The Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing, often shortened to Triple Crown, comprises three races for three-year-old Thoroughbred horses. Winning all three of these Thoroughbred horse races is considered the greatest accomplishment in Thoroughbred racing. The term originated in mid-19th century England and different nations where thoroughbred racing is popular each have their own Triple Crown series.
Contents
- United States Triple Crowns
- Triple Tiara
- United Kingdom Triple Crowns
- Triple Crown winners
- Failed Triple Crown attempts
- Fillies Triple Crown
- Alternative Triple Crowns
- Ireland
- Canada
- Winners of the Canadian Triple Crown
- Pre 1959 establishment
- Since 1959 establishment
- Canadian Triple Tiara
- Australia
- Australian Triple Crown champions
- Germany
- France
- Belgium
- Hungary
- Switzerland
- Denmark
- Sweden
- Norway
- The Netherlands
- India
- Kenya
- Turkey
- Japan
- Hong Kong
- Italy
- Spain
- Macau
- Argentina
- Mexico
- Chile
- Dominican Republic
- Jamaica
- Panama
- Poland
- Puerto Rico
- Uruguay
- Ecuador
- Venezuela
- Undefeated Triple Crown winners
- Individual Triple Crown winners
- Back to back Triple Crown winners jockeys
- Most Triple Crown winners jockeys
- References
United States Triple Crowns
In the United States, the three races that make up the Triple Crown are:
- Kentucky Derby, run over the 1 1⁄4-mile (2.0 km) dirt track at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky;
- Preakness Stakes, run over the 1 3⁄16-mile (1.9 km) dirt track at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland;
- Belmont Stakes, run over the 1 1⁄2-mile (2.4 km) dirt track, the longest in U.S. thoroughbred racing, at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York, just east of the New York City borough of Queens in Nassau County, Long Island.
Triple Tiara
There have been several different versions of the Triple Tiara (sometimes known as the Filly Triple Crown) in the United States. One of them was a national version that consisted of undercard events on the same weekends as the associated Triple Crown races:
- Kentucky Oaks, run over 1 1⁄8 miles (1.8 km) on a dirt track, at Churchill Downs;
- Black-Eyed Susan Stakes, run over 1 1⁄8 miles (1.8 km) (previously 1 1⁄16 mi or 1.7 km) on a dirt track, at Pimlico Race Course;
- Acorn Stakes, run over 1 mile (1.6 km) (previously 1 1⁄2 mi or 2.4 km) on a dirt track, at Belmont Park;
Only one filly won this version of the Triple Tiara, Davona Dale in 1979. Few have even tried as the short time between the Kentucky Oaks and Black-Eyed Susan is generally considered too short for fillies.
The most commonly accepted version of the Triple Tiara uses three races from New York. From 1957 to 2002, and 2007 to 2009, these three races were the Acorn Stakes, the Mother Goose Stakes, and the Coaching Club American Oaks. Eight fillies won this version of the New York Triple Tiara:
In 2010, the NYRA changed the configuration of the Triple Tiara to include the Alabama Stakes instead of the Mother Goose. Thus far, no filly has won the reconfigured Triple Tiara.
United Kingdom Triple Crowns
In England, where the term Triple Crown originated with West Australian's three wins in 1853, it is made up of:
- the 2,000 Guineas Stakes, run over 1 mile (1,609 meters) at Newmarket Racecourse in Newmarket, Suffolk;
- the Epsom Derby, run over 1 mile 4 furlongs and 10 yards (2,423 metres) at Epsom Downs Racecourse in Epsom, Surrey;
- the St. Leger Stakes, run over 1 mile, 6 furlongs and 132 yards (2,937 metres) at Town Moor in Doncaster, Yorkshire.
Since the 2,000 Guineas was first run in 1809, only fifteen horses (including three winners of substitute races at Newmarket during World War I) have ever won the English Triple Crown, including Nijinsky in 1970. Nijinsky is still the only winner of the English Triple Crown since World War II. 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 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 and never raced again.
Since Nijinsky, only Nashwan (1989), Sea the Stars (2009), and Camelot (2012) have won both the Guineas and the Derby. Between Reference Point in 1987 and Camelot in 2012, no Derby winner (not even the potential Triple Crown winners Nashwan and Sea the Stars) even entered the St. Leger. This reluctance to compete in the St. Leger is said to be because of the impact it would have on a horse's stud value in a market where speed is preferred to stamina.
