Is there a Major League for Horse Racing? How do you follow it? WHat are the Big time Races?

Question

There are some small gambling parks around the Midwest but how do you best follow the major races of the year? Is it worth going to a race? Possible Future Fan.

Answer 1

The major leagues of horse racing are:

Southern California circut minus Fairplex

NYRA

Kentucky circut minus Turfway

In that order

Answer 2

The beauty of being a horseracing fan is that there are races all over the world and it is run year round so whenever you want you can just turn on the tube (HRTV) and get your fix.  Of course, going to the track gets you started in horse racing.  You learn the lingo and meet some of the people (some are real characters).  Also, remember that along with thoroughbred racing are harness racing, Quarterhorse racing, Arabian horse racing, and Steeplechase racing.

These are just examples of some of the races one could catch.

The granddaddy of them all (in the US):

Breeders Cup Classic (this year will be on Oct 25)

The Triple Crown Chase (only for three year olds):

Kentucky Derby (first Saturday in May).

Preakness Stakes (two weeks later)

Belmont Stakes (three weeks after the Preakness)

Some of the more popular in the US (Grade 1):

Travers (in late August)

(Just about every state that has horseracing has a Stakes race.)

Florida Derby

Illinois Derby

Big races outside around the world:

St. Leger (Brit)

The Derby (Brit)

The Oaks (Brit -for fillies)

(Ascot) Gold Cup and King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes (Britain)

2,000 Guineas and 1,000 Guineas (springtime classics)

Grand National (steeplechase racing)

Irish Derby

Prix de l‘Arc de Triomphe (Paris, France)

Cheltenham Gold Cup (also steeplechase)

Japan Cup

Dubai World Cup (more money-attracts better horses)

Melbourne Cup (biggest in Australia)

The NTRA’s website gives you a month by month breakdown of the racing schedules in the US and on what channel they will be on.

http://www.ntra.com/races_index.aspx

~Go Big Brown!~

Answer 3

The most prestige races are for the Triple Crown, consisting of these three races:

Kentucky Derby, run over 1.25 miles (2.01 km) at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky;

Preakness Stakes, run over 1.1875 miles (1.91 km) at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland;

Belmont Stakes, run over 1.50 miles (2.41 km) at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York.

Answer 4

The 'Major League' of horse racing is actually the Breeders Cup.  http://www.breederscup.com/  It includes, with some new additions, 14 races or divisions:  the Classic, the Turf, the Ladies' Classic (used to be known as the Distaff), the Mile, the Sprint, the Filly and Mare Turf, the Juvenile, the Juvenile Fillies, the Dirt Mile, the Juvenile Turf, the Filly and Mare Sprint, the Marathon, the Juvenile Fillies Turf, and the Turf Sprint.  These races are reserved for the TOP horses in each category, and entry is soley upon invitation.  Leading up to the Breeders Cup is a series of races, often prep races for the Breeders Cup that are part of the Breeders Cup Challenge, where 'win and you're in'.  Thus the winning horse is immediately included in the division that the race it won was for.

Answer 5

The NTRA is a good site that will keep you informed of the major races.

http://www.ntra.com/

Answer 6

The other answers are all at least partially right.  The top races are classed into Grades I, II and III.  The Triple Crown, Breeders Cup and others like the Travers are Grade I, the highest grade.  The NTRA site will tell tell you the grades and the dates of these races.

Answer 7

For 3 year olds in early spring you start watching the various state derbys.  Yeah, Kentucky is not the only one, just the most famous  but you've got Florida, Arkansas, there is also the Santa Anita and the Wood Memorial.  Watch these and you'll get a feel for who has a chance at the Kentucky Derby and possible go on to the Preakness and Belmont.

Also tune in to Breeders Cup day and watch the Juvenile and the Classic.