From the outside, the road to the Triple Crown may look like a bunch of horsing around, but Race for the Crown proves that the high-stakes world of professional horse racing is serious business. 

Premiering April 22, the new series follows horse owners and jockeys over the course of a Grade I stakes thoroughbred racing season. The Kentucky Derby is commonly known as “the most exciting two minutes in sports,” but there’s so much more that goes on behind the scenes, both before and after the Run for the Roses. Race for the Crown explores horse racing across six in-depth episodes, covering the thrilling journey from the Breeder’s Cup to the Triple Crown. Plus, the racing world is full of colorful and controversial characters — including billionaire business tycoons and trainers — which leads to plenty of intense rivalries fueled by million-dollar investments and insatiable appetites for glory. 

Keep reading for everything you need to know about Race for the Crown, and hoof it back over here for important updates as we approach the series’ release date.

Race for the (Triple) Crown…

At the heart of Race for the Crown is the story of how horses, jockeys, trainers and owners fight their way through race after race, all in the name of earning the Triple Crown. Each year, the Kentucky Derby takes place on the first Saturday in May, followed by the Preakness Stakes on the third Saturday in May. The final leg of the Triple Crown, the Belmont Stakes, occurs on the third Saturday following the Preakness — usually the first or second Saturday in June. Only three-year-old thoroughbreds are eligible to compete in the Triple Crown races, which means each horse only gets one shot, and that horst must win all three races in a single season. Time has proven that the challenge is nearly insurmountable: The Kentucky Derby is the newest of the three races — its first run was in 1875 — and only 13 horses have ever won the Triple Crown, despite a century and a half of opportunity. 

Michael and Jules Iavarone.

Which horse owners and jockeys are featured in Race for the Crown?

When it comes to the road to the Triple Crown, more than just the highly coveted title is at stake. When a horse wins, its monetary value increases exponentially, which is very good news for its owner, who has to pony up the big bucks for the initial investment in the horse, training costs, and competition fees. In Race for the Crown, there are several owners with big money at stake, including Michael Iavarone, a well-known figure in the world of horse racing, particularly as a prominent horse owner and executive, and Michael Repole, a prominent horse racing owner and entrepreneur who also co-founded Vitaminwater. 

Jockeys Antonio Fresu and Umberto Rispoli.

Of course, a horse race would be nothing without the jockeys who train tirelessly and risk their lives with every single race. These highly skilled athletes come from all over the world, and possess a unique combination of physical, mental, and strategic abilities. Their careers are shaped by a variety of key elements that contribute to their success in this demanding sport. Jockeys featured in Race for the Crown include:

• Brian Hernandez Jr., an American jockey based in Kentucky.
• Frankie Dettori, an Italian jockey who has worked in England most of his career, but is now US-based and racing globally.
• Katie Davis, a New York–based jockey and one of the few women in the sport.
• Umberto Rispoli, an Italian jockey based in California.
• Antonio Fresu, an Italian jockey based in California.
• Irad Ortiz Jr., an East Coast–based jockey from Puerto Rico.
• John R. Velazquez, an East Coast–based jockey from Puerto Rico.
• Javier Castellano, a Venezuelan jockey based on the East Coast.  
• Flavien Prat, a French jockey based in California who regularly races in New York and Kentucky.
• Florent Geroux, a Kentucky-based French jockey.
• José Ortiz, an East Coast–based jockey from Puerto Rico.
• Luis Saez, an East Coast–based jockey from Panama.

When is the Race for the Crown Season 1 release date?

All six episodes of Race for the Crown launch on April 22, so you’ll have to hold your horses a little while longer.

Race for the Crown is executive produced by James Gay-Rees, Paul Martin, Hillary Olsen, Warren Smith, and Ian Sambor at Box to Box, and co-executive produced by Tim Stampher and Jordan Bogdonavage.