Kentucky Derby Pegasus Pins celebrating
TRIPLE CROWN WINNERS
Every country where horse racing is held has its own Triple Crown comprising of 3 important races for 3 year olds. The term originated in England in the 1850’s when it was recognised that any horse which could win the 2000 Guineas over a Mile, The Derby over a mile and a half, and the St Leger over a mile and 6 furlongs, was proving themselves to be a true, undisputed champion of their age group.
In The USA the Triple Crown consists of :-
The Kentucky Derby over 10 furlongs;
The Preakness Stakes over just under 10 furlongs;
The Belmont Stakes over 12 furlongs.
Since its inception there have been 12 American Triple Crown winners.
The first Triple Crown winner occurred in 1919 when Sir Barton was victorious. Owned by J K L Ross, trained by H Guy Bedwell, and ridden by Johnny Loftus, Sir Barton was only entered as a pacemaker for his more illustrious stablemate, Billy Kelly, in the Kentucky Derby. However, after setting a brisk pace he kept on well and won by 5 lengths. Only 4 days later in the Preakness Stakes he once again led all the way and beat Eternal by 4 lengths. People sat up and noticed him and in the Belmont Stakes he won the race easily and broke the record at the same time to claim the very first American Triple Crown.
The second Triple Crown winner occurred in 1930 when Gallant Fox was triumphant. Owned by Belair Stud, trained by Jim Fitzsimmons, and ridden by Earl Sande, Gallant Fox contested the Preakness Stakes at first and made all to beat Crack Brigade by ¾ length. He was made favourite two weeks later in the Kentucky Derby, but did not try to lead all the way. However, he proved much too strong for Gallant Knight and won by two lengths. In the Belmont Stakes some 3 weeks later he easily won the race and claimed the Triple Crown by defeating Whichone.
The third Triple Crown winner occurred in 1935 when Omaha took the spoils. Owned by Belair Stud, trained by Jim Fitzsimmons, and ridden by Willie Saunders, Omaha was only second favourite in the Kentucky Derby, being replaced as favourite by Nellie Flag. However, Omaha took up the running early in the backstretch and was never troubled to hold on by 1 ½ lengths from Roman Soldier. In the Preakness Stakes a week later Omaha was odds-on to cement his leading position and did so by an impressive 6 lengths from Firethorn. Omaha was odds-on again in the Belmont Stakes, but the conditions were not favourable and the going was heavy. Omaha bided his time and took up the running late, winning by a comfortable length and a half from Firethorn.
The fourth Triple Crown winner occurred in 1937 when War Admiral was victorious. Owned by Samuel D Riddle, trained by George H Conway, and ridden by Charley Kurtsinger, War Admiral won the Kentucky Derby in 2 minutes 3.20 secs, the Preakness Stakes in 1 minute 58.40 secs, and the Belmont Stakes in 2 minutes 28.60 secs.
The fifth Triple Crown winner occurred in 1941 when Whirlaway was triumphant. Owned by Calumet Farm, trained by Ben A Jones, and ridden by Eddie Arcaro, Whirlaway won the Kentucky Derby in 2 minutes 1.40 secs, the Preakness Stakes in 1 minute 58.80 secs, and the Belmont Stakes in 2 minutes 31 secs.
The sixth Triple Crown winner occurred in 1943 when Count Fleet took the spoils. Owned by Fannie Hertz, trained by Don Cameron, and ridden by Eddie Johnny Longden, Count Fleet won the Kentucky Derby by a comfortable 3 lengths, the Preakness Stakes 8 lengths, and so dominated the Belmont Stakes that he won by 25 lengths.
The seventh Triple Crown winner occurred in 1946 when Assault was victorious. Owned by King Ranch, trained by Max Hirsch, and ridden by Warren Mehrtens, Assault was a completely unfancied horse in the Kentucky Derby but still won it by 8 lengths. He was made favourite in the Preakness Stakes and this time he tried to make all. Although over 4 lengths clear at the distance, he only prevailed by a neck from Lord Boswell. It was thought that Assault’s stamina would be called in to question in the Belmont Stakes and it was Lord Boswell who was made favourite. However, Assault was held up by Mehrtens and did not make his move until the final furlong. He glided passed his rivals and won going away by 3 lengths.
The eighth Triple Crown winner occurred in 1948 when Citation was triumphant. Owned by Calumet Farm, trained by Horace A Jones, and ridden by Eddie Arcaro, Citation won the Kentucky Derby by 3 ½ lengths and was made favourite to win the Preakness Stakes which he duly won by 5 ½ lengths. In the Belmont Stakes he equalled the record by claiming a victory in 2 minutes 28.20 secs.
The ninth Triple Crown winner occurred in 1973 when Secretariat took the spoils. Owned by Meadow Stables, trained by Lucien Laurin, and ridden by Ron Turcotte, Secretariat was held up in the Kentucky Derby but eventually took up the running approaching the final 2 furlongs and defeated Sham by 2 ½ lengths. A different style of running was employed in the Preakness Stakes when he took up the running almost 6 furlongs from home and held on by a comfortable 2 ½ lengths from Sham. Scaring most of his rivals off, a field of only 5 contested the Belmont Stakes, but the field included Sham. They did battle from the off, but Sham tired early and it was left for Secretariat to come home alone by an unbelievable 31 lengths.
