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.
The Kentucky Derby race is held annually at the Churchill Downs racetrack in Louisville, Kentucky. The Preakness is held at Pimlico Park in Baltimore, Maryland. The Belmont is held at Belmont Park in New York.
Many horses have come close to winning all three, including Big Brown and Barbaro. Each year, millions of viewers wait in anticipation hoping that a horse will clinch all three races in the same year.
Triple Crown Winners
Kentucky Derby Facts
- First held: 1895
- Date: First Saturday in May, annually
- 2009 race: May 2, 2009
- Location: Churchill Downs, Louisville, Kentucky
- Distance: 1¼ miles
- Track: Dirt, left-handed
- Purse: $2 million
- Referred to as "The Run for the Roses" and "The Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports"
- 2008 winner: Big Brown
Preakness Stakes Facts
- First held: 1873
- Date: Third Saturday in May, annually
- 2009 race: May 16, 1009Official Site 2009 InfieldFEST
- Location: Pimlico Race Course, Baltimore, Maryland
- Distance: 1 3/16 miles
- Purse: $1 million
- Track: Dirt, left-handed
- 2008 winner: Big Brown
Belmont Stakes Facts
Featured Video
References
Fast Facts
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Three races held annually in May and June
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Includes the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont Stakes
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Open to three-year-old thoroughbred horses
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11 horses have won all three races
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Most recent winner was Affirmed in 1978
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Columnist Charles Hatton also attributed to the origination of the termThe Rail (NYT): Origins of Triple Crown
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Alydar came in second to Affirmed in 1878, the first to finish second in all three races in the same season
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Sister series, Triple Tiara of Thoroughbred Racing, is open to three-year-old fillies
