The Triple Crown is one of the most prestigious and coveted awards in horse racing. It is awarded to a three-year-old Thoroughbred who wins the Kentucky Derby, The Preakness and the Belmont Stakes. The three jewels in the Triple Crown are the Kentucky Derby, The Preakness and the Belmont Stakes. In this article, we will take a look at each of these races and what makes them so special.
The Kentucky Derby
The Kentucky Derby is the oldest, most prestigious and most popular race in the Triple Crown series and is held annually at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. The race was first run in 1875 and is often referred to as the “Run for the Roses” due to the blanket of roses draped on the winning horse. The Kentucky Derby is a grueling 1¼-mile test of speed and endurance and is open to three-year-old Thoroughbreds.
The Preakness Stakes
The Preakness Stakes is the second jewel in the Triple Crown and is held annually at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland. The Preakness Stakes is a 1 3/16-mile race run two weeks after the Kentucky Derby. It is the shortest of the three Triple Crown races and is open to three-year-old Thoroughbreds. The Preakness Stakes is often referred to as the “Run for the Black-Eyed Susans” due to the blanket of Black-Eyed Susans draped on the winning horse.
Belmont Stakes
The Belmont Stakes is the third and final jewel in the Triple Crown and is held annually at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. The Belmont Stakes is a 1½-mile race run three weeks after the Preakness Stakes. It is the longest of the three Triple Crown races and is open to three-year-old Thoroughbreds. The Belmont Stakes is often referred to as the “Test of the Champion” due to the grueling distance and the fact that it is the deciding race of the Triple Crown.
The Triple Crown
The Triple Crown is a series of three races for three-year-old Thoroughbreds that are held annually in the United States. The three races are the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness Stakes and the Belmont Stakes. To win the Triple Crown, a horse must win all three races. It is considered one of the most prestigious awards in horse racing and only 13 horses have ever won the Triple Crown.
The Three Jewels of the Triple Crown
The three jewels of the Triple Crown are the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness Stakes and the Belmont Stakes. Each of these races is an important part of the Triple Crown and has its own history and tradition. The Kentucky Derby is the oldest and most prestigious of the three races and is often referred to as the “Run for the Roses”. The Preakness Stakes is the second jewel in the Triple Crown and is often referred to as the “Run for the Black-Eyed Susans”. Finally, the Belmont Stakes is the longest of the three races and is often referred to as the “Test of the Champion”.
History of the Three Races
The Kentucky Derby has been run since 1875 and is the oldest and most prestigious of the Triple Crown races. The Preakness Stakes has been run since 1873 and is the second jewel in the Triple Crown. The Belmont Stakes has been run since 1867 and is the longest of the three races.
The Winners of the Triple Crown
Only 13 horses have ever won the Triple Crown. These horses 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)
- Justify (2018)
The Triple Crown Races Today
Today, the Triple Crown races are as popular as ever. The Kentucky Derby is broadcast on national television and attracts millions of viewers. The Preakness Stakes and the Belmont Stakes are also nationally televised and attract large crowds. All three races are some of the most prestigious and sought-after races in horse racing and the winners of each race are usually considered the best of their respective year.
Conclusion
The Triple Crown is one of the most prestigious awards in horse racing and is made up of three races: the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness Stakes and the Belmont Stakes. These three races are often referred to as the “Three Jewels of the Triple Crown” and have a long and storied history. Only 13 horses have ever won the Triple Crown and the winners are considered some of the best horses of their respective year. The Triple Crown races are as popular as ever and attract millions of viewers each year.