By HRI Foreign Staff — Horse racing remains one of the world’s most popular sports and one that many people in the USA love to get involved with. It is not just the sheer excitement that draws people to racing though. This is a sport with a long history behind it and races which have been running for many years. This sense of heritage gives racing firm roots and a sense of identity for fans to enjoy. But which races have the most history behind them?
Breeders Cup
The Breeders Cup might not have quite as much history as other US horse races (it was first run in 1984) but it has still been running for almost 40 years now. As you would expect, it is an event which attracts a big crowd and plenty of betting. As this event takes place in November each year, there is still time to find top Breeders Cup picks for 2022’s edition. If you plan to bet on this event in November, checking out the best selections now is the ideal way to prepare for it.
This event is a key part of the US calendar and takes place at a different track each year. The Breeders Cup itself is a series of Grade I races that run across two days and are contested by horses that must get an invite to compete.
Kentucky Derby
Another very popular race in the US with a long history is the Kentucky Derby. This occurs on the first Saturday in May each year at Churchill Downs track in Louisville. It is a very well-known race that traces its roots all the way back to 1875. As with many of the top horse races globally, the Derby is chock full of tradition.
This includes people enjoying Mint Juleps to drink, wearing elegant clothes to watch the action, and the singing of ‘My Old Home Kentucky’. The race itself lasts for just over 1 mile on a dirt track and is the first race in the legendary Triple Crown. With $3 million on offer as a prize purse, it is also one of the most lucrative races to win!
The Preakness Stakes
May is a busy month for US horse racing fans and the third Saturday each year sees The Preakness Stakes take place. This race has its own history stretching back to 1873 and is one of the oldest events in all of horse racing.
Taking place at the Pimlico track in Baltimore, the race is run over 1 3/16 miles on a dirt track and is the second part of the famous Triple Crown. It comes with a $1 million prize purse and is normally the second most popular US race¾behind the Kentucky Derby.
Belmont Stakes
In terms of races with the most history behind them, the Belmont Stakes is hard to beat. This race was first run in 1867 and is known as ‘The Test of the Champion’. Taking place at Belmont Park in New York on the first or second Saturday of June each year, it is the final Triple Crown race.
The race is run on a dirt track and lasts for just over 1 mile. It is known as a real test of stamina and there have been some iconic moments in Belmont Stakes history over time. Famous winners in the past include horses such as Secretariat, Easy Goer, and Risen Star.
Grand National
There are undoubtedly some top US horse racing tracks and historic US races for fans to get their teeth into. It is also true to say though, that there are some long-running races to know about outside of US shores. These races are ideal if you fancy betting on races outside of the US circuit or fancy keeping up with what is happening in horse racing worldwide.
Perhaps the best example of this is the Grand National steeplechase, which takes place in the UK in early April each year. It is run at the famous Aintree racecourse in Liverpool and was first run in 1839. The race is actually part of a 3-day Grand National festival, which attracts huge crowds and the best horses/jockeys. The Grand National race itself runs for a touch over 4 miles on turf and has a total of 16 jumps.
Horse Racing has serious history behind it
Many people love horse racing for the fun, excitement, and thrills that it brings. It is also a sport with a long history behind it and one that contains many iconic races. If you want to get more of a handle on this, the races listed above are a key part of racing’s heritage.
