Dating back to 1919 there are only eleven horses in history who have managed to win the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes over a five week period. Historically there have been twenty one horses that have captured the first two legs of the Triple Crown only to fall victim to the Belmont Stakes. The last horse to come close was Big Brown who went into the Belmont as a huge favorite (3-10) and ended up not only losing to Da' Tara, but becoming the first potential Triple Crown winner to finish dead last at the Belmont. The 2011 Kentucky Derby will once again kick off the initial leg of the Triple Crown as Dialed In and Nehro take a shot at trying to be the first one since Affirmed in 1978 to win all three.
Triple Crown Track Details
Kentucky Derby: 1 1/4 miles (2.01 km) on a dirt track
Preakness Stakes: 1 3/16 miles (1.91 km) on a dirt track
Belmont Stakes: 1 1/2 miles (2.41 km) on a dirt track (longest of any U.S. thoroughbred racing track)
Looking at the Triple Crown outside of just the horses, there have been ten trainers that have captured the Triple Crown with Jim Fitzsimmons winning twice with Omaha and Gallant Fox. On the jockey side, only Eddie Arcaro has managed to ride two horses to victory at the Triple Crown (Whirlaway in 1941 & Citation in 1948). In recent memory, the only thing close would be Calvin Borel riding Mine That Bird to win the Derby and Rachel Alexandra to win the Preakness (showed in Belmont with Mine That Bird) in the same year.
Triple Crown Winners (Complete List)
| Year |
Name |
Jockey |
Trainer |
Owner |
| 1919 |
Sir Barton |
John Loftus |
H. G. Bedwell |
J. K. L. Ross |
1930
|
Gallant Fox |
Earl Sande |
James Fitzsimmons |
Belair Stud |
| 1935 |
Omaha |
William Saunders |
James Fitzsimmons |
Belair Stud |
| 1937 |
War Admiral |
Charley Kurtsinger |
George Conway |
Samuel D. Riddle |
| 1941 |
Whirlaway |
Eddie Arcaro |
Ben A. Jones |
Calumet Farm |
| 1943 |
Count Fleet |
John Longden |
Don Cameron |
Mrs. J. D. Hertz |
| 1946 |
Assault |
Warren Mehrtens |
Max Hirsch |
King Ranch |
| 1948 |
Citation |
Eddie Arcaro |
Ben A. Jones |
Calumet Farm |
| 1973 |
Secretariat |
Ron Turcotte |
Lucien Laurin |
Meadow Stable |
| 1977 |
Seattle Slew |
Jean Cruguet |
William Turner, Jr. |
Karen L. Taylor |
| 1978 |
Affirmed |
Steve Cauthen |
Lazaro S. Barrera |
Harbor View Farm |
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Triple Crown 2011 - Betting
Pregame Pro Marco D'Angelo and Dave Tuley from ViewFromVegas.com and the
Daily Racing Form discuss betting strategies for the Triple Crown
(Kentucky Derby, Preakness, Belmont Stakes) in 2011.