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Triple Crown History: Winners, Races & Facts
The Triple Crown of American Thoroughbred racing goes to a three-year-old that wins the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness Stakes and the Belmont Stakes. Through 2026, only 13 horses had won all three, from Sir Barton in 1919 to Justify in 2018.
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| The races | Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, Belmont Stakes |
|---|---|
| Eligible horses | Three-year-old Thoroughbreds |
| Winners | 13 through 2026 (Sir Barton 1919 to Justify 2018) |
| Longest gap (through 2026) | 37 years, from Affirmed (1978) to American Pharoah (2015) |
| Traditional distances | Derby 1¼ miles, Preakness 1³⁄₁₆ miles, Belmont 1½ miles |
| First runnings | Belmont 1867, Preakness 1873, Kentucky Derby 1875 |
Triple Crown winners
Thirteen horses won the Triple Crown through 2026. Trainers Jim Fitzsimmons and Bob Baffert each trained two winners, and through 2026 Eddie Arcaro was the only jockey to ride two.
- 1919: Sir Barton (jockey Johnny Loftus)
- 1930: Gallant Fox (Earl Sande)
- 1935: Omaha (Willie Saunders)
- 1937: War Admiral (Charles Kurtsinger)
- 1941: Whirlaway (Eddie Arcaro)
- 1943: Count Fleet (Johnny Longden)
- 1946: Assault (Warren Mehrtens)
- 1948: Citation (Eddie Arcaro)
- 1973: Secretariat (Ron Turcotte)
- 1977: Seattle Slew (Jean Cruguet)
- 1978: Affirmed (Steve Cauthen)
- 2015: American Pharoah (Victor Espinoza)
- 2018: Justify (Mike Smith)
Triple Crown history
- 1867: The first Belmont Stakes was run at Jerome Park in the Bronx, won by the filly Ruthless.
- 1873: The first Preakness Stakes was run at Pimlico in Baltimore, won by Survivor.
- 1875: Aristides won the first Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville.
- 1919: Sir Barton became the first horse to win all three races.
- 1930: Charles Hatton of the Daily Racing Form popularized the term "Triple Crown".
- 1973: Secretariat won the Belmont by 31 lengths to end a 25-year wait for a Triple Crown winner.
- 2020: The COVID-19 pandemic reshuffled the schedule, and the Belmont was run as the opening leg for the first time.
Record holders
| Kentucky Derby record (as of 2026) | Secretariat, 1:59 2/5, set in 1973 |
|---|---|
| Preakness record (as of 2026) | Secretariat, 1:53, set in 1973 (time officially corrected in 2012) |
| Belmont Stakes record (as of 2026) | Secretariat, 2:24 for 1½ miles, set in 1973 (won by 31 lengths) |
Racing Hall of Famers
Secretariat, Citation, Seattle Slew, Affirmed, War Admiral, Count Fleet, American Pharoah, Justify, Man o' War, Seabiscuit, Alydar.
Biggest rivalries
- Affirmed vs. Alydar: in 1978 Alydar finished second to Affirmed in all three Triple Crown races, losing the Belmont by a head.
- Seabiscuit vs. War Admiral: Seabiscuit beat the 1937 Triple Crown winner by four lengths in their 1938 match race at Pimlico.
- Sunday Silence vs. Easy Goer: in 1989 Sunday Silence won the Derby and Preakness, and Easy Goer won the Belmont to deny him the Triple Crown.
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How many horses have won the Triple Crown?
Thirteen through 2026. Sir Barton was first, in 1919, and Justify won in 2018.
What are the three Triple Crown races?
The Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs, the Preakness Stakes, traditionally at Pimlico in Baltimore, and the Belmont Stakes, traditionally at Belmont Park in New York. All three are for three-year-old Thoroughbreds.
Why is Secretariat considered the greatest?
In 1973 he set the stakes record in all three races and won the Belmont by 31 lengths in 2:24, an American record for 1½ miles on dirt.
What was the longest gap between Triple Crown winners?
Through 2026, it was 37 years, from Affirmed in 1978 to American Pharoah in 2015.
Which jockey won the Triple Crown twice?
Through 2026, only Eddie Arcaro, on Whirlaway in 1941 and Citation in 1948.
Sources
Facts checked September 23, 2026.