Horse Racing in the USA

Horse racing in the USA occur on flat surfaces of either dirt, grass, or artificial material (polytrack). Thoroughbred racing, harness racing and quarterhorse racing are all held at horse race tracks in the USA.

Horse racing with other breeds, such as Arabian horse racing, is also held albeit on a limited basis.

Thoroughbred horse racing in the USA are run at a wide variety of distances, most commonly from 5 furlongs to 1½ miles (2,414 m).

There are currently about 90 thoroughbred racing and 29 harness racing tracks scattered across the USA.

Traditionally, the Kentucky Derby has always served as the event that generates the highest level of attention among horse racing fans in the USA. The Derby (held annually at Churchill Downs), combined with the Preakness Stakes (held at Pimlico Race Track) and the Belmont Stakes (held at Belmont Park), comprise the so-called Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Horse Racing for three-year-olds. Outstanding performance in these three events has traditionally been used to gauge which horses are considered to be the best among the best.

However, the Breeders' Cup races held at the end of the year, have recently become an event that has been as highly-anticipated as the Triple Crown events. The Breeders' Cup is held at a different track every year. First staged in 1984, the Breeders' Cup has an important effect on the selection of other annual Champions.

History of Horse Racing in the USA

Important horse racing tracks in the USA were built at Saratoga Springs, New York in 1863 and at Churchill Downs, Louisville, Ky., in 1875. Belmont Park was opened in 1905 in Elmont, New York (just outside New York City ). Its mile and a half main track is the largest dirt thoroughbred race track in the world, and it has horse racing's largest grandstand.

Horse Racing USA Race Tracks

• Aqueduct Race Track
• Arlington Park Race Track place your bets here
• Belmont Park place your bets here
• Calder Race Track place your bets here
• Churchill Downs Race Track place your bets here
• Del Mar Race Track
• Delta Downs Race Track place your bets here
• Ellis Park Race Track
• Fairplex Park Race Track
• Gulfstream Park Race Track
• Hawthorne Race Track
• Hollywood Park Race Track place your bets here
• Keeneland Race Track
• Laurel Park Race Track
• Lone Star Park Race Track place your bets here
• Louisiana Downs Race Track place your bets here
• Meadowlands Race Track
• Mountaineer Race Track place your bets here
• Monmouth Park Race Track place your bets here
• Oaklawn Park Race Track
• Philadelphia Park place your bets here
• Pimlico Race Track
• Remington Park Race Track
• Santa Anita Race Track
• Saratoga Race Track
• Tampa Bay Downs Race Track
• Turfway Park Race Track