Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing

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The Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing (although sometimes shortened to Triple Crown, the full name is used to avoid possible confusion with other sports) consists of three races for three-year-old Thoroughbred horses. Winning all three of these Thoroughbred horse races is considered the greatest accomplishment of a Thoroughbred racehorse. In recent years, the Triple Crown has become a very rare achievement, with most horses specializing on a limited range of distances.

Contents 1 United States 2 United Kingdom 3 Ireland 4 Australia 5 Germany 6 Canada 7 Japan 8 Hong Kong 9 Macau 10 Chile 11 Puerto Rico 12 Uruguay 13 Ecuador 14 Venezuela 15 References

[edit] United States

In the United States, the three races that compose the Triple Crown are as follows:

• Kentucky Derby, run over 1 and 1/4 miles (2.01 km) dirt track at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky;
• Preakness Stakes, run over 1 and 3/16 miles (1.91 km) dirt track at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland;
• Belmont Stakes, run over 1 and 1/2 miles (2.41 km), the longest dirt track in thoroughbred racing, at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York.

No horse has won the U.S. Triple Crown since Affirmed in 1978.

There is also the Triple Tiara (formerly known as the Filly Triple Crown, and the three races are as follows:

• Acorn Stakes, run over 1 mile dirt track, at Belmont Park;
• Mother Goose Stakes, run over 1 1/8 miles dirt track, at Belmont Park;
• Coaching Club American Oaks, run over 1 1/4 miles dirt track, also at Belmont Park;

The Triple Tiara of Thoroughbred Racing, formerly known as the Filly Triple Crown, is a set of horse races in the United States which is open to three year old fillies. The three races that compose the series are The Acorn Stakes, run at Belmont Park at a distance of 1 mile, The Mother Goose Stakes, run at Belmont Park at a distance of 1 1/8 miles and The Coaching Club American Oaks, also run at Belmont Park at a distance of 1 1/4 miles (it used to be 1 1/2 miles). In 2003, the Triple Tiara was reconfigured to consist of the Mother Goose Stakes, Coaching Club American Oaks, and the Alabama Stakes, a 1 1/4 mile race held in August at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, New York. The New York Racing Association, the operator of Belmont Park and Saratoga Race Course, once offered a $2 million bonus to the filly that swept the three races. The bonus was discontinued in 2005. In 2007 the New York Racing Association reverted back to the original three races of the tiara; the Acorn, Mother Goose and Coaching Club American Oaks. No filly swept the reconfigured series.

Thus far, only eight horses have won 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)

No filly won the reconfigured Triple Tiara between 2003-2006

(This update is a cross post from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triple_Tiara_of_Thoroughbred_Racing)

[edit] United Kingdom

In England, where the term Triple Crown originated with West Australian's three wins in 1853, it is made up of:

1. the 2,000 Guineas Stakes, run over 1 mile (1,609 meters) at Newmarket Racecourse in Newmarket, Suffolk;
2. the Epsom Derby, run over 1 mile 4 furlongs and 10 yards (2,423 meters) at Epsom Downs Racecourse in Epsom, Surrey;
3. the St. Leger Stakes, run over 1 mile, 6 furlongs and 132 yards (2,937 meters) at Town Moor in Doncaster, Yorkshire.

There is also a Fillies Triple Crown for a filly winning the 1,000 Guineas Stakes, Epsom Oaks and St. Leger Stakes. The last winner of this was Oh So Sharp in 1985. In the past this was not considered a true Triple Crown as the best fillies would run in the Derby and Two Thousand Guineas. As this is no longer the case, the Fillies' Triple Crown would now be considered as comparable as the original.

