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When people think of the pinnacle of American sporting events, attention naturally turns towards the Super Bowl, NBA Finals, Stanley Cup and World Series. And it's easy to see why those four are the crown jewels of stateside sports. Patrick Mahomes delivered one of the all-time great performances in the former of the four last month as he guided the Kansas City Chiefs to a dramatic second straight Lombardi. But outside of them, what else is there to get excited about? 

Well, horse racing has been around for literal centuries, and few traditions are as steeped in history and prestige as the Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing, a trifecta of the country's most challenging races: the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness Stakes, and the Belmont Stakes. 

The Kentucky Derby

The Kentucky Derby, often referred to as "The Most Exciting Two Minutes In Sports," is the first jewel in the Triple Crown. Held annually at Churchill Downs in Louisville on the first Saturday in May, the Derby has been run every year since 1875. While the best odds horse racing betting providers currently have all their eyes on the UK's upcoming Cheltenham Festival, their attention should soon turn to this 1.25-mile showdown and its field of 20 horses, making it one of the most competitive and unpredictable races in the series.

The prize fund for the epic showdown has steadily increased over the years, with the 2023 pot rising to $3m, of which the eventual winner Mage received $1.86m. The Derby is famous not only for its sporting significance but also for its cultural impact. It is a day of extravagant hats, mint juleps, and the singing of "My Old Kentucky Home." 

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The Preakness Stakes

Two weeks after the Kentucky Derby, the action moves to the Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland, for the Preakness Stakes. Established in 1873, the Preakness is slightly shorter than the Derby, at a distance of 1 3/16 miles. The race is known for its festive atmosphere, encapsulated by the infield party and the tradition of draping the winning horse in a blanket of Black-Eyed Susans, Maryland's state flower. This one also carries a significant purse, with the 2023 prize fund totalling $1.5 million. 

The Belmont Stakes

The final and most demanding race of the Triple Crown is the Belmont Stakes, held at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York, three weeks after the Preakness. Known as "The Test of the Champion," the Belmont Stakes challenges horses with its gruelling 1.5-mile course, the longest of the three races. Since its inception in 1867, the Belmont has been the ultimate proving ground for Thoroughbreds, with its winners celebrated for their endurance and heart.

The Belmont Stakes boasts a purse comparable to the Preakness, with the 2023 prize fund also set at $1.5 million. Victory in the Belmont is a testament to a horse's versatility, stamina, and sheer will to win, qualities exemplified by past champions such as Secretariat, whose 1973 victory by an astonishing 31 lengths as a 1/10 favourite remains one of the greatest performances in horse racing history.