| The Triple Crown, like so many of our best | | | | furlongs) is the longest of the three. The |
| traditions, wasn't created, it grew into | | | | horses that survive their attempt at the |
| being. During the late 1800's three | | | | Triple Crown will seldom, if ever, compete at |
| different tracks created races to test the | | | | these distances again. And yes, survival is |
| new crop of three year olds. These three | | | | a consideration. Many Triple Crown hopefuls |
| races, the Belmont Stakes, the Preakness and | | | | are never able to compete again after the |
| the Kentucky Derby were held in the same year | | | | Belmont, even potential superstars such as |
| for the first time in 1875. It wasn't until | | | | Smarty Jones in 2004. |
| 44 years later that Sir Barton (1919) became | | | | |
| the first horse to win all three. The term, | | | | Will Barbaro be the next Triple Crown winner? |
| Triple Crown, wasn't coined until 1930 when | | | | He has the breeding and the talent, but as |
| Daily Racing Form's columnist, Charles | | | | of this writing twenty horses have won the |
| Hatton, used it while covering Gallant Fox's | | | | first two legs of the Triple Crown only to |
| winning efforts. | | | | fail at Belmont. Twenty five more have won |
| | | | two of the three races, but maybe this |
| In the 131 years that have passed only 11 | | | | year... |
| horses have managed to accomplish what is | | | | |
| arguably the most difficult feat in sports. | | | | The Triple Crown stands as the ultimate test |
| Compared to the Triple Crown, no-hitters in | | | | of greatness, and that's why on the first |
| baseball are an everyday occurrence; back to | | | | Saturday in May each year, America's |
| back championships in other sporting events, | | | | thoughts turn to horse racing and the hope of |
| a dime a dozen; there have been more solar | | | | just one more Triple Crown winner. Because |
| eclipses in our lifetime than Triple Crown | | | | we do, after all, need another hero. |
| winners and each year more people are struck | | | | |
| by lightening than the total number of Triple | | | | Triple Crown Facts: |
| Crown winners in history. | | | | |
| | | | The Belmont Stakes was first run in 1867 for |
| Some of horse racing's most legendary names | | | | $1,850.00 at the Jerome Park Race Course in |
| failed to capture this event. Man o' War | | | | New York, and was originally a mile and five |
| managed only 2 out of the 3 legs (did not | | | | eights, but has also been run at a mile and |
| start in the Kentucky Derby); Seabiscuit, | | | | one eighth and a mile and three eights before |
| after losing 17 straight races as a two year | | | | settling at a mile and a half in 1926 |
| old wasn't even considered (although he did | | | | |
| later beat 1937's Triple Crown winner, War | | | | The first Preakness Stakes was held in 1873 |
| Admiral in a match race); Cigar never | | | | with a prize of $1,850.00 at Pimlico Race |
| competed, starting his great winning streak | | | | Course in Maryland at a distance of a mile |
| late in his fourth year. | | | | and a half, but has been run at six different |
| | | | distances between a mile and a mile and a |
| What makes this event so difficult to win? | | | | half before stabilizing at a mile and three |
| Several factors have to be considered. First | | | | sixteenths in 1925 |
| there's the age of the horses. Triple Crown | | | | |
| races are limited to 3 year olds, juveniles, | | | | The first Kentucky Derby was in 1875 for a |
| all of whom officially have their birthday on | | | | purse of $2,850.00 at the Louisville Jockey |
| January 1st of each year. By the first | | | | Club Course, later renamed Churchill Downs, |
| Saturday in May (the running of the Kentucky | | | | at a mile and a half, but was shortened to a |
| Derby), though most of the contestants will | | | | mile and a quarter in 1896 |
| have actually reached their third birthday, | | | | |
| they won't realize their full growth and | | | | Since 1875 there have been 5 years when it |
| potential until their fourth or fifth years. | | | | was not possible to have a Triple Crown |
| | | | winner: |
| Another significant aspect is the shortness | | | | |
| of time between races. Most stakes graded | | | | In 1890 the Belmont Stakes and the Preakness |
| horses of today run with 30 to 60 days off | | | | where on the same day at the same track In |
| between races, but Triple Crown contenders | | | | 1911 and 1912 the Belmont Stakes was not held |
| must run 3 grueling races within the span of | | | | In 1917 and 1922 the Kentucky Derby and the |
| 35 days. Notably Sir Barton, the first | | | | Preakness where held on the same day |
| Triple Crown winner, won the Preakness only 4 | | | | |
| days after winning the Kentucky Derby while | | | | Only Triple Crown winner to directly sire |
| today's challengers do have 14 days between | | | | another, Gallant Fox (1930) sired Omaha |
| the two races. | | | | (1935) |
| | | | |
| Perhaps the most important factor is the | | | | Only two trainers have trained more than one |
| distance of these races, the Derby is a mile | | | | Triple Crown winner, James Fitzsimmons - |
| and a quarter (10 furlongs), the Preakness, a | | | | Gallant Fox (1930) and Omaha (1935) and Ben |
| mile and three sixteenths (9.5 furlongs) and | | | | A. |
| the Belmont at a mile and a half (12 | | | | |