In the 150 years that these races have been run, only fifteen horses have ever won the English Triple Crown, including the great Nijinsky II in 1970. Nijinsky II was only the second winner of the English Triple Crown since the end of World War I. For many years, it was considered unlikely that any horse would ever win the English Triple Crown again. In the winter of 2006/2007, however, trainer Jim Bolger was training his unbeaten colt Teofilo for the Triple Crown.^[1] and bookmaker William Hill plc was offering odds of only 12/1 against Teofilo winning the 2007 Triple Crown. However, the horse was withdrawn from the 2000 Guineas two days before the race after suffering a setback.

Since Nijinsky, only Nashwan in 1989 and Sea the Stars in 2009 have won both the Guineas and the Derby, and in addition, no Derby winner has even entered the St. Leger since Reference Point in 1987, although this is primarily due to the impact it would have on a horse's stud value, which would not be the case for a horse who had already won the Guineas.

For a list of the annual individual race winners, see English Triple Crown race winners.

Triple Crown Champions:

Year	Winner	Jockey	Trainer	Owner
1853	West Australian	Frank Butler	John Scott	John Bowes
1865	Gladiateur	Harry Grimshaw	Tom Jennings, Sr.	Frédéric de Lagrange
1866	Lord Lyon	Harry Custance	James Dover	Richard Sutton
1886	Ormonde	Fred Archer	John Porter	Duke of Westminster
1891	Common	George Barrett	John Porter	Sir Frederick Johnstone
1893	Isinglass	Tommy Loates	James Jewitt	Harry McCalmont
1897	Galtee More	Charlie Wood	Sam Darling	John Gubbins
1899	Flying Fox	Morny Cannon	John Porter	Duke of Westminster
1900	Diamond Jubilee	Herbert Jones	Richard Marsh	Edward, Prince of Wales
1903	Rock Sand	Danny Maher	George Blackwell	Sir James Miller
1915	Pommern	Steve Donoghue	Charles Peck	Solly Joel
1917	Gay Crusader	Steve Donoghue	Alec Taylor, Jr.	Alfred W. Cox
1918	Gainsborough	Joseph Childs	Alec Taylor, Jr.	Lady James Douglas
1935	Bahram	Freddie Fox	Frank Butters	HH Aga Khan III
1970	Nijinsky	Lester Piggott	Vincent O'Brien	Charles W. Engelhard, Jr.

[edit] Ireland

In Ireland, the Triple Crown, modelled on the English equivalent, is made up of

1. the Irish 2,000 Guineas;
2. the Irish Derby; and
3. the Irish St. Leger, (open to older horses)

all run at the Curragh.

Only two horses have won all three races since the Irish Two Thousand Guineas was first run in 1921: Museum in 1935 and Windsor Slipper in 1942 (Williams & Hyland 1980). Desert King won the first two legs in 1997, but was perceived to have stamina limitations and not aimed at the St. Leger. Ironically, he went on to sire a great stayer in Makybe Diva, three times winner of the Melbourne Cup over 2 miles (3.2 km).

[edit] Australia

The first race of the Triple Crown initially consisted of the Canterbury Guineas (1,900 m) but nowadays the first leg is the Randwick Guineas (1,600 m) before the Rosehill Guineas (2,000 m) and the AJC Australian Derby (2,400 m). Imagele, Martello Towers, Moorland and Octagonal are Triple Crown winners.^[2]

[edit] Germany

In Germany, the Triple Crown (Dreifache Krone) consists of

1. Mehl-Mülhens-Rennen, German 2000 Guineas (formerly Henckel-Rennen), Cologne, 1600 m
2. Deutsches Derby, Hamburg, 2400 m
3. Deutsches St. Leger, Dortmund, 2800 m

Only one horse has won the German Triple Crown, Königsstuhl in 1979. As the St. Leger has been demoted to Group III status, it's highly unlikely he will ever have a successor.

[edit] Canada

See main article: Canadian Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing

[edit] Japan

Japan has two sets of races referred to as Triple Crowns.

