| The distinction of winning the American Triple Crown in | | | | third weekend of May. In the rare instances that the |
| horse racing is one of the rarest and most coveted | | | | same thoroughbred successfully pulls off victories in |
| awards in all of sports. In order to be named an | | | | both the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness the |
| American Triple Crown winner a horse must compete | | | | sports radio waves are filled with discussion about if |
| in and successfully win the three most prestigious | | | | sports fans will finally see another Triple Crown winner, |
| horse racing events in the United States. The three | | | | a feat that has yet to occur during the lifetimes of |
| races are: | | | | many American sports followers (those born after |
| | | | June, 1978). The dialogue on the sport that most casual |
| 1. Kentucky Derby held at Churchill Downs in Louisville | | | | fans normally care nothing about and know practically |
| Kentucky | | | | nothing about continues for three more weeks as the |
| 2. The Preakness Stakes held at Pimlico Race Course | | | | third and final leg of the Triple Crown, the Belmont |
| in Baltimore, Maryland | | | | Stakes, is held three weeks after the Preakness |
| 3. The Belmont Stakes held at Belmont Park in Elmont, | | | | Stakes and five weeks after the Kentucky Derby. |
| New York | | | | This places the Belmont Stakes on a weekend in the |
| The last time that a single horse successively won all | | | | middle of June. |
| three events in order was 1978. The horse that won | | | | The total number of horses that have ever won the |
| the last Triple Crown in 1978 was named Affirmed. | | | | Triple Crown is a mere eleven. This is a particularly |
| The Kentucky Derby, the first of the three races, is | | | | small number when considering that literally thousands |
| held annually on the first Saturday in May. Needless to | | | | have aspired for such distinction. The eleven winners |
| say whichever horse wins the highly anticipated | | | | are: |
| Kentucky Derby is the only one that is eligible to have | | | | |
| a chance at being the first competitor to win the | | | | 1. Sir Barton in 1919 |
| elusive award in decades. Within minutes of winning | | | | 2. Gallant Fox in 1930 |
| the derby the owner and jockey of the prize horse | | | | 3. Omaha in 1935 |
| are almost immediately bombarded with questions | | | | 4. War Admiral in 1937 |
| from reporters about how they feel about their | | | | 5. Whirlaway in 1941 |
| chances of winning the coveted Triple Crown. The | | | | 6. Count Fleet in 1943 |
| bevy of questions related to the biggest prize in the | | | | 7. Assault in 1946 |
| sport come almost without fail regardless of if the | | | | 8. Citation in 1948 |
| winning thoroughbred was a favorite or a long shot. | | | | 9. Secretariat in 1973 |
| While the Kentucky Derby is held on the first weekend | | | | 10. Seattle Slew in 1977 |
| in May the Preakness is held shortly thereafter on the | | | | 11. |