Introduction to the Triple Crown
There won’t be a Triple Crown winner in 2025 — and that’s known before the second leg even takes place.
Kentucky Derby winner Sovereignty isn’t competing in this weekend’s 150th running of the Preakness Stakes. The second leg of the Triple Crown will come just two weeks after Sovereignty used a late charge on a muddy Churchill Downs track to surpass morning-line favorite Journalism and cross the finish line first.
Prior to Sovereignty officially being ruled out of the Preakness, trainer Bill Mott told reporters: “We want to do what’s best for the horse. Of course, you always think about a Triple Crown, and that’s not something we’re not going to think about.”
Mott told Preakness officials that the plan is for Sovereignty to race in the third and final leg of the Triple Crown — the Belmont Stakes.
So, who was the last horse to win the Triple Crown? And how many have achieved the feat? Here’s what to know:
What is the Triple Crown in Horse Racing?
The Triple Crown features three races for 3-year-old thoroughbred horses, with just weeks separating each event. A horse who emerges victorious in the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes is dubbed a Triple Crown winner.
Order and Distances of the Triple Crown Races
The Triple Crown begins with the Kentucky Derby, followed by the Preakness Stakes and then the Belmont Stakes.
The Belmont Stakes typically is the longest race at 1 1/2 miles. However, this year’s Belmont will be 1 1/4 miles due to the race once again being held at the Saratoga Race Course as Belmont Park undergoes renovations.
The Kentucky Derby is 1 1/4 miles long, while the Preakness Stakes is the shortest at 1 3/16 miles.
History of Triple Crown Winners
There have been just 13 Triple Crown winners in horse racing history, with the first one coming over 100 years ago.
Sir Barton was the first to claim the Triple Crown title all the way back in 1919.
Justify in 2018, meanwhile, is the most recent horse to pull off the feat. Since Justify’s Triple Crown triumph, there have been five Preakness Stakes that didn’t feature the reigning Kentucky Derby winner.
List of Triple Crown Winners
Here’s a full look at the 13 Triple Crown winners:
- Sir Barton, 1919
- Gallant Fox, 1930
- Omaha, 1935
- War Admiral, 1937
- Whirlaway, 1941
- Count Fleet, 1943
- Assault, 1946
- Citation, 1948
- Secretariat, 1973
- Seattle Slew, 1977
- Affirmed, 1978
- American Pharoah, 2015
- Justify, 2018
Fifty years ago, Secretariat won the Kentucky Derby, the first leg in the horse’s journey to capture the Triple Crown.
Upcoming Triple Crown Events
This next leg of the Triple Crown is on Saturday, May 17, at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore.
The Belmont Stakes is slated for Saturday, June 7, at the Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, New York.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
Editor’s note: The original version of this story was published in 2023.
Conclusion
The Triple Crown is one of the most prestigious titles in horse racing, with only 13 horses achieving the feat in its history. The journey to the Triple Crown is challenging, with three races in short succession, but the reward is well worth it for the horses and their trainers.
FAQs
Q: What are the three races that make up the Triple Crown?
A: The three races are the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness Stakes, and the Belmont Stakes.
Q: How many horses have won the Triple Crown?
A: There have been 13 Triple Crown winners in horse racing history.
Q: Who was the first horse to win the Triple Crown?
A: Sir Barton was the first horse to win the Triple Crown in 1919.
Q: Who was the last horse to win the Triple Crown?
A: Justify was the last horse to win the Triple Crown in 2018.