Japanese Triple Crown

1. the Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas), at Nakayama Racecourse in Funabashi, Chiba
2. the Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby), at Tokyo Racecourse in Fuchu, Tokyo
3. the Kikuka Sho (Japanese St.Leger), at Kyoto Racecourse in Kyoto, Kyoto

Only six horses have received the Japanese Triple Crown:

• 1941 St Lite (Diolite - Flippancy, by Flamboyant)
• 1964 Shinzan (Hindostan - Hayanobori, by Hayatake)
• 1983 Mr. C.B. (Tosho Boy - C.B. Queen, by Topyo)
• 1984 Symboli Rudolf (Partholon - Sweet Luna, by Speed Symboli)
• 1994 Narita Brian (Brian's Time - Pacificus, by Northern Dancer)
• 2005 Deep Impact (Sunday Silence - Wind in Her Hair, by Alzao)

Japanese Fillies' Triple Crown

1. the Oka Sho (Japanese 1000 Guineas), at Hanshin Racecourse in Takarazuka, Hyogo
2. the Yushun Himba (Japanese Oaks), at Tokyo Racecourse in Fuchu, Tokyo
3. the Shuka Sho (since 1996), at Kyoto Racecourse in Kyoto, Kyoto / the Queen Elizabeth II Commemorative Cup (1976 - 1995)

Only two horses have received the Japanese Fillies' Triple Crown:

• 1986 Mejiro Ramonu (Mogami - Mejiro Hiryu, by Never Beat)
• 2003 Still in Love (Sunday Silence - Bradamante, by Roberto)

[edit] Hong Kong

The Triple Crown series at Hong Kong's Sha Tin Racecourse consists of three races at increasingly longer distances. They are:

1. Hong Kong Steward's Cup at 1,600 metres (0.99 mi) held in January
2. Hong Kong Gold Cup at 2,000 metres (1.2 mi) held in February
3. Hong Kong Champions & Chater Cup at 2,400 metres (1.5 mi) held in May

In 1994, River Verdon became the first, and to date, only horse to win the Hong Kong Triple Crown.

[edit] Macau

In Macau, Macau Jockey Club introduced the Triple Crown Series in 2008, with three race all held in Taipa Racecourse, Macau

1. Director's Cup, Macau Group 2 Race, 1,500 metres (0.93 mi)
2. Macau Cup ,Macau Group 2 Race ,1,500 metres (0.93 mi)
3. Macau Gold Cup, Macau Group 1 Race, 1,800 metres (1.1 mi)

In 2009 Macau Jockey Club changed the series for 4-year old horses

1. Macau Guineas, Macau Group 1 Race, 1,500 metres (0.93 mi), only for 4-year old horses
2. Macau Derby ,Macau Group 1 Race, 1,800 metres (1.1 mi), only for 4-year old horses
3. Macau Gold Cup, Macau Group 1 Race, 1,800 metres (1.1 mi)

[edit] Chile

• Clásico El Ensayo, Club Hipico de Santiago
• Clásico St' Leger, Hipodromo Chile
• El Derby, Valparaiso Sporting Club

[edit] Puerto Rico

The Triple Crown series at Puerto Rico's Camarero Racetrack consists of three races at increasingly longer distances. They are:

• Derby Puertorriqueño at 1,700 meters (8.5F) held in the first sunday of May
• Copa Gobernador at 1,800 meters (9F) held in the end of May
• Copa San Juan at 1,900 meters (9.5F) held in the last sunday of June

[edit] Uruguay

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

This combination of races received some publicity outside of Uruguay in 2006. The 2005 Triple Crown winner Invasor, after being sold to Sheik Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum's Shadwell Racing and sent to be raced in the United States, went on to win three Grade I races in 2006 before winning that year's Breeders' Cup Classic. He finished the year as the top-ranked horse in the 2006 World Thoroughbred Racehorse Rankings, and won the 2007 Dubai World Cup before being retired to stud following a training injury.

