USA Racecourse Guides

Horse racing was brought to North America by settlers in the mid-1600s. It wasn't until 1868 that the USA established their very own Stud Book and horse racing has gradually become one of the most popular sports on the continent.

Many of the world's most lucrative flat races take place in the USA, including the Breeders' Cup, the Kentucky Derby and the Pegasus World Cup. Jumps race also takes place at selected venues across the country, but it's not nearly as popular or lucrative as the action on the level.

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USA Racecourse Guides


  • Aqueduct Tips
  • Arlington Tips
  • Belmont Tips
  • Churchill Downs Tips
  • Del Mar Tips
  • Gulfstream Park Tips
  • Keeneland Tips
  • Parx Tips
  • Pimlico Tips
  • Santa Anita Tips
  • Saratoga Tips

Track History


The oldest racecourse in the USA is Freehold Raceway in New Jersey, which first staged flat racing in the 1830s. Of the more high-profile racetracks where Group One races are run, Saratoga is the oldest, having first been used for racing in 1863.

Churchill Downs racecourse, home of the Kentucky Derby, was built back in 1875. Venues like Arlington Park, Santa Anita, Keeneland and Del Mar, racecourses who has all hosted the Breeders' Cup, were built in the 1920s and '30s.

Track Characteristics


Most racecourses in the USA feature both a dirt track and a turf course. All three legs of the US Triple Crown, the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness Stakes and the Belmont Stakes are run on dirt tracks.

Some may say that all American race courses look the same, but that couldn't be further from the truth. Del Mar racecourse, for example, is incredibly tight, so a prominent early position is vitally important. In contrast, the home stretch at both Santa Anita and Saratoga is fairly long, favouring horses coming from off the pace.

Major Meetings


The first and most famous leg of the US Triple Crown is the Kentuck Derby, which is run at Churchill Downs in late April or early May. The Preakness Stakes is run at Pimlico racecourse a month later, with the Belmont Stakes taking place at Belmont Park in June.

The most famous meeting in US horse racing is the Breeders' Cup, which takes place at different racecourses around the country during the autumn. The best horses from all over the world travel to the US to battle it out in huge races like the Breeders' Cup Turf, Breeders' Cup Classic and the Breeders' Cup Mile.

USA Racing Tips


We provide extensive coverage of the Breeders' Cup every year, publishing through the card tips for each day of the meeting, along with stand-alone previews of the major races.

Free guides to races like the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes and the Pegasus World Cup can be found in the USA Racing Tips section of our website.

USA Horse Racing Live Stream


The best place to watch horse racing would be on your television, in the comfort of your own home. Sometimes, that isn't possible. Our busy lives often get in the way, and we have to watch horse racing on the go.

Visit the horse racing live streaming page on our website to find out how you can stream USA horse racing live today.