The Triple Crown, a coveted title in horse racing, has fascinated fans for over a century. As the 2023 Kentucky Derby draws near, let’s delve into the three renowned races that constitute this esteemed honor and pay tribute to the legendary horses that have seized the title.
Three Triple Crown Races
The Triple Crown consists of three races for three-year-old thoroughbreds: the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness Stakes, and the Belmont Stakes. The term “Triple Crown” traces back to the 1920s, with Charles Hatton of The Daily Racing Form credited for popularizing it in the 1930s.
Despite changes in the order, spacing, distances, and tracks over the years, the Triple Crown has always required victories in these same three events.
Three Races, Three Different Horse Racing Tests
The first leg of the Triple Crown, the Kentucky Derby, takes place on the first Saturday in May at Churchill Downs in Louisville. Up to 20 horses compete in this mile-and-a-quarter race, earning it the moniker “the most exciting two minutes in sports.” The Derby exudes Southern charm, with spectators donning elaborate hats and sipping mint juleps beneath the iconic Twin Spires.
Two weeks later, the Preakness Stakes unfolds at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore. The Preakness spans a mile and three-sixteenths, with a maximum of 14 horses competing. Victory in this race is no small feat, given the short recovery time from the Derby.
The final race, the Belmont Stakes, takes place three weeks after the Preakness at Belmont Park in New York. Referred to as the Test of the Champion, this mile-and-a-half race demands a perfect blend of speed, stamina, and grit.
Belmont Park’s main track, the longest in North America, is known as Big Sandy. Frank Sinatra’s “New York, New York” serenades the horses as they enter the track, and the winner is draped in a blanket of white carnations.
2023 Triple Crown Dates
Mark your calendars for the 2023 Triple Crown races:
- Kentucky Derby: May 6, 2023, at Churchill Downs
- Preakness Stakes: May 20, 2023, at Pimlico Race Course
- Belmont Stakes: June 10, 2023, at Belmont Park
Triple Crown Winners
Only 13 horse have ever won the Triple Crown. The legendary Triple Crown champions are:
- Sir Barton (1919)
- Gallant Fox (1930)
- Omaha (1935)
- War Admiral (1937)
- Whirlaway (1941)
- Count Fleet (1943)
- Assault (1946)
- Citation (1948)
- Secretariat (1973)
- Seattle Slew (1977)
- Affirmed (1978)
- American Pharoah (2015)
- Justify (2018)
Secretariat’s astonishing 1973 victory ended a 25-year drought and solidified his status as one of the greatest racehorses in history. The 1970s saw a surge in Triple Crown winners, with three horses achieving the feat within six years. However, after Affirmed’s win in 1978, the next 13 Derby and Preakness champions fell short at the Belmont Stakes.
45 years ago today, CBS Sports broadcast Secretariat’s Triple Crown victory in one of the most dominant performances in sports history. pic.twitter.com/IvuN0i3beS
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) June 9, 2018
American Pharoah broke the 37-year dry spell in 2015, and Justify followed suit in 2018. Their victories made Bob Baffert just the second trainer to win two Triple Crowns, joining Sunny Jim Fitzsimmons, who completed the feat in the 1930s with Gallant Fox and Omaha.
"THE 37 YEAR WAIT IS OVER, AMERICAN PHAROAH IS FINALLY THE ONE!"
Looking back at 2015's Triple Crown winner like 😱 pic.twitter.com/q70xDy4WfT
— NBC Sports (@NBCSports) December 23, 2019
Kentucky Derby 2023 Odds
Only the winner of the 2023 Kentucky Derby can go on to win the 2023 Triple Crown. So let’s take a quick look at the odds for this year’s ‘Run for the Roses.’
| Kentucky Derby Horses | Kentucky Derby Odds | Sportsbook |
|---|---|---|
| Forte | +325 |  |
| Tapit Trice | +600 | |
| Practical Move | +800 | |
| Angel Of Empire | +1000 | |
| Kingsbarns | +1200 | |
| Derma Sotagake | +1200 | |
| Verifying | +1400 | |
| Mage | +1600 | |
| Two Phil’s | +2000 | |
| Confidence Game | +2500 | |
| Skinner | +2500 | |
| Hit Show | +3300 | |
| Disarm | +3300 | |
| Reincarnate | +4000 | |
| Rocket Can | +4000 | |
| Jace’s Road | +5000 | |
| Sun Thunder | +5000 | |
| Raise Cain | +5000 | |
| Lord Miles | +5000 | |
| Continuar | +6600 | |
Kentucky Derby Betting Guides 2024
- Horse Racing Betting Guide – Discover Best Horse Racing Betting Sites in USA Ranked & Reviewed.
- Kentucky Derby Betting Guide – Compare Best Kentucky Derby Betting Sites in 2024.
- Kentucky Derby Expert Guide – Learn How to Bet on the Kentucky Derby in 2024.
- The Latest Kentucky Derby Odds – Compare Top Racebooks Offering Kentucky Derby Odds.
- Free Kentucky Derby Picks – Check out Kentucky Derby Expert Picks and Predictions.
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