At the onset of Triple Crown racing season is renewed optimism for a winner. Between Affirmed in 1978 and American Pharoah in 2015, there was no Triple Crown winner. However, Justify beat the horse racing odds in 2018 to win the second Triple Crown in four seasons. Now we have several legitimate contenders that could win the Triple Crown in 2022. Epicenter, Messier, Forbidden Kingdom, Smile Happy, and White Abarrio are the opening public favorites. But as history shows, the Triple Crown is one of the most difficult sporting achievements.
2022 Horse Racing – Triple Crown Season
| Kentucky Derby: | May 7, 2022 |
|---|---|
| Preakness Stakes: | May 21, 2022 |
| Belmont Stakes: | June 11, 2022 |
Odds to Win 2022 Triple Crown
| Horse | Odds |
|---|---|
| Epicenter | +500 |
| Messier | +700 |
| Forbidden Kingdom | +1000 |
| Smile Happy | +1200 |
| White Abarrio | +1200 |
| Charge It | +1400 |
| Morello | +1600 |
| Cyberknife | +1800 |
| Simplification | +1800 |
| Early Voting | +2000 |
2022 Triple Crown Horse Racing Overview
The Triple Crown goes to the horse that wins the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, and Belmont Stakes. In sum, only 13 horses have turned the Offshore bookmaker trick. The 37-year break between Affirmed and American Pharoah is the ultimate testament to the difficulty of winning the Triple Crown. Thus, every horse is a long shot at winning the Triple Crown.
The Belmont Stakes is the final leg of the Triple Crown. Also, the Belmont Stakes is the longest of the three races at a mile and a half. Consider that 23 horses have made it to the Belmont Stakes with a chance to win the Triple Crown only to fall short. That is why the Belmont Stakes is known as “The Test of the Champion.” The late great Secretariat won the 1973 Belmont Stakes by 31 lengths to clinch the Triple Crown in the most epic win in horse racing history.
Kentucky Derby
On the whole, the Kentucky Derby rates with golf’s Masters Tournament for its tradition and rituals. It is called the “Run for the Roses” because the winning horse is draped in a blanket of roses. Also, the Derby is known as “The Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports” and “The Fastest Two Minutes in Sports.”
In a similar way to the Masters Tournament, the Kentucky Derby is about tradition. The 1.25-mile race is held on the first Saturday in May. The horses parade out while fans sing “My Old Kentucky Home.” Fans are known to sip mint juleps all Derby Day. Men dress in sharp suits and shoes. At the same time, ladies wear beautiful dresses and fancy hats. The race is run at the famed Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. On the grandstand roof above the finish line are the famed Twin Spires.
Following the Kentucky Derby, the winning horse instantly becomes a favorite with the Triple Crown racing odds. The Derby-winning horse is hyped as the next great Triple Crown contender for the next two weeks. Next comes the Preakness Stakes.
Preakness Stakes
Counter to the Kentucky Derby is the much more laid-back Preakness Stakes. Known as “The People’s Race,” the Preakness Stakes’ claim to fame is its infield party. Encompassing that are a lot of drunken kids and loud bands. To summarize, the Preakness Stakes is the shortest Triple Crown race at 1 3/16 miles. Baltimore’s Pimlico Race Course is the venue.
Belmont Stakes
Belmont Park in suburban New York City hosts the 1.5-mile Belmont Stakes. Of course, the horse that wins the Kentucky Derby and Preakness is showered with attention and pressure. But with that comes a shot at immortality.