Triple Crown odds just didn’t appear out of mid-air. They were created in the late 1800’s with three races, the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness Stakes and the Belmont Stakes. These three races were held in the same year for the first time in 1875. It wasn’t for another 44 years that Sir Barton became the first horse to win all three in Triple Crown odds.
Triple Crown odds history tells us that the term “Triple Crown” wasn’t used until 1930 when a columnist referred to Gallant Fox’s win. Only 11 horses in Triple Crown wagering history have ever won all three races and none have done so in the past 30 years since Affirmed won in 1978. Many of the greatest horses in history did not win in Triple Crown . Man o’ War won only the final two legs in Triple Crown wagering after not starting the Kentucky Derby. Seabiscuit wasn’t even considered a Triple Crown horse although he later defeated Triple Crown winner War Admiral in a match race. Cigar never even ran a Triple Crown wagering race.
Why is it so difficult for a horse to win all three of the Triple Crown wagering races? Keep in mind that Triple Crown races are limited to three-year-old horses. Most horses don’t reach their full potential until they are four or five years old. There is also not a lot of time between Triple Crown races. Most of the time horses will take a month or two off between races but with Triple Crown races they have to run three tough races within 35 days. The distance is another factor that works against having a Triple Crown winner. The Derby is a mile and a quarter, the Preakness is a mile and three sixteenths and the Belmont is a mile and a half.
Winning in Triple Crown is never easy and even the best horses have a tough time. Great horses like Curlin last year may have trouble in just one race and that ruins their Triple Crown hopes. Even if a horse shows greatness in the first two legs of the Triple Crown the Belmont Stakes has ruined many hopefuls because of the grueling distance. Triple Crown tell us that winning all three races is one of toughest tests in all of sports.