Triple Crown winners
For a list of the annual individual race winners, see English Triple Crown race winners.
Triple Crown Champions:
Failed Triple Crown attempts
The following horses won the 2000 Guineas and Derby but were beaten in the St Leger:
Fillies Triple Crown
There is also a Fillies Triple Crown for a filly winning the 1,000 Guineas Stakes, Epsom Oaks and St. Leger Stakes. In the past, this was not considered a true Triple Crown as the best fillies would often 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. Winners of the Fillies Triple Crown are:
Alternative Triple Crowns
The trio of Ascot Gold Cup, Goodwood Cup and Doncaster Cup is sometimes referred to as the Stayers Triple Crown.
Ireland
In Ireland, the Triple Crown, modelled on the English equivalent, is made up of
- the Irish 2,000 Guineas
- the Irish Derby
- the Irish St. Leger (open to older horses)
All three races are run at the Curragh.
Triple Crown winners
For a list of the annual individual race winners, see Irish Triple Crown race winners.
Only two horses have won all three races since the Irish Two Thousand Guineas was first run in 1921:
Canada
In Canada the three races that comprise the Triple Crown are:
- Queen's Plate
- Prince of Wales Stakes
- Breeders' Stakes
Winners of the Canadian Triple Crown
The Canadian Triple Crown was established in 1959 and since then seven horses have won it. In 2014, the Hall of Fame decided to honor the five horses who had won the three races before 1959, meaning 12 horses are now officially recognized as winning the Canadian Triple Crown.
Pre-1959 establishment
Since 1959 establishment
Canadian Triple Tiara
The Canadian Triple Tiara consists of:
- Woodbine Oaks (formerly the Canadian Oaks)
- Bison City Stakes
- Wonder Where Stakes
To date, only one filly has won it:
Australia
The Australian Triple Crown comprises the following races:
- Randwick Guineas (1,600 m)
- Rosehill Guineas (2,000 m)
- AJC Australian Derby (2,400 m).
The three-year-old Triple Crown initially included the Canterbury Guineas (1,900 m) but nowadays the first leg is the Randwick Guineas.
Australian Triple Crown champions
A total of five horses have won the Australian Triple Crown:
The Two Year Old Triple Crown (also known as the Two-year-old Grand Slam) consists of:
- Golden Slipper Stakes (1,200 m)
- AJC Sires Produce Stakes
- Champagne Stakes (1,600 m)
Only six horses have won the Australian Two Year Old Triple Crown:
Germany
In Germany, the Triple Crown (Dreifache Krone) consists of
- Mehl-Mülhens-Rennen, German 2000 Guineas (formerly Henckel-Rennen), Cologne, 1600 m
- Deutsches Derby, Hamburg, 2400 m
- Deutsches St. Leger, Dortmund, 2800 m
Only one horse has won the German Triple Crown, Königsstuhl in 1979.
France
The French Triple Crown consists of:
- Poule d'Essai des Poulains (French 2000 Guineas)
- Prix du Jockey Club
- Grand Prix de Paris
Previously the French Triple Crown consisted of
- Poule d'Essai des Poulains (French 2000 Guineas)
- Prix du Jockey Club
- Prix Royal-Oak
Two horses have swept the French Triple Crown
For fillies:
- Poule d'Essai des Pouliche (French 1000 Guineas)
- Prix de Diane
- Prix Vermeille
Four fillies have won all three races:
Previously the French Triple Crown for fillies consisted of:
- Poule d'Essai des Pouliche (French 1000 Guineas)
- Prix de Diane
- Prix Royal-Oak
No filly has ever won the series.
Belgium
The Belgian Triple Crown consists of:
- Poule d'Essai des Poulains (Belgian 2000 Guineas)
- Derby Belge
- St. Leger Belge
Known Triple Crown winners in Belgium:
The Fillies' Triple Crown in Belgium appears to consist of:
- Poule d'Essai des Pouliches (Belgian 1000 Guineas)
- Prix de Gustave Roy de Blicquy (Belgian Oaks)
- St. Leger Belge
One filly is known to have won all three races:
Belgium's Jockey Club does not (or will not) disclose histories of its Triple Crown races. It is not known if the lists above are complete, and it is not known if any of the above races are still being run in Belgium. The last Derby Belge for which there is any known record was in 2011, when the race was won by German-bred Revanta.
