The first week of May brings us the Kentucky Derby , which means it is time for Triple Crown season, when thoroughbred horse racing takes center stage for three of the next six weekends. All eyes will be on Churchill Downs in Louisville this week for the 144th running of the Kentucky Derby, the first leg of the Triple Crown, with some three-year-old looking to capture the magic that American Pharoah realized in 2015, the first horse to win the Triple Crown in 37 years. American Pharoah was one of four horses in the last 10 years to win even the first two races of the Triple Crown, along with Big Brown (2008), I’ll Have Another (2012) and California Chrome (2014). With that in mind, here is the 2018 schedule for the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes . Kentucky Derby Churchill Downs | Louisville, Kentucky Saturday, May 5 2:30 p.m. ET | TV: NBC Preakness Stakes Pimlico Race Course | Baltimore, Maryland Saturday, May 19 Belmont Stakes Belmont Park | Elmont, N