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It’s that time of the season again horseplayers! The second leg of the 2008 Triple Crown is coming up on May 17 - The Preakness Stakes, followed by the Belmont Stakes on June 7. The favorite, Big Brown, won the first leg - The Kentucky Derby.

As always the biggest question regarding this year's Triple Crown is whether or not Big Brown will be the first since the great Affirmed in 1978 to sweep all three races.

What makes the Triple Crown so exciting? Three different races, at three different distances, on three of America’s historic racetracks - - that’s what!

Here are the three Triple Crown races, their race dates, and the reasons why they provide the true test of any three year old horse in the world.

Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville, KY – May 3rd, 2008 - - The granddaddy of them all is actually the most famous horse race in the world. It’s the first true “classic” test for any three-year old colt or filly. Run at 1 ¼ miles on conventional dirt, the Kentucky Derby is the race that all trainers, jockeys and owner dream about. Why? First, if you win the Kentucky Derby you are the only horse with a chance at sweeping the Triple Crown that year. Second, the winner of the Kentucky Derby automatically demands huge breeding fees. Unless, of course, you are a gelding - - ala Funny Cide. The Derby is full of “firsts”. It’s the first time these horses will go 1 ¼ miles. It’s the first, and maybe last time, these horses will face 19 other 3-year old horses in a race. It’s the first time many of these horses will run on the Churchill Downs’ racing strip. And for some like Colonel John in 2008 it’s the first time they will have the pleasure of eating real dirt while weaving their way through increasing traffic. Demanding to say the least! Big Brown won the 2008 Kentucky Derby. Eight Belles came second, but had to be put down after the race.

Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Racecourse in Baltimore, MD – May 17th, 2008 - - Run at 1 3/16th miles the Preakness is considered the “sprint” leg of the Triple Crown races. That’s not really true since a 1 3/16th is much further then 6 furlongs but it is valid since a lot of horses win on the lead in the Preakness. That has to do with the fact that Pimlico is known for its extremely tight turns. Caught wide in this race and you’ve got to be a special horse to win this race. There have been numerous horses in recent history who have won both the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness - - Funny Cide, War Emblem, Smarty Jones, Charismatic, Real Quiet and Silver Charm - - only to be foiled in the third leg of the Triple Crown - - the Belmont Stakes. Can Big Brown pull off the Derby/Preakness Double?

Belmont Stakes at Belmont Park in Elmont, NY – June 7th, 2008 - - Called the Test of Champions because of its demanding 1 ½ mile distance, the Belmont Stakes is the final leg in the Triple Crown Series. If a horse wins both the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes, then he or she has a chance to make history by winning the Belmont Stakes. It hasn’t been done since 1978. Some of the greatest race horses in history have won both the Derby and the Preakness only to lose the Belmont. War Emblem stumbled out of the gate in his Belmont try. Charismatic’s jockey, Chris Antley, made an early move that didn’t pan out in his Belmont try. The great Smarty Jones looked like a winner in the Belmont stretch before the Nick Zito trained Birdstone ran by him in the final yards. The brilliant Silver Charm didn’t even see Touch Gold on the outside of him once he had put away Free House. It takes more then just great race riding, training, class and luck to win all three races of the Triple Crown series. It takes destiny!

Triple Crown News and Betting Information

Triple Crown, starting on May 3, 2008 to June 7, 2008 is one of the biggest horse racing events in the world and at BetUS.com Sportsbook horse racing fans around the world can bet on each of the three races: Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, & Belmont Stakes. In order to get in on the online horse betting action or other sports betting events join now and start playing at BetUS.com Sportsbook in three easy steps.

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