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History of the US Triple Crown as the Kentucky Derby Nears
Introduction
The Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing or more simply known as the Triple Crown is an award given to a Thoroughbred three-year-old horse that wins the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, and Belmont Stakes.
All three races are held in the United States of America and achieving the Triple Crown is a very rare accomplishment in horse racing. This recognition has only occurred 13 times since 1875 when the last of the qualifying events, the Kentucky Derby, was inaugurated.
The Derby
The Kentucky Derby, which is referred to as the Run for the Roses is held the first Saturday in May each year. It takes place at the famous Churchill Downs track located in Louisville, Kentucky. In 1875, when the Derby first began, the racetrack was originally 1 ½ miles, but it was decreased to 1 ¼ miles in 1896. Ever since 1975, the field has been limited to only 20 horses.
The Preakness Stakes
The second leg of the Triple Crown is the Preakness Stakes also known as the Run for the Black-Eyed Susans. This race is held on the third Saturday in May every year at the Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland. The track is 1 3⁄16 miles long, which is the shortest of all three Triple Crown Races. Only 14 horses get the privilege of running the Preakness Stakes.
The Belmont Stakes
The Belmont Stakes is called the Test of the Champion, and it happens on the third Saturday following the Preakness Stakes. Belmont Park in Elmont, New York is the venue for the last of the Triple Crown races and is home to the longest track of all three races at 1 ½ miles long. During the years of 1911 and 1912, the event was not held due to the gambling legislation in place for New York. The field is limited to 16 horses that run in the Belmont Stakes each year.
The 13 Previous Triple Crown Winning Horses
- Sir Barton in 1919
Jockey: Johnny Loftus
Trainer: H. Guy Bedwell
Owner: J. K. L. Ross
Breeder: John E. Madden
- Gallant Fox in 1930
Jockey: Earl Sande
Trainer: Jim Fitzsimmons
Owner: Belair Stud
Breeder: Belair Stud
- Omaha in 1935
Jockey: Willie "Smokey" Saunders
Trainer: Jim Fitzsimmons
Owner: Belair Stud
Breeder: Belair Stud
- War Admiral in 1937
Jockey: Charles Kurtsinger
Trainer: George Conway
Owner: Samuel D. Riddle
Breeder: Samuel D. Riddle
- Whirlaway in 1941
Jockey: Eddie Arcaro
Trainer: Ben A. Jones
Owner: Calumet Farm
Breeder: Calumet Farm
- Count Fleet in 1943
Jockey: Johnny Longden
Trainer: Don Cameron
Owner: Fannie Hertz
Breeder: Fannie Hertz
- Assault in 1946
Jockey: Warren Mehrtens
Trainer: Max Hirsch
Owner: King Ranch
Breeder: King Ranch
- Citation in 1948
Jockey: Eddie Arcaro
Trainer: Horace A. "Jimmy" Jones
Owner: Calumet Farm
Breeder: Calumet Farm
- Secretariat in 1973
Jockey: Ron Turcotte
Trainer: Lucien Laurin
Owner: Meadow Stable
Breeder: Meadow Stable
- Seattle Slew in 1977
Jockey: Jean Cruguet
Trainer: William H. Turner, Jr.
Owner: Mickey and Karen L. Taylor, Tayhill Stable/Jim Hill, et al.
Breeder: Ben S. Castleman
- Affirmed in 1978
Jockey: Steve Cauthen
Trainer: Laz Barrera
Owner: Harbor View Farm
Breeder: Harbor View Farm
- American Pharoah in 2015
Jockey: Victor Espinoza
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Owner: Ahmed Zayat
Breeder: Ahmed Zayat
- Justify in 2018
Jockey: Mike Smith
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Owner: China Horse Club Head of Plains Partners, Starlight Racing, WinStar Farm
Breeder: John D. Gunther
Source:
“Triple Crown Winners”, kentuckyderby.com
“Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing (United States)”, en.wikipedia.org