Horse Racing

Horse racing, the sport of kings, thoroughbred pitted against thoroughbred pounding down the turf, (or astro-turf) while thousands of punters watch on, shouting, waving tickets, praying that their horse will manage to get its nose in front before it reaches the finish line. Oh yes, like millions of others worldwide we've all been there, done that, and lost the house-keeping. Only joking.

I do, however, remember visiting a night race meeting many years ago and managing to pick 5 winners out of 6 races. Of course, my stakes were so low that it certainly wasn't going to be life changing money, (it's been said that I'd still bet each way on an action replay). When asked by a frustrated and out of pocket friend how I did it I gave him a very useful piece of advice just before the last race - pick the ones with green eyes! He was down at the paddock within 2 minutes trying his best to find a green eyed horse before someone else let him in on the joke, but that kind of explains how it goes - many people get so desperate to win that they'll believe anybody, and anything!

Of course, green eyes aside, there are millions of people all over the world who bet on horse racing day in, day out. Some do it for a bit of a diversion from their normal lives and the chance of winning a pot of money, others actually make a living from it. Whether you love horses, or just love horse racing, there's something magical about watching those well trained athletes give their all on the way to the winning post - and I don't just mean the jockeys!

And what about the ultimate achievement in US horse racing, the Triple Crown? Only 11 horses have successfully achieved this incredible feat in 130 years. Every year, three year old thoroughbreds have the chance of racing for the Triple Crown, but to do this they must win the three most prestigious horse races on the US racing calendar:

1. The Kentucky Derby - held every year on the first Saturday in May
2. The Preakness - held two weeks later (just enough time to recover from the Derby)
3. The Belmont Stakes - is just three weeks later

Just think, in those six short weeks a horse has the chance of going from zero to hero and having his name written in the history books forever. It hasn't been done since 1978 when Affirmed lifted the title.