The Best Performances in Horse Racing Events in 2022 So Far
There have been lots of great performances at various major horse racing events around the world so far in 2022. Here we will be taking a quick look at just three of the best performances, which include this year's Kentucky Derby winner, the Belmont Stakes winner, and the Grand National winner. The Kentucky Derby took place on May 7th at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky, and the winner of this event was Rich Strike, who was ridden by Sonny Leon and trained by Eric Reed.
Mo Donegal, who was ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr. and trained by Todd Pletcher, won the Belmont Stakes at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York, on June 11th, and Noble Yeats, ridden by Sam Waley-Cohen, and trained by Emmet Mullens, won the Grand National on April 9th at the Aintree Racecourse in Aintree, Merseyside, England. Let's take a quick look at each of these major sporting events, all of which see today's biggest horse racing betting sites take millions of pounds in bets each day.
The Kentucky Derby
The Kentucky Derby is a race that takes place every year, usually in early May, at Churchill Downs, which is in Louisville, Kentucky, U.S. It's a left-handed track for thoroughbreds, and the race covers a distance of 1 ¼ mile, which is the equivalent to 10 furlongs or 2 km. It was the 148th running of the Kentucky Derby this year, and it's classed as a Grade I stakes race for three-year-olds.
It's one of the most iconic horse races in the world today, and it all started back in 1875. This year's winner was Rich Strike, who netted a cool $1,860,000 of the Kentucky Derby's $3 million purse. Some of the other famous horses that have won over the years are noted Triple Crown winners, such as Justify (2018), American Pharaoh (2015), Affirmed (1978), Seattle Slew (1977), Secretariat (1973), and War Admiral (1937), to name just a few. A Triple Crown winner is a horse that has won the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, and Belmont Stakes all in the same year.
The Belmont Stakes
The Belmont Stakes is another iconic U.S. horse race that's held every year. It's also a Grade I stakes race for three-year-old thoroughbreds, and the first race took place in 1867. The left-handed racecourse is based at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York, U.S, and it covers a distance of 1 ½ mile (12 furlongs). This year's winner was Mo Donegal, who ended up walking away with $800,000 of the Belmont Stakes' $1.5 million purse. Triple Crown winners from the past who have won this race are Justify (2018), American Pharaoh (2015), Affirmed (1978), Seattle Slew (1977), Secretariat (1973), Citation (1948), Assault (1946), and Whirlaway (1941).
The Grand National
The Grand National is one of the oldest and most recognised horse races in the world. It takes place annually, usually in April, at the Aintree Racecourse in Aintree, Merseyside, England. It's a left-handed Steeplechase course for Seven-years-old and up, and it's run over a distance of 4 miles and 514 yards (which is just over 6.9 km). The winner of this year's Grand National was Noble Yeats, who took home £561,300 of the £1,000,000 purse.
Some of the most famous winners of the Grand National are Tiger Roll, who won two years in a row (first in 2018 and then again in 2019), as well as 66/1 Auroras Encore (2013), and 100/1 Mon Mome (2009). One of the most famous winners in history is Red Rum, who won an unprecedented three times (in 1973, 1974, and then again in 1977), plus there was also L'Escargot's famous win in 1975, and 100/1 Foinavon's incredible win in 1967.