first Saturday inforced to sing Maryland, My Maryland, even if
Maywe’re not from there.
• Preakness – Run two weeks laterThe Belmont Stakes, another amazing betting
• Belmont Stakes – Runs three weeks lateropportunity, oops, we mean horse race, is also a
Why do we enjoy the Triple Crown so much whenGrade One race and is held at Belmont Park in Elmont,
we could, as horse wagers, make more money onNew York and is the final leg of the Triple
perhaps other races? Because they’re cool,Crown—not to be confused with Crown Royal. This
celebrities attend them—heck, even Queen Elizabeth1.5-mile race is also for those thoroughbreds we crave
II came to the Kentucky Derby—those are races wewatching and what about all those Carnations? Well,
like to talk about!they do call this race “The Run For The
First, what’s up with the Kentucky Derby? Well,Carnations,” so maybe those horses do like those
beyond those taste bud tempting Mint Juleps we all sipflowers draped all over them, probably much more
or perhaps consume too many of, this Grade Onethan the thorny roses at the Kentucky Derby. Here
race is for our favorite three year-old thoroughbredswe all get to sing the theme from “New York, New
and held each year in Louisville, Kentucky after the funYork,” even if we don’t know the words. Most
and exciting two week event of the Derby Festival.of us remember that Billy Shoemaker won this race
This event-filled race is one and a quarter miles at thefive times and still love him, even if Eddie Arcaro has
spectacular Churchill Downs and has the old nickname,won it six times. We like it even more that
“The Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports!” IfSecretariat’s time of 2:24 has never been beat as
you haven’t heard that term, what about “Theof yet, but there’s always 2009.
Run For The Roses?” Sure, we know you’veWell, those are our favorite three and even if we
heard one of those terms. The thoroughbreds that runcan’t get seats (we can’t afford them), we sing,
this race aim to beat the 1973 record of 1:59 2/5 setwe laugh, eat, and all bet who will win, what will be the
by Secretariat in 1973. Or, maybe as fans, they wantbest time, and if we are holding the winning ticket.
to see which jockey will beat out the most winningCheck them all out next time—especially if you know
jockeys—Eddie Arcaro and Bill Hartack—both wonthe words to the traditional songs of each.