With the Kentucky Derby behind us and the Preakness Stakes on Saturday, it is that time of year when horse racing fans start talking about a potential Triple Crown and bringing up past Triple Crown Winners. 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. This Saturday, Animal Kingdom will attempt to win the 2011 Preakness Stakes and move on to the Belmont Stakes to be the first horse 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. Here is the Triple Crown Winners (Official List): 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) and Affirmed (1978).
Comment below: Does Animal Kingdom have a shot at the Triple Crown?
Related content:
Preakness picks and discussions with other bettors [PregameForums.com]
How handicapper turned $104 to $2305 at Derby [PregamePodcasts.com]
Preakness HQ - all free content in one place [PregameForums.com]
Win $10,000 cash picking baseball games. 100% free [Pregame.com Contests]
Triple Crown 2011 - Betting
(more Preakness videos at www.Pregame.tv)
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.