The months of May and June are significant ones for horse racing in both the US and Europe. Major races are being held on both sides of the pond and new superstars will be created. Who will go off as the favourite to win these races? Recent weeks have seen big changes in the betting […]
When horse-racing fans make their way into Pimlico Race Course on Saturday for the 147th Preakness Stakes in Baltimore, they should be walking by a statue of Spectacular Bid and touching it for luck just as Baltimore Ravens fans do when they pass by Johnny Unitas' statue at M&T Bank Stadium.
And just like that, the Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing is over.
Essential Quality won the Belmont Stakes Saturday evening. The Brad H. Cox-trained colt came in fourth in the Kentucky Derby. He also did his lineage proud, becoming the fourth Belmont winner to be sired by Tapit.
The Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes still didn t look quite as they usually do in 2021 as measures were taken to mitigate COVID-19, but things certainly felt more normal than in 2020, when the three legs of the Triple Crown were run out of order: Belmont Stakes in late June, Kentucky Derby in early September and Preakness Stakes in October.
The Belmont Stakes is known as “The Test of the Champion” mostly due to its marathon distance and status as the final leg of the grueling Triple Crown.