Once upon a time in America’s history, horse racing was the sport to follow and many people were interested in the Vegas Triple Crown betting odds. While that’s no longer the case, at least not year-round, it still does peak the public’s excitement during three pivotal races — the Kentucky Derby, Belmont Stakes, Preakness Stakes, effectively called The Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing. The Triple Crown is the most prestigious and difficult series of races to win anywhere in the world, with only 13 horses accomplishing this feat in 145 years.
That almost-impossible chase for history is why these three races cause such a stir annually with fans and bettors, alike. Heck, that buzz is why you’re here, right? To get in on the action? Well, you’ve come to the right place!
The odds for the Triple Crown 2024 are not yet released and are subject to change. As we see movements with the odds we will update this page immediately. The odds were last updated on September 8, 2023:
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There have been 13 Triple Crown winners to date: Sir Barton (1919), Gallant Fox (1930), Omaha (1935), War Admiral (1937), Whirlaway (1941), Count Fleet (1943), Assault (1946), Citation (1948), Secretariat (1973), Seattle Slew (1977), Affirmed (1978), American Pharoah (2015), and Justify (2018).
The event was not even called the Triple Crown until Gallant Fox accomplished the feat in 1930. He went on to sire the next Triple Crown winner in Omaha, a feat that has not been duplicated since. Sir Barton was acknowledged as the first Triple Crown winner more than a decade after he had pulled off the feat. There was no Triple Crown winner between 1948 and 1973, with many racing authorities believing it was no longer a feat that could be accomplished. American Pharoah winning in 2015 was after 37 years, the longest drought in racing history.
Active, California-based trainer Bob Baffert won the last two Triple Crowns. Trainer James Sunny Jim Fitzsimmons accomplished a Triple Crown double in 1930 and 1935. The historic Calumet Farm – still in operation today – won it twice with Whirlaway and Citation.
Pay attention to fillies in the Triple Crown line up. No filly has won the Triple Crown or even gotten close. The two most recent female Kentucky Derby winners, Genuine Risk (1980) and Winning Colors (1988) failed to win the Preakness. No gelding has won the Triple Crown either, with Funny Cide being closest in 2003. The narrowest Triple Crown loss came with Real Quiet in 1998. The colt won the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes before losing the Belmont Stakes by a nose to Victory Gallop. The Triple Crown is one of the most difficult feats in all of sports to win, but continues to be the most sought after prize in horse racing.
Annually, the first Saturday of May is reserved for the Kentucky Derby, the first leg of the Triple Crown.
The race takes place in the famed Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. Spectators flock to the event in droves, not only to witness first-hand “the most exciting two minutes in sports” as the event has come to be known, but to also make a fashion statement with one over-the-top outfit after another.
The Derby is 1 1/4 miles long, or 10 furlongs, making it the second-longest of the three legs. The event is also nicknamed “The Run For Roses” — a nod to the garland of roses awarded to the winner (on top of millions in prize money). The race, which has been held each year since 1875, is run under the famed Twin Spires perched atop the Churchill Downs grandstand.
Leg two is the Preakness Stakes. It takes place exactly two weeks following the Kentucky Derby or the third Saturday of May. It is held at Pimlico Racecourse in Baltimore, Maryland, which has origins all the way back to 1873.
The Preakness is the shortest race of the Triple Crown at just 1 3/16 miles long, or 9.5 furlongs. The winner receives the Woodlawn Vase trophy, which is valued at over $4 million and could be the most expensive piece of hardware in all of the American sports.
The third leg is the Test of the Champion, better known as the Belmont Stakes. The New York classic certainly lives up to that billing and more. The final leg of the Triple Crown is also the longest at 1 1/2 miles long, or 12 furlongs.
All three Triple Crown races are exclusive to three-year-old horses, meaning a horse only gets one shot in its entire life.
Word of caution: race odds fluctuate a lot in the lead-up to a race. When we say a lot, we really mean it. At least more than is common in other American sports like football and basketball. Why is that? For one, it’s not uncommon for horses to pull out days or hours before a Triple Crown race. Many times it’s because of an illness, such as a cough. Other times it’s because they’re sore and a trainer would rather save their energy for another race when at 100-percent capacity.
Reason number two that bets fluctuate, though, is because of the massive amount of bets taken. Bettors have the ability to sway odds if one horse is getting an overwhelming amount of money thrown their way. This is most noticeable just moments before post time when the so-called “smart money” comes in.
This can make betting the Triple Crown difficult. It is difficult to know when to bet big on a favorite, or when to back a longshot. Once you see the “value” (subjective based on the bettor), jump on it. If the odds drop more, lay another bet. If they shoot sky high, you just got bang for your buck!
Wagering on all three Triple Crown events is offered at racetracks across the United States and online sites such as BetUS, BetNow, and Betonline. Every seat in Las Vegas sportsbooks — especially huge venues like Westgate and Mandalay Bay — will be packed if the Triple Crown is on the line.
Along with the Breeders’ Cup, Triple Crown races draw the most attention from the betting public. Hundreds of millions of dollars are bet on these events every year.
While futures wagering is not offered on a particular horse to win the Triple Crown, bettors line up to wager on these history-makers. You can still buy a winning ticket on eBay from Secretariat’s breathtaking victory in the 1973 Belmont Stakes.
Whether you are at a racetrack, Las Vegas sportsbook, or online with Bovada, the wagering options remain the same. Check out our Bovada Review Las Vegas for details on how to get started online!
Common Triple Crown bets to place on any horse race throughout the year or on race day include Win, Place or Show.
A win bet is exactly that — pick the winner of the race. To cash a place ticket, your horse must finish first or second. To cash a show ticket, your horse must finish first, second, or third. The payoffs on winning tickets are based on a $2 bet.
In 2015, American Pharoah won the Preakness on his way to capturing the Triple Crown. His odds that day were 4-5, meaning a bettor made a $4 profit for every $5 bet. For a $100 wager to win on American Pharoah, the return was $180 ($100 bet plus $80 profit).
Exacta, Trifecta, and Superfecta wagers are betting options called “exotics.” A bettor is attempting to pick the exact order of finish of multiple horses. In an exacta, you must pick the exact order of finish of the first two horses. In a trifecta, it’s the exact order of finish of the first three horses. With a superfecta, it’s the exact order of finish of the first four horses. The payoffs with these bets will often reach thousands of dollars.
There are also multi-race wagers, such as the Daily Double, Pick 3, Pick 4, Pick 5, and Pick 6 events. A daily double is a bet where you have to pick the winner of two separate races, which will include the Triple Crown race. A Pick 3 is a bet where you have the pick the winner of three consecutive races. Minimum bets for the Triple Crown range from 20 cents for a superfecta to $2 for a Pick 6.
