Horse Races to Play This Summer
Looking to play the ponies? Here are some horse races to play this summer.
Key Points
– The end of the Triple Crown in the U.S. marks the kickoff of the summer horse racing season.
– There are a number of big events in horse racing throughout the summer.
Horse Races to Play This Summer
Horse racing’s Triple Crown gets underway with the Kentucky Derby during the first weekend in May. The Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes follow with the Belmont marking an end and a beginning.
The running of the Belmont Stakes occurs on either the first or second Saturday in June. It marks the end of the Triple Crown, but also helps to kick off the summer racing season.
For horse racing enthusiasts and for those who are simply looking for horse races to bet this summer, read on. America’s Bookie has all your horse betting taken care of.
King George VI & Queen Elizabeth QIPCO Stakes
The King George Diamond Weekend begins on July 22. As part of the weekend’s events, the middle distance QIPCO stakes will take place. A total of 15 horses are on the race card for the 1.5-mile race at the Ascot Course.
The race is part of the British Champions Series and is one of the most prestigious open-age flat races in Britain.
Did you know we offer a ton of picks for our viewers? Check out our free horse racing picks.
Del Mar
The Del Mar racetrack in beautiful southern California kicks off its season on July 22 with a card of 10 races including the Oceanside Stakes.
The San Clemente Stakes follow on Saturday, July 23, and the first weekend of the season ends on Sunday, July 24, with the Grade III Cougar II Stakes.
It’s a different type of feel in California. The Del Mar track sits just off of the I-5 and within 3,000 feet of the Pacific Ocean. Whether you get there in person or not, their race cards are full every weekend from July through September.
The Haskell
Monmouth Park Racetrack in Oceanport, New Jersey, is home to one of the East Coast’s biggest summer horse races – “the Haskell.”
The Haskell Invitational, named for Amory Haskell, was first held in 1968. The race is a 1⅛- mile test for three-year olds.
This year’s Haskell Invitational will be held on July 23.
Our last article talked about getting ready for the 2022 Belmont Stakes. See how we did.
The Midsummer Derby – Horse Races to Play This Summer
The Travers Stakes held every year at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga, New York, picked up the moniker “Midsummer Derby” along the way. This year, Travers Day, which features the thoroughbred race, is set for August 27.
The race dates back to 1864 and has been run annually for more than 150 years. Notable past winners include Arrogate and Damascus. The course favors horses that get out fast as the Travers Stakes cover just 1¼ miles.
The prize purse is a cool $1.25 million. Bettors should take advantage of this late summer special. If you don’t know where to place a wager on the ponies, this link has you covered.
The Sussex Stakes
Each year, the most prestigious of all races held at Goodwood Racecourse in West Sussex, England, is the Sussex Stakes. It’s a Group 1 flat race open to horses aged three years and older.
It’s a quick race and favors speed. The course is exactly one mile. The race is typically held in late July or early August. This year’s edition will run on July 27.
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St. Leger Stakes
The St. Leger Stakes is a Group 1 race that serves as the final leg of the English Triple Crown. It is held annually at Doncaster Racecourse in Doncaster, U.K.
The race began in 1776 and is the oldest of Britain’s five Classic horse races. It is the final race of the Classics each year and at 1⅞ miles, it is also the longest of the five.
Like the Belmont Stakes in the U.S., the St. Leger is ideal for bettors. It’s easier to track the progress of horses as they run the 2,000 Guineaus and Epsom Derby prior to this one. Bettors gain more valuable information from the first two legs of the English Triple Crown.
This year’s St. Leger will be held on Saturday, September 10.
Older Horses to Check Out This Summer
There are a number of races this summer in the Breeder’s Cup Challenge “Win and You’re In” competition. The winner of each race gets a slot in the $6 million Classic to be held in November.
One of the races is the “Whitey” held at Saratoga. This year’s race will be held on August 6 at Saratoga Race Course. Saratoga will host another “Win and You’re In” event – the Jockey Club Gold Cup on Sept. 3.
From Saratoga in the East to Del Mar in the west and everywhere in between, there is plenty of summer thoroughbred horse racing action for any level of bettor from now until Labor Day.
Are you missing football? Don’t miss out on the Canadian Football League action. We talked about betting on the CFL!