Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing facts for kids

The Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing is a super exciting challenge in horse racing! It's a series of three special races for amazing Thoroughbred horses, usually three-year-olds. Winning all three races is seen as the biggest achievement a horse can make in racing. The idea of the Triple Crown started in England in the mid-1800s, and now many countries that love horse racing have their own versions.

Ormonde, a horse who won the English Triple Crown without ever being defeated!

England's Triple Crown

In England, where the Triple Crown idea began in 1853, it includes these three famous races:

• The 2000 Guineas Stakes: This race is about 1 mile (1,609 meters) long and takes place at Newmarket Racecourse in Newmarket.
• The Derby: This race is about 1 mile 4 furlongs and 10 yards (2,423 meters) long and happens at Epsom Downs Racecourse in Epsom.
• The St Leger Stakes: This is the longest race, about 1 mile 6 furlongs and 132 yards (2,937 meters), held at Town Moor in Doncaster.

Since the 2,000 Guineas started in 1809, fifteen horses have won the English Triple Crown. Only one horse, Nijinsky, has won it since World War II, back in 1970. It's very hard to win all three!

English Triple Crown Winners

Here are the amazing horses who have won the English Triple Crown:

† Some people don't count the winners from 1915, 1917, and 1918 because the races were held at a different location (Newmarket) due to World War I.

Horses Who Almost Won

Many horses have won two of the three races but couldn't quite get the third. Here are some who won the 2000 Guineas and the Derby but were beaten in the St Leger:

• Cotherstone (1843)
• Pretender (1869)
• Shotover (1882)
• Ayrshire (1888)
• Ladas (1894)
• St. Amant (1904)
• Minoru (1909)
• Manna (1925)
• Cameronian (1931)
• Camelot (2012)

Also, Blue Peter won the 2000 Guineas and Derby in 1939, but the St Leger was cancelled because of World War II.

Fillies' Triple Crown

Formosa, a Fillies' Triple Crown winner from 1868.

There's also a special Triple Crown for fillies (female horses). It includes:

• The 1,000 Guineas Stakes
• The Epsom Oaks
• The St. Leger Stakes

Here are the fillies who have won this Triple Crown:

• Formosa – 1868
• Hannah – 1871
• Apology – 1874
• La Fleche – 1892
• Sceptre – 1902
• Pretty Polly – 1904
• Sun Chariot – 1942
• Meld – 1955
• Oh So Sharp – 1985

United States Triple Crown

Secretariat, a famous American Triple Crown winner.

In the United States, the three races that make up the Triple Crown are:

• Kentucky Derby: This race is about 1 and 1/4 miles (2.01 km) long on a dirt track at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky.
• Preakness Stakes: This race is about 1 and 3/16 miles (1.91 km) long on a dirt track at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland.
• Belmont Stakes: This is the longest race, about 1 and 1/2 miles (2.41 km) long on a dirt track at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York.

American Triple Crown Winners

Here are the horses who have won the American Triple Crown:

Triple Tiara for Fillies

The Triple Tiara is a special series for fillies in the United States. The most common version uses three races in New York:

• Acorn Stakes
• Mother Goose Stakes
• Coaching Club American Oaks

Eight fillies have won this version of the Triple Tiara:

• Dark Mirage – 1968
• Shuvee – 1969
• Chris Evert – 1974
• Ruffian – 1975
• Davona Dale – 1979
• Mom's Command – 1985
• Open Mind – 1989
• Sky Beauty – 1993

Turf Triple Series

Since 2019, there are also Triple Crown series for three-year-old horses that race on grass (turf) tracks in New York.

• Turf Trinity (for colts):
  • Belmont Derby
  • Saratoga Derby Invitational Stakes
  • Jockey Club Derby

• Turf Tiara (for fillies):
  • Belmont Oaks
  • Saratoga Oaks Invitational Stakes
  • Jockey Club Oaks

No horse has won all three races in either of these new turf series yet.

Triple Crowns Around the World

Many other countries have their own Triple Crown series, showing how important this achievement is in horse racing globally.

Ireland

The Irish Triple Crown is similar to England's:

• Irish 2,000 Guineas
• Irish Derby
• Irish St. Leger

Only two horses have won all three since 1921:

• Museum – 1935
• Windsor Slipper – 1942

Canada

The Canadian Triple Crown was officially started in 1959. It includes:

• King's Plate
• Prince of Wales Stakes
• Breeders' Stakes

Seven horses have won it since 1959. The Hall of Fame also recognized five horses who won these three races before 1959, making a total of 12 Canadian Triple Crown winners.

