Betting on the Triple Crown

Betting on Triple Crown winners adds excitement to an already dramatic series of events. With large fields, unpredictable outcomes and high payouts, the three Triple Crown races offer some of the best action for sharp bettors. Whether you’re a longtime horseplayer or you’re new to betting on horse racing, understanding how to approach betting on the Triple Crown is key to making informed wagers.

Triple Crown Races

The Triple Crown is the ultimate prize in American horse racing, awarded to a three-year-old horse that wins the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes in a single horse racing season. These three races take place in May and early June every year. The Triple Crown is one of the most difficult series of races held in the United States.

The first horse to sweep all three races was Sir Barton in 1919, but it wasn’t until Gallant Fox repeated the feat in 1930 that the term “Triple Crown” gained traction. A string of dominant winners followed in the 1930s and 1940s, then again in the 1970s with Secretariat, Seattle Slew and Affirmed.

After a 37-year drought, American Pharoah ended the dry spell in 2015 under trainer Bob Baffert, who returned just three years later to guide Justify to another Triple Crown sweep. Winning the Triple Crown remains one of the rarest and most celebrated milestones in thoroughbred racing. The three Triple Crown events take place over five weeks at three different tracks, each with its own unique conditions:

Kentucky Derby (Kentucky)

The Kentucky Derby is the first leg of the Triple Crown. Held annually on the first Saturday in May at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky, it covers a distance of 1¼ miles. Known as “the most exciting two minutes in sport,” this race draws the largest betting handle of the year in U.S. horse racing.

The Kentucky Derby features a full field of up to 20 horses and is a fast-paced affair that demands both talent and tactical positioning from contenders. The first Kentucky Derby was run in 1875 and ever since, everyone racing is chasing a coveted spot in the Winner’s Circle.

Each year, the Kentucky Derby sets the tone for the rest of the Triple Crown series. Horses that run well often become household names overnight, while others may regroup for a stronger showing in the Preakness Stakes or Belmont Stakes. For horse racing bettors, the Kentucky Derby presents the best opportunity of the year to capitalize on a wide-open field and generous betting odds.

Preakness Stakes (Maryland)

Two weeks after the Derby, the Preakness Stakes is held at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland. The Middle Jewel of the Triple Crown is traditionally held on the third Saturday in May. This race is slightly shorter at 1 3⁄16 miles and typically features a smaller field.

While it lacks the same buildup and fanfare as the Derby, the Preakness is crucial for any Triple Crown hopeful and often favors horses with tactical speed. Over the decades, this dirt track has been the site of breakout performances by some of racing’s most legendary names.

Belmont Stakes (New York)

The Triple Crown concludes with the Belmont Stakes, the oldest race of the series. The Belmont Stakes are held three weeks after the Preakness at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. As the longest race in the series at 1½ miles, the Belmont Stakes exposes weakness, rewards endurance and occasionally delivers dramatic photo finishes as top contenders battle through the home stretch.

The third and final leg’s demanding nature is why it’s known as “The Test of the Champion,” as stamina plays a key role in this race. Fresh horses skipping the earlier legs can pose a major threat in the final stretch. For Triple Crown hopefuls, the third leg is the final and toughest hurdle. Belmont winners often need a different running style than those who succeed in the Derby or the Preakness Stakes.

Popular Triple Crown Betting Options

Racing fans can find Triple Crown futures with fixed odds for these races weeks before they begin. Closer to post-time, you can choose from a variety of pari-mutuel betting options on the Belmont Stakes, Preakness Stakes and Kentucky Derby winners:

• Win: Only one horse can win a race. This bet type is a straight wager on the first horse past the finishing post.
• Place: A bet on a horse to finish either first or second in a leg of the Triple Crown.
• Show: A straight bet on a horse to finish a race in the top three.
• Across the Board: Three bets — one on the win, one on the place and one on the show.
• Exacta: An exotic bet on the winner of the race and the runner-up, whereby you must name the exact order in which they will finish.
• Quinella: A bet on two horses to finish first and second in any order.
• Trifecta: A bet on the winner, second-place and the third horse, in that exact order.
• Superfecta: A wager on the first four horses to finish, in that exact order.

You can also place exacta or trifecta boxes, where you group various runners together and place a series of exacta or trifecta combinations. Additionally, many offshore sportsbooks allow you to place live bets on races.

Understanding Thoroughbred Racing Odds

Unlike most other sports, horse racing offers two distinct pricing models: fixed-odds futures and pari-mutuel payouts. Each presents its own strategy, risk profile and timing considerations.

Before betting on a Triple Crown winner, it’s important to understand how each system determines value. Knowing the difference between locking in odds early and betting into a live pool can significantly impact your potential returns:

Fixed-Odds Futures

Fixed-odds futures allow bettors to lock in the best odds on a horse well before race day. They are typically available weeks or even months in advance. Once a fixed-odds bet is placed, the price doesn’t change, no matter how much the market shifts leading up to the race.

