The Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing is a prestigious series of three races for three-year-old horses in the United States. To win the Triple Crown, a horse must win the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, and Belmont Stakes. Only 13 horses have ever won the Triple Crown, with the most recent winner being Justify in 2018.
Legendary Triple Crown Winners
The Triple Crown of horse racing is a prestigious achievement that has only been accomplished by 13 horses in history. To win the Triple Crown, a horse must win three races: the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness Stakes, and the Belmont Stakes.
- Sir Barton (1919): The first horse to win the Triple Crown, Sir Barton was a chestnut colt by Star Shoot out of Lady Sterling. He was owned by John E. Madden and trained by H. Guy Bedwell.
- Gallant Fox (1930): Gallant Fox was a chestnut colt by The Great John out of Marguerite. He was owned by Belair Stud and trained by James E. Fitzsimmons.
- Omaha (1935): Omaha was a bay colt by Gallant Fox out of Omaha. He was owned by Glen Riddle Farm and trained by Sunny Jim Fitzsimmons.
- War Admiral (1937): War Admiral was a bay colt by Man o’ War out of Brushup. He was owned by Samuel D. Riddle and trained by George H. “Sunny Jim” Fitzsimmons.
- Whirlaway (1941): Whirlaway was a chestnut colt by Blenheim II out of Dustwhirl. He was owned by Calumet Farm and trained by Ben A. Jones.
- Count Fleet (1943): Count Fleet was a bay colt by Reigh Count out of Quickly. He was owned by John D. Hertz and trained by Don Cameron.
- Assault (1946): Assault was a chestnut colt by Bold Venture out of Igual. He was owned by King Ranch and trained by Max Hirsch.
- Citation (1948): Citation was a chestnut colt by Bull Lea out of Hydroplane. He was owned by Calumet Farm and trained by Horace A. Jones.
- Secretariat (1973): Secretariat was a bay colt by Bold Ruler out of Somethingroyal. He was owned by Meadow Stable and trained by Lucien Laurin.
- Seattle Slew (1977): Seattle Slew was a bay colt by Bold Reasoning out of My Charmer. He was owned by Karen L. Taylor and trained by Billy Turner.
- Affirmed (1978): Affirmed was a bay colt by Exclusive Native out of Won’t Tell You. He was owned by Harbor View Farm and trained by Laz Barrera.
- American Pharoah (2015): American Pharoah was a bay colt by Pioneerof the Nile out of Littleprincessemma. He was owned by Zayat Stables and trained by Bob Baffert.
- Justify (2018): Justify was a bay colt by Scat Daddy out of Stage Magic. He was owned by China Horse Club, Head of Plains Partners, Starlight Racing, and WinStar Farm and trained by Bob Baffert.
| Horse | Year | Owner | Trainer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sir Barton | 1919 | John E. Madden | H. Guy Bedwell |
| Gallant Fox | 1930 | Belair Stud | James E. Fitzsimmons |
| Omaha | 1935 | Glen Riddle Farm | Sunny Jim Fitzsimmons |
| War Admiral | 1937 | Samuel D. Riddle | George H. “Sunny Jim” Fitzsimmons |
| Whirlaway | 1941 | Calumet Farm | Ben A. Jones |
| Count Fleet | 1943 | John D. Hertz | Don Cameron |
| Assault | 1946 | King Ranch | Max Hirsch |
| Citation | 1948 | Calumet Farm | Horace A. Jones |
| Secretariat | 1973 | Meadow Stable | Lucien Laurin |
| Seattle Slew | 1977 | Karen L. Taylor | Billy Turner |
| Affirmed | 1978 | Harbor View Farm | Laz Barrera |
| American Pharoah | 2015 | Zayat Stables | Bob Baffert |
| Justify | 2018 | China Horse Club, Head of Plains Partners, Starlight Racing, and WinStar Farm | Bob Baffert |
The Elusive Third Leg
Winning the Triple Crown in horse racing is one of the most difficult feats in sports. Only 13 horses have ever accomplished the feat, which requires winning the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, and Belmont Stakes in the same year.
The third leg of the Triple Crown, the Belmont Stakes, is often the most difficult to win. The race is run at a distance of 1 1/2 miles, which is the longest of the three Triple Crown races. In addition, the Belmont Stakes is often run on a sloppy track, which can make it even more difficult for horses to win.
There are a number of reasons why the Belmont Stakes is so difficult to win. First, the race is run against a field of the best 3-year-old horses in the country. Second, the race is run at a distance that is longer than most horses are accustomed to running. Third, the race is often run on a sloppy track, which can make it difficult for horses to get traction.
