The Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing, often shortened to Triple Crown, is a series of horse races for Thoroughbreds, often restricted to three-year-olds. 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 nations where Thoroughbred racing is popular, each having their own Triple Crown series.

England

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 metres) at Newmarket Racecourse in Newmarket, Suffolk The 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, fifteen horses (including three winners of substitute races at Newmarket during the First World War) have won the English Triple Crown. The most recent – and only winner since World War II – was Nijinsky, in 1970. 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 on Teofilo winning the 2007 Triple Crown. The horse was withdrawn from the 2000 Guineas two days before the race after suffering a setback and never raced again.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

Triple Crown winners: YearWinnerJockeyTrainerOwner1853West AustralianFrank ButlerJohn ScottJohn Bowes1865GladiateurHarry GrimshawTom Jennings, Sr.Frédéric de Lagrange1866Lord LyonHarry CustanceJames DoverRichard Sutton1886OrmondeFred Archer and George BarrettJohn PorterDuke of Westminster1891Common George Barrett John Porter Sir Frederick Johnstone1893IsinglassTommy LoatesJames JewittHarry McCalmont1897Galtee MoreCharles WoodSam DarlingJohn Gubbins1899Flying FoxMorny CannonJohn PorterDuke of Westminster1900Diamond JubileeHerbert JonesRichard MarshPrince of Wales1903Rock SandDanny MaherGeorge BlackwellSir James Miller1915†PommernSteve DonoghueCharles PeckSolly Joel1917†Gay CrusaderSteve DonoghueAlec Taylor, Jr.Alfred W. Cox1918†GainsboroughJoe ChildsAlec Taylor, Jr.Lady James Douglas1935BahramFreddie Fox and Charlie SmirkeFrank ButtersHH Aga Khan III1970NijinskyLester PiggottVincent O'BrienCharles W. Engelhard, Jr.

Failed Triple Crown attempts The following horses won the 2000 Guineas and Derby but were beaten in the St Leger: Cotherstone (1843): second to Nutwith Pretender (1869): fourth to Pero Gomez Shotover (1882): third to Dutch Oven Ayrshire (1888): sixth to Seabreeze Ladas (1894): second to Throstle St. Amant (1904): seventh and last to Pretty Polly Minoru (1909): fourth to Bayardo Manna (1925): tenth to Solario Cameronian (1931): tenth and last to Sandwich Camelot (2012): second to Encke

Additionally: Blue Peter won 2000 Guineas and Derby in 1939 but St Leger was cancelled due to World War II.

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.Craig, Dennis, Breeding Racehorses from Cluster Mares, J A Allen, London, 1964 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: Formosa – 1868 (also dead heated in the Two Thousand Guineas) Hannah – 1871 Apology – 1874 (also won the Ascot Gold Cup) La Fleche – 1892 (also won the Ascot Gold Cup) Sceptre – 1902 (also won the Two Thousand Guineas) Pretty Polly – 1904 Sun Chariot – 1942 Meld – 1955 Oh So Sharp – 1985

Stayers' Triple Crown

The Stayers Triple Crown consists of the most prestigious long-distance races in the British flat racing season: The Ascot Gold Cup, raced over 2m 4f during Royal Ascot, The Goodwood Cup, raced over 2m during the Goodwood Festival, The Doncaster Cup, raced over 2m 2f during the St Leger Festival.

YearWinnerJockeyTrainerOwner1879IsonomyTom CannonJohn PorterFrederick Gretton1949AlycidonDoug SmithWalter EarlEdward Stanley, 18th Earl of Derby1953SouepiCharlie ElliottGeorge DigbyGeorge Digby1979Le MossLester Piggott, Joe MercerHenry CecilCarlo d'Alessio1980Le MossJoe MercerHenry CecilCarlo d'Alessio1986LongboatWillie CarsonDick HernDick Hollingsworth1995Double TriggerJason WeaverMark JohnstonR W Huggins2019StradivariusFrankie DettoriJohn GosdenBjorn Nielsen

United States

Triple Crown winners

In the United States, the three races that make up the Triple Crown are: Kentucky Derby, run over on a dirt track at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky Preakness Stakes, run over on a dirt track at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland Belmont Stakes, run over on a dirt track at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York, just east of New York City +List of US Triple Crown winners Year Winner Jockey Trainer Owner Breeder 1919 Sir Barton Johnny Loftus H. Guy Bedwell J. K. L. Ross John E. Madden 1930 Gallant Fox Earl Sande Jim Fitzsimmons Belair Stud Belair Stud 1935 Omaha Willie Saunders Jim Fitzsimmons Belair Stud Belair Stud 1937 War Admiral Charley Kurtsinger George H. Conway Samuel D. Riddle Samuel D. Riddle 1941 Whirlaway Eddie Arcaro Ben A. Jones Calumet Farm Calumet Farm 1943 Count Fleet Johnny Longden Don Cameron Fannie Hertz Fannie Hertz 1946 Assault Warren Mehrtens Max Hirsch King Ranch King Ranch 1948 Citation Eddie Arcaro Horace A. Jones Calumet Farm Calumet Farm 1973 Secretariat Ron Turcotte Lucien Laurin Meadow Stable Meadow Stud 1977 Seattle Slew Jean Cruguet William H. Turner, Jr. Mickey and Karen L. TaylorTayhill Stable/Jim Hill, et al. Ben S. Castleman 1978 Affirmed Steve Cauthen Laz Barrera Harbor View Farm Harbor View Farm 2015 American Pharoah Victor Espinoza Bob Baffert Ahmed Zayat Zayat Stables2018JustifyMike E SmithBob BaffertWinStar Farm, et al.John D. Gunther