Hungary
The Hungarian Triple consists of:
- Nemzeti dij (Hungarian 2000 Guineas)
- Magyar Derby (Hungarian Derby)
- Magyar St. Leger (Hungarian St. Leger)
Hungarian Triple Crown winners are:
The Hungarian Fillies' Triple Crown consists:
- Hazafi dij (Hungarian 1000 Guineas)
- Magyar Kancadíj (Hungarian Oaks)
- Magyar St. Leger (Hungarian St. Leger)
No filly has swept the Hungarian Fillies' Triple Crown
Switzerland
In Switzerland, the Triple Crown series consists of:
- Swiss Derby
- Swiss 2000 Guineas
- Swiss St. Leger
Plus the series for fillies
- Swiss Oaks
- Swiss 1000 Guineas
One horse has won the Swiss Triple Crown
(Majofil's half-sister Singapore Creek (FR) captured the 2007 Swiss Oaks)
Denmark
In Denmark, the Triple Crown series consists of:
- Dansk Derby
- Dansk Forarslob (Dansk 2000 Guineas)
- Dansk St. Leger
Three horses have won the Danish Triple Crown:
The Danish Filly Triple Crown consists of:
- Dansk Oaks
- Marowinalob (Dansk 1000 Guineas)
- Dansk St. Leger
One filly has swept all three races:
Sweden
The Swedish Triple Crown consists of:
- Svenskt Derby
- Jockeyklubbens Jubileumslöpning (Svenskt Thousand Guineas)
- Svenskt St. Leger
Three horses have swept the Swedish Triple Crown:
The Swedish Filly Triple Crown consists of:
- Dianalöpning (Svenskt One Thousand Guineas)
- Svensk Oaks
- Svenskt St. Leger
One filly has swept all three races:
Norway
The Norsk Triple Crown series consists of:
- Norsk 2000 Guineas
- Norsk Derby
- Norsk St. Leger
Eight horses have swept the Norwegian Triple Crown:
The Norwegian Filly Triple Crown consists of:
- Norsk 1000 Guineas
- Norsk Oaks
- Norsk St. Leger
No filly has swept all three races.
The Netherlands
The Dutch Triple Crown consists of:
- Hengsten Productenren (Dutch 2000 Guineas)
- Dutch Derby
- Dutch St. Leger
The following horses have swept the Dutch Triple Crown:
The Dutch Fillies' Triple Crown consists of:
- Merries Productenren (Dutch 1000 Guineas)
- Diana-prijs (Dutch Oaks)
- Dutch St. Leger
The following horses have swept the series:
The Dutch Triple Crown races, except the Dutch Derby and possibly the Dutch Oaks, have not been run since around 2008.
India
The three races that comprise the Indian Triple Crown are the Indian 2000 Guineas, the Indian Derby and the Indian St Leger, all run at Mahalaxmi Race Course in Mumbai. The 2000 Guineas is run in December, and the Derby on the first Sunday of the following February. The St Leger is usually run in April—between 1970 and 1990 it was run at Pune, before being shifted to Mumbai. It is now again being run in Pune.
Ten horses have won the Indian Triple Crown.
One filly has swept the series for fillies (Indian 1000 Guineas, Indian Oaks, Indian St. Leger):
Kenya
The Kenya Triple Crown series is run at Ngong Racecourse, in Nairobi, and consists of:
- Kenya Derby (1 1/2 miles)
- Kenya Guineas (1 mile)
- Kenya St. Leger (1 3/4 miles)
The three races have been won by:
The Kenya Fillies' Triple Crown consists of:
- Kenya Fillies Guineas (1 mile)
- Kenya Oaks (1 1/2 miles)
- Kenya St. Leger (1 3/4 miles)
The three races have been won by:
Turkey
In Turkey, the three races that compose the Triple Crown are:
- Erkek Tay Deneme (Turkish 2000 Guineas – 1,600 m) or Dişi Tay Deneme (Turkish 1000 Guineas – 1,600 m)
- Gazi Derby (Turkish Derby Stakes – 2,400 m)
- Ankara Stakes (Turkish St. Leger – 2,800 m)
Three year-old horses are eligible for the Turkish Triple Crown.
