Churchill Downs
Dirt · Turf
Louisville, KY
Kentucky Derby (1st Sat May)
Opened 1875. Spring + fall meets. Dirt is the headline surface but the Matt Winn turf course hosts important grass stakes.
Track profile →Saratoga Race Course
Dirt · Turf
Saratoga Springs, NY
Travers Stakes (late Aug)
The summer destination — 40-day meet July through Labor Day. Known for upsets ('graveyard of favorites') and elite Grade 1 stakes including the Whitney + Travers.
Track profile →Del Mar
Dirt · Turf
Del Mar, CA
Pacific Classic (early Sep)
California summer meet 'Where the turf meets the surf.' Ran Sinatra used to sing about it. Hosts the Breeders' Cup periodically.
Track profile →Belmont Park
Dirt · Turf
Elmont, NY
Belmont Stakes (early Jun)
Final leg of the Triple Crown. 1½-mile dirt main track is the longest of any Thoroughbred track in North America.
Track profile →Pimlico Race Course
Dirt · Turf
Baltimore, MD
Preakness Stakes (3rd Sat May)
Second leg of the Triple Crown. Aging facility with major renovation in motion. Tighter track than Churchill or Belmont; speed plays well.
Track profile →Santa Anita Park
Dirt · Turf
Arcadia, CA
Santa Anita Derby (early Apr)
Winter + spring meets in Southern California. Important Derby prep races in late winter culminate in the Santa Anita Derby — historically a strong lead-in to Churchill.
Track profile →Keeneland
Dirt · Turf
Lexington, KY
Blue Grass Stakes (early Apr)
Boutique meets in April + October — only ~32 race days a year, which makes the field quality unusually high. Major Breeders' Cup host.
Track profile →Gulfstream Park
Dirt · Turf
Hallandale Beach, FL
Florida Derby (late Mar)
Year-round racing. Florida Derby is the major southeast Derby prep — produced 24 Kentucky Derby winners.
Track profile →