Triple Crown of thoroughbred racing (Triple Crown) has three races associated with it for three-year-old thoroughbred horse
The Triple Crown in the United States has the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes.
Triple Crown of thoroughbred racing also takes place in other countries in addition to the United States. In England the Triple Crown includes the Two Thousand Guineas Stakes at Newmarket Racecourse in Newmarket, Suffolk, the Epsom Derby at Epsom Downs Racecourse in Epsom, Surrey and the St. Leger Stakes at Town Moor in Doncaster, Yorkshire. Only 15 horses have ever won the Triple Crown in England. The last Triple Crown wagering winner of all three races in England was Nijinsky in 1970.
Triple Crown of thoroughbred racing in Ireland has the Irish 2,000 Guineas, the Irish Derby and the Irish St. Leger. Only two horses have won all three races since they were first run in 1921.
Triple Crown of thoroughbred racing is really focused on the United States with the Derby, Preakness and Belmont. The first Triple Crown of thoroughbred racing winner was Sir Barton in 1919 although the term Triple Crown didn’t take hold until Gallant Fox won in 1930. Only 11 horses have ever won the Triple Crown of thoroughbred racing in the United States, the latest being Affirmed in 1978. Since that time, 10 horses have won both the Derby and the Preakness but then lost the Belmont. Real Quiet was very close to winning in Triple Crown wagering in the Belmont but lost by a nose in 1998. Charismatic led the Belmont in the final furlong in 1999 but broke his leg in the stretch or he would have ended the Triple Crown wagering drought. The three most recent horses that won the Derby and Preakness but then lost the Belmont are War Emblem in 2002, Funny Cide in 2003 and Smarty Jones in 2004. Many people believe that Street Sense would have won the Preakness and Belmont after winning the Derby in 2007 but an injury took those chances away.
There have also been quite a few horses that lost the Derby but then won the Preakness and Belmont. Afleet Alex was the latest of those horses in 2005. Alydar is the only horse to finish second in all three Triple Crown of thoroughbred racing events and unfortunately for him he lost to Triple Crown winner Affirmed all three times. Mane Minister finished 3rd in each Triple Crown of thoroughbred racing events in 1991.