Sir Barton Won First Triple Crown
While Man o' War was Dominating at Two in 1919, the Sir Captured TC
Jun 30, 2007
Connections and Stats: 1919
Awards and Stud Career: Sir Barton
Billy Kelly was the horse to beat in the classics in 1919. The Triple Crown (the three classics) had not yet been referred to by that title. Just the same, any horse who could win the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness Stakes, and the Belmont Stakes over the course of a few weeks was highly thought of as a champion.
Sir Barton Rises
In 1919, that horse became little regarded Sir Barton, a stablemate of Billy Kelly. Sir Barton not only swept all three classics, he won the Withers Stakes as well, pausing between the Preakness and the Belmont to do so.
Ironically, jockey Johnny Loftus rode the Sir to his triple victory and piloted the two-year-old Man o' War in that colt's only loss. The year before, 1918, Sir Barton won exactly zero races as a two-year-old.
Horse racing has its judging parameters. But anything can happen. One day a horse can bring his A game, and the next trip he might defy all logic to lose.
Or, he can triumph when he has no expectations to make the winner's circle. Such a day was had by Sir Barton on the first Saturday in May, Kentucky Derby day, 1919.
The Sir Romps
He was a horse for all seasons that year, his accomplishment something greatly admired, but never attained in either of his other two racing years. He crushed all rivals in four straight wins in four short weeks.
The Sir's Derby was a romp. He left Billy Kelly behind from the start, and turned heads, raised eyebrows with the five length score. Sir Barton was supposed to be a rabbit to Billy Kelly's attempt to pace. The rabbit ran away with the hound, so to speak, as the Sir led the contest wire to winning wire.
Four days later, Sir Barton confirmed he was not from the land of flukedom. The chestnut colt attacked the second, shorter classic in the same wire to wire fashion, winning in a four length breeze in an eased up stretch run. He had led by as much as six lengths through the lane.
Ten days beyond the Preakness, the Sir captured the Withers Stakes. He arrived in New York for the Belmont Stakes with just two rivals scheduled against him for the third classic, June 11.
The Sir Sets Record
Sir Barton scorched through the first 11 furlongs of the 12 furlong Belmont at 2:17-2/5, a new American record at the time. Incredible stamina and speed to spare in four consecutive races were the story of the first Triple Crown champion.
The Sir Pales
Unfortunately, his fame and glory paled in the eyes of the many who thronged to watch the two-year-old phenom called Man o' War. The Man was burning up tracks everywhere. The Man and the Sir would meet in 1920.