[edit] Ecuador

1980 - present

Ecuador has two sets of races referred to as Triple Crowns:

Ecuador Triple Crown

1. Clásico Estreno Dr. Raúl Lebed Sigall, at Hipódromo BUIJO in Samborondón;
2. Clásico Polla Nacional Sr. Agustin Febres Cordero, at Hipódromo BUIJO in Samborondón;
3. Clásico Derby Nacional Sr.Benjamin Rosales A., at Hipódromo BUIJO in Samborondón;

Ecuador Fillies' Triple Crown

1. Clásico Ing. Carlos San Andres, at Hipódromo BUIJO in Samborondón;
2. Clásico Sr. Eduardo Jairala F, at Hipódromo BUIJO in Samborondón;
3. Clásico Abogado Carlos Julio Arosemena Peet, at Hipódromo BUIJO in Samborondón;

Pre-1980

In Ecuador, the Triple Crown consists of:

1. Clásico Nelson Uraga Suarez, at Hipódromo Santa Cecilia in Guayaquil;
2. Clásico Enrique Guzman Aspiazu, at Hipódromo Santa Cecilia in Guayaquil;
3. Clásico Inginiero Ignacio De Icaza Aspiazu, at Hipódromo Santa Cecilia in Guayaquil.

Triple Crown Champions:

Year	Winner	Jockey	Trainer	Owner
	Miss Florida
	Bananita
	Capo Di Monte II
1967	Alcatraz	Estuardo Torero	Alcides Guerrero	Inginiero Miguel Salem Dibo
	Pechiche
1971	Farsante	Estuardo Torero	Alcides Guerrero	Inginiero Miguel Salem Dibo

[edit] Venezuela

Venezuela has two sets of races referred to as Triple Crowns:

• Venezuelan Official Triple Crown
  • Clásico José Antonio Páez, at Hipódromo La Rinconada in Caracas;
  • Clásico Cría Nacional (former Clásico Ministerio de Agricultura y Cría), at Hipódromo La Rinconada in Caracas;
  • Clásico República de Venezuela (Venezuelan Derby), at Hipódromo La Rinconada in Caracas;
• Venezuelan Fillies' Triple Crown
  • Clásico Hipódromo La Rinconada, at Hipódromo La Rinconada in Caracas;
  • Clásico Prensa Hípica Nacional, at Hipódromo La Rinconada in Caracas;
  • Clásico General Joaquín Crespo, at Hipódromo La Rinconada in Caracas;

Venezuelan Official Triple Crown Champions: (From 1956)

Year	Winner	Jockey	Trainer	Owner
1960	Gradisco	Manuel Camacaro	Leopoldo Márquez	Stud Rey-Gan
1972	El Corsario	José Luís Vargas	Eduardo Azpúrua	Stud El Corsario
1985	Iraquí	Juan Vicente Tovar	(+) Daniel Pérez	Stud Chivacoa
1992	Catire Bello	Douglas Valiente	(+) Iván Calixto	Stud Ilusión
2005	Polo Grounds	Emisael Jaramillo	Carlos Regalado	Stud Black Label
2007	Taconeo	Emisael Jaramillo	Gustavo Delgado	Stud Paula C

[edit] References

v • d • e The Triple Crown of Horse Racing United States Thoroughbred Horses Kentucky Derby · Preakness Stakes · Belmont Stakes Harness Racing Pacers Cane Pace · Messenger Stakes · Little Brown Jug Harness Racing Trotters Hambletonian · Yonkers Trot · Kentucky Futurity United Kingdom 2,000 Guineas Stakes · Derby Stakes (also known as Epsom Derby) · St. Leger Stakes Canada, Thoroughbred Horses Queen's Plate · Prince of Wales Stakes · Breeders' Stakes See Also Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing · Triple Crown of Harness Racing for Pacers · Triple Crown of Harness Racing for Trotters · American Triple Tiara of Thoroughbred Racing · Canadian Triple Tiara of Thoroughbred Racing* *Series is still under review for races. See page for details on race proposals.