The Triple Crown
May 24th 2008 03:58
The Kentucky Derby is the first leg of the US Triple Crown. It was inspired by the Epsom Derby in England and first run in 1875 at the Louisville Jockey Club Course (Churchill Downs wouldn’t get its name until 1886). Originally run at 1 1/2 miles (same as the Epsom Derby) it fell out of favour with owners and breeders and the distance was changed to a preferred 1 1/4 miles in 1896. It had peaks and troughs of popularity after scandal and mismanagement until ascending to its level of popularity and stature in the early 1900’s.
The Preakness Stakes is the second leg of the Triple Crown. It is named in honour of the first great horse ever to race at Pimlico racecourse (opened in 1870). It was first run in 1873, two years before the Kentucky Derby and also run then over 1 1/2 miles. For a time it was shifted to racetracks in New York and Brooklyn until returning to Pimlico in 1909 and going through a series of different distances from 1 mile till eventually settling on its current distance of 1 - 3/16 miles in 1925. It was also run before the Kentucky Derby until the 1930’s, and the current spacing of two weeks after the Kentucky Derby was established by the late 1940’s.
The Belmont Stakes is the third leg of the Triple Crown and is run at Belmont Park in New York. It was first run at Jerome Park race course (an atypical US racetrack with three turns instead of two). It is the oldest of the three races, first being run on June 19, 1867. The Belmont Stakes is the ultimate staying test in the US being run at 1 1/2 miles. It also has a history of venue and distance changes from 1 - 5/8 miles and even 1 -1/8 and 1 - 3/8 miles before settling on its current distance in 1926.
(photo: Interactive Stallion Directory. Jazil stands at Shadwell Farm in Kentucky)
The genesis of The US Triple Crown is an interesting saga. The most famous of the three universally, The Kentucky Derby, was the last to be instigated. The dates and distances danced and changed until settling into the pattern and plan that we all know so well today.
!n 1930 Gallant Fox captured all three of these important races and sportswriter Charles Hatton brought the phrase ‘Triple Crown’ into the US lexicon. The current drought of 30 years is the longest break between Triple Crown winners.
Few horses win the US Triple Crown. There have only been eleven winners since inception and the last winner being the champion Affirmed in 1978. The 1970’s saw a succession of champion gallopers win the Triple Crown: Secretariat in 1973; Seattle Slew in 1977; and Affirmed in 1978.
The complete list is as follows:
1919 Sir Barton
1930 Gallant Fox
1935 Omaha
1937 War Admiral
1941 Whirlaway
1943 Count Fleet
1946 Assault
1948 Citation
1973 Secretariat
1977 Seattle Slew
1978 Affirmed
Big Brown will have the opportunity to be added to this list when the Belmont Stakes in run on June the 7th. The nature of the staying test (and durability of horses) leads to some emphatic results in the Belmont. Count Fleet won by 25 lengths in 1943 and Secretariat won by 31 lengths in 1973. Big Brown has been so emphatic with his victories and winning margins that only an inability to run the extra trip seem capable of stopping him. The only likely danger appears to be the Japanese owned Casino Drive. He was foaled and bought in Kentucky and is out of the same mare as the last two Belmont Stake winners, Jazil (his half brother) and Rags To Riches (her three quarter brother). He won his maiden in Kyoto earlier this year by 12 lengths and won the Peter Pan Stakes by over 5 lengths at Belmont Park on May the 10th. The Japanese are strong exponents of conditioning staying horses and Casino Drive’s Pedigree gives them cause for optimism. Or is Big Brown the freak racehorse that won’t be stopped? A Triple Crown awaits.
Below is the replay of last year's (2007) Belmont Stakes. A most exciting race with an historic result (and perhaps a clue for the Belmont Stakes of 2008?).
Note that the number one ranked horse in the world (2008) Curlin ran second.
The Preakness Stakes is the second leg of the Triple Crown. It is named in honour of the first great horse ever to race at Pimlico racecourse (opened in 1870). It was first run in 1873, two years before the Kentucky Derby and also run then over 1 1/2 miles. For a time it was shifted to racetracks in New York and Brooklyn until returning to Pimlico in 1909 and going through a series of different distances from 1 mile till eventually settling on its current distance of 1 - 3/16 miles in 1925. It was also run before the Kentucky Derby until the 1930’s, and the current spacing of two weeks after the Kentucky Derby was established by the late 1940’s.
The Belmont Stakes is the third leg of the Triple Crown and is run at Belmont Park in New York. It was first run at Jerome Park race course (an atypical US racetrack with three turns instead of two). It is the oldest of the three races, first being run on June 19, 1867. The Belmont Stakes is the ultimate staying test in the US being run at 1 1/2 miles. It also has a history of venue and distance changes from 1 - 5/8 miles and even 1 -1/8 and 1 - 3/8 miles before settling on its current distance in 1926.
Jazil
(photo: Interactive Stallion Directory. Jazil stands at Shadwell Farm in Kentucky)
The genesis of The US Triple Crown is an interesting saga. The most famous of the three universally, The Kentucky Derby, was the last to be instigated. The dates and distances danced and changed until settling into the pattern and plan that we all know so well today.
!n 1930 Gallant Fox captured all three of these important races and sportswriter Charles Hatton brought the phrase ‘Triple Crown’ into the US lexicon. The current drought of 30 years is the longest break between Triple Crown winners.
Few horses win the US Triple Crown. There have only been eleven winners since inception and the last winner being the champion Affirmed in 1978. The 1970’s saw a succession of champion gallopers win the Triple Crown: Secretariat in 1973; Seattle Slew in 1977; and Affirmed in 1978.
The complete list is as follows:
1919 Sir Barton
1930 Gallant Fox
1935 Omaha
1937 War Admiral
1941 Whirlaway
1943 Count Fleet
1946 Assault
1948 Citation
1973 Secretariat
1977 Seattle Slew
1978 Affirmed
Big Brown will have the opportunity to be added to this list when the Belmont Stakes in run on June the 7th. The nature of the staying test (and durability of horses) leads to some emphatic results in the Belmont. Count Fleet won by 25 lengths in 1943 and Secretariat won by 31 lengths in 1973. Big Brown has been so emphatic with his victories and winning margins that only an inability to run the extra trip seem capable of stopping him. The only likely danger appears to be the Japanese owned Casino Drive. He was foaled and bought in Kentucky and is out of the same mare as the last two Belmont Stake winners, Jazil (his half brother) and Rags To Riches (her three quarter brother). He won his maiden in Kyoto earlier this year by 12 lengths and won the Peter Pan Stakes by over 5 lengths at Belmont Park on May the 10th. The Japanese are strong exponents of conditioning staying horses and Casino Drive’s Pedigree gives them cause for optimism. Or is Big Brown the freak racehorse that won’t be stopped? A Triple Crown awaits.
Below is the replay of last year's (2007) Belmont Stakes. A most exciting race with an historic result (and perhaps a clue for the Belmont Stakes of 2008?).
Note that the number one ranked horse in the world (2008) Curlin ran second.
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