• Canadian Triple Crown Winners (since 1959):
  • New Providence – 1959
  • Canebora – 1963
  • With Approval – 1989
  • Izvestia – 1990
  • Dance Smartly (filly) – 1991
  • Peteski – 1993
  • Wando – 2003

The Canadian Triple Tiara for fillies includes:

• Woodbine Oaks
• Bison City Stakes
• Wonder Where Stakes

Only one filly, Sealy Hill, has won it in 2007.

Australia

The Australian Triple Crown includes:

• Randwick Guineas
• Rosehill Guineas
• AJC Australian Derby

• Australian Triple Crown Winners:
  • Moorland – 1943
  • Martello Towers – 1959
  • Imagele – 1973
  • Octagonal – 1996
  • Dundeel – 2013

There's also a Two-Year-Old Triple Crown for younger horses:

• Golden Slipper Stakes
• AJC Sires Produce Stakes
• Champagne Stakes

• Two-Year-Old Triple Crown Winners:
  • Baguette – 1970
  • Luskin Star – 1977
  • Tierce – 1991
  • Burst (filly) – 1992
  • Dance Hero – 2004
  • Pierro – 2012

Japan

Deep Impact, a Japanese Triple Crown winner.

Japan has two main Triple Crowns.

• Japanese Triple Crown (for colts):
  • Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas)
  • Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby)
  • Kikuka Sho (Japanese St. Leger)

• Japanese Triple Crown Winners:
  • St Lite – 1941
  • Shinzan – 1964
  • Mr. C.B. – 1983
  • Symboli Rudolf – 1984
  • Narita Brian – 1994
  • Deep Impact – 2005
  • Orfevre – 2011
  • Contrail – 2020

• Japanese Triple Tiara (for fillies):
  • Oka Sho (Japanese 1000 Guineas)
  • Yushun Himba (Japanese Oaks)
  • Shuka Sho

Almond Eye winning the Shuka Sho in 2018.

• Japanese Triple Tiara Winners:
  • Mejiro Ramonu – 1986
  • Still in Love – 2003
  • Apapane – 2010
  • Gentildonna – 2012
  • Almond Eye – 2018
  • Daring Tact – 2020
  • Liberty Island – 2023

Argentina

The Argentinian Triple Crown races are:

• Gran Premio Polla de Potrillos
• Gran Premio Jockey Club
• Gran Premio Nacional (Argentine Derby)

• Argentinian Triple Crown Winners:
  • Pippermint – 1902
  • Old Man – 1904
  • Melgarejo – 1906
  • Chopp – 1908
  • Botafogo – 1917
  • Mineral – 1931
  • Silfo – 1934
  • Sorteado – 1938
  • Embrujo – 1939
  • Yatasto – 1951
  • Tatán – 1954
  • Manantial – 1958
  • Gobernado – 1964
  • Forli – 1966
  • Telescópico – 1978
  • El Serrano – 1986
  • Refinado Tom – 1996

There's also a Quadruple Crown, which adds the Gran Premio Carlos Pellegrini race.

A picture showing Botafogo's 1917 Argentinian Quadruple Crown wins.

Hong Kong

The Hong Kong Triple Crown is unique because its races are not just for three-year-olds. They are:

• Hong Kong Stewards' Cup
• Hong Kong Gold Cup
• Hong Kong Champions & Chater Cup

Only one horse, River Verdon, has won the Hong Kong Triple Crown in 1994.

There's also the Four-Year-Old Classic Series:

• Hong Kong Classic Mile
• Hong Kong Classic Cup
• Hong Kong Derby

Golden Sixty, winner of the Hong Kong Four-Year-Old Classic Series in 2020.

• Four-Year-Old Classic Series Winners:
  • Rapper Dragon – 2017
  • Golden Sixty – 2020

Uruguay

Invasor, a famous Uruguayan Triple Crown winner from 2005.