The tenth Triple Crown winner occurred in 1977 when Seattle Slew was victorious. Owned by Tayhill Stables and associates, trained by William H Turner Jnr, and ridden by Jean Cruguet, Seattle Slew was made the 2/1 on favourite in the Kentucky Derby. He defeated Run Dusty Run by 1 ¾ lengths. In the Preakness Stakes just 2 weeks later Seattle Slew made the running and outstayed Cormorant and Iron Constitution to win by 1 ½ lengths. In the Belmont Stakes he secured his Triple Crown with a resounding 4 length victory.
The eleventh Triple Crown winner occurred in 1978 when Affirmed was triumphant. Owned by Harbor View farm, trained by Laz Barrera, and ridden by Steve Cauthen, Affirmed was only second favourite in the Kentucky Derby, but defeated the favourite Alydar by 1 ½ lengths. In the Preakness Stakes just 2 weeks later, Affirmed led from the front and held on from Aldyar by a neck. In the Belmont Stakes the two rivals met again and Affirmed made the pace. Aldyar challenged from 7 furlongs out, but to no avail, and Affirmed secured the Triple Crown by a nose.
The twelfth, and most recent, Triple Crown winner was in 2015 when American Pharoah took the spoils. Owned by Ahmed Zayat, trained by Bob Baffert, and ridden by Victor Espinoza, American Pharoah defeated a field of 18 to win the Kentucky Derby at 2.9 to 1, defeating Firing Line by a length. In the Preakness Stakes at Pimilco he was drawn unfavourably in stall 1, but this did not prevent him from scoring decisively by 7 lengths. In the Belmont Stakes he scored a gate to wire win by 5 and a half lengths to secure the Triple Crown.
In The UK the Triple Crown consists of :-
The Newmarket 2000 Guineas over 8 furlongs;
The Epsom Derby over 12 furlongs;
The Doncaster St Leger over 14 furlongs.
Since its inception there have been 15 UK Triple Crown winners.
The First UK winner was West Australian in 1853 ridden by Frank Butler
The Second UK winner was Gladiateur in 1865 ridden by Harry Grimshaw
The third UK winner was Lord Lyon in 1866 ridden by Harry Custance
The Fourth UK winner was Ormonde in 1866 ridden by Fred Archer
The Fifth UK winner was Common in 1891 ridden by George Barrett
The Sixth UK winner was Isinglass in 1893 ridden by Tommy Loates
The Seventh UK winner was Galtee More in 1897 ridden by Charles Woods
The Eighth UK winner was Flying Fox in 1899 ridden by Mornington Cannon
The Ninth UK winner was Diamond Jubilee in 1900 ridden by Herbert Jones
The Tenth UK winner was Rock Sand in 1903 ridden by Danny Maher
The Eleventh UK winner was Pommern in 1915 ridden by Steve Donghue
The Twelfth UK winner was Gay Crusader in 1917 ridden by Steve Donoghue
The Thirteenth UK winner was Gainsborough in 1918 ridden by Joe Childs
The Fourteenth UK winner was Bahram in 1935 ridden by Freddie Fox and Charlie Smirke
The Fifteenth UK winner was Nijinsky in 1970 ridden by Lester Piggott
In Canada the Triple Crown consists of :-
The Queen’s Plate over 10 furlongs;
The Prince of Wales Stakes over 9.5 furlongs;
The Breeders’ Stakes over 12 furlongs
Since its inception there have been 12 Canadian Triple Crown winners.
The early Canadian Triple Crown winners were:-
Queensway in 1932
Archworth in 1939
Uttermost in 1945
Ace Marine in 1955
Canadian Champ in 1956
The later Canadian Triple Crown winners were:-
New Providence in 1959
Canebora in 1963
With Approval in 1989
Izvestia in 1990
Dance Smartly in 1991
Peteski in 1993
Wando in 2003
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In Ireland the Triple Crown consists of :-
The Curragh 2000 Guineas over 8 furlongs;
The Irish Derby over 12 furlongs;
The Irish St Leger over 14 furlongs which is open to older horses
Since its inception there have been just 2 Irish Triple Crown winners.
These were Museum in 1935 and Windsor Slipper in 1942
In Australia the Triple Crown consists of :-
The Randwick Guineas over 1600 metres;
The Rosehill Guineas over 2000 metres;
The AJC Australian Derby over 2400 metres.
Since its inception there have been 5 Australian Triple Crown winners.
The Australian Triple Crown winners were:-
Moorland in 1943
Martello Towers in 1959
Imagele in 1973
Octagonal in 1996
It’s A Dundee in 2013
In Germany the Triple Crown consists of :-
The Cologne 2000 Guineas over 1600 metres;
The Hamburg Deutsches Derby over 2400 metres;
The Dortmund Deutsches St Leger over 2800 metres.
Only Konigssthul in 1979 has won the German Triple Crown
In Hong Kong the Triple Crown consists of :-
The Hong Kong Steward’s Cup over 1600 metres;
The Hong Kong Gold Cup over 2000 metres;
The Hong Kong Champions and Chater Cup over 2400 metres.
Only River Verdon in 1994 has won the Hong Kong Triple Crown.
Unlike other countries, the Triple Crown is not confined to 3 year olds.
