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?

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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.