Triple Crown Winners: Horse Racing's Ultimate Achievement
The Triple Crown of Thoroughbred racing stands as the most coveted prize in the sport. Only thirteen horses in more than a century have accomplished the feat of winning the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, and Belmont Stakes in a single season. It is a test of speed, stamina, and heart that has broken the dreams of dozens of would-be champions.
What Is the Triple Crown?
The Triple Crown challenges a single three-year-old Thoroughbred to win three prestigious races within a span of just five weeks. Each leg tests different qualities: the Kentucky Derby (1.25 miles at Churchill Downs) rewards a blend of speed and tactical ability; the Preakness Stakes (1 3/16 miles at Pimlico Race Course, two weeks later) demands sustained speed around tight turns; and the Belmont Stakes (1.5 miles at Belmont Park or Saratoga, three weeks after the Preakness) is a grueling test of endurance known as the " Test of the Champion."
Leg 1
Kentucky Derby
1.25 miles — Churchill Downs
First Saturday in May
Leg 2
Preakness Stakes
1 3/16 miles — Pimlico
Two weeks after Derby
Leg 3
Belmont Stakes
1.5 miles — "Test of the Champion"
Three weeks after Preakness
The concept of the Triple Crown was not formally recognized until 1930, but Sir Barton is retroactively credited as the first winner after sweeping all three races in 1919. The term gained widespread use after sportswriter Charles Hatton popularized it while covering Gallant Fox's three-race sweep in 1930.
All 13 Triple Crown Winners
| Year | Horse | Jockey | Trainer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1919 | Sir Barton | Johnny Loftus | H. Guy Bedwell |
| 1930 | Gallant Fox | Earl Sande | Jim Fitzsimmons |
| 1935 | Omaha | Willie Saunders | Jim Fitzsimmons |
| 1937 | War Admiral | Charles Kurtsinger | George Conway |
| 1941 | Whirlaway | Eddie Arcaro | Ben Jones |
| 1943 | Count Fleet | Johnny Longden | Don Cameron |
| 1946 | Assault | Warren Mehrtens | Max Hirsch |
| 1948 | Citation | Eddie Arcaro | Ben Jones |
| 1973 | Secretariat | Ron Turcotte | Lucien Laurin |
| 1977 | Seattle Slew | Jean Cruguet | Billy Turner |
| 1978 | Affirmed | Steve Cauthen | Laz Barrera |
| 2015 | American Pharoah | Victor Espinoza | Bob Baffert |
| 2018 | Justify | Mike Smith | Bob Baffert |
The 37-Year Drought (1978-2015)
From Affirmed in 1978 to American Pharoah in 2015, no horse could complete the Triple Crown — a drought that lasted 37 years and produced some of racing's most heartbreaking moments.
After Affirmed's 1978 sweep, horse after horse came agonizingly close to the Triple Crown only to fall short in the Belmont Stakes. The drought became one of the most discussed storylines in all of American sports, and each failed attempt added to the growing sense that the feat might never be accomplished again.
During those 37 years, thirteen horses won both the Derby and the Preakness but could not seal the deal in the Belmont. The weight of history, the fatigue from three races in five weeks, and the demanding 1.5-mile distance of the Belmont all conspired against them. As the years passed, some wondered if the modern racing schedule and training methods had made the Triple Crown unattainable.
Heartbreaking Near Misses
Real Quiet (1998)
After winning the Derby and Preakness, Real Quiet appeared to have the Belmont Stakes won as he led deep into the stretch. But Victory Gallop surged alongside him in the final strides and caught him at the wire by a nose — one of the most heartbreaking finishes in Triple Crown history.
Smarty Jones (2004)
Smarty Jones captured the nation's imagination as an undefeated horse with a compelling backstory. After dominant victories in the Derby and Preakness, he entered the Belmont as the heavy favorite. He led deep into the stretch but was overtaken by 36-1 longshot Birdstone in the final furlong, shattering the dreams of a massive crowd that had come to witness history.
Big Brown (2008)
Big Brown entered the Belmont as perhaps the most hyped Triple Crown contender in decades after demolishing his fields in the Derby and Preakness. But the seemingly invincible colt was pulled up by his jockey in the stretch of the Belmont and finished last — one of the most shocking collapses in racing history.
I'll Have Another (2012)
I'll Have Another won the Derby and Preakness with thrilling stretch runs, and anticipation for his Belmont attempt was enormous. But the day before the race, his connections announced he had been scratched with a leg injury. The retirement was the right call for the horse's welfare, but the racing world was left wondering what might have been.
California Chrome (2014)
California Chrome, the beloved "people's horse" bred by a working-class partnership, won the Derby and Preakness convincingly. In the Belmont, he was in contention turning for home but faded to fourth as Tonalist won. It was the final near miss before American Pharoah finally ended the drought a year later.
What Makes the Triple Crown So Difficult?
Several factors combine to make the Triple Crown the most demanding challenge in horse racing. The five-week timeframe gives horses minimal recovery between maximum efforts. Each race is at a different distance, requiring a horse to display both speed and stamina. The three tracks have different configurations, and fresh horses — those who skipped earlier legs — join the competition at the Preakness and Belmont with a rest advantage.
The Belmont Stakes, at 1.5 miles, is the longest of the three and the point where most Triple Crown bids have failed. Horses that have already run hard in the Derby and Preakness may simply not have the stamina reserves to maintain their form over the grueling distance. The Belmont is rightly known as the "Test of the Champion" — and only true champions pass it.
2026 Triple Crown Outlook
As the 2026 Kentucky Derby approaches, racing fans are once again dreaming of a Triple Crown sweep. The Road to the Derby prep season has produced several exciting contenders, and the question on everyone's mind is whether any of these three-year-olds possess the rare combination of talent and durability needed to win all three legs. History tells us the odds are long — but as American Pharoah and Justify proved, the impossible can happen.
Follow our 2026 contenders page and current Derby odds for the latest updates on which horses might have a shot at the sport's ultimate prize.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Triple Crown in horse racing?
The Triple Crown is achieved when a single three-year-old Thoroughbred wins the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness Stakes, and the Belmont Stakes in the same year. The three races are held within a five-week period, making it an extraordinarily demanding feat of speed, stamina, and consistency.
How many horses have won the Triple Crown?
Thirteen horses have won the Triple Crown since Sir Barton first accomplished the feat in 1919. The most recent winners are Justify (2018) and American Pharoah (2015), both trained by Bob Baffert. Before American Pharoah, the sport endured a 37-year drought without a Triple Crown winner.
Why is it so hard to win the Triple Crown?
The Triple Crown is extremely difficult because it requires winning three races at increasing distances in just five weeks. The short recovery time between races, the varying track conditions at three different venues, and the entry of fresh challengers at each leg all conspire against the Derby winner. The 1.5-mile Belmont Stakes, the final leg, is where most Triple Crown bids have ended.
Who was the last Triple Crown winner?
Justify won the Triple Crown in 2018, going undefeated in his six-race career before retirement. He was trained by Bob Baffert and ridden by Mike Smith. Justify also broke the so-called "Curse of Apollo" by winning the Derby without having raced as a two-year-old.