Triple Crown & Belmont Stakes for the New Horse Racing Fan

Contributed By Dave "Daily Double" Wildermuth
Posted on 6/6/15 12:21 PM

2015 Belmont Stakes

If you are new to horse racing, there has never been a better time to get into the sport than now! You may see the first Triple Crown in 37 years! If you don't know a lot about the sport, here is your guide or horse racing syllabus if you.

  • The Belmont Stakes will run at 6:50 PM Eastern Standard Time today, Saturday June 6th 2015. Its expected that around 20 million Americans will tune into this dirt track which includes 8 race horses running 1 1/2 miles counter-clockwise in Long Island. The race tends to last between 2 & 3 minutes. If you are planning on attending the race, there is a dress code which is enforced. To learn more about the dress code in each area of Belmont Park, click over here: http://www.9thrace.com/blog/how-to-dress-for-a-triple-crown-race-like-belmont-stakes.html
  • The Main attraction is American Pharoah, whose won the first two legs of the Triple Crown already. (Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes) If American Pharoah wins the Belmont Stakes, he will be the first Triple crown Winner since Affirmed did it 37 years ago!
  • The Triple Crown consists of three races: the Kentucky Derby in Louisville, the Preakness Stakes in Baltimore, and the Belmont Stakes in Elmont, New York. The races take place between May and June and are the three biggest races in the USA! If a horse wins all three, he wins the Triple Crown.
  • The first of the three Triple Crown Races began in the 1867. Belmont Stakes is the oldest of the 3 Triple Crown and was first won by Ruthless. A horse by the name of "Gallant Fox made the term "Triple Crown," popular by winning all 3 races.
  • The Triple Crown is so difficult to win for numerous reasons. In modern day racing, many horses are rested extensively before this big race. Track lengths vary between all 3 Triple Crown events with Belmont being the longest at 1 1/2 miles. And the fact that all horses have to be 3 years old makes this a small window to complete this feat! When the 3 year old rule originated, it was thought that the younger horses would be both fast and unpredictable. (Which makes betting that much funner)
  • Every horse has different betting odds to win. American Pharoah, "The Triple Crown" hopefull, is actually the favorite to win with 3-5 odds. 13 horses have tried and failed to capture the Triple Crown since 1978. For a list of the 13 horses who failed at the Triple Crown and video of the races, go here: http://www.9thrace.com/blog/the-13-horses-who-failed-at-capturing-the-triple-crown-since-affirmed-won.html
  • Jockeys ride and guide the horses around the race track. They need to be in excellent shape as they can not weigh more than 126 lbs including all equipment! Each horse racing team also has an owner who trains the horse to get him in shape and an owner who funds the whole operation. For a more detailed look at how Jockey's train and whats required, read this: http://www.9thrace.com/blog/what-skills-do-jockeys-need-and-how-do-they-train.html
  • You will notice that many horses have bizarre names. This is a long and complicated process which is governed by each Jockey Club. Jockey Clubs run Thoroughbred horse racing in the USA. There are many rules which need to be followed regarding naming a horse. You can learn more about naming a horse by reading this article: http://www.9thrace.com/blog/what-are-the-requirements-naming-a-thoroughbred-horse.html
  • There is also controvery in the sport similar to what baseball experienced a decade ago. Performance Enhancing Drugs and steriods have been linked to many horses. Some argue that horses are given drugs so that they can race injured. There is a strict "Code of Silence" in horse racing so we don't really know how deep this goes... Yet.. (check back with www.9thrace.com as we dig deeper into this hot topic)
  • One of the best parts of horse racing in the gambling aspect of it. There are numerous combinations you can bet. For example, if you bet on American Pharoah to win, he currently has 3-5 odds, and bet $100... and Amerian Pharoah wins... You would win $60.. plus your original $100 wager. For more detailed betting strategies, odds, and predictions, check out this: http://www.9thrace.com/blog/2015-belmont-stakes-post-positions-odds-predictions.html

There you have it. You are now primed and ready for the 147th running of the Belmont Stakes!

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