A Guide to Horse Racing in the United States

Updated: 2025

Known as the sport of kings, horse racing has been a staple of the American sporting scene since the days when the colonies themselves answered to a king. At one point in the early 20th century, its popularity arguably rivaled that of any sport or cultural event you could name. Even today, horse racing in America is watched, attended, and wagered on by a rabid following at a variety of tracks across the country.

The appeal of horse racing in America is twofold. On the one hand, fans love to watch for the sport itself, as their favorite horses and jockeys progress through their careers and try to make a name for themselves among some of the sport's legendary stars. However, many fans also love horse racing for the variety of betting opportunities it offers.

United States Horse Racing History

Primitive forms of horse racing existed in the United States as early as 1665. But the sport as we know it didn't take shape until the late 19th century. By that time, racetracks offering thoroughbred racing were popping up all over the country, and the American Jockey Club, an organization to oversee it all, was founded in 1894. Unfortunately, those concerned about the evils of gambling tried to eradicate the sport from the American scene.

The introduction of pari-mutuel wagering in 1908 changed all that. The system reduced the need for shady bookmakers and also minimized the risk of races being fixed. While all this was happening, big races began to capture the public's imagination, especially the so-called Triple Crown.

Just as baseball has the World Series and football has the Super Bowl, horse racing has the Triple Crown. It is actually a trio of races: the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness Stakes, and the Belmont Stakes. All three races feature three-year-old horses competing for big purses, and the real excitement comes when one horse manages to sweep all three races, something that has only happened 13 times in history.

The Triple Crown

Many of these Triple Crown winners are among the sport's most recognizable stars, including legends like Secretariat, Citation, and the most recent winner, Justify. Even when there is no Triple Crown winner, the betting interest in these races is immense. In 2018 alone, $400 million was wagered on these races, with the Kentucky Derby leading the way.

The current state of Thoroughbred racing in the United States is strong, with wagering and interest strong even with all the competition for people's attention. Many older fans have followed the sport for years, having grown up with its incredible traditions. Younger fans are drawn to the excitement of the races, the grace and power of the horses themselves, and, of course, the opportunity to win money on a bet.

Horse Racing in the United States Today

It should be noted that Thoroughbred racing is not the only form of horse racing popular in the United States. Harness racing has gained a lot of attention, with horses known as Standardbreds competing for purses that often rival some of the biggest Thoroughbred races. Harness racing is unique in that the drivers (not jockeys) sit in a sulky and are pulled behind the horses instead of sitting on their backs.

Many people assume that all horse races are the same, with horses running around in circles as fast as they can before reaching the finish line. Well, that's an easy explanation, but there are actually different types of races. Horses are usually divided into the races that best suit them, so that the races are competitive and fair. Here are some of the ways they are separated.

Different Types of Thoroughbred Racing

In general, two and three-year-olds tend to race only against their peers, especially in stakes races. As they get older, age distinctions become less important, but when they are younger, this tends to be the rule. For example, only two-year-olds can run in the Breeders Cup Juvenile, and only three-year-olds can run in the Triple Crown.

Age

Again, there is no hard and fast rule that says male and female horses cannot compete against each other. For example, there have been three fillies that have won the Kentucky Derby, which is usually contested by male horses only. But for the most part, the sexes are kept separate in the sport.

Gender

Most people who casually follow the sport know that the races are run on dirt because that's the surface of the Triple Crown races. But most tracks also have a turf course on the inside of their dirt track. Although many horses race on both surfaces, there are certain horses that are specialists and prefer to race on the turf.

Surface

There are many different distances at which races are run in the United States. The two main classifications are sprint and distance. A sprint is a race that is less than a mile and usually takes the horses around only one turn. In contrast, a distance race takes the horses around two turns and goes a mile or more. As we discussed with the surface above, horses can move back and forth between races, but often specialize in one or the other.

