Interesting Triple Crown Trivia

[silverscreenselect]

Although the three Triple Crown races have been run since 1875, the term Triple Crown did not officially originate until Charles Hatton, a New York sports writer, used it in connection with 1930 winner Gallant Fox. Sir Barton had won the first Triple Crown in 1919, and the public had begun using the term in the 1920's.

Hatton dubbed the term after the British Triple Crown, which had been in existance since the 1850's and was commonly used to describe three well-known British races. However, the impact of the British Triple Crown has diminished greatly since the last winner in 1970 since most horses do not enter all three of the races any more.

In the early years of all three races, it was unusual for horses to race in both the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness. The main reasons were greater localization of racing and the inconsistent scheduling of the Preakness. The Preakness (which was actually run in New York for a number of years) changed dates and lengths frequently in the 1800s and early 1900s. Eleven times, it was run before the Derby and twice on the same day. When Sir Barton won in 1919, the Preakness (which was held on different days in the week) took place only four days after the Derby. Although horses competing in both Derby and Preakness were rare in the early years, it was quite common for those who raced in one of those two to compete a few weeks later in the Belmont. The current schedule (two weeks between Derby and Preakness; three weeks until Belmont) of the Triple Crown dates from the mid-1950s.

Man o'War, considered by many the best race horse of all time, did not race in the Kentucky Derby but won the Preakness and Belmont in 1920. Native Dancer, another horse ranked among the tops of all time, also won the Preakness and Belmont in 1953 after losing the Derby.

Ironically, the first six horses that had a chance to win the Triple Crown (by winning the Derby and Preakness) all did so. Two other horses won the Derby and Preakness but did not race in the Belmont, in 1932 and 1936. Until 1958, there were eight Triple Crown winners and one (Pensive in 1944) that couldn't win the Belmont.

Since 1958, however, there have been 18 horses that won the first two races but lost the Belmont (versus three Triple Crown winners in that time). In 1958, Tim Tam won the first two races and probably would have won the Triple Crown but broke a bone in his foot late in the race and finished second (non-fatal but ended the horse's racing carer). In 1999, Charismatic would also break a foot during the running of the Belmont and lose the Triple Crown. In the last twelve years, seven horses have won the first two races and lost the Belmont. The closest was Real Quiet who lost by a nose in the Belmont.

[earendel]

Although the three Triple Crown races have been run since 1875, the term Triple Crown did not officially originate until Charles Hatton, a New York sports writer, used it in connection with 1930 winner Gallant Fox. Sir Barton had won the first Triple Crown in 1919, and the public had begun using the term in the 1920's.

Hatton dubbed the term after the British Triple Crown, which had been in existance since the 1850's and was commonly used to describe three well-known British races. However, the impact of the British Triple Crown has diminished greatly since the last winner in 1970 since most horses do not enter all three of the races any more.

In the early years of all three races, it was unusual for horses to race in both the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness. The main reasons were greater localization of racing and the inconsistent scheduling of the Preakness. The Preakness (which was actually run in New York for a number of years) changed dates and lengths frequently in the 1800s and early 1900s. Eleven times, it was run before the Derby and twice on the same day. When Sir Barton won in 1919, the Preakness (which was held on different days in the week) took place only four days after the Derby. Although horses competing in both Derby and Preakness were rare in the early years, it was quite common for those who raced in one of those two to compete a few weeks later in the Belmont. The current schedule (two weeks between Derby and Preakness; three weeks until Belmont) of the Triple Crown dates from the mid-1950s.

Man o'War, considered by many the best race horse of all time, did not race in the Kentucky Derby but won the Preakness and Belmont in 1920. Native Dancer, another horse ranked among the tops of all time, also won the Preakness and Belmont in 1953 after losing the Derby.

Ironically, the first six horses that had a chance to win the Triple Crown (by winning the Derby and Preakness) all did so. Two other horses won the Derby and Preakness but did not race in the Belmont, in 1932 and 1936. Until 1958, there were eight Triple Crown winners and one (Pensive in 1944) that couldn't win the Belmont.

Since 1958, however, there have been 18 horses that won the first two races but lost the Belmont (versus three Triple Crown winners in that time). In 1958, Tim Tam won the first two races and probably would have won the Triple Crown but broke a bone in his foot late in the race and finished second (non-fatal but ended the horse's racing carer). In 1999, Charismatic would also break a foot during the running of the Belmont and lose the Triple Crown. In the last twelve years, seven horses have won the first two races and lost the Belmont. The closest was Real Quiet who lost by a nose in the Belmont.

And Real Quiet was ridden by none other than Kent Desormeaux, who rode Big Brown this year, thus becoming the first jockey to lose two opportunities to win the Triple Crown.

[Bob Juch]

My old friend Gary Stevens has spoiled three or four Triple Crown possibilities by defeating the Derby winner at either the Preakness or the Belmont.