Major Races

Here are landmark events on the racing calendar and what makes them special.

Kentucky Derby

First Saturday in May · 1¼ miles · 3-year-olds

“The Run for the Roses” at Churchill Downs. The first leg of the U.S. Triple Crown.

Preakness Stakes

Mid-May · 1 3/16 miles · 3-year-olds

Second Triple Crown leg at Pimlico, known for its intense pace and tight turns.

Belmont Stakes

Early June · 1½ miles · 3-year-olds

The “Test of the Champion” at Belmont Park—the longest Triple Crown race.

Breeders’ Cup

Late Oct/Nov · Multiple distances · All ages

Two days of championship races rotating among premier tracks in the U.S.

Melbourne Cup

First Tuesday in Nov · 2 miles

Australia’s “race that stops a nation,” a staying test with global entries.

Royal Ascot

June · Ascot, UK

A royal-attended festival of elite turf racing and fashion traditions.