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• Held annually in May and June, the Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing is a series of three horse races, the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont Stakes. Only 11 horses have won all three races in the same year since the term was used in 1923.

• Fast Facts

  1. Three races held annually in May and June
  2. Includes the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont Stakes
  3. Open to three-year-old thoroughbred horses
  4. 11 horses have won all three races
  5. Most recent winner was Affirmed in 1978
  6. Term first used by The New York Times in 1923The Rail (NYT): Origins of Triple Crown
  7. Columnist Charles Hatton also attributed to the origination of the termThe Rail (NYT): Origins of Triple Crown
  8. Alydar came in second to Affirmed in 1878, the first to finish second in all three races in the same season
  9. Sister series, Triple Tiara of Thoroughbred Racing, is open to three-year-old fillies

• Triple Crown Winners

  • 1978: Affirmed
  • 1977: Seattle Slew
  • 1973: Secretariat
  • 1948: Citation
  • 1946: Assault
  • 1943: County Fleet
  • 1941: Whirlaway
  • 1935: Omaha
  • 1930: Gallant Fox
  • 1919: Sir Barton

• Kentucky Derby Facts

  1. First held: 1895
  2. Date: First Saturday in May, annually
  3. 2009 race: May 2, 2009
  4. Location: Churchill Downs, Louisville, Kentucky
  5. Distance: 1¼ miles
  6. Track: Dirt, left-handed
  7. Purse: $2 million
  8. Referred to as "The Run for the Roses" and "The Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports"
  9. 2008 winner: Big Brown

• Preakness Stakes Facts

  1. First held: 1873
  2. Date: Third Saturday in May, annually
  3. 2009 race: May 16, 1009Official Site 2009 InfieldFEST
  4. Location: Pimlico Race Course, Baltimore, Maryland
  5. Distance: 1 3/16 miles
  6. Purse: $1 million
  7. Track: Dirt, left-handed
  8. 2008 winner: Big Brown

• Belmont Stakes Facts

  1. First held: 1867
  2. Date: First Saturday in June, annually
  3. 2009 race: June 6
  4. Location: Belmont Park, Elmont, New York
  5. Distance: 1 ½ miles
  6. Purse: $1 million
  7. Track: Dirt, left-handed
  8. 2008 winner: Da'Tara

• Related Pages on Mahalo

  Kentucky Derby | Preakness | Belmont Stakes | Churchill Downs | How to Bet on the Kentucky Derby Online | Breeders Cup | How to Win at Horse Racing | Thoroughbred Horse

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