LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The Triple Crown is a rare accomplishment achieved by just a small handful of horses and jockeys throughout history. In fact, just over a dozen horses in total have won all three races required for the title.
In order to win the Triple Crown, a horse and their jockey must race in the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness Stakes, and the Belmont Stakes in the same season, and earn first place in all three races.
The last of the three races inaugurated was the Kentucky Derby in 1875. In nearly 150 years, just 13 horses have won all three races, earning the title of Triple Crown Winner.
RELATED: Kentucky Derby 150 guide | When is the race? How do I bet? And everything else you should know
2018, Justify
Justify is the last horse to win the Triple Crown. He is known to have broken a 136-year-old curse after he was the first horse since Apollo in 1882 to win the Kentucky Derby without racing as a 2-year-old.
Kentucky Derby time: 2:04.20
Jockey: Mike Smith
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Owner(s): China Horse Club, Head of Plains Partners, Starlight Racing and WinStar Farm
Breeder: John D. Gunther
2015, American Pharoah
American Pharoah is the only horse that has won both the Triple Crown and the Breeders' Cup Classic in a single season, earning himself the title of Grand Slam of Thoroughbreds winner.
Kentucky Derby Time: 2:03.02
Jockey: Victor Espinoza
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Owner(s): Ahmed Zayat
Breeder: Ahmed Zayat
1978, Affirmed
Affirmed was known as the last horse to win the Triple Crown for 27 years, until American Pharoah won in 2015.
Kentucky Derby Time: 2:01
Jockey: Steve Cauthen
Trainer: Laz Barrera
Owner(s): Harbor View Farm
Breeder: Harbor View Farm
1977, Seattle Slew
Seattle Slew is one of only two horses to have won the Triple Crown while being undefeated in any previous race. The second was Justify who won the Triple Crown in 2018 and is descended from Seattle Slew.
Kentucky Derby Time: 2:02.20
Jockey: Jean Cruget
Trainer: William H. Turner Jr.
Owner(s): Mickey and Karen L. Taylor
Breeder: Ben S. Castleman
1973, Secretariat
Secretariat continues to hold the fastest Kentucky Derby time ever achieved. He is the only horse in history to complete the Derby in under two minutes.
Kentucky Derby Time: 1:59.40
Jockey: Ron Turcotte
Trainer: Lucien Laurin
Owner(s): Meadow Stable
Breeder: Meadow Stable
1948, Citation
Secretariat was often compared to Citation throughout his career. Citation was considered the gold standard among Triple Crown winners until Secretariat came along.
Kentucky Derby Time: 2:05.40
Jockey: Eddie Arcaro
Trainer: Horace A. "Jimmy" Jones
Owner(s): Calumet Farm
Breeder: Calumet Farm
1946, Assault
Assault holds the record for the longest winning margin in the Kentucky Derby with fellow Triple Crown winner Whirlaway, both winning the Derby by 8 lengths.
Kentucky Derby Time: 2:06.60
Jockey: Warren Mehrtens
Trainer: Max Hirsch
Owner(s): King Ranch
Breeder: King Ranch
1943, Count Fleet
Count Fleet was the longest living Kentucky Derby horse on record. He died at 33 years old.
Kentucky Derby Time: 2:03
Jockey: Johnny Longden
Trainer: Don Cameron
Owner(s): Fannie Kertz
Breeder: Fannie Hertz
1941, Whirlaway
Whirlaway is the only horse to win both the Triple Crown and Travers Stakes in the same season.
Kentucky Derby Time: 2:01.40
Jockey: Eddie Arcarco
Trainer: Ben A. Jones
Owner(s): Calumet Farm
Breeder: Calumet Farm
1937, War Admiral
Though War Admiral won 21/26 races during his career, most people remember his decisive loss to Seabiscuit.
Kentucky Derby Time: 2:03.20
Jockey: Charles Kurtsinger
Trainer: George Conway
Owner(s): Samuel D. Riddle
Breeder: Samuel D. Riddle
1935, Omaha
After nearly 90 years, Omaha remains to be the only Triple Crown winner sired by a Triple Crown winner (Gallant Fox, 1930).
Kentucky Derby Time: 2:05.00
Jockey: Willie "Smokey" Saunders
Trainer: Jim Fitzsimmons
Owner(s): Belair Stud
Breeder: Belair Stud
1930, Gallant Fox
After the 1930 racing season, Gallant Fox retired to stud and had a 22-year breeding career when he sired the 1935 Triple Crown winner Omaha. This made him the first U.S. Triple Crown winner to sire a second-generation Triple Crown champion.
Kentucky Derby Time: 2:07.60
Jockey: Earl Sande
Trainer: Jim Fitzsimmons
Owner(s): Belair Stud
Breeder: Belair Stud
1919, Sir Barton
Sir Barton was the first horse to win the Triple Crown. Though he was the first to win all three races in a season, his Kentucky Derby time is the slowest of all 13 Triple Crown winners.
Kentucky Derby Time: 2:09.80
Jockey: Johnny Loftus
Trainer: H. Guy Bedwell
Owner(s): J. K. L. Ross
Breeder: John E. Madden
Make it easy to keep up-to-date with more stories like this. Download the WHAS11 News app now. For Apple or Android users.
Have a news tip? Email assign@whas11.com, visit our Facebook page or Twitter feed.
