The Classics are the five most prestigious horse races in Europe. These races are the 2000 Guineas, the Epsom Derby, the St. Leger Stakes, the Irish Derby, and the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. The Classics form the Triple Crown in England, Ireland, and France. The Classics are the ultimate test of a horse’s ability and form the pinnacle of the sport of horse racing.
History of the Classics
The five Classics have a long and storied history. The first of the five Classics, the 2000 Guineas, was the first race established for thoroughbreds in England. It was first run in 1809, and has been held annually ever since. The Epsom Derby was established in 1780 and is one of the oldest and most prestigious horse races in the world. The St. Leger Stakes was founded in 1776 and is the oldest of the five Classics. The Irish Derby was established in 1866, and the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe was founded in 1920.
The Five Classics
2000 Guineas
The 2000 Guineas, also known as the Newmarket Guineas, is a Group 1 flat horse race run over a distance of one mile at Newmarket Racecourse in England. It is open to three-year-old colts and fillies and carries a purse of £500,000.
Epsom Derby
The Epsom Derby is a Group 1 flat race run over a distance of one and a half miles at Epsom Racecourse in England. It is open to three-year-old colts and fillies and carries a purse of £1.5 million.
St. Leger Stakes
The St. Leger Stakes is a Group 1 flat race run over a distance of one and three quarter miles at Doncaster Racecourse in England. It is open to three-year-old colts and fillies and carries a purse of £500,000.
Irish Derby
The Irish Derby is a Group 1 flat race run over a distance of one and a half miles at the Curragh Racecourse in Ireland. It is open to three-year-old colts and fillies and carries a purse of €550,000.
Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe
The Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe is a Group 1 flat race run over a distance of one and a half miles at Longchamp Racecourse in France. It is open to three-year-old colts and fillies and carries a purse of €5 million.
Winning All Five Classics
The five Classics are the ultimate test of a horse’s ability and form the pinnacle of the sport of horse racing. As such, it is an extremely difficult feat for a horse to win all five Classics. In fact, no horse has ever achieved this feat.
Notable Horses to Win Multiple Classics
Although no horse has ever won all five Classics, there have been some notable horses who have won multiple Classics.
- Bahram – 1935 Epsom Derby, 1935 St. Leger Stakes
- Nijinsky – 1970 2000 Guineas, 1970 Epsom Derby
- Shergar – 1981 Epsom Derby, 1981 Irish Derby
- Sea the Stars – 2009 2000 Guineas, 2009 Epsom Derby, 2009 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe
- Frankel – 2011 2000 Guineas, 2011 St. Leger Stakes
Modern Day Triple Crown Winners
Although no horse has ever won all five Classics, there have been some horses who have won the modern day Triple Crowns.
- Nijinsky – 1970 English Triple Crown (2000 Guineas, Epsom Derby, St. Leger Stakes)
- Shergar – 1981 Irish Triple Crown (2000 Guineas, Epsom Derby, Irish Derby)
- Sea the Stars – 2009 French Triple Crown (2000 Guineas, Epsom Derby, Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe)
Impact of the Classics
The Classics are the ultimate test of a horse’s ability and form the pinnacle of the sport of horse racing. As such, winning a Classic is a great honour for both the horse and its connections. Winning the Triple Crown is even more prestigious and has been achieved by only a handful of horses throughout history.
Conclusion
The Classics are the five most prestigious horse races in Europe and form the Triple Crown in England, Ireland, and France. Despite their long and storied history, no horse has ever won all five Classics. However, there have been some notable horses who have won multiple Classics and the modern-day Triple Crowns. Winning a Classic is a great honour for both the horse and its connections and is the pinnacle of the sport of horse racing.