The Kentucky Derby kicks off the Triple Crown and in style.

Considered as the best thoroughbred race in North American, "The Run for the Roses" is met with an abundance of fan-fare and the field of 20 always have a dream of winning the Triple Crown. 

Held at Churchill Downs in May, the Kentucky-based race is run over 2000m and is the first stepping stone to becoming the next Triple Crown winner.  

The Preakness Stakes can often be easier to win than the Derby, because most of the Derby field has given up hope on the Triple Crown. 

Held at Pimlico in Baltimore, the Preakness is a slight drop in distance to 1900m, which doesn't make much of a difference for the Derby runners but it does make a difference for the Belmont Stakes. 

With a field of only 14 runners, the Preakness is a more select field and Derby winners always run as the short favourite.

"The Test of the Champion" is a good way to describe the Belmont Stakes, which has a knack of upset results. 

The rise to 2400m catches most Triple Crown contenders out as the other two legs of the Triple Crown are run at much harder pace. 

The drop is distance from 2000m to 1900m for the Preakness Stakes is what makes it so tough to win the Triple Crown and the staying distance of the Belmont Stakes is too much to handle. 

Some thoroughbreds target the New York feature which also makes winning the Triple Crown that much harder.