This early betting format offers the potential for higher returns if you spot value before the public catches on. For example, a horse listed at +2000 a month before the Kentucky Derby might drop to +600 by post time due to strong workouts or buzz from insiders. With fixed odds, your original price stands regardless of late movement.

It’s important to note that these bets do not fall under pari-mutuel systems, so you’re betting directly against the sportsbook rather than other bettors. This setup can be advantageous for sharp players who identify mispriced contenders early in the season.

Pari-Mutuel Betting

Pari-mutuel betting is the standard system used at racetracks across the United States, including all Triple Crown races. Instead of betting against an online sportsbook, you’re wagering into a pool with other bettors. Once the race begins, the pool is closed, the track takes a cut (called the takeout) and the remaining money is divided among the winning tickets.

The odds are not fixed. They fluctuate based on how much money is bet on each horse up until post time. A horse listed to win at 10-1 in the morning could go off at 5-1 or 20-1 depending on how the public bets. This means you won’t know your exact payout until the pool is finalized.

Pari-mutuel systems are used for standard wagers like win, place and show, as well as exotics such as exactas, trifectas and superfectas. The larger the pool and the fewer winning tickets, the higher the potential payout. While less predictable than fixed-odds betting, this format can offer massive returns on under-the-radar horses and longshot combinations.

Betting on Horses to Win the Triple Crown

Wagering on the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes or Belmont Stakes offers some of the best opportunities in horse racing. These three Triple Crown races attract deep, competitive fields and massive betting pools, creating value for those who can capitalize on shifting odds.

Below, we will cover some key details that bettors should be aware of, because knowing where and how to place your bets is just as important as picking the right horse:

Best Horse Racing Betting Sites

We highly recommend using trusted betting sites for wagering on the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes online. They offer fixed-odds futures on the Triple Crown races, allowing you to gain an early edge on the horse racing betting public. You can enjoy the full menu of pari-mutuel betting lines — win, place show and so on — as race day approaches.

BookMaker is the best overall site for American Triple Crown betting. It offers very competitive fixed odds, generous promos and bonus bets, a competitive racebook rebate and a maximum payout of $100,000 on Triple Crown events. BookMaker is also a reputable offshore betting operator that always pays out on time, so it is our top choice for betting on thoroughbred horse races.

Triple Crown Betting Tips & Strategies

Betting on Triple Crown champions isn’t just about picking a horse — it’s about spotting value and adjusting to the unique demands of each race. These three races create opportunities for bettors who approach them strategically. You can incorporate these Triple Crown betting tips into your overall strategy:

• Understand the Pace & Race Shape: The Kentucky Derby often features a fast, contested pace due to its large field. Horses that rely on early speed may tire late, opening the door for strong closers. The Preakness generally has a smaller field and can favor front-runners. The Belmont tests stamina and often favors tactical runners or fresh horses skipping the first two legs.
• Bounce-Back & Regression: Horses that run huge efforts in the Derby may regress two weeks later in the Preakness. Others may skip the Derby, stay fresh and improve in Baltimore. By the time the Belmont rolls around, physical wear becomes a serious factor — look for horses trained for distance running or those who have been lightly raced during the Triple Crown stretch.
• Focus on Trip Handicapping: A horse’s finish in the last race doesn’t always tell the full story. Did it get stuck behind traffic? Break poorly? Go too wide? Reviewing replays or checking trip notes can help identify runners who were better than their result suggests.

These three events offer a rare betting landscape full of volatility and upside. Bettors who stay sharp, do their homework and adapt their strategy for each leg are in the best position to come out ahead.

How many horses have been Triple Crown winners?

It is only possible for a horse to win the Triple Crown once, as the races are restricted to three-year-olds only. The thirteen horses below were the previous Triple Crown winners:

• Sir Barton (1919)
• Gallant Fox (1930)
• Omaha (1935)
• War Admiral (1937)
• Whirlaway (1941)
• Count Fleet (1943)
• Assault (1946)
• Citation (1948)
• Secretariat (1973)
• Seattle Slew (1977)
• Affirmed (1978)
• American Pharoah (2015)
• Justify (2018)

Only one jockey, Eddie Arcaro, has won two Triple Crowns. He was aboard both winners from Calumet Farm: Whirlaway and Citation. Calumet Farm shares the record with Belair Stud, which yielded Triple Crown winners Gallant Fox and Omaha, as the most successful owners in Triple Crown history. Bob Baffert and John Fitzsimmons are the most successful trainers, having won two Triple Crowns apiece.

Conclusion

The Triple Crown stands apart from other sporting events, combining tradition, unpredictability and high-stakes horse racing action into three unforgettable races. For bettors, it’s a rare chance to engage with a fast-moving market that rewards preparation, timing and a strong read on the horses and race track conditions.

FAQ – Triple Crown