Champions of the Turkish Triple Crown are:
The Turkish Fillies' Triple Crown consists of:
- Disi Tay Deneme (Turkish 1000 Guineas)
- Kisrak (Turkish Oaks)
- Ankara Stakes (Turkish St. Leger)
Fillies that have swept this series are:
Japan
Japan has two sets of races referred to as Triple Crowns.
Japanese Triple Crown
- the Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas - 2000m), at Nakayama Racecourse in Funabashi, Chiba
- the Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby - 2400m), at Tokyo Racecourse in Fuchu, Tokyo
- the Kikuka Sho (Japanese St.Leger - 3000m), at Kyoto Racecourse in Kyoto, Kyoto
Only seven horses have received the Japanese Triple Crown:
Japanese Fillies' Triple Crown
- the Oka Sho (Japanese 1000 Guineas), at Hanshin Racecourse in Takarazuka, Hyogo
- the Yushun Himba (Japanese Oaks), at Tokyo Racecourse in Fuchu, Tokyo
- the Shuka Sho (since 1996), at Kyoto Racecourse in Kyoto, Kyoto / the Queen Elizabeth II Commemorative Cup (1976–1995)
Only four horses have received the Japanese Fillies' Triple Crown:
Hong Kong
The Triple Crown series at Hong Kong's Sha Tin Racecourse consists of three races at increasingly longer distances. Unlike most other Triple Crown events, these races are not confined to three-year-olds. They are:
- Hong Kong Stewards' Cup at 1,600 metres (0.99 mi) held in January
- Hong Kong Gold Cup at 2,000 metres (1.2 mi) held in February
- 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.
In Hong Kong, there are two other Triple Crown series. They are the Hong Kong Speed Series and the Four-year-old Series.
Italy
The Triple Crown series consists in three races at increasingly longer distances.
- Premio Parioli at Capannelle Racecourse in Rome, 1600 m, Group 3
- Derby Italiano at Capenelle Racecourse in Rome, 2200 m, Group 2
- St. Leger Italiano, at San Siro Racecourse in Milano, 1 mile, 6 furlongs
Three horses have swept the Italian Triple Crown:
The Italian Fillies' Triple Crown consists of:
- Premio Regina Elena (1000 Guineas)
- Oaks d'Italiano (Italian Oaks)
- St. Leger Italiano
No filly has swept all three races, but Jacopa de Sellaio(ITY) won the Premio Parioli, Derby Italiano, Premio Regina Elena, and Oaks d'Italia in 1932.
Spain
The Triple Crown series consists of:
- Premio Cimera (Spanish 2000 Guineas)
- Premio Villapadierna (Spanish Derby)
- Premio Villamejor (Spanish St. Leger)
Two horses have swept the Spanish Triple Crown:
The Triple Crown for fillies consists of:
- Premio Valderas (Spanish 1000 Guineas)
- Premio Beamonte (Spanish Oaks)
- Premio Villamejor (Spanish St. Leger)
One filly has swept all three races:
Macau
In Makkah, the Macau Jockey Club introduced the Triple Crown Series in 2008, with three races all held in Taipa Racecourse, Macau:
- Director's Cup, Macau Group 2 Race, 1,500 metres (0.93 mi)
- Macau Cup, Macau Group 2 Race, 1,500 metres (0.93 mi)
- 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:
- Macau Guineas, Macau Group 1 Race, 1,500 metres (0.93 mi), only for 4-year old horses
- Macau Derby, Macau Group 1 Race, 1,800 metres (1.1 mi), only for 4-year old horses
- Macau Gold Cup, Macau Group 1 Race, 1,800 metres (1.1 mi)
In 2010, Luen Yat Forever become the first and, to date, only horse to win the Macau Triple Crown.
Argentina
The three races that comprise the Triple Crown in Argentina are:
- Gran Premio Polla de Potrillos and Gran Premio Polla de Potrancas, Hipodromo Argentino de Palermo (1 mile on dirt)
- Gran Premio Jockey Club, Hipodromo de San Isidro (1 1/4 m mile on turf)
- Gran Premio Nacional (Argentine Derby), Hipodromo Argentino de Palermo (1 9/16 m on dirt)
Winners of the Argentinian Triple Crown are:
Mexico
The Mexican Triple Crown series consists of:
- Derby Mexicano (8 1/2 furlongs)
- Stakes Jockey Club Mexicano (8 furlongs)
- Gran Premio Nacional (8 1/2 furlongs).
