The 13 Biggest Horse Races in the United States

Last updated: April 30, 2026

By: Miles HenryFact Checked

Watching elite athletes compete at the highest level is always special. In horse racing, it hits differently when you see Thoroughbreds doing exactly what they’re bred and trained to do. If you’re a racehorse owner like me — or just a fan of the game — the biggest horse races are where we all dream of competing.

The calendar is a lot bigger than the first Saturday in May. The U.S. racing season really revolves around a handful of key races that define the sport each year — from the Triple Crown to modern million-dollar targets.

When I put this list together, I looked at a mix of purse money, history, Grade 1 status, and how much each race actually matters in the championship picture.

Here’s a breakdown of the 13 biggest horse races in the country and why each one matters.

purse size, or what it means on the road to the championships.

1. The Kentucky Derby

The Kentucky Derby is the undisputed king of American racing. Run annually since 1875, it is the longest continuously held sporting event in the United States, predating both the World Series and the Super Bowl.

Every year on the first Saturday in May, over 150,000 fans gather at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky, to watch a full field of 20 horses compete for a chance to win the iconic gold trophy. As the first leg of the Triple Crown, the race is strictly for three-year-old Thoroughbreds and is contested over 1 ¼ miles on the dirt.

2. The Breeders’ Cup Classic

While the Kentucky Derby is the most famous race, the Breeders’ Cup Classic is the most definitive. The Breeders’ Cup is an annual two-day event that rotates between premier U.S. tracks each year, bringing together the absolute best horses from around the world.

The centerpiece is the $7 million Breeders’ Cup Classic. Run over 1 ¼ miles, it pits the top three-year-olds from the Triple Crown trail against older, more physically mature racehorses. The winner of this race almost always locks up Horse of the Year honors.

Legendary horses like American Pharoah, Flightline, and Zenyatta have all delivered career-defining performances in the Classic. It is truly a horse racing fan’s dream.

3. The Pegasus World Cup

The Pegasus World Cup takes place annually in late January at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Florida. Open to horses four years of age and older, it is run at a distance of 1 1/8 miles (9 furlongs).

While it briefly held the title of the world’s richest race with a $16 million purse, the race now features a highly competitive $3 million prize pool. In 2026, the Pegasus gained even more prestige by officially joining the Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” Challenge Series, meaning the winner earns an automatic, fees-paid berth into the Breeders’ Cup Classic.

Since its inaugural running in 2017, the race has been dominated by superstars like Arrogate, Gun Runner, and Knicks Go.

4. The Preakness Stakes

The Preakness Stakes is the second leg of the Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing, typically held two weeks after the Kentucky Derby. It is run at a slightly shorter distance of 1 3/16 miles.

Traditionally held at the historic Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, the Preakness is the pride of Maryland racing. While the event occasionally shifts to nearby Laurel Park to accommodate major facility rebuilds, its prestige never wavers. Regardless of which Maryland track hosts the event, the Preakness remains one of the most critical races for three-year-olds in North America.

5. The Belmont Stakes

The Belmont Stakes is the third and final leg of the Triple Crown. Nicknamed “The Test of the Champion,” it is traditionally run over a grueling 1 ½ miles at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York.

However, during periods of major renovation at Belmont Park, the race temporarily relocates upstate to the historic Saratoga Race Course. Because of Saratoga’s track configuration, the distance during these relocated editions is shortened to 1 ¼ miles.

Even with the temporary location and distance changes, winning the Belmont remains one of the highest honors in American racing, especially if a Triple Crown is on the line.

6. The Travers Stakes

The Travers Stakes is a Thoroughbred horse race held annually in August at Saratoga Race Course in New York. Often called the “Midsummer Derby,” it is the premier late-summer race for three-year-olds.

First held in 1864, the Travers is run over 1 ¼ miles on dirt and routinely draws the winners of the Triple Crown races as they prepare for the Breeders’ Cup. Because the grueling Triple Crown trail often leaves horses exhausted, the Travers frequently produces massive upsets.

