Genes may be key as California Chrome aims for racehorse history books

This weekend we could see history made. The US Triple Crown of thoroughbred horse racing hasn’t been won since 1978. This spring, the racehorse California Chrome won the first two legs of the Triple Crown. He is set to run in the final race of the series, The Belmont Stakes, on June 7. If he wins, he will be the first Triple Crown winner in 36 years and only the 12^th horse in history to do so.

Does California Chrome have what it takes to win the Belmont Stakes? Science might provide us with a way of setting the odds.

The Belmont Stakes is the most gruelling of the three Triple Crown races. At 2.4km, it is the longest of the three races. The two previous legs of the Triple Crown, the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes, were only 2km and 1.9km long respectively. The Belmont Stakes is the test of stamina.