An Overview of Horse Racing
For thoroughbred horse racing fans, four major events stand out: the Triple Crown events of the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes; and the Breeders’ Cup, an entire day of racing in various divisions.
Over the years, 11 horses have claimed the prestigious Triple Crown of thoroughbred racing. However, there has not been a winner of all three races since Affirmed turned the trick in 1978 -- resulting in a drought of 28 years, the longest such gap ever. Since then, nine horses have won both the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes, only to fall short in the Belmont. The most recent of these was Smarty Jones, who captured the nation’s fancy in 2004.
Harness racing -- trotters and pacers -- also has its fans. In trotting races, a horse’s opposing foreleg and hind leg move at the same time; while in pacing races, the fore and hind legs on the same side move at the same time. Harness racing has its prestigious races, such as the Hambletonian for trotters, held at the Meadowlands, and the Little Brown Jug in Ohio for pacers.