This particular year’s Triple Crown took off on May 7 with the Kentucky Derby.
With the exhilaration brewing and CT sports bettors getting ready to place more bets, it’s a good time to reminisce about the Triple Crown Winners of the past.
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Exactly what does it imply to be a Multiple Crown champion?
The Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing refers to a series of three horse races held annually between May and June. 3-year-old horses compete in the first race held in early May after they’ve qualified successfully during the road to the Kentucky Derby. To win the Triple Crown title, the competing horse needs to win all three races.
The Kentucky Derby
Happening every year around the first Sunday in May, the Kentucky Derby opens up the Triple Crown races. It is a 1.25-mile race held at Churchill Downs, and a maximum of twenty horses may compete.
The Derby is often referred to as the “Run for the Roses” because the winner is typically draped with a blanket made from 554 flowers.
Back in February, we assembled a guide for how to bet on the Derby. Even though it’s passed, you can use these tips for any horse race.
The Preakness Stakes
The Preakness Stakes is called the “Run for the Black-Eyed Susans” because the blanket given to the winner of this race is made from Maryland’s state flower by the same name.
Being held annually at Pimlico Race Course, this race takes place on the third Saturday in May. It is a 1 3/16-mile race where a maximum of fourteen horses may compete.
The particular Belmont Buy-ins
Held in Belmont Park every year, this race has been dubbed the “Test of the Champion” due to the extended 1.5-mile track that the horses compete on. The race is one of the premier events among thoroughbred races held on dirt in the U.S.
Taking place on one of the first two Saturdays in June, the Belmont Stakes sees a maximum of twelve total horses competing each year.
Only thirteen horses possess ever received the Multiple Crown
Winning one of the Triple Crown races is a challenge for any competing horse. That’s why winning all three races is an accomplishment that puts a horse onto the pages of history.
Over the past century, only thirteen horses have achieved the Triple Crown, and their names will be remembered for decades to come.
Friend Barton within 1919
The first-ever to win the Triple Crown, Sir Barton’s racing career got off to a rocky start. He lost all six of his starts the previous year.
His four-year-old debut, however, earned him the win in the 1919 Kentucky Derby. He earned $116,857 over his career, which would amount to more than $1.5 million today.
Gallant Sibel in 1930
One fascinating fact about Gallant Fox is that not only did he win the Triple Crown in 1930, but his son also did the same five years later. He is the only Triple Crown winner to produce a child that would go on to earn the title.
Omaha in 1935
Sired by the previous name winner, Gallant Fox, Omaha was bred to be a champion. Still, although he won the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes in 1935, he lost at the Withers before returning for a win at the Belmont Stakes to earn his title.
Battle Admiral within 1937
While not the offspring of a title winner like Omaha, War Admiral was the son of a stallion closely associated with the Triple Crown. His sire, Man o’ War, didn’t win the Kentucky Derby but won both the Preakness and the Belmont.
During War Admiral’s championship year, he earned his title even after getting injured at the start of the Belmont Stakes.
The stallion later went on to father 320 starters and a whopping 30 stakes winners.
Whirlaway inside 1941
A consistent winner throughout his career, Whirlaway didn’t only win the Triple Crown in 1941. He also won the Travers Stakes, the Brooklyn Handicap, and the Jockey Club Gold Cup during his multi-year career.
Count Navy in 43
The skinny, gangly appearance of Count Fleet almost made his owner sell him before his win. Thankfully, he triumphed in 10 out of his fifteen 2-year-old starts.
Count Fleet went on to win all races in 1943, including the Belmont by a massive 25 lengths.
Assault inside 1946
This specific champion had a deformity in one of his front hoofs, earning him the nickname “club-footed comet.” He won the Derby by eight lengths in 1946 but was determined to be sterile as a sire and sired no offspring.
Citation inside 1948
The very first horse to ever break the $1,000,000 mark in career earnings, Citation could have made more than $10.6 million in today’s dollars.
The 1948 Kentucky Derby saw only six total horses competing, and only 16 participated in the Triple Crown series that year. Nonetheless, Citation finished his season as a 3-year-old with a whopping 19 wins out of 20 starts.
Secretariat inside 1973
The popular Secretariat collection stakes documents in all about three of the 1973 triple overhead races. He or she won the particular Belmont simply by an unheard-of distance regarding 31 plans.
Belmont Playground memorialized his / her achievement simply by placing a long lasting pole in the honor on the 31 distance mark through the finish channel.
Seattle Variety in 1977
This Triple Crown winner’s career record of 17-14-2-0 was undefeated until 2018. Seattle Slew’s first loss didn’t even take place until after he won the 1977 Triple Crown series.
Affirmed in the late 70s
The very first horse to achieve more than $2 million in career earnings, Affirmed not only won the Triple Crown in 1978 but also the Horse of the Year award.
He also won six Grade 1 races in succession the following year, earning him the award for the second year in a row.
American Pharoah in 2015
After nearly four years with no Triple Crown winners, American Pharoah made history in 2015 with his sweeping wins. His trainer, Bob Baffert, and his jockey, Victor Espinoza, had attempted it multiple times before achieving it with this champion.
Justify inside 2018
This champion won the 2018 Triple Crown despite never running as a 2-year-old. Justify is the second horse to achieve this feat. He’s also the second Triple Crown winner who won as an undefeated champion.
He’s currently living out his retirement on stud duty at Ashford Stud.
The Three-way Crown heritage
There are many top-notch champions among horse racing stallions and mares, but there are few that can call themselves Triple Crown winners. You can check back with us to find out which winners 2022 may bring.
The feat is loved, remembered, and revered among horse racing fans.