Distance

If any horse were allowed to run in any race at any track, the result would be chaos. Horses come in all different levels of ability. Anyone expecting a two-year-old, for example, who is just beginning his career to compete on the same level as a proven stakes winner would be in for a rude awakening. The races would be filled with mismatches that would cause problems for bettors trying to find value for their money.

Classifying Horses for Racing

As a result, over time and through trial and error, a system has evolved that classifies horses to allow for fair racing. Horses can move in and out of classes, but they generally can't enter any race at random. The sport can be divided into the following three types of racing.

A claiming race is one in which every horse in the race is essentially for sale. Claiming prices are set by track officials, and any horse running in a claiming race can be claimed by an accredited owner for his or her own stable. The higher the claiming price, the more competitive the race.

Claimers

In an allowance race, a horse can only run if it meets certain performance qualifications. For example, a race may be scheduled for horses that have not won $10,000 in their last five races. In this way, racetracks ensure that horses of approximately the same level of talent compete against each other. This makes for close races and great betting opportunities when done correctly.

Allowances

A subcategory of allowance racing is maiden racing. Maiden races are limited to horses that have never won a race in their career.

These are the most high-profile of all Thoroughbred races because the purses are large and the horses that run in them are usually the best. Most stakes races require horse owners to pay a certain amount of money for their horse to race. Therefore, they are said to be betting their horse in the race. The Triple Crown is the most famous example of a stakes race.

Stakes

Although the stars of horse racing are the equine athletes who compete on the track, the sport could not exist without the contribution of the people who are experts at what they do. The most obvious of these are the jockeys, who are responsible for controlling the magnificent, powerful animals as they make their way around the track. Being a jockey is extremely difficult, not only because of the skill and timing required to win a race, but also because of weight restrictions. But the best performers are well rewarded with purse winnings and payments from owners and trainers to ride their horses.

The Human Elements of Horse Racing

Trainers are an underrated part of the sport, but bettors know how important they can be to a horse's success. A trainer is responsible for the day-to-day care of the horses, including training, feeding, and preparing them for the big races. Trainers are paid similarly to jockeys and can be very well compensated for the hard work that usually begins in the early hours of the morning each day.

The owners are the people who spend a lot of money to buy horses, often thousands of dollars at a time. In many cases, the high cost of buying horses requires several people to form a syndicate. This may seem like a high cost, but when you consider the potential rewards to the owners in terms of purses and potential breeding fees, it is often worth it.

Speaking of breeders, they are another element of the horse racing infrastructure in the United States. These individuals and organizations bring together former Thoroughbred racers and breed potential new champions. This can be one of the most lucrative parts of the entire horse racing industry.

If you've made it this far in learning about horse racing in the United States, you probably want to know how to bet on it. The most obvious way to do this is to visit a track near you. Not only will they give you the opportunity to bet on the races at the track, but you can also bet on tracks across the country and around the world via simulcasts.

Betting on Horse Racing in the United States

There are still many off-track betting sites in the United States that allow you to bet on tracks without actually going to the races. However, these sites have taken a hit with the advent of the Internet. Betting sites are everywhere on the net, giving you the opportunity to bet without ever leaving your home.

It is important to understand that many of these sites are legitimate, but some can be problematic in terms of placing your bets and collecting your winnings. Be sure to visit sites that have the industry's seal of approval. Just about every horse racing facility has its own website that allows you to bet online.

There are many different ways to bet on a horse race, from picking the winner to playing different combinations of horses in so-called exotic bets. You can bet a little or a lot, and the possibilities are endless. You can learn about the different ways to bet before you go to the track, although most racing programs offer a quick primer to help you out.

We've already talked about the Triple Crown, but what about the tracks that host them? And what about some of the other top tracks in the country? Here is a quick look at some of the best.

Famous Race Tracks

We’ve already talked about the Triple Crown, but what about the tracks that host them? And what about some of the other top tracks in the country? Here is a quick look at some of the best.