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