The Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing is one of the most prestigious series of horse races in the world. It consists of three races for three-year-old horses: the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness Stakes, and the Belmont Stakes. Each race is run over a different track and in a different state, but the goal is for a single horse to win all three.
The Triple Crown has been won by only 12 horses since its inception in 1919. But is it the same horse winning all three races, or do the same horses run in the Triple Crown?
What Is the Triple Crown?
The Triple Crown is a series of three races run annually in the United States by three-year-old Thoroughbred horses. The races are the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness Stakes, and the Belmont Stakes. Each race is run over a different track, with the longest being the Belmont Stakes, which is run at a distance of 1.5 miles.
The Kentucky Derby is run at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky, the Preakness Stakes is run at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland, and the Belmont Stakes is run at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. The Triple Crown is usually held between the last Saturday in May and the first Saturday in June each year.
What Horses Are Allowed to Race in the Triple Crown?
The horses that are allowed to race in the Triple Crown are typically three-year-old Thoroughbreds that have won two of the three races in the series. This means that the same horses can run in all three races if they have won two of the three races.
The horses must also be nominated for the Triple Crown before the first race in the series. The nomination fee for each horse is $600 and must be paid before the start of the Kentucky Derby.
Do the Same Horses Run in the Triple Crown?
The short answer to this question is no. While some horses have gone on to win all three races in the series, it is not common for the same horse to run in all three races. In fact, only 12 horses have ever won the Triple Crown since its inception in 1919.
The reason for this is that the Triple Crown is a grueling series of races that requires a horse to be in peak physical condition. Not all horses can endure the rigors of the three races and go on to win all three.
Why Is the Triple Crown So Hard to Win?
The Triple Crown is one of the most difficult series of races to win in horse racing. This is because the races are run over different distances, on different tracks, and in different states.
The Kentucky Derby is run over a distance of 1 ¼ miles, the Preakness Stakes is run over a distance of 1 3/16 miles, and the Belmont Stakes is run over a distance of 1 ½ miles. This means that a horse must be able to adapt to different distances and surfaces in order to win all three races.
The Triple Crown is also a grueling series of races that requires a horse to be in peak physical condition. Not all horses can endure the rigors of the three races and go on to win all three.
Which Horses Have Won the Triple Crown?
The 12 horses that have won the Triple Crown since its inception in 1919 are:
- Sir Barton – 1919
- Gallant Fox – 1930
- Omaha – 1935
- War Admiral – 1937
- Whirlaway – 1941
- Count Fleet – 1943
- Assault – 1946
- Citation – 1948
- Secretariat – 1973
- Seattle Slew – 1977
- Affirmed – 1978
- American Pharoah – 2015
None of these horses ran in all three races. In fact, only one horse, Citation, ran in all three races and won them all.
Which Horses Have Come Close to Winning the Triple Crown?
There have been many horses that have come close to winning the Triple Crown but have failed in the last race. These horses are known as “near-misses”.
The most famous near-misses are:
- Northern Dancer – 1964
- Alydar – 1978
- Sunday Silence – 1989
- Silver Charm – 1997
- Real Quiet – 1998
- Charismatic – 1999
- War Emblem – 2002
- Funny Cide – 2003
- Smarty Jones – 2004
- Big Brown – 2008
- California Chrome – 2014
- Justify – 2019
None of these horses won all three races, though some of them came close.
How Difficult Is It to Win the Triple Crown?
Winning the Triple Crown is one of the most difficult feats in horse racing. Since its inception in 1919, only 12 horses have been able to do it. This means that the chances of a three-year-old horse winning all three races are incredibly slim.
The reason for this is that the Triple Crown is a grueling series of races that requires a horse to be in peak physical condition. Not all horses can endure the rigors of the three races and go on to win all three.
Conclusion
The Triple Crown is an incredibly difficult series of races to win, and it is not common for the same horse to run in all three races. In fact, only 12 horses have ever won the Triple Crown since its inception in 1919.
The reason for this is that the Triple Crown is a grueling series of races that requires a horse to be in peak physical condition. Not all horses can endure the rigors of the three races and go on to win all three.