The Uruguayan Triple Crown races are:

• Gran Premio Polla de Potrillos
• Gran Premio Jockey Club
• Gran Premio Nacional

• Uruguayan Triple Crown Winners:
  • Ricaurte – 1913
  • Benz – 1917
  • Liniers – 1919
  • Sisley – 1923
  • Lancier – 1926
  • Marquito – 1927
  • Zorzalero – 1932
  • Romántico – 1936
  • Lord Coty – 1943
  • Luzeiro – 1949
  • Bizancio – 1951
  • Scooter – 1954
  • Zumbador – 1960
  • Locoloco – 1962
  • Chocon – 1971
  • Hampstead – 1977
  • Monacilio – 1980
  • Amodeo – 1988
  • Parsiphal – 1994
  • Invasor – 2005
  • Sir Fever – 2014

South Africa

The South African Triple Crown races are:

• Gauteng Guineas
• South African Classic
• South African Derby

• South African Triple Crown Winners:
  • Horse Chestnut – 1999
  • Louis the King – 2014
  • Abashiri – 2016
  • Malmoos – 2021

The South African Filly Triple Crown includes:

• Gauteng Fillies Guineas
• South African Fillies Classic
• South African Oaks

• South African Filly Triple Crown Winners:
  • Igugu – 2011
  • Cherry On The Top – 2013
  • Summer Pudding – 2020
  • War Of Athena – 2021
  • Rain In Holland – 2022

Puerto Rico

Camarero, a horse who won the Triple Crown and 56 races in a row!

The Triple Crown series in Puerto Rico includes:

• Derby Puertorriqueño
• Copa Gobernador
• Copa San Juan

• Puerto Rico Triple Crown Winners:
  • Camarero – 1954
  • Cardiologo – 1961
  • El Rebelde – 1966
  • Hurley Road – 1981
  • Vuelve Candy B – 1991
  • Cherokee Pepper – 1999
  • Estrellero – 2001
  • Mediavilla R – 2002
  • Don Paco – 2011
  • Arquitecto – 2012
  • Lluvia de Nieve – 2014
  • Justiciero – 2017
  • Ledoux – 2019
  • Consolador – 2021

Undefeated Triple Crown Winners

Some horses are so amazing that they won their Triple Crown without ever losing a race!

• Ormonde (1886), United Kingdom
• Bahram (1935), United Kingdom
• Windsor Slipper (1942), Ireland
• Camarero (1954), Puerto Rico
• Gradisco (1960), Venezuela
• Nijinsky (1970), United Kingdom
• Karayel (1973), Turkey
• Emerald Hill (1977), Brazil
• Seattle Slew (1977), United States
• El Gran Capo (1978), Panama
• Pikotazo (1980), Mexico
• Royal Dad (1981), Jamaica
• Symboli Rudolf (1984), Japan
• Itajara (1987), Brazil
• Wolf (1990/91), Chile
• Terminator (1997), Ecuador
• Virginie (1997), Brazil
• Grozny (1998), Peru
• Toshin Blizzard (2001), Japan
• Excelencia (2005), Dominican Republic
• Deep Impact (2005), Japan
• Invasor (2005), Uruguay
• Water Jet (2010), Venezuela
• Fixador (2013), Brazil
• Va Bank (2015), Poland
• Justify (2018), United States (He won all his races, but later one win was officially changed, so his record isn't considered "undefeated" anymore.)
• Kukulkan (2018), Mexico
• Contrail (2020), Japan
• Daring Tact (2020), Japan
• Mick Fire (2023), Japan
• Kay Army (2023/34), Chile

Jockeys and Trainers Who Made History

Eddie Arcaro, a jockey who won the American Triple Crown twice!

Only a few jockeys have won the Triple Crown with different horses in different years:

• Steve Donoghue (United Kingdom: 1915, Pommern; 1917, Gay Crusader)
• Eddie Arcaro (United States: 1941, Whirlaway; 1948, Citation)
• Emisael Jaramillo (Venezuela: 2005, Polo Grounds; 2007, Taconeo; 2010, Water Jet)

Some jockeys have even won all three Triple Crown races in their country in the same year but on different horses:

• Luis Contreras (Canada, 2011)
• Alfredo García Paduani (Venezuela, 2016)

One trainer, D. Wayne Lukas (USA, 1995), also achieved this amazing feat.

Jockeys with Back-to-Back Triple Crown Wins

• Don Seymour (Canada)
  • 1989 – With Approval
  • 1990 – Izvestia
• Javier Santiago (Puerto Rico)
  • 2001 – Estrellero
  • 2002 – Mediavilla R

Jockeys with the Most Triple Crown Wins

• Winston Griffiths – Jamaica (5 wins)
• Alexis Feliciano – Puerto Rico (3 wins)
• Emisael Jaramillo – Venezuela (3 wins)

Images for kids

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  Bahram, an undefeated Triple Crown winner.