The thirty year wait continues as Big Brown was denied membership into the elite group of Triple Crown winners in 2008.
An exclusive group of eleven, dating back to the early 1900s; the winners of the Triple Crown along with their owners, trainers and riders, are etched into eternal horseracing history.
The Triple Crown
The Triple Crown includes races in May at the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness followed by the Belmont Stakes, taking place in June.
Details are as follows:
- The Kentucky Derby "running of the roses" is held in Louisville, Kentucky and runs the first Saturday in May (May 2,2009 is the Kentucky Derby date this year, post time of 6:04 EDT/5:04 CDT).
- The Preakness Stakes takes place traditionally two weeks after the Derby and is held at Pimlico in Maryland.
- The Belmont Stakes (held in Elmont, New York) is traditionally held in June and will take place this year (2009) on June 6th.
Triple Crown Winners
Since 1919 there have been eleven Triple Crown winners with a surge of winners during the 1930s and 40s. Handsome Secretariat broke a 25 year winner drought with a powerful 31 length win at the Belmont.
Winners of the Triple Crown (by year) are as follows:
- 1919 – Sir Barton
- 1930 – Gallant Fox
- 1935 – Omaha
- 1937 – War Admiral
- 1941 – Whirl Away
- 1943 – Count Fleet
- 1946 – Assault
- 1948 – Citation
- 1973 – Secretariat
- 1977 – Seattle Slew
- 1978 - Affirmed
The last three winners of the Triple Crown include back to back winners; Affirmed (in 1978) and Seattle Slew (in 1977) and then Secretariat in 1973.
Individual statistics are as follows:
Affirmed - Triple Crown Winner 1978
- Owner - Harbor View Farm
- Trainer - Lazaro Barrera
- Rider – Steve Cauthen
Affirmed was born in 1975 at the Harbor View Farm in Florida and debuted in 1977. Derby win by 1 ½ lengths, Preakness by a neck and Belmont by a head with a memorable and breathtaking victory against long term rival Alydar.
Sire of Affirmed include:
- Flawlessly - A 2 time champion turf mare
- Peteski - Canadian Horse of the Year
- Zoman – Irish Champion
- Charlie Barley - Canadian Champion
- One From Heaven - Canadian Champion
Careers earnings of Affirmed equaled $2,393,818.00
Seattle Slew - Triple Crown Winner 1977
- Owner – Karen Taylor
- Trainer – William H. Turner Jr.
- Rider – Jean Cruguet
Seattle Slew was bought as a yearling by a group of friends for $17,500.00 and rose to glory with a 1 ¾ length win over Run Dusty Run at the Derby. In the Preakness, Seattle Slew pulled away from Cormorant with a 1 ½ length win and at the Belmont raced across the finish line with a 4 length lead (with rider Cruguet standing in the saddle in celebration).
Sire of Seattle Slew include:
- Swale - 1984 Derby winner
- A.P. Indy
- Slew O’Gold
- Capote
- Landaluce
Career earnings of Seattle Slew equaled $1,208,726.00
Secretariat - Triple Crown Winner 1973
- Owner – Meadow Stable
- Trainer – Lucien Laurin
- Rider – Ron Turcotlet
Born in 1970 Secretariat debuted in 1972. Secretariat won the Derby at 2 ½ lengths (only below 2:00 race in Derby history at 1:59 2/5). The Preakness was won by 2 ½ lengths as well at 1:54 2/5 (after some controversy) and the Belmont against only 4 others winning dramatically by 31 lengths after rival Shams injury at 2:24 (a track record).
Sire of Secretariat include:
- Risen Star - A dual classic winner
Career earnings equaled $1,316,808.00 until death in 1989 of laminitis complications.
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