A Horse Racing Event Like No Other
When it comes to professional horse racing there is no event like the Triple Crown series. These three races are contested over a period of less than six weeks. Only 13 horses in over 100 years have managed to win all three races and claim horse racing’s most prestigious crown.
The Triple Crown begins each year with the Kentucky Derby on the first Saturday in May. By the end of the series millions of dollars will have been wagered with online racebooks. Millions more will have been bet at live horse racing tracks. If you are preparing to play the Triple Crown, now is the time to get ready and begin making a betting plan.
Bettors love the Triple Crown because it draws so many players. The pools for each of these races can be massive. Bigger pools means a bigger payout for you. There are also special racing pools and wagers which can be offered for these big horse racing days.
The Races of the Triple Crown
Our 2022 Triple Crown Preview now takes a look at each of the individual races that are in the series. We begin with the Kentucky Derby.
The 2022 Kentucky Derby will be held at the legendary Churchill Downs on May 7, 2022. Per tradition, the race is held on the first Saturday in May each year. During the Covid-19 pandemic some adjustments were made to all the races of the Triple Crown. This year, the race returns to its normal day beneath the famous Twin Spires.
The Kentucky Derby will feature the best 3-year old race horses in the world. A field of 20 horses will compete to see who can win the most exciting two minutes in sports. The race is 1 ¼ miles long. The horses in the race will be trying this distance for the first time.
The next race in the series is the Preakness Stakes. This race will be ran on Saturday, May 21, 2022 at Pimlico Racecourse in Baltimore, Maryland. At just 1 3/16 miles, the Preakness is the shortest race of the Triple Crown series. The Preakness usually features the winner of the Kentucky Derby in addition to other horses that ran in the race. New horses may also enter the fray.
Finally, the Triple Crown series will conclude on Saturday, June 11, 2022. The site of the Belmont Stakes is Belmont Park in New York. This race is often referred to as the Test of the Champion. It is the longest of the three events and is ran at a grueling distance of 1 ½ miles. It is the longest race that many of the horses in the series will ever run in their entire career.
To win the Triple Crown, a single horse must win all three events in the same year. A look at the schedule is enough to reveal why this feat has only been accomplished on 13 occasions.
Top Contenders for the Triple Crown
Each year the horses which are being trained for a run in the Triple Crown are entered in prep races. These races are used to earn points which qualify the horses to start in the Kentucky Derby. Horses must also be nominated as foals by their breeders or owners to qualify for the Triple Crown.
As the Kentucky Derby approaches in 2022, a few horses have made a name for themselves on the trail. These are:
- Epicenter
- Messier
- Taiba
- Zandon
- Smile Happy
Of all the choices on the list above, Smile Happy stands out as a possible longshot contender. The horse has performed well in the Blue Grass Stakes and other events, and Smile Happy seems to be peaking at just the right time.
The formal draw for the Kentucky Derby post positions will be conducted about a week before the race is held. At that point bettors will know more about which horses are sure to enter the event.
Major News Regarding a Legendary Race Horse Trainer
One of the major stories of our 2022 Triple Crown preview is the suspension of horse trainer Bob Baffert. As of April 2022, Bob Baffert has been suspended in all of the racing jurisdictions where the Triple Crown races are held.
Baffert was found to have administered illegal medications to the winner of last year’s Kentucky Derby, Medina Spirit. The case is still making its way through the courts, but Baffert’s challenges to the accusations have all been denied. The suspensions have been upheld, and Baffert has transferred his horses to the care of other trainers.
The disappointing thing here is that Bob Baffert has trained the last two Triple Crown winners. He is regarded as the most successful trainer of the modern era in horse racing. However, his name has now been tainted by the charges against him. 2022 will be the first Kentucky Derby in many years that has not featured the silver-haired Baffert in the Churchill Downs paddock.
Attending or Watching the Triple Crown
It is a dream for many individuals to attend the Triple Crown races in person. If you happen to live close to these venues, good luck on your trip. The cost of tickets can be very high, and accommodations are also expensive.
You can expect to pay anywhere from $100-$1,000 or more just to attend the Kentucky Derby. The same applies for the other races. Infield seating is usually the least expensive. Grandstand seating and box seats are higher, with seats in the famous Millionaire’s Row of Churchill Downs topping the list.
The infield at some of the races can be a rowdy place, so be prepared to deal with crowds that like to celebrate with drink. If it rains, the infield at Pimlico can become a muck. Bring your boots and rain gear. In the past it has even spawned impromptu mud wrestling matches!
There can be dress codes enforced at tracks like Belmont Park. You should check the track website to see the requirements. If you are a lady, don’t forget your fancy hat! There are hats sold in Kentucky during Derby week that can go for hundreds of dollars!
Watching on television or at your favorite online racebook could be a much better option, especially if you happen to live far away.
Horse Racing Betting Online
In our opinion, the best way to wager on the Kentucky Derby is with an online racebook. You don’t have to leave home and fight the crowds on Derby Day. All you need is a laptop, desktop, or mobile device. The entire betting menu is in the palm of your hand.
Another advantage of betting with an online racebook is that these racebooks like to give out generous bonuses at this time of the year. You can get a bonus just for signing up and making your first deposit. Many racebooks will give you a matching bonus that matches your deposit 100%. You can then use that free money to make your bets on Kentucky Derby day.
Thanks for taking the time to read our 2022 Triple Crown preview! We hope that you find success and that you visit EZ Horse Betting often for the latest horse racing betting tips. Check our Bovada racebook review, or AmWager review & 5Dimes review for folks outside the US as 5 dimes does not have a U.S.A license yet!