Despite the challenges, there have been 13 horses who have managed to win the Triple Crown. The most recent horse to win the Triple Crown was Justify in 2018.
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 | Wayne Wright | Jim Fitzsimmons |
| 1937 | War Admiral | Charley Kurtsinger | George H. Humphrey |
| 1941 | Whirlaway | Eddie Arcaro | Ben A. Jones |
| 1943 | Count Fleet | Johnny Longden | Don Cameron |
| 1946 | Assault | Warren Mehrtens | Max Hirsch |
| 1948 | Citation | Eddie Arcaro | Ben A. Jones |
| 1973 | Secretariat | Ron Turcotte | Lucien Laurin |
| 1977 | Seattle Slew | Jean Cruguet | Billy Turner |
| 1978 | Affirmed | Steve Cauthen | Laz Barrera |
| 2015 | American Pharoah | Victor Espinoza | Bob Baffert |
| 2018 | Justify | Mike Smith | Bob Baffert |
The Triple Crown is the most prestigious achievement in horse racing, and it’s considered the sport’s “Holy Grail.” Only 13 horses have ever won the Triple Crown, and the most recent winner was Justify in 2018.
What is the Triple Crown?
The Triple Crown consists of three races: the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness Stakes, and the Belmont Stakes. The Kentucky Derby is run at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky, on the first Saturday in May. The Preakness Stakes is run at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland, on the third Saturday in May. The Belmont Stakes is run at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York, on the first Saturday in June.
How hard is it to win the Triple Crown?
Winning the Triple Crown is incredibly difficult. The horses have to be talented, healthy, and lucky to win all three races. The races are all run at different distances, on different tracks, and with different competition. The horses also have to deal with the pressure of the media and the public.
Who has won the Triple Crown?
Only 13 horses have ever won the Triple Crown. The first winner was Sir Barton in 1919. The most recent winner was Justify in 2018. The other Triple Crown winners are:
- Man o’ War (1920)
- Gallant Fox (1930)
- Omaha (1935)
- War Admiral (1937)
- Whirlaway (1941)
- Count Fleet (1943)
- Assaulr (1946)
- Citation (1948)
- Secretariat (1973)
- Seattle Slew (1977)
- Affirmed (1978)
Triple Crown Winners
| Year | Horse | Jockey | Trainer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1919 | Sir Barton | Johnny Loftus | H. Guy Bedwell |
| 1920 | Man o’ War | Clarence Kummer | Louis Feustel |
| 1930 | Gallant Fox | Earl Sande | James Fitzsimmons |
| 1935 | Omaha | Wilfred White | Jim Fitzsimmons |
| 1937 | War Admiral | Charley Kurtsinger | George Conway |
| 1941 | Whirlaway | Eddie Arcaro | Ben 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 |
| 2015 | American Pharoah | Victor Espinoza | Bob Baffert |
| 2018 | Justify | Mike Smith | Bob Baffert |
Equine Immortality: The Triple Crown Champions
In the annals of horse racing, the Triple Crown holds an unparalleled significance, representing the pinnacle of equine achievement. Only 13 horses have accomplished this extraordinary feat, etching their names in the annals of racing history and earning the coveted title of Triple Crown champion.
The Triple Crown Threshold
- Kentucky Derby
- Preakness Stakes
- Belmont Stakes
To achieve the Triple Crown, a three-year-old thoroughbred must emerge victorious in all three races, a grueling test of stamina, speed, and determination.
The Triple Crown Laureates
| Year | Horse | Jockey | Trainer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1919 | Sir Barton | Johnny Loftus | H. Guy Bedwell |
| 1930 | Gallant Fox | Earl Sande | Jim Fitzsimmons |
| 1935 | Omaha | William Hartack | 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 | Billy Turner |
| 1978 | Affirmed | Steve Cauthen | Laz Barrera |
| 2015 | American Pharoah | Victor Espinoza | Bob Baffert |
| 2018 | Justify | Mike Smith | Bob Baffert |
Well folks, there you have it! The esteemed jockeys who have etched their names into equestrian history by capturing the elusive Triple Crown. From Seattle Slew’s lightning-fast hooves to American Pharoah’s record-shattering triumph, these legendary feats will forever be whispered in racing circles.
Thanks for taking this thrilling ride with us, folks! Be sure to check back in later for more fascinating tales from the world of horse racing. Until then, keep your eyes on the prize and let the thunder of hooves fill your dreams.