Kentucky Derby 2025: Bavert's return, news is the horse to watch
Preview of the 151st Kentucky Derby, focusing on journalism opportunities and the return of Bob Baffert.
Every year, the Kentucky Derby is held on the first Saturday in May at Churchill Downs, which is one of the most decorated events in the sport, not to mention the average horse racing.
But that's not the only thing that's known for the Kentucky Derby.
Saturday’s 151st run at the Kentucky Derby is also the start of the Triple Crown Table season, one of the toughest feats to race 19 different 3-year-olds and their jockeys each year.
As mentioned before, getting a spot in the Triple Crown category of the Record Book is one of the most famous achievements in the sport's history, as the two horses that just conquered the sport.
The difficulties and reasons for the celebrations associated with it are related to the fact that a horse and a jockey must win the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont.
Here are the Triple Crowns you need to know about entering the 2025 Kentucky Derby:
What is the Triple Crown?
The Triple Crown is considered one of the greatest achievements of horse racing, as it marks the completion of each of the three major horses in a season. The first of these three games was the Kentucky Derby, followed by the Prekness bet, and then the Belmont bet.
The origin of the term "triple crown" can be traced back to the 1920s. It wasn't until 1930 that Gallant Fox became the second ever to win the Kentucky Derby, Prekness Risk and Belmont Stocks, and it wasn't really grasped its usage until 1930.
Since then, only 11 horses have accomplished this feat in the history of the sport, and the last horse was justified in 2018. In 1919, Sir Patton was the first horse.
Which competitions constitute the triple crown in horse racing?
- Kentucky Derby
- Preakness bets
- Belmont Bet
Three games including the Triple Horse Championship include the Kentucky Derby, Prekness Bet and Belmont Bet.
Where is the triple crown in the horse racing competition?
- Kentucky Derby: Churchill Towns (1 1/4 mile)
- Preakness bets: Pimlico Racing Course (1 3/16 miles)
- Belmont Bets: Belmont Park* (1 1/2 miles)
*Belmont's bet will be held in Saratoga Racing Course in 2025
The three races that make up the Triple Crown are held at Churchill Downs in Louisville (Kentucky Derby); the Pimlico Racing Class in Baltimore (Preakness Stakes); and, in a typical year, Belmont Park in Elmont, New York.
For the second year in a row, Belmont’s bet will be held at Saratoga racing courses in Saratoga Springs, New York, thanks to the construction of Belmont Park. The distance to the Saratoga Racing Route is 1 1/8 miles.
When will the Kentucky Derby be in 2025?
- date: Saturday, May 3
- Place: Churchill Towns (Louisville)
The Kentucky Derby will be held on Saturday, May 3 at Churchill Downs, Louisville. The Kentucky Derby dates back to 1875 and is the youngest in the Triple Crown Championship.
When is the Preakness bet in 2025?
- date: Saturday, May 17
- Place: Pimlico Racing Course (Baltimore)
Preakness Stakes will be held at the Pimlico Racing Course in Baltimore on May 17 this year. Dating back to its first iteration in 1873, Preakness Stakes is the second largest of the three triple crown games, second only to Belmont bets.
When will Belmont be in 2025?
- date: Saturday, June 7
- Place: Saratoga Racing Course (Saratoga Springs, NY)
Of the three triple-winning titles, Belmont bets are always the last time they compete. The 2025 Belmont Bet will be held on Saturday, June 7 at Saratoga Springs, New York, due to the ongoing construction at Taconic State Parkway in Belmont Park.
Belmont's bet is also the oldest of all three games, as its first iteration took place in 1867, six years before the Preakness Stakes debuted, and eight years before the first Kentucky Derby.