All three races are contested at Hippodromo de las Americas, in Mexico City.
Mexican Triple Crown winners:
The Mexican Fillies' Triple Crown series consists of :
- Clasico Rubi (7 furlongs)
- Clasico Esmeralda (8 furlongs)
- Clasico Diamante (8 1/2 furlongs).
All three races are contested at Hippodromo de las Americas, in Mexico City.
Mexican Filly Triple Crown winners:
Chile
The three races that comprise the Triple Crown in Chile are:
- Clásico El Ensayo, Club Hipico de Santiago
- Clásico St. Leger, Hipodromo Chile
- El Derby, Valparaiso Sporting Club.
Winners of the Chilean Triple Crown are:
Dominican Republic
The winners of the Dominican Republic Triple Crown have been:
Jamaica
The Jamaican Triple Crown series consists of:
- Jamaican 2000 Guineas
- Jamaican Derby
- Jamaican St. Leger
The winners of the Jamaican Triple Crown are:
The Jamaican Fillies' Triple Crown consists of:
- Jamaican 1000 Guineas
- Jamaican Oaks
- Jamaican St. Leger
The winners of the Jamaican Fillies' Triple Crown are:
Panama
The winners of the Panamanian Triple Crown have been:
Poland
In Poland, the Triple Crown (Potrójna korona) consists of
- Rulera, Polish 2000 Guineas, Warsaw, 1600 m
- Służewiec Derby, Warsaw, 2400 m
- St. Leger, Warsaw, 2800 m
Known Polish Triple Crown winners are:
The classic races for fillies are:
- Nagroda Wiosennej (1000 Guineas)
- Nagroda Liry (Oaks)
No filly is known to have won the Polish Fillies' Triple Crown, which would conclude with the St. Leger. The Polish St. Leger is now open to 3 year-olds and up.
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 (8½ furlongs) held in the first Sunday of May
- Copa Gobernador at 1,800 meters (9 furlongs) held in the end of May
- Copa San Juan at 1,900 meters (9½ furlongs) held in the last Sunday of June
The Puerto Rico Triple Crown winners are:
Uruguay
The three races that comprise the Triple Crown in Uruguay are:
- 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.
Uruguayan Triple Crown winners are:
Ecuador
Ecuador has two sets of races referred to as Triple Crowns:
Ecuador Triple Crown
- Clásico Estreno Dr. Raúl Lebed Sigall, at Hipódromo BUIJO in Samborondón;
- Clásico Polla Nacional Sr. Agustin Febres Cordero, at Hipódromo BUIJO in Samborondón;
- Clásico Derby Nacional Sr.Benjamin Rosales A., at Hipódromo BUIJO in Samborondón;
Ecuador Fillies' Triple Crown
- Clásico Ing. Carlos San Andres, at Hipódromo BUIJO in Samborondón;
- Clásico Sr. Eduardo Jairala F, at Hipódromo BUIJO in Samborondón;
- Clásico Abogado Carlos Julio Arosemena Peet, at Hipódromo BUIJO in Samborondón;
In Ecuador, the Triple Crown consists of:
- Clásico Nelson Uraga Suarez, at Hipódromo Santa Cecilia in Guayaquil;
- Clásico Enrique Guzman Aspiazu, at Hipódromo Santa Cecilia in Guayaquil;
- Clásico Inginiero Ignacio De Icaza Aspiazu, at Hipódromo Santa Cecilia in Guayaquil.
Triple Crown Champions:
Venezuela
Venezuela has two sets of races referred to as Triple Crowns:
Venezuelan Official Triple Crown Champions: (From 1956)
Filly Triple Crown winners are:
Undefeated Triple Crown winners
The following horses won their Triple Crown when still undefeated. Those marked with an asterisk retired undefeated.
Individual Triple Crown winners
Only two jockeys have won the Triple Crown with different horses (i.e., rode horses to Triple Crowns in different years):
At least one other jockey is known to have won all three of a country's Triple Crown races in the same year on different horses:
One trainer is known to have accomplished the same feat as Contreras:
Back to back Triple Crown winners (jockeys)
Don Seymour (Canada)
Javier Santiago (Puerto Rico)
Most Triple Crown winners (jockeys)
Winston Grifiths - Jamaica (5)
Alexis Feliciano - Puerto Rico (3)
Emisael Jaramillo - Venezuela (3)