The culmination of months of prep races finally took place on Saturday, May 7 when the $2 million Grade 1 Kentucky Derby was contested at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky.
A busy day, Friday, May 7 at Churchill Downs in Lexington, Kentucky was punctuated by the $1 million Grade 1 Longines Kentucky Oaks - a 1 1/8 mile test for some of the best three year old fillies in the land - minus Songbird who was an unfortunate omission due to a fever.
Santa Anita Park in Acadia, California played host to the $100,000 Grade 3 Adoration Stakes on Sunday, May 8. Fillies and mares three years old and upward were featured when they took to Santa Anita's dirt track and went 1 1/16 miles.
The $150,000 Grade 3 Hendrie Stakes went down at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario on Sunday, May 8 - a 6 1/2 furlong dash for fillies and mares four years old and upward.
Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California was the scene of the $100,000 Grade 3 Señorita Stakes on Saturday, May 7 - a one mile turf race for three years old fillies.
The $200,000 Grade 2 Sheepshead Bay Stakes went down at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York on Saturday, May 7 - a 1 3/8 mile test for fillies and mares four years old and upward on Belmont Park's Inner Turf Track.
The $150,000 Grade 3 Vigil Stakes went down at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario on Saturday May 7.
Lone Star Park in Grand Prairie, Texas was the scene of the Grade 3 Texas Mile Stakes on Friday, May 6 - a one mile dirt race for horses three years old and upward.
Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California played host to the $200,000 Grade 2 Royal Heroine Stakes on Thursday, May 5 - a one mile turf test for fillies and mares four years old and upward.
The $100,000 Grade 3 Miami Mile Stakes was contested at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Florida on Saturday, April 30 - a one mile turf race for horses three years old and upward.