Horse Racing
- August 31 – In one of the most famous match races in thoroughbred racing history, Nashua beat Swaps at Washington Park racetrack. It was Swaps only loss in nine starts as a three-year old. Nashua's owner-breeder, William Woodward, Jr., dreamed of owning an Epsom Derby winner, and he planned to send Nashua to England to train toward that goal. However, Woodward was shot dead by his wife before he could proceed.
Steeplechases
- Cheltenham Gold Cup – Gay Donald
- Grand National – Quare Times
Flat races
- Australia – Melbourne Cup won by Toparoa
- Canada – Queen's Plate won by Ace Marine
- France – Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe won by Ribot
- Ireland – Irish Derby Stakes won by Panaslipper
- English Triple Crown Races:
- 2,000 Guineas Stakes – Our Babu
- Epsom Derby – Phil Drake
- St. Leger Stakes – Meld
- United States Triple Crown Races:
- Kentucky Derby – Swaps
- Preakness Stakes – Nashua
- Belmont Stakes – Nashua
Read more about this topic: 1955 In Sports
Famous quotes containing the words horse and/or racing:
“A horse is dangerous at both ends and uncomfortable in the middle.”
—Ian Fleming (1908–1964)
“Upscale people are fixated with food simply because they are now able to eat so much of it without getting fat, and the reason they don’t get fat is that they maintain a profligate level of calorie expenditure. The very same people whose evenings begin with melted goat’s cheese ... get up at dawn to run, break for a mid-morning aerobics class, and watch the evening news while racing on a stationary bicycle.”
—Barbara Ehrenreich (b. 1941)