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 on a dirt track, at Churchill Downs; Black-Eyed Susan Stakes, run over (previously ) on a dirt track, at Pimlico Race Course; Acorn Stakes, run over (previously ) 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 is the American Triple Tiara of Thoroughbred Racing which 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: Dark Mirage – 1968 Shuvee – 1969 Chris Evert – 1974 Ruffian – 1975 Davona Dale – 1979 Mom's Command – 1985 Open Mind – 1989 Sky Beauty – 1993

In 2010, the NYRA changed the configuration of the Triple Tiara to include the Alabama Stakes instead of the Mother Goose. As of 2022, no filly has won the reconfigured Triple Tiara.

New York Handicap Triple

The New York Handicap Triple is a series of three handicap races run in New York. Although historically notable, the series is now essentially defunct, as two of the races are run on the same day, making a sweep impossible. In addition, only the Metropolitan Handicap maintains a top-level designation and continues to be run as a handicap. The series consists of:

Metropolitan Handicap, run over on a dirt track, at Belmont Park; Brooklyn Handicap (now run as the Brooklyn Invitational Stakes), run over (now ) on a dirt track, at Belmont Park; Suburban Handicap (now run as the Suburban Stakes), run over on a dirt track, at Belmont Park;

The triple has been won by four horses:

Whisk Broom II – 1913 Tom Fool – 1953 Kelso – 1961 Fit to Fight – 1984

Turf Triple Series In 2019, the New York Racing Association established two series of races for three-year-olds on the turf: the Turf Trinity and the Turf Tiara. As of 2022, neither has been swept by a singular horse.

The Turf Trinity consists of:

Belmont Derby, run over on a turf track at Belmont Park Saratoga Derby Invitational Stakes, run over on a turf track at Saratoga Jockey Club Derby, run over on a turf track at Belmont Park

The Turf Tiara consists of:

Belmont Oaks, run over on a turf track at Belmont Park Saratoga Oaks Invitational Stakes, run over on a turf track at Saratoga Jockey Club Oaks, run over on a turf track at Belmont Park

Ireland The Irish Triple Crown, modelled on the English equivalent, consists of: Irish 2,000 Guineas, run over on a turf track at the Curragh Irish Derby, run over on a turf track at the Curragh Irish St. Leger, run over on a turf track at the Curragh 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: Museum – 1935 Windsor Slipper – 1942

Canada

The Canadian Triple Crown consists of: King's Plate Prince of Wales Stakes Breeders' Stakes

Triple Crown winners 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 Queensway (filly) – 1932 Archworth – 1939 Uttermost – 1945 Ace Marine – 1955 Canadian Champ – 1956

Since 1959 establishment New Providence – 1959 Canebora – 1963 With Approval – 1989 Izvestia – 1990 Dance Smartly (filly) – 1991 Peteski – 1993 Wando – 2003

Triple Tiara The Canadian Triple Tiara consists of: Woodbine Oaks (formerly the Canadian Oaks) Bison City Stakes Wonder Where Stakes

As of 2025, only one filly has won it:

Sealy Hill – 2007

Western Canadian Triple Crown On 9 May 2023, it was announced that Western Canada would have their own Triple Crown, also dubbed the Western Canadian Triple Crown. The Western Canadian Triple Crown consists of: Manitoba Derby Canadian Derby British Columbia Derby

Australia

The Australian Triple Crown comprises the following races: Randwick Guineas, run over on a turf track at Randwick Racecourse Rosehill Guineas, run over on a turf track at Rosehill Gardens Racecourse AJC Australian Derby, run over on a turf track at Randwick Racecourse

The Australian Triple Crown initially included the Canterbury Guineas, which was replaced with the Randwick Guineas.

Triple Crown winners

Moorland – 1943 Martello Towers – 1959 Imagele – 1973 Octagonal – 1996 Dundeel – 2013

The Spring Grand Slam

The Spring Grand Slam for older horses consists of:

Caulfield Cup, run over on a turf track at Caulfield Racecourse Cox Plate, run over on a turf track at Moonee Valley Racecourse Melbourne Cup, run over on a turf track at Flemington Racecourse

The only horse to win the Spring Grand Slam was the New Zealand bred Rising Fast in 1954.