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The Triple Crown Races: Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont
Learn the three U.S. Triple Crown races, their order and distances, recent venue changes, and how the British Triple Crown differs.
The U.S. Triple Crown consists of the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes, normally run in that order. To win the Triple Crown, the same horse must win all three races in the same year. The series is for three-year-old Thoroughbreds—it is not a separate fourth race or a points championship. Churchill Downs’ Triple Crown guide identifies the three races and explains the winning sequence.
The three U.S. Triple Crown races
The table shows their traditional venues and distances. Recent temporary arrangements are explained below.
| Order | Race | Traditional venue | Traditional distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kentucky Derby | Churchill Downs, Louisville, Kentucky | 1¼ miles = 10 furlongs |
| 2 | Preakness Stakes | Pimlico Race Course, Baltimore, Maryland | 1 3/16 miles = 9½ furlongs |
| 3 | Belmont Stakes | Belmont Park, Elmont, New York | 1½ miles = 12 furlongs |
A furlong is one-eighth of a mile. In the traditional configuration, the Preakness is the shortest leg, half a furlong shorter than the Derby; the Belmont is the longest, two furlongs farther than the Derby. The distances do not increase at every step.
Recent venue and schedule changes
The race names stay the same even when their locations or conditions change:
- 2026 Preakness: it was held at Laurel Park in Maryland, rather than Pimlico, during Pimlico’s rebuilding. America’s Best Racing’s 2026 guide explains the temporary move. The distance remained 1 3/16 miles, as recorded in the 2026 race results.
- 2026 Belmont: it was held at Saratoga Race Course over 1¼ miles, rather than Belmont Park’s traditional 1½ miles, during Belmont Park’s redevelopment. NYRA Bets’ 2026 Belmont guide sets out those conditions.
- 2027 Preakness: as of October 8, 2026, the announced date is Sunday, May 23, at Pimlico. That changes the familiar two-week gap after the Derby; the official Preakness announcement describes the new schedule.
For a particular running, use that year’s race conditions rather than assuming the traditional venue, distance or spacing.
What to check on a racecard
Start with the distance, often called the trip. A Belmont form line at 10 furlongs records a different distance test from one at 12 furlongs, despite carrying the same race name. A win at the shorter trip does not by itself establish form at the longer one.
Next check the venue and track condition before comparing performances. The race title identifies the event; it does not tell you whether two editions provided comparable conditions. Our guide to reading a racecard explains how to put those fields alongside a horse’s previous form.
Is the British Triple Crown different?
Yes. In British Flat racing, the English Triple Crown is the 2,000 Guineas, the Derby and the St Leger, as BBC Sport explains. Those are different races from the American series, so check which country the reference concerns.