Many notable horses have won the Travers Stakes, including Man o’ War, Secretariat, and Arrogate.

7. The Arlington Million

The Arlington Million is a historic turf race with a complicated modern history. First run in 1981 at the now-closed Arlington Park in Illinois, it was famously the first Thoroughbred race to offer a $1 million purse.

Following the closure of Arlington Park, the prestigious summer turf contest was moved to Churchill Downs, where it continues to be contested in August over 1 1/8 miles on the turf course.

As a Grade I stakes race for horses three years old and up, it remains a “Win and You’re In” qualifier for the Breeders’ Cup Turf, attracting top European challengers.

8. The Arkansas Derby

The Arkansas Derby is a Grade I horse race held annually in late March or early April at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Arkansas. Open to three-year-old colts and geldings, it is run over 1 1/8 miles on dirt.

Offering a $1.25 million purse, it is one of the final major prep races on the road to the Kentucky Derby. A strong finish here guarantees a horse enough qualifying points to run at Churchill Downs.

Notable winners of the Arkansas Derby include American Pharoah (2015), Smarty Jones (2004), and Curlin (2007).

9. The Santa Anita Handicap

Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California, is one of the most picturesque racetracks in the world, and “The Big ‘Cap” is its signature event.

First run in 1935, the Santa Anita Handicap is a Grade 1 dirt race for horses aged four and up. Contested over 1 ¼ miles, it was historically the West Coast’s most important early-season target for older horses.

Past winners include some of the most iconic horses in American history, including John Henry, Affirmed, and the legendary Seabiscuit.

10. The Pacific Classic Stakes

The Pacific Classic is the premier summer event on the West Coast, held annually at the famous Del Mar Racetrack (“Where the Turf Meets the Surf”) in California.

Open to thoroughbreds three years old and up, it is run over a distance of 1 ¼ miles on dirt and offers a massive $1 million purse. The Pacific Classic is a key “Win and You’re In” qualifier for the Breeders’ Cup Classic.

Since its inception in 1991, the race has produced incredible moments, none more famous than Cigar’s shocking defeat to Dare and Go in 1996, and Flightline’s jaw-dropping 19-length victory in 2022.

11. The Haskell Stakes

The Haskell Stakes is a Grade 1 horse race held annually in July at Monmouth Park in New Jersey. Open exclusively to three-year-old horses, it is run at 1 1/8 miles on the dirt.

With a $1 million purse, it is the primary summer rival to the Travers Stakes. Because it occurs earlier in the summer, it often serves as the first major race where the Triple Crown stars face off against horses who skipped the spring classics to develop at their own pace.

The Haskell has been won by legendary horses, including Rachel Alexandra, Skip Away, and American Pharoah.

12. The Kentucky Oaks

The Kentucky Oaks is the premier race for three-year-old fillies in the United States. Held annually at Churchill Downs on the Friday before the Kentucky Derby, it is run over 1 1/8 miles on the dirt.

With a massive $1.5 million purse, the Oaks ensures that owners and trainers target the race with their absolute best young females. The day itself has become a massive cultural event, with attendees traditionally wearing pink to support breast cancer and ovarian cancer awareness.

As a result, the Kentucky Oaks always attracts a deep and competitive field, and its winners often go on to dominate the older mare divisions the following year.

13. The All-American Futurity

Not every massive horse race features Thoroughbreds. The All-American Futurity is the richest and most prestigious Quarter Horse race in the world. Held annually on Labor Day at Ruidoso Downs in New Mexico, it is restricted to two-year-old Quarter Horses.

Run at a blistering sprint distance of 440 yards, the race is over in roughly 21 seconds. Despite the short distance, the purse is worth a staggering $3 million.

The All-American Futurity is the culmination of a massive trial process involving hundreds of horses. Only the ten fastest qualifiers make the final, ensuring the field features some of the world’s fastest horses at a full sprint.

FAQs About Major US Horse Races