Every stakes thatmoves the handle.

1¼ miles · Dirt · $5M

Churchill Downs · First Saturday in May

The most-watched horse race in America. 20-horse field of 3-year-olds, dirt, 1¼ miles, run on the first Saturday in May at Churchill Downs.

1 3/16 miles · Dirt · $2M

Pimlico Race Course · Third Saturday in May

The middle leg of the Triple Crown, two weeks after the Derby. Smaller field (typically 8–10) on a tighter track at Pimlico.

1½ miles · Dirt · $2M

Belmont Park · Early June

The 'Test of the Champion' — at 1½ miles it's the longest of the three. Three weeks after the Preakness so fresh horses get a real shot.

1 1/8 miles · Dirt · $1.5M

Churchill Downs · Eve of the Kentucky Derby (Friday)

The premier 3-year-old fillies race, run the day before the Derby at Churchill Downs. The fillies' equivalent of the Derby in stature.

1¼ miles · Dirt · $7M

Rotates (Del Mar / Santa Anita / Keeneland / Churchill) · Saturday of Breeders' Cup weekend (early Nov)

The richest North American dirt race — the year-end championship that crowns Horse of the Year more often than any other single race.

1½ miles · Turf · $5M

Rotates (host track) · Saturday of Breeders' Cup weekend

The longest BC race — 1½ miles on turf, the championship for distance turf horses globally.

1 1/8 miles · Dirt · $2M

Rotates (host track) · Friday of Breeders' Cup weekend

The championship race for older fillies and mares on dirt — the female counterpart to the Classic.

1 mile · Turf · $2M

Rotates (host track) · Saturday of Breeders' Cup weekend

The premier turf miler championship — global field, often featuring European raiders chasing the rich purse.

6 furlongs · Dirt · $2M

Rotates (host track) · Saturday of Breeders' Cup weekend

The 6-furlong dirt championship — pure speed, often decided by a length or less.

1 1/16 miles · Dirt · $2M

Rotates (host track) · Friday of Breeders' Cup weekend

The 2yo dirt championship — the first major test of next year's Derby contenders.

1 1/8 miles · Dirt · $1.25M

Oaklawn Park · Mid-April

Oaklawn's headline Derby prep — has produced multiple Triple Crown winners in the modern era.

1 1/8 miles · Dirt · $1M

Gulfstream Park · Late March / early April

The richest and most predictive Derby prep — produced 24 Kentucky Derby winners since 1952.

1 1/8 miles · Dirt · $1M

Keeneland · Early April

The Keeneland prep — historically a strong Derby lead-in given Keeneland's main track is closest in feel to Churchill Downs.

1 1/8 miles · Dirt · $1M

Aqueduct · Early April

New York's Derby prep — produced champions like Gun Bow, Damascus, Bold Ruler, and Foolish Pleasure.

1 3/16 miles · Dirt · $1M

Fair Grounds · Late March

Fair Grounds' Derby prep — at 1 3/16 mi, the longest of the major preps, a real distance test.

1 1/8 miles · Dirt · $750K

Santa Anita Park · Early April

The west coast's premier Derby prep — produced champions like Affirmed, Alysheba, Sunday Silence, A.P. Indy, and Justify.

1¼ miles · Dirt · $1.25M

Saratoga Race Course · Late August

The 'Mid-Summer Derby' — Saratoga's signature 3yo race, run at 1¼ mi just like the Kentucky Derby.

1 1/8 miles · Dirt · $1M

Saratoga Race Course · Early August

Saratoga's premier older-horse handicap — the bridge from the spring/summer campaigns to the Breeders' Cup Classic.

1 1/8 miles · Dirt · $1M

Monmouth Park · Late July

Monmouth's signature 3yo race — the Jersey Shore's biggest day of racing, often featuring Triple Crown trail veterans.

1¼ miles · Dirt · $1M

Del Mar · Early September

Del Mar's headline race — west coast preview of the Breeders' Cup Classic, often featuring the same horses.

1800m (~1 1/8 mi) · Dirt · $20M

King Abdulaziz Racetrack · Late February

The richest horse race in the world — $20M purse, run on dirt in Riyadh, attracting global elite dirt horses.

1 1/8 miles · Dirt · $3M

Gulfstream Park · Late January

The richest race of the early calendar year — a January 1 1/8 mi dirt championship designed to anchor the Gulfstream winter meet.

Multi-distance (5 days, 30+ races) · Turf · £10M+

Ascot Racecourse · Mid-June (5-day meeting)

The crown jewel of British flat racing — 5 days of elite turf stakes attended by the British royal family.

2000m (~1¼ mi) · Dirt · $12M

Meydan · Late March

Once the world's richest race ($10M when launched in 1996), still a marquee global stop. Run on Meydan's dirt main track.

2400m (~1½ mi) · Turf · ¥1.075B

Tokyo Racecourse · Late November

Japan's premier international race — 1½ mi turf at Tokyo, drawing global champions late in the year.

3200m (~2 mi) · Turf · AU$8M

Flemington Racecourse · First Tuesday in November

The race that stops a nation — 2 miles on turf, run on the first Tuesday in November. Australia's national racing holiday.

2400m (~1½ mi) · Turf · €5M

Longchamp / ParisLongchamp · First Sunday in October

Europe's most prestigious turf race — 1½ mi, run in Paris on the first Sunday in October. The undisputed European championship.