The Triple Crown is one of the most prestigious honors in thoroughbred horse racing. It is a series of three races for three-year-old horses, held in a single year: the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness Stakes, and the Belmont Stakes. Winning all three races is a rare feat, and so far, only 13 horses have been able to win the Triple Crown. In this article, we will take a closer look at the history of the Triple Crown, the 13 horses that have won it, and the unique qualities that have made them successful.
History of the Triple Crown
The Triple Crown is one of the oldest and most renowned horse racing events in the world. The first Triple Crown race was the Kentucky Derby, which was first held in 1875. The Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes soon followed, with the Preakness first held in 1873 and the Belmont in 1867. Since then, these three races have become the pinnacle of thoroughbred horse racing.
The Triple Crown Winners
Since the inception of the Triple Crown, only 13 horses have been able to win all three races. Here is a list of all the Triple Crown winners:
- 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)
- Justify (2018)
Sir Barton – The First Triple Crown Winner
The first horse to win the Triple Crown was Sir Barton, in 1919. He was a bay colt, foaled in 1916 and bred by John E. Madden. He was sired by Star Shoot and out of the mare Lady Sterling. Sir Barton was initially trained to be a sprinter, but his trainer, H. Guy Bedwell, believed he had the potential to be a great distance runner. He proved to be correct, as Sir Barton went on to become the first ever Triple Crown winner.
Gallant Fox – The Second Triple Crown Winner
The second horse to win the Triple Crown was Gallant Fox in 1930. He was a chestnut colt, foaled in 1927 and bred by William Woodward. He was sired by Sir Gallahad III and out of the mare Marguerite. Gallant Fox was trained by James “Sunny Jim” Fitzsimmons, and under his guidance, Gallant Fox became the second Triple Crown winner.
Omaha – The Third Triple Crown Winner
The third horse to win the Triple Crown was Omaha in 1935. He was a chestnut colt, foaled in 1932 and bred by William Woodward. He was sired by Gallant Fox and out of the mare Flambino. Omaha was trained by William “Willie” Smith, and under his guidance, Omaha became the third Triple Crown winner.
War Admiral – The Fourth Triple Crown Winner
The fourth horse to win the Triple Crown was War Admiral in 1937. He was a chestnut colt, foaled in 1934 and bred by Samuel D. Riddle. He was sired by Man o’ War and out of the mare Brushup. War Admiral was trained by George Conway, and under his guidance, War Admiral became the fourth Triple Crown winner.
Whirlaway – The Fifth Triple Crown Winner
The fifth horse to win the Triple Crown was Whirlaway in 1941. He was a chestnut colt, foaled in 1938 and bred by Calumet Farm. He was sired by Blenheim II and out of the mare Dustwhirl. Whirlaway was trained by Ben A. Jones, and under his guidance, Whirlaway became the fifth Triple Crown winner.
Count Fleet – The Sixth Triple Crown Winner
The sixth horse to win the Triple Crown was Count Fleet in 1943. He was a chestnut colt, foaled in 1940 and bred by John D. Hertz. He was sired by Reigh Count and out of the mare Quickly. Count Fleet was trained by Don Cameron, and under his guidance, Count Fleet became the sixth Triple Crown winner.
Assault – The Seventh Triple Crown Winner
The seventh horse to win the Triple Crown was Assault in 1946. He was a bay colt, foaled in 1943 and bred by King Ranch. He was sired by Bold Venture and out of the mare Igual. Assault was trained by Max Hirsch, and under his guidance, Assault became the seventh Triple Crown winner.
Citation – The Eighth Triple Crown Winner
The eighth horse to win the Triple Crown was Citation in 1948. He was a chestnut colt, foaled in 1945 and bred by Calumet Farm. He was sired by Bull Lea and out of the mare Hydroplane. Citation was trained by Ben A. Jones, and under his guidance, Citation became the eighth Triple Crown winner.
Secretariat – The Ninth Triple Crown Winner
The ninth horse to win the Triple Crown was Secretariat in 1973. He was a chestnut colt, foaled in 1970 and bred by Meadow Stable. He was sired by Bold Ruler and out of the mare Somethingroyal. Secretariat was trained by Lucien Laurin, and under his guidance, Secretariat became the ninth Triple Crown winner.
Seattle Slew – The Tenth Triple Crown Winner
The tenth horse to win the Triple Crown was Seattle Slew in 1977. He was a bay colt, foaled in 1974 and bred by Ben S. Castleman. He was sired by Bold Reasoning and out of the mare My Charmer. Seattle Slew was trained by Billy Turner, and under his guidance, Seattle Slew became the tenth Triple Crown winner.
Affirmed – The Eleventh Triple Crown Winner
The eleventh horse to win the Triple Crown was Affirmed in 1978. He was a chestnut colt, foaled in 1975 and bred by Harbor View Farm. He was sired by Exclusive Native and out of the mare Won’t Tell You. Affirmed was trained by Lazaro Soto, and under his guidance, Affirmed became the eleventh Triple Crown winner.
American Pharoah – The Twelfth Triple Crown Winner
The twelfth horse to win the Triple Crown was American Pharoah in 2015. He was a bay colt, foaled in 2012 and bred by Zayat Stables. He was sired by Pioneerof the Nile and out of the mare Littleprincessemma. American Pharoah was trained by Bob Baffert, and under his guidance, American Pharoah became the twelfth Triple Crown winner.
Justify – The Thirteenth Triple Crown Winner
The thirteenth and most recent horse to win the Triple Crown was Justify in 2018. He was a chestnut colt, foaled in 2015 and bred by John D. Gunther. He was sired by Scat Daddy and out of the mare Stage Magic. Justify was trained by Bob Baffert, and under his guidance, Justify became the thirteenth Triple Crown winner.
The Unique Qualities of Triple Crown Winners
The Triple Crown is one of the most difficult accomplishments to achieve in horse racing, so what qualities do these horses possess that set them apart from the rest?
Speed
One of the most important qualities of a Triple Crown winner is speed. All of the horses listed have been able to reach top speeds and maintain them over the course of the three races. This is especially true for Secretariat, who set a track record in both the Kentucky Derby and the Belmont Stakes.
Endurance
In addition to speed, all of the Triple Crown winners have also had incredible endurance. They have been able to maintain their speed and form over the course of three grueling races, often spanning several weeks. This is especially true for American Pharoah, who was able to win the Triple Crown despite a long layoff between the Preakness and the Belmont.
Strength
The Triple Crown winners have also exhibited great strength. They have been able to withstand the physical demands of running three races in a single year, often against some of the best horses in the world. This is especially true for Justify, who was able to win the Triple Crown despite having only raced three times prior to the Kentucky Derby.
Heart
Finally, all of the Triple Crown winners have had tremendous heart. They have displayed a determination to win that has been unmatched by any other horse. This is especially true for Secretariat, whose immense heart allowed him to break track records and win the Triple Crown.
Conclusion
The Triple Crown is one of the most prestigious honors in thoroughbred horse racing. It is a rare feat, and only 13 horses have been able to win it. In this article, we took a closer look at the history of the Triple Crown, the 13 horses that have won it, and the unique qualities that have made them successful. We hope that this article has given you a better understanding of the Triple Crown and the horses that have won it.