American Horse Racing Guide

American horse racing has become a popular betting option in the UK over recent years. The evening television coverage has helped and there are fairly strong markets on the betting exchanges. Most traditional bookmakers now also offer markets on these meetings.

In the USA, races can occur on flat surfaces of either dirt or grass. American thoroughbred races are run at a wide variety of distances, most commonly from 4.5 furlongs to 1½ miles. Horses are bred to excel at the full range of these distances.

The high point of US horse racing has traditionally been the Kentucky Derby which, together with the Preakness Stakes and the Belmont Stakes, form the Triple Crown for three-year-olds. The Breeders Cup, held at the end of the year, is now challenging when it comes to which races determine the true champions of the season.

American betting on horse racing is similar to UK Tote betting and is legal only through parimutuel gambling. The US Congress recently passed new laws that effectively stop credit card transactions in online gambling. This has caused most online gambling firms to suspend business with US residents. The new law makes it illegal for credit card companies to collect payments for online gaming transaction.

The three most common ways to bet money are: bet to win, bet to place, and bet to show. Bet to win means that you stake money on the horse, and if it comes in first place, the bet is a winner. In bet to place, you are betting on your horse to finish either first or second and 'show' is first, second or third. Show returns are generally quite low but are obviously safer than win only bets.

Kentucky Derby

The Kentucky Derby is a Grade I stakes race for three-year-old thoroughbred horses, staged annually in Louisville, Kentucky on the first Saturday in May, during the two week Kentucky Derby Festival. The race currently covers one and a quarter miles at Churchill Downs; colts and geldings carry 126 pounds, fillies 121 pounds.

The race is also known as "The Run for the Roses" for the blanket of 554 red roses awarded to the winner. It is the first leg of the Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing in the United States.

Preakness Stakes

The Preakness Stakes is a prestigious Grade 1 stakes race over 1 and 3/16 miles for three-year-olds, held on the third Saturday in May of each year at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland.

The Preakness Stakes has been termed "The Run for the Black-Eyed Susans" because a horseshoe of black-eyed susans (Rudbeckia hirta), the state flower of Maryland, is traditionally placed around the winner's neck.

The race is the second and shortest leg in thoroughbred racing's Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing, and almost always attracts the Kentucky Derby winner

Belmont Stakes

The Belmont Stakes is a prestigious Grade 1 stakes race held yearly in June at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. The race is the third leg of the Triple Crown, following five weeks after the Kentucky Derby, and three weeks after the Preakness Stakes.

The Belmont Stakes is called the "Run for the Carnations" because of the blanket of white carnations that are draped over the winner's neck.

Because of its length (one lap around the enormous Belmont main track), and because it is the final race of the Triple Crown, it is called the "Test of the Champion".

Where to watch and bet?

At The Races provide comprehensive coverage of American Horse Racing from around 5pm each evening. There website also gives racecards and some race previews.

Betfair is the best place to get traditional prices most meetings, or you can bet into the pools via BlueSq.