In horse racing, the “Triple Crown” refers to three prestigious races: the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness Stakes, and the Belmont Stakes. These races are run in sequence over a five-week period during the spring and early summer. Winning all three in the same year is a rare and coveted achievement for a racehorse. Only 13 horses have accomplished this feat, with the most recent being Justify in 2018. The Triple Crown is considered a test of a horse’s speed, stamina, and class. It is one of the most challenging and rewarding accomplishments in horse racing.
Triple Crown: An Overview
In the realm of horse racing, the Triple Crown stands as a prestigious and exclusive achievement. It is a rare feat that involves a single horse sweeping three prominent races: the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, and Belmont Stakes. Only a select few horses have etched their names into racing history by capturing all three races in a single season.
A Closer Look at the Triple Crown Races
Kentucky Derby
The Kentucky Derby, held at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky, is the first leg of the Triple Crown. Known as the “Run for the Roses,” the race is run over a distance of 1¼ miles and is open to three-year-old thoroughbreds. The Derby is the oldest of the Triple Crown races, first run in 1875.
Preakness Stakes
The Preakness Stakes, held at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland, is the second leg of the Triple Crown. Known as the “Run for the Black-Eyed Susans,” the race is run over a distance of 1 3/16 miles. The Preakness Stakes was first run in 1873 and is the second-oldest race of the Triple Crown.
Belmont Stakes
The Belmont Stakes, held at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York, is the third and final leg of the Triple Crown. Known as the “Test of the Champion,” the race is run over a distance of 1½ miles and is open to three-year-old thoroughbreds. The Belmont Stakes is the longest of the Triple Crown races, first run in 1867.
Winners of the Triple Crown
To date, only 13 horses have captured all three races of the Triple Crown. Here is a table listing the winners:
| Year | Horse | Jockey | Trainer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1919 | Sir Barton | Johnny Loftus | H. Guy Bedwell |
| 1930 | Gallant Fox | Earl Sande | James E. Fitzsimmons |
| 1935 | Omaha | William Saunders | Jim Fitzsimmons |
| 1937 | War Admiral | Charley Kurtsinger | George Conway |
| 1941 | Whirlaway | Eddie Arcaro | Ben A. Jones |
| 1943 | Count Fleet | Johnny Longden | Don Cameron |
| 1946 | Assault | Warren Mehrtens | Max Hirsch |
| 1948 | Citation | Albert Snider | Ben A. Jones |
| 1973 | Secretariat | Ron Turcotte | Lucien Laurin |
| 1977 | Seattle Slew | Jean Cruguet | William H. Turner Jr. |
| 1978 | Affirmed | Steve Cauthen | Laz Barrera |
| 2015 | American Pharoah | Victor Espinoza | Bob Baffert |
| 2018 | Justify | Mike Smith | Bob Baffert |
Triple Crown in Horse Racing
The Triple Crown in horse racing refers to a thoroughbred horse’s victory in three prestigious races: the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, and Belmont Stakes. Winning these three races in succession is a rare and significant achievement.
Three Consecutive Wins
To earn the Triple Crown, a horse must win:
- Kentucky Derby (1.25 miles): Run on the first Saturday in May at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky
- Preakness Stakes (1.3 miles): Run two weeks after the Kentucky Derby at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland
- Belmont Stakes (1.5 miles): Run three weeks after the Preakness Stakes at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York
History
The Triple Crown was first established in 1919. Only 13 horses have achieved this prestigious milestone since then:
| Year | Horse | Jockey | Trainer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1919 | Sir Barton | Johnny Loftus | H. Guy Bedwell |
| 1930 | Gallant Fox | Earl Sande | James E. Fitzsimmons |
| 1935 | Omaha | William Saunders | Jim Fitzsimmons |
| 1937 | War Admiral | Charley Kurtsinger | George Conway |
| 1941 | Whirlaway | Eddie Arcaro | Ben A. Jones |
| 1943 | Count Fleet | Johnny Longden | Don Cameron |
| 1946 | Assault | Warren Mehrtens | Max Hirsch |
| 1973 | Secretariat | Ron Turcotte | Lucien Laurin |
| 1977 | Seattle Slew | Jean Cruguet | Billy Turner |
| 1978 | Affirmed | Steve Cauthen | Laz Barrera |
| 1997 | Silver Charm | Gary Stevens | Bob Baffert |
| 2015 | American Pharoah | Victor Espinoza | Bob Baffert |
| 2018 | Justify | Mike Smith | Bob Baffert |
The American Thoroughbred Triple Crown Races
The American Thoroughbred Triple Crown is a prestigious series of three races for three-year-old Thoroughbred horses in the United States. The races are:
- Kentucky Derby (1¼ miles on dirt)
- Preakness Stakes (1 3/16 miles on dirt)
- Belmont Stakes (1½ miles on dirt)
To win the Triple Crown, a horse must win all three races in the same year. Only 13 horses have ever accomplished this feat. The most recent Triple Crown winner was Justify in 2018.
The Triple Crown races are some of the most popular and well-attended sporting events in the United States. They are a test of a horse’s speed, stamina, and heart.
The Kentucky Derby
The Kentucky Derby is the first race in the Triple Crown. It is run on the first Saturday in May at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky.
The Kentucky Derby is known as “The Run for the Roses” because the winner is draped in a blanket of red roses.
The Preakness Stakes
The Preakness Stakes is the second race in the Triple Crown. It is run on the third Saturday in May at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland.
The Preakness Stakes is known as “The Run for the Black-Eyed Susans” because the winner is given a blanket of black-eyed susans.
The Belmont Stakes
The Belmont Stakes is the third and final race in the Triple Crown. It is run on the first Saturday in June at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York.
The Belmont Stakes is known as “The Test of the Champion” because it is the longest and最も過酷な of the Triple Crown races.
Triple Crown Winners
Year Horse Jockey Trainer 1919 Sir Barton Johnny Loftus H. Guy Bedwell 1930 Gallant Fox Earl Sande James E. Fitzsimmons 1935 Omaha William Saunders Jim Fitzsimmons 1937 War Admiral Charley Kurtsinger George H. “Pete” Bostwick 1941 Whirlaway Eddie Arcaro Ben A. Jones 1943 Count Fleet Johnny Longden Don Cameron 1946 Assault Warren Mehrtens Max Hirsch 1948 Citation Eddie Arcaro Horace A. Jones 1973 Secretariat Ron Turcotte Lucien Laurin 1977 Seattle Slew Jean Cruguet William H. Turner Jr. 1978 Affirmed Steve Cauthen Laz Barrera 1997 Silver Charm Gary Stevens Bob Baffert 2015 American Pharoah Victor Espinoza Bob Baffert 2018 Justify Mike Smith Bob Baffert Well, there you have it, folks! Now you know all about the prestigious Triple Crown in horse racing. It’s a challenging but thrilling accomplishment that has only been achieved by a small number of elite horses. Thanks for taking the time to read this article, and be sure to come back later for more fascinating insights